Final three in SNP leadership contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon confirmed
Nominations have closed in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP and first minister, leaving three candidates vying for the top job in Scottish politics.
The party confirmed today that finance secretary Kate Forbes, health secretary Humza Yousaf and former community safety minister Ash Regan had all reached the nominations threshold to make it onto the ballot paper.
The SNP is estimated to have around 100,000 members and each of them will be able to vote for their new leader from 13 March.
The ballot will then close on 27 March, with a new leader announced soon after.
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The contest was sparked after the shock resignation of Ms Sturgeon, who had held the post of Scotland’s first minister for eight years.
And the early stages of the race to succeed her have been bruising for the party.
The woman seen by many as the rising star, Ms Forbes, ended up at the centre of a storm after saying she would have voted against gay marriage.
Later in the week, she also told Sky News her faith meant it is “wrong” – in her view – to have children outside of marriage.
Her campaign was on the ropes, and some thought her sparkling political career was over as high profile backers withdrew their support.
But Ms Forbes has stayed in the race and sparked a wider debate about religion and whether holding such opinions should bar you from high office.
The finance secretary, who is on maternity leave, took a few days to “reset” this week and brought in new media advisers before issuing a new statement which attempted to draw a line under the row about her religious views.
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Meanwhile, Mr Yousaf is a health minister under pressure who has faced a barrage of criticism for his handling of an NHS in crisis.
He was questioned by the media on gay marriage too, insisting he fully supports equality and voted for it in the initial stages of the legislation in 2014.
But many have pointed out he missed the final historic vote – something he explained by saying he had other government business to deal with – and accused critics of having “resurrected” the issue for political reasons.
Ms Regan has been outspoken in her views over the SNP’s plans for gender reform, resigning from government over Ms Sturgeon’s bill on the issue, and claimed the party had lost its way in recent years.
But she pitched herself as the unity candidate during her campaign launch on Friday, saying she would run a competent government while reaching out to the grassroots of the independence movement.
She also hit out at the current chief executive of the SNP, Peter Murrell, saying as the husband of Ms Sturgeon, there was a “conflict of interest” in him running the contest.
Weather warnings are in place for snow, wind and rain across much of the UK on New Year’s Day.
The start of 2025 will bring a “multi-hazard storm, combining severe gales, heavy rain and possibly significant snow as the rain runs into cold air,” said Sky News meteorologist Christopher England.
Pic: Met Office
The most significant snowfall on New Year’s Day will be from Donegal, across Northern Ireland and into the north of England and south of Scotland.
The wind looks strongest in the south, Mr England added, where 60mph winds are possible inland and 80mph gusts around the coasts of the Irish Sea.
The stormy weather continues on 2 January, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings across England, Wales and parts of Scotland.
The UK has faced widespread disruption over the last few days, as thick fog descended.
Tens of thousands of passengers had flights delayed or cancelled, while drivers were warned about dangerous conditions with poor visibility.
Revellers are also set for a “wet and rather windy” New Year’s Eve, with the potential for a snowy Hogmanay in Scotland.
There could be some “possibly disruptive weather” on 31 December, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said, with Scotland likely to see the worst of it.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for winds of up to 70mph that may cause travel disruption on New Year’s Eve.
The alert, in place from 7am until 11pm on Tuesday, covers most of Northern Ireland as well as north of York in England up to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenock.
The forecaster also warned that delays to transport are likely, with gusts of up to 60mph expected in most areas.
Those affected should check road conditions for driving and the latest travel information as well as preparing for in advance for potential power cuts.
A pensioner who is refusing to leave what’s being branded Britain’s loneliest housing estate has told Sky News he is facing bullying and intimidation tactics to force him out.
Nick Wisniewski’s ex-council flat in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire is set to be demolished because the local authority wants to redevelop the area, which has become a derelict eyesore.
The vast area on the outskirts of Glasgow used to have almost 1,000 properties, but slowly the bulldozers have moved in, creating huge mounds of rubble where homes once stood.
The land is overgrown, with all remaining properties boarded up – apart from the retired bank worker’s home, which demolition teams have been unable to touch as he refuses to budge.
Nick Wisniewski claims he is being bullied to leave his home
Rubble where homes on the estate once stood
‘They’ll basically need to drag me out’
The 68-year-old, whose neighbours were all rehomed in 2023, bought the flat in 2017 under the discounted right-to-buy scheme and is now mortgage-free.
He told Sky News he rejected an initial offer from North Lanarkshire Council of £35,000 plus two year’s rent as it would not be enough to buy a new place.
Contemplating a time in the future when he is forced out, he said: “By law they can smash my door down, they can come in here, manhandle me to get me out. That’s the law, and they’ll basically need to drag me out.”
Asked if he is prepared to go to that length to stop himself being removed, he said: “I am hoping it doesn’t come to that, but if it does then so be it.”
He reveals a compulsory purchase order process is now under way.
A compulsory purchase order is the legal power given to a local council to buy a property without the owner’s consent.
The legal battle will now be resolved by the Scottish government in due course.
There used to be almost a thousand properties on the estate
He said: “It’s been all intimidation, bullying, lies. They offered me £40,000 over a year ago. I thought they’d have offered me a wee bit more. I would accept, probably, £60,000.
“They had a meeting a couple of weeks ago saying that they are starting legal, which means compulsory purchase order.
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“There’s so many stages to that and it’ll take a while for that to come in to force.”
North Lanarkshire Council told Sky News it “completely refutes” any allegations of bullying or intimidation.
A spokesman said: “We are continuing to try and engage with the remaining resident and our focus is on progressing our ambitious plans to transform this area of Gowkthrapple for the benefit of the local community.”
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