On Monday (27 March) Scotland will learn whether Humza Yousaf or Kate Forbes is to be its next first minister. SNP members are making a difficult choice, and one that will do much to determine the party’s immediate future. But the mishandling of Nicola Sturgeon’s departure and the unexpectedly brutal nature of the contest to succeed her may already have inflicted fatal damage.
The implosion of the SNP has been an extraordinary spectacle. In common with all departing leaders, Sturgeon has sought to use her final days to define the terms of her legacy, only drawing attention to the weakness of the current leadership field. A conveyor belt of resignations and controversies has left the party looking unstable and seedy. Its membership is now confirmed to have fallen by more than 30,000 from 104,000 in 2021.
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