Forbes attacks ‘mediocre’ Sturgeon in first SNP debate

KATE FORBES has launched an extraordinary attack on Nicola Sturgeon’s record in the first television debate of the SNP leadership contest, arguing that “more of the same” would be an “acceptance of mediocrity”.

The Finance Secretary took aim at rival Humza Yousaf over his pledge to continue most of Ms Sturgeon’s domestic agenda, saying that it was “time for change” and “continuity won’t cut it”.

Mr Yousaf accused her of “lurching to the Right” and argued that the devout Christian’s opposition to gay marriage and to Ms Sturgeon’s controversial gender reforms meant that she could not unite Yes voters.

The 70-minute debate, at STV’S Pacific Quay headquarters in Glasgow, quickly descended into acrimony as Ms Forbes, in her opening statement, argued that “we can do better” and pledged to “offer a new start for Scotland”.

Amid widespread doubt about whether Mr Yousaf is up to the job, with the Health Secretary presiding over an NHS in crisis, she promised to provide “candour about our challenges” and “competence in fixing them”.

After savaging her rival’s record in a series of major government roles, Ms Forbes said she would keep him in her Cabinet but “maybe not in health”.

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP said: “I want to eradicate poverty, tackle the cost of living crisis and reform our NHS. And I’ll do it by building a world-leading green economy, capable of driving growth for generations to come.

“More of the same is not a manifesto – it is an acceptance of mediocrity.”

In an apparent reference to Ms Sturgeon’s deeply unpopular plans to allow

‘I want to eradicate poverty, tackle the cost of living crisis and reform our health service’

people to self-identify their legal gender, which she opposes but which Mr Yousaf supports, she pledged: “My government will focus on the people’s priorities.”

The 32-year-old also attempted to woo SNP members desperate for independence by promising to “reach across the political divide and turn a divided nation into a settled majority for ‘Yes’.”

But Ash Regan, the third candidate and outsider in the contest, said the SNP had “lost its way” and made “no progress” on independence in recent years despite there being “the worst UK governments of all time”.