Nicola Sturgeon's record attacked in extraordinary broadside from SNP leadership candidate
Outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon faced backlash at the SNP leadership hustings
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In the first television debate of the SNP leadership contest, one of the candidates made a sensational swipe at Nicola Sturgeon in a conversation dominated by talk of independence.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes was arguing that rival Humza Yousaf’s pledge to continue Sturgeon’s work in a bid for Scotland to break away from the UK was “an acceptance of mediocrity.”
The two frontrunners, joined by fellow candidate Ash Regan, were taking in part in their first debate, having previously held husting events across Scotland.
But this debate seemingly took an ugly turn, with heated exchanges coming thick and fast between Forbes and Yousaf.
Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan
Kirsty Anderson/STV
Forbes said it was now “time for change,” arguing that “continuity won’t cut it.”
She also attacked Yousaf’s record in government, suggesting that there may be a place in her cabinet for him but “maybe not at health.”
Forbes said: “Humza, you’ve had a number of jobs in government.
“You were a transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we’ve got record-high waiting times. What makes you think you can do a better job as First Minister?”
Forbes criticised Yousaf's work in government
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She added: "More of the same is not a manifesto – it is an acceptance of mediocrity."
Yousaf hit back, saying her views on social issues and “lurching to the Right” could further divide voters further, saying “many people, particularly from our LGBTQ community, say they wouldn’t vote for independence” if she is leader.
Yousaf added: “Forget persuading ‘no’ voters, you can’t even keep ‘yes’ voters.”
The debate continued, with Forbes saying independence will only happen when a majority of Scots have been persuaded to leave the UK, while Yousaf stressed the need to “build popular support”.
Yousaf accused Forbes of "lurching to the Right"
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He added: “Consistent majority support for independence will mean those political obstacles put up by Westminster, they will be overcome.”
But Regan accused both of her rivals of “going cap in hand to Westminster”, saying: “This hasn’t worked so far, why should it work now?”
She went on to describe the plans of the other candidates as “wishy washy”.
Yousaf hit back, telling her a majority of votes in an election would not bring Westminster to the table. “There is no common decency with the UK Government. If we get 50% plus one, they will somehow come round the negotiating table,” he said.
“We are talking about a government in the UK that literally sends refugees on planes to Rwanda. They are not going to sit down with us just because we win an election.”