Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes touted favourite to succeed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in new poll
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A HIGHLAND MSP is being hailed a potential successor to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Kate Forbes, the Ross-shire based MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has been a rising star at Holyrood since being elected to the Scottish parliament in 2016 and was returned with a thumping majority at the last election.
Currently on maternity leave, the 32-year-old was elevated to finance secretary and is now being marked a potential successor to Ms Sturgeon following weekend polls published by a Sunday newspaper.
The Sunday Times quoted "sources" yesterday suggesting Ms Forbes "is reconsidering her political future and is prepared to contemplate a leadership bid — as and when the opportunity presents itself".
A poll for the Sunday Times headed 'Should Sturgeon stay or go?" found 42 per cent thinking she should resign immediately – with 45 per cent saying she should stay at least until the next Holyrood election. A total of 13 per cent were undecided.
The Panelbase poll quizzed 1415 adult voters in Scotland between February 6-10, 2023.
The question as to who should succeed her found an overwhelming 69 per cent answering 'Don't know', perhaps indicating the domination she has enjoyed as leader.
But of those stating a preference, Ms Forbes comes out on top with 7 per cent of the vote, closely followed by John Swinney (6 per cent) and Angus Robertson (5 per cent).
Ms Sturgeon is known to regard Ms Forbes as a highly capable operator. She was chosen to succeed finance secretary Derek Mackay when she was 29 after his fall from grace. She was entrusted with delivering the Scottish budget at Holyrood the day Mackay quit.
Her constituency office confirmed she had not been contacted over the Sunday Times article.
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Ms Forbes married Ali MacLennan in the Highlands, following her re-election for a second term as MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
She gave birth to baby Naomi last August.
Her constituency team took over day to day business as she went on maternity leave.
She is due to return to work at some point this year.
