Who do you want to see as new First Minister?

[Rememberal]

And who do you think it'll be if they are different?

Not seen any threads on this yet!

My two cents -

I voted SNP when I was very young (Salmond) and under the impression they were a kinda catch-all working man's party who didn't do much to offend the left or right, but I stopped voting for them ages ago and recently started to actively despise them.

Normally I'm the polar opposite of the Reddit consensus and they seem to want Robertson but only, it seems, because they can't have Mhari Black (which is one MP I DO know and absolutely cannot stand). I feel like Forbes is the only one who'd bring them back to the centre and increase membership as she might attract everyone who left back.

So I suppose I'm a toss-up between Forbes who might pull them away from their more (imho) farcical policies and Black who might finally start to kill them dead in the water.

I do believe Sturgeon resigned because the recent polling data (where ALL age demographics agreed with the WM overturn including a large amount of SNP membership) showed that people vote SNP despite their progressive policies and not because of them. I reckon they knew it would really hurt them at the next election, and since she can't U-turn, the only thing left to do was step aside and let a new leader shift their direction.

I'm interested to know what people on here think though.

Honestly the only one I thought was OK was Cherry but she can't stand.

Would be nice whoever it is that they focus on sorting out a lot of mess they made but reality is they will probably just be another parrot about big bad WM and independence drum at any cost......sod the current state of NHS, education or anything which is outside the central belt!

By which I mean several female MSPs have cited the specific toll on family life as the reason they have stepped down. I don't think any male ones have?

So to rephrase, Kate Forbes would be good, however due to reasons stated above, may not want to take on the role... As a relatively new mother.

I've met quite a few of the current cabinet and worked alongside various back benchers.
Alot of respect for Ash but not as FM. She hasn't had the backing of the cabinet on policy issues which she brought from back benches.
Please not Yousef. Nice enough but within a meeting can change and contradict himself, depending on what he thinks will go down well.
Like Kate Forbes but can't get behind her due to her stance on abortik.
Keith Brown is in running - another no. Dry, cold, uncharismatic and pretty rubbish when meeting the public.

I am pro independence but want SNP out. They are a shambles to work with behind the scenes. Over consult and too many things put on back burners with little policy coherence.

Don't start me on the Greens - found them a nightmare to work with. IMO Alison J only one with integrity. I cannot stand Pats Harvie after numerous dealings with him before he became MSP, and during his time as one. The way they develop policy is shameful - a boys club.
Many in SNP v uncomfortable with how they are directing key decisions, well beyond manifestos and agreed areas.
The Greens have their sights on other policy areas that will be detrimental to women's rights and services, apart from the GRA.

I don't know who I think would be best, some women backbenchers are great but a long way from the lofty cabinet tower and FM consideration.

You didn't hear of her screeching 'Bigots'at parents who complained that a drag queen .rejoicing in the name of Flo-job was brought into a primary school without informing parents?
@MrsFinkelstein is spot on about her performative 'woman of the people' act - her background is emphatically middle class but she likes to pretend otherwise. So patronising!

Not gender critical enough to risk that ministerial salary tho'. She's on maternity leave but she could have voted against the GRR Bill.

Who would I like to see?

Any of Yousaf, Brown or Robertson because they are and will be completely useless.

Forbes might not be completely useless but she might cause division and strife and the Greens will stomp off.

So all in all it's looking good.

Indeed. That's the best option but for the moment whichever SNP will make the biggest hash of it.

@SammyScrounge
@MrsFinkelstein

Interesting! I'm basing my opinion on her anti-Tory rhetoric of which she seems to be passionate about.

Black is vile. She's a foul- mouthed fake. She pretends to be working class- both her parents were teachers.

She called her female constitutents "Jeremy Hunts" for expressing concerns about safe spaces for women which shows how much contempt she has for her constituents and her fellow MPs.

She doesn't have to agree with all her constituents but calling them cunts and mocking his name is despicable behaviour.

Mhairi black.

She does fuck all. Doesn't turn up. Doe nothing for her constituents.

