Fury as SNP plans to hold leadership hustings to choose Scotland’s next First Minister BEHIND CLOSED DOORS after a string of gaffes by candidates – as Humza Yousaf says he wants country to have a ‘wellbeing economy’
Scottish politics exploded in anger today as the SNP announced it planned to ban the public from hustings to choose the country’s next First Minister.
The nationalist said that nine question and answer events where party members can quiz the candidates had been designated ‘safe spaces’, with no live television pictures or journalists allowed.
The move comes as the party tried to get a grip on the bitter public race to replace Nicola Sturgeon next month, which has already been marked by a string of gaffes by the trio vying for the job.
Frontrunner Kate Forbes has been dogged by controversy over her religious opposition to gay marriage and extra-marital sex.
Today Holyrood health minister Humza Yousaf said the party needed to keep its progressive agenda, and said he believed in Scotland having a ‘wellbeing economy’, as he launched a key policy on expanding free childcare.
An SNP spokesman said: ‘It is the members who will be voting for the next leader of the party, so the SNP NEC has designed the party hustings as a safe space for members to ask questions of the three candidates.’
But Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: ‘This is extraordinary. We are talking here not just about the next SNP leader but also Scotland’s next First Minister.
‘The Conservatives welcomed media to all our leadership hustings – what are the SNP afraid of?’
Today Holyrood health minister Humza Yousaf said the party needed to keep its progressive agenda, and said he believed in Scotland having a ‘wellbeing economy’, as he launched a key policy on expanding free childcare.
Frontrunner Kate Forbes has been dogged by controversy over her religious opposition to gay marriage and extra-marital sex.
Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: ‘This is extraordinary. We are talking here not just about the next SNP leader but also Scotland’s next First Minister. The Conservatives welcomed media to all our leadership hustings – what are the SNP afraid of?’
Broadcasters and photographers will be allowed into venues to get ‘establishment shot of the leadership contestants inside the hustings halls prior to the debate starting’, the SNP said, but will then have to leave.
Reporters will be barred from the halls altogether, although they will be allowed to ‘gather reaction from outside the hustings hall’.
During a visit to Dr Bell’s Family Centre in Leith today, Mr Yousaf was asked if the other candidates’ policies would mean a shift to the right for the SNP.
He said: ‘I believe in a wellbeing economy. I believe of course in economic growth, but not for its own sake, in order to make sure that people’s living standards increase, to make sure we can pay people properly so they can withstand the shocks of things like the Tory cost-of-living crisis.
‘I would say to any of my colleagues in the leadership race that the SNP has managed to gain support to dizzying heights because of the progressive agenda that we have.
‘I think it would be foolish to abandon that.’
Three and four-year-olds can currently access up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year, which is around 30 hours a week in term time.
Some two-year-olds are also eligible for free childcare on a means-tested basis – with around a quarter of the age cohort having this entitlement.
Mr Yousaf said an expansion of free childcare would happen on a phased basis under his leadership, initially costing around £100 million in the 2024/25 financial year.
He said the scheme would take several years to reach all one and two-year-olds but he would ‘accelerate’ the rollout compared to current plans.
Mr Yousaf said: ‘Being first minister, being in government, of course is about prioritising.
‘For me, childcare is a huge priority because it helps get parents back into work.
‘And of course – importantly, crucially – it also boosts our economy. It’s a win-win for everybody.’
He also denied undermining circular economy minister Lorna Slater by saying small producers should be given a one-year exemption from the DRS.
Ms Slater has said she is considering such a move.
Health Secretary Mr Yousaf is up against Finance Secretary Ms Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan for the SNP leadership, with the winner announced on March 27.
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