Really interesting interview there with John Swinney on #newsnight / well worth a look back if you missed it

Continuity wins again

Even more convinced of a coronation after listening to #fmqs so far

As much a gut feel as anything else but reckon we’re heading for a coronation today rather than a contest.
Especially after that Swinney line about KF

Claiming that the union is safe for a generation is as misguided on that side of the argument as claiming that we are on the verge of independence is on the other side

Is there a more chilling reply on here then one that says “if you think ….. then you are part of the problem” - I mean there probably are but that one always makes me stop in my tracks

Poll Analysis: YouGov 26th - 29th of April 2024

Well that was some week in Scottish politics, eh?

Holyrood Seats Projection:
SNP ~ 47
Labour ~ 39
Conservative ~ 23
Green ~ 10
Lib Dem ~ 10

ballotbox.scot/yougov-april-2…

Honestly, this is so poor - imagine relying on it to inform you about what is actually happening in Scotland right now

Nominations are open in the SNP leadership contest

John Swinney says he’s actively considering putting himself forward

Those close to Kate Forbes say she’s also thinking about running again

I’ve been speaking with Mark Diffley about the potential candidates

Interesting to hear John Curtice compare John Swinney to Geoff Boycott there. My son and I were going down the football manager comparison and came up with Sam Allardyce (bit harsh) and Sean Dyce

John Swinney:
Favourable = 25%
Unfavourable = 40%
Among SNP supporters
Favourable = 49%
Unfavourable = 21%

This clarifies one point of potential confusion amid the chaos 👇

He has given principled and empathetic leadership to our country and has worked tirelessly to bring people together. I wish Humza, Nadia and their family well in all that lies ahead.

I am terribly sorry that the First Minster has decided to step down. Humza Yousaf has been a pioneer, the first person of colour to hold office as First Minister.

I suppose he is at least being honest about this being self inflicted and the direct result of his own flawed decisions - unlike many other recently departed leaders across the UK

Latest polling I can see on potential successors
John Swinney (from feb 23)
Favourable - 23%
Unfavourable - 36%
Neither - 29%
Kate Forbes (front October 23)
Favourable - 22%
Unfavourable - 31%
Neither - 31%

Politics is brutal. Despite this being a self inflicted crisis, it’s an also a personal tragedy for the FM and it’s hard to appreciate how hard today is going to be for him and his family.

Once again, if this does happen it’s completely self inflicted and entirely predictable since Thursday

4 days on and it’s the self-inflicted nature of this crisis that I still can’t get my head round.

💥𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴?💥

Humza Yousaf refuses to say whether he will quit if he loses the no confidence vote. Sky News