Calls women cunts, rubs "Kit Kats" into her gums, takes pornified drag Queans into schools

Yeah. She'll be amazing. 🙄

Oh and she threatens to punch no voters in the face.

I'm shocked at the stories about Mhairi Black. Thanks for the education.

@NatashaDancing I'd still consider teachers as working class tbf

Spot on post from Joanna Cherry on Twitter:
I wish people would stop attacking
(Kate Forbes)
for her religious faith. She’s never shown any inclination to roll back rights as a matter of govt policy.I don’t recall any fuss about Ian Blackford’s membership of the same church. It is rank #misogyny

Not that I’d vote for Kate Forbes. Not that I even have a say in new FM, but it’s interesting to see what is written about a new parent, with a faith that is part of her private life.

Any of them could have run as party leader, that doesn't need to be reserved for an MSP. Only an MSP can be FM. They are all useless for varying reasons. Ash regan is campaigning on the the slogan "independence, nothing
else" given how far that is down the list if priorities for the Scottish people it's pretty sickening, but then that doesn't matter as we aren't voting here. 🤔

Like Kate Forbes but can't get behind her due to her stance on abortik.

I think she is the best of the lot but she is already being slated for this online.

Thing is I do believe there is a spectrum of pro-life views, ranging from "pro-life but people have the human right to have one" to "pro-life and screaming abuse at women outside abortion clinics while trying to make it illegal". In the same way there is a spectrum of pro-choice, ranging from "as early as possible and only when necessary" to "look at me posting on twitter about my abortion shower".

If she is personally pro-life but not looking to infringe on other's rights then that's about where I sit and hopefully that's not offensive to anyone.

But it all comes back to.... do we want a competent leader to get us out of the shitshow we're in, or do we want to see them implode? Personally can't decide but I hope it's not just NS (Nicola Sturgeon/ Nanny State) 2.0

Useless Yousef for me as hopefully he’ll help blow the SNP apart .
Kates too young and inexperienced. She was finance minister who raised taxes and forgot about the Barnet formula so that Scotgov actually collected £350 million less than they would have by leaving them as they were . So clearly nae that fiscally literate 😂

It really is Hobson's choice. Although nothing at all seems better than all the other options.

None of the candidates (or those that have ruled themselves out) are good choices for Scotland regardless of your political leanings. A couple of them seem to have the occasional view that seems more sensible but overall they have no track record of success or competence. Whether they'd be able to deliver on any of those views is doubtful.

Where are the political and competent heavyweights here?

I'm thinking back to the grilling Tim Farron got about his personal views and thinking that'll stop whoever does the electing in the SNP from electing her. People are more tolerant of people who aren't party leaders as committed Christians.

From the outside she seemed a natural choice and many papers thought so but on closer inspection I can't see it happening.

I don't quite agree with Cherry, Farron's leadership was effectively ended over the journalistic pressure on his beliefs.

Implode. Bring on the worst one- it's not as if they're spoilt for choice.It's not like ineptitude, incompetence, inexperience and being generally thick as mince is in short supply.

And M Black - that'll be the Truss/Corbyn abandon hope option!

Teachers are working class only if you think anyone who works for money is "working class".

I agree BigBoysDontCry - I'm of the generation who remembers Donald Dewar as FM, and the politicians of that era, like John Smith and Margaret Thatcher. Regardless of party, we just don't have the same level of intellect in the current incumbants. In my opinion. I want to hear politicians who can debate, because they have proper policies, not just shout down their opponents.

Hopefully Yousaf but only because that would sound the death knell for the SNP 🎉In reality he shouldn’t be anywhere near it with his disgraceful accusations against that Dundee Nursery and his other faux pas.

All of these people who want the SNP to implode. What do they think the alternative is?

As another poster said, the robbing Tories or spineless Labour? Do they really want either of those useless showers just to get independence off the table?

Independence aside, what will either of these parties so for Scotland?

The SNP have shown their ineptitude across a wide range - not just the “once in a lifetime opportunity” of independence.