Politics

She is now surely the most influential political voice to emerge from the Highlands in a generation. But just who is Kate Forbes?

Kate Forbes has been appointed Deputy First Minister by John Swinney, it has been announced.

Alex Salmond is set to give evidence to the A9 dualling inquiry at Holyrood tomorrow.

John Swinney has been crowned the new leader of the SNP after winning the support of potential contender, Highland MSP Kate Forbes.

In less than two years Scotland has had three Prime Ministers and will get its third First Minister – without a vote.

Kate Forbes says the SNP must ‘rewin trust’ but is change possible for a party after 17 years in power?

She says ‘the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needs is to join with John Swinney’.

Now Ms Forbes is set for her own announcement this afternoon about whether she will run for the top job.

With not a single rural MSP in the Scottish cabinet since Humza Yousaf came to power, we have been forgotten, says our columnist.

The Highland MSP says she is conscious of a ‘groundswell of support’ but she is still ‘weighing everything up’.

The plans are aimed at dealing with at least 12 school and spending millions more on much needed road repairs.

While colleagues rallied after Humza Yousaf’s resignation, opposition politicians have been quick to recount what they see as his failures in office.

Far north MSP Maree Todd ‘saddened’ by events as Kate Forbes is described elsewhere as ‘the best person who can lead Scotland’.

The First Minister made frequent visits to the north to rebuild connections with the government after a period of inactivity.

Mr Yousaf said was facing two motions of no confidence and the likelihood of being forced from office if he chose to stay.

Kate Forbes is a favourite to succeed him after Douglas Ross demanded he step down.

The Conservative and Labour leaders are spearheading efforts to topple the First Minister who vowed to ‘fight on’.

Scottish Labour have called for a vote of no confidence in the Holyrood administration

Local MSPs are mostly welcoming Humza Yousaf’s decision to ditch the SNP-Green Scottish Government partnership as a positive for the Highlands.

Pressure was mounting on the First Minister to ditch his coalition partners from backbench MSPs like Fergus Ewing and Kate Forbes.