New global role for Nicola Sturgeon planned by SNP candidate wanting to replace her
SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf believes Nicola Sturgeon still has a role to play in Scotland's bid for independence
Paul Campbell / Jane Barlow
SNP leadership candidate Humza Yousaf has vowed to give Nicola Sturgeon an international role if he becomes the next First Minister.
Yousaf, who is currently narrowly ahead in the polls over rival Kate Forbes, said Sturgeon would become a “global ambassador” for Scottish independence.
He believes Sturgeon is hugely respected internationally and would serve a vital role in the SNP’s continued push to break away from the UK.
Speaking at a hustings event in Glenrothes, the current Health Secretary said: “If I'm leader of the SNP, I will ensure we have a permanent SNP presence in Brussels.
Humza Yousaf speaking in the SNP leadership hustings at Rothes Halls, Glenrothes
Jeff J Mitchell
“We have a Scottish Government office, but that's different; it can't be political.
“I think we need to have people on the ground in Brussels, who again, when the time comes to rejoin the EU – by the way, we should have no equivocation about that, we must rejoin the EU as an independence country – a permanent presence in Brussels will help to lay the groundwork to do that.
"We've got to keep reiterating, repeating that message about how an independence Scotland would be a positive force in the world.
“And I've not asked her yet, but I can't think of anybody better to be that global ambassador than a certain Nicola Sturgeon. She is hugely respected internationally."
Ash Regan, Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf taking part in the SNP leadership hustings at Eden Court, Inverness
Paul Campbell
Fellow SNP leadership candidate Ash Regan has said there is “absolutely no substance” to the independence plans of her fellow contenders, comparing them with a “bag of marshmallows”.
Speaking during a hustings event in Inverness on Saturday, the candidate sought to lay out her vision for leaving the UK, which would see any majority for independence supporting parties at a Westminster or Holyrood election taken as a trigger for negotiations to start with Downing Street.
Responding to Regan’s comments, Yousaf joked: “I quite like marshmallows, I won’t lie.”
Meanwhile Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said competent government would help to persuade people to the independence cause, as well as “sketching out” how the first few years of an independent country would look.
Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf taking part in the SNP leadership hustings at Rothes Halls, Glenrothes
Jeff J Mitchell
According to a poll of 515 SNP members, undertaken by Savanta for the Daily Telegraph between February 23 and Marc 1, 31 per cent back Yousaf to become their next leader.
Forbes had 25 per cent, with Regan – who has admitted she is the outsider – has 11 per cent.
A total 32 per cent said they did not know who would vote for.
The new SNP leader and First Minister will be announced on March 27.