Nicola Sturgeon shocked everyone when she announced on Wednesday she was stepping down as First Minister. So who will step into her shoes?
Although Ms Sturgeon was the natural successor when Alex Salmond bowed out more than eight years ago, there is no obvious single candidate to take over from her. Deputy First Minister John Swinney has ruled himself out, but there are many others whose names have been mentioned in connection with the biggest job in the country.
It falls to SNP members to make the choice. They will pick a new leader for the party and that leader will then be endorsed by the Scottish Parliament as First Minister. Nominations for the leadership have already opened and those considering throwing their hats in the ring have until next Friday (24 February) to do so. The postal ballot of members will open on 13 March and close at noon on 27 March.
Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson is the early favourite in the contest, but if Finance Secretary Kate Forbes decides to stand she will also be a frontrunner to succeed Ms Sturgeon. And after Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry ruled herself out – she could not become First Minister as an MP – there is speculation that Edinburgh Eastern MSP Ash Regan could stand as the candidate of those unhappy about the gender reform agenda.
Here’s the run-down on some of the potential contenders with the odds from Betfair.
. Angus Robertson - Evens
Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson, 53, was leader of the SNP's Westminster group for ten years before losing his Commons seat in 2017 after 16 years as MP for Moray. He was also one of the masterminds behind the SNP's first Holyrood election victory in 2007 and then in 2011 when the party won an overall majority. After being elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2021 he was appointed straight into the Cabinet as Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture. Brought up in Edinburgh, he worked for the BBC World Service before going into politics. And while at Westminster he was the party's long-serving spokesman on defence and foreign affairs. He is the most experienced candidate in the race and seen as one of the obvious frontrunners. Photo: Lesley Martin/PA
9. Shirley-Anne Somerville - 25/1
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, 48, is a senior member of the Scottish Government and is well regarded in the party. She was an MSP for Lothian from 2007 until 2011, but then lost her list seat when the SNP won so many constituencies, returning to Holyrood in 2016 as MSP for Dunfermline. She was immediately appointed minister for further and higher education and in 2018 entered the Cabinet as Social Security Secretary, where she served for three years before moving to Education after the 2021 election. She has been prominent in recent weeks during the teachers' dispute which has seen ongoing industrial action in schools across the country. Photo: John Devlin