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Original poster

Who do you want to see as new First Minister?

483 replies

Rememberal · 18/02/2023 17:44

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.

OP posts:
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SirChenjins · 20/02/2023 16:25

My concern is we’ll get Yousaf and then we’ll have years more incompetence, no improvements to the GRA and more of the same Green/SNP shambles - ie exactly what we have now. And people will still vote for them because independence…

user567543 · 20/02/2023 16:56

Who do we think the front runners are, Forbes and Yousaf?

I can see both of them losing the SNP some votes.

SirChenjins · 20/02/2023 16:59

I’m going with Forbes - she seems the most sensible of them (although it’s a v low bar).

NatashaDancing · 20/02/2023 17:39

SirChenjins · 20/02/2023 16:59

I’m going with Forbes - she seems the most sensible of them (although it’s a v low bar).

She's a hypocrite.

She was on maternity leave when the vote on the GRR Bill was taken. She could have logged on and voted against it if she felt as strongly as she apparently claimed to.

MajorCarolDanvers · 20/02/2023 17:53

Just because Forbes is anti GRR doesn't make her a poster women for feminism she's got rather dodgy views on all sorts like - anti abortion

Aphrathestorm · 20/02/2023 18:17

Funny how people are coming out against Forbes for her Christianity but didn't with Blackford (same church), who as an MP could actually vote on the reserved issue of abortion and say nothing of Humza's Islamic faith.

Maybe ask his ex how much of a liberal he is behind closed doors?

user567543 · 20/02/2023 18:20

I do think a leader is different kettle of scrutiny to someone in simply an elected position representing a constituency.

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2023 18:28

What a shower of glaikit numpties we have to choose from.

Of the 3 so far, I think Forbes would probably be the best at the actual job. That's not saying much - but you've got Yousaf who was behind the god awful hate crime bill, and Regan who is a hard core separatist.

Forbes is far from perfect and I would like to hear more about how her views on abortion would relate to her policy on it. Pro-life is a very broad church so it may or may not be a deal breaker.

I'm actually not convinced that someone with more "traditional family values" would be badly perceived by the voting public overall. A lot of people seem to think that the SNP have gone way too far in their quest to be progressive so she could actually be a popular change from that.

SirChenjins · 20/02/2023 18:30

user567543 · 20/02/2023 18:20

I do think a leader is different kettle of scrutiny to someone in simply an elected position representing a constituency.

I agree. I obviously don’t agree with Forbes stance on the GRR and abortion but I do think her approach to independence is a sensible one. Like I said though, the bar is so low in the SNP at the moment - I don’t trust any of them to get us out of the mess they’ve created over the years.

BigBoysDontCry · 20/02/2023 18:32

Laughing at Useless saying that Sturgeon is the best politician in the UK and then being asked in a Press conference is that means him being FM would be a downgrade 😂

Even funnier because for someone so stupid and incompetent he has such a high opinion of himself.

Funny how he's not being questioned or targeted about his religion like Kate F. though.

Cazziebo · 20/02/2023 18:39

I was catching up on the News agents podcast on the way home tonight. Yvette Cooper was being interviewed. I'm not a huge fan of hers but it made me think of the sharp contrast between a politician who is knowledgeable, can speak articulately and back up what she says with facts, giving reasoned answers, against the shower we have at Holyrood, very few of whom have ever held a proper job and talk only in soundbites.

I'm not an SNP supporter but I seen Scotland at breaking point. We need a decent FM to get things back on track. Equally we need opposition leaders who hold the government to account. There are better people than Douglas Ross in the Tories although Anas Sarwar is beginning to impress. And we need to get shot of the useless Greens!

fireflown · 20/02/2023 18:50

Aphrathestorm · 20/02/2023 18:17

Funny how people are coming out against Forbes for her Christianity but didn't with Blackford (same church), who as an MP could actually vote on the reserved issue of abortion and say nothing of Humza's Islamic faith.

Maybe ask his ex how much of a liberal he is behind closed doors?

Humza Yousaf voted for same sex marriage and apoke out about protests outside abortion clinics. Ian Blackford, who isn't a candidate, voted for abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Kate Forbes gave a speech to an anti-choice group.

