KATE Forbes will not be running against John Swinney for SNP leadership.
The former finance secretary had been tipped as a potential replacement for Humza Yousaf after she narrowly lost out to him in last year’s contest.
But in a statement on Thursday she confirmed she will not be launching a campaign this time around.
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Several senior party members had backed the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP for a rerun at the top job, including those regularly at odds with the SNP leadership such as Joanna Cherry and Fergus Ewing.
Forbes's spokesperson told the media on Wednesday there had been "informal" talks held between her and Swinney which Forbes said in her statement were “both frank and constructive”.
READ MORE: John Swinney launches bid for SNP leadership
“What emerged was that we share a powerful common purpose for the country,” she added.
“That includes a passion to revitalise our party, reach out to those who feel disempowered and reinvigorate the independence movement.
“It also includes an understanding that economic growth and tackling poverty must again be key priorities, and that a just transition to ‘net zero’ must work with, and not against, our communities and businesses.
“But more than that, John is clear that he is determined to return the SNP to governing from the mainstream. Competent, candid government earning the trust of the people.
“That was the vision I offered in the last leadership