Nicola Sturgeon's successor as SNP chief will be announced TODAY trends now
View
comments
Nicola Sturgeon's successor as SNP leader will be announced today after a bitter five-week battle.
Voting closes at noon in the bitter contest that has threatened to rip the nationalists to shreds, with the winner declared around 2pm.
But the identity of the new party chief is still too close to call, with Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes both hoping to come out on top.
Many believe the outcome will depend on the second preferences of those who back the other candidate, Ash Regan, in the first round. Ms Forbes is likely to be the main beneficiary if she is eliminated and her support is redistributed under the SNP's voting system.
Whoever emerges triumphant is expected to be installed as Scottish First Minister tomorrow - and will face a huge task to restore the SNP's fortunes as Labour gains ground north of the border and the prospects of an independence referendum dwindle.
The identity of the new SNP leader is still too close to call, with Huma Yousaf (left) and Kate Forbes (centre) both hoping to come out on top. Ash Regan (right) is expected to come third, but the second preferences of her backers could be key
Nicola Sturgeon shocked the political world in February when she announced she would be stepping down after more than eight years in the job
Ms Sturgeon shocked the political world in February when she announced she would be stepping down after more than eight years in the job.
The fate of the three candidates is set to be revealed at the BT Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh this afternoon.
A vote in Holyrood will follow tomorrow to confirm the SNP leader as First