Boisey · 20/02/2023 22:01

So the bookies have written off Kate Forbes, and we are left with Humza Yousef who has a reverse Midas touch, and Ash Regan who believes in UDI. Oh my goodness! Get the popcorn!

SirChenjins · 20/02/2023 22:05

I’m surprised they’ve written Forbes off - that’s interesting. If it’s Yousaf then it’s more of the same carnage - may the gods help us.

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2023 22:09

I'm surprised they've written Forbes off too. I'm not sure what the party membership of the SNP is like just now though, I guess it depends how far in to the progressive left they've swung. Is there a Momentum-esque situation where there's a party membership who are really out of line with the voters?

At the moment it feels like even pro-indy people aren't that fussed about it compared to the basics of cost of living or knowing what a woman is.

NatashaDancing · 20/02/2023 22:46

Wings Over Scotland is backing Regan, although I assume Rev Stu isn't a member.

The Rev himself is currently the darling of the Times Scotland BTL posters. The suspension of Beth Douglas from The Greens is almost certainly his work and he's certainly done a great job shining light on Sturgeon and Murrell.

BigBoysDontCry · 20/02/2023 22:50

Humza Yousaf voted for same sex marriage

Actually Humza did not vote - that is on the official parliament record.

BigBoysDontCry · 20/02/2023 22:51

Is it not two separate votes?

Party membership vote for the leader and the serving MSPs vote for the FM.

NatashaDancing · 20/02/2023 22:52

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2023 22:09

I'm surprised they've written Forbes off too. I'm not sure what the party membership of the SNP is like just now though, I guess it depends how far in to the progressive left they've swung. Is there a Momentum-esque situation where there's a party membership who are really out of line with the voters?

At the moment it feels like even pro-indy people aren't that fussed about it compared to the basics of cost of living or knowing what a woman is.

I'm related, fortunately only by marriage, to an SNP MSP. They do exactly what they're told to. I know they did not support reform of the GRR Bill but still voted for it.

Their head will be spinning at the idea of having to make up their own mind to choose a leader but once chosen normal service will resume. They haven't a hope in hell of earning the same salary in the real world.

BigBoysDontCry · 20/02/2023 22:54

The thing to remember about Wings is that your enemy's enemy is not your friend.

I'm also enjoying the things coming out from Wings and did also during the salmond v sturgeon case, but he is still a rampant scexit campaigner.

BigBoysDontCry · 20/02/2023 23:02

NatashaDancing · 20/02/2023 22:52

I'm related, fortunately only by marriage, to an SNP MSP. They do exactly what they're told to. I know they did not support reform of the GRR Bill but still voted for it.

Their head will be spinning at the idea of having to make up their own mind to choose a leader but once chosen normal service will resume. They haven't a hope in hell of earning the same salary in the real world.

Show quote history

Exactly. In private industry they would need to be a senior specialist or managing a significant number of staff to be earning that salary.

I'm sure some MSPs do a good job, work hard for their communities, turn up in holyrood, serve their constituents etc. But I think that will not be the majority.

NatashaDancing · 20/02/2023 23:07

BigBoysDontCry · 20/02/2023 22:54

The thing to remember about Wings is that your enemy's enemy is not your friend.

I'm also enjoying the things coming out from Wings and did also during the salmond v sturgeon case, but he is still a rampant scexit campaigner.

Oh yes I know that. It's such a pity mainstream media don't hold the SNP to account as well as he does.

MichaelFabricantWig · 20/02/2023 23:11

I disapprove of Forbes’ position on abortion and equal marriage, but at least there are as a matter of convention free votes on these issues, unlike the GRRB which was whipped. In any event, abortion is reserved and we already have equal marriage, it’s hardly like she’d be able to repeal it.

ClosedAuraOpenMind · 20/02/2023 23:18

Humza Yousaf has said tonight he voted for same sex marriage legislation at Stage 1 (general principles) but was one ministerial business, hence didn't vote at stage 3

ClosedAuraOpenMind · 20/02/2023 23:18

MichaelFabricantWig · 20/02/2023 23:11

I disapprove of Forbes’ position on abortion and equal marriage, but at least there are as a matter of convention free votes on these issues, unlike the GRRB which was whipped. In any event, abortion is reserved and we already have equal marriage, it’s hardly like she’d be able to repeal it.

I think abortion is now devolved to Holyrood

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