Two candidates step up for SNP leadership
The first two MSPs to enter the race for the Scottish National Party (SNP) leadership have emerged.
Current deputy leader Rosanna Cunningham put her name forward on Tuesday, and on Thursday she was joined by justice spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon.
John Swinney resigned as leader earlier in the week after the party’s disappointing European election results, down by almost eight per cent.
He told a press conference that: “I couldn’t allow our message to be obscured by the constant speculation about my leadership.”
Ms Sturgeon told BBC One’s Reporting Scotland that she offered the party “a fresh start”.
“I think one of the things that we have to do is to engage better with younger votes who at the moment are turned off the political process, and what better person to do that than someone of almost the same generation?”
Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Cunningham said: “As the deputy leader I am clear in my mind that I am the best person to succeed John and I do not believe that the party would be best served by an extended period of speculation over who might or might not stand.
“I believe I am best placed to provide a distinctly different political style while nevertheless retaining all that has been effective throughout John’s leadership.”
Ms Cunningham is expected to turn the focus to full independence for Scotland, and away from attempts to make devolution work.
There are expected to be other candidates for the position, with speculation surrounding possible candidacies from Alex Neil, Kenny MacAskill and Mike Russell.
Former leader Alex Salmond has ruled himself out of the contest. He told the BBC: “‘If nominated I will decline, if drafted I will defer, and if elected I will resign. I loved being SNP leader and I really enjoyed every minute, but that was then. Now I quite like not being in that position.”
For the first time in the SNP, the leadership election will be decided by one member, one vote.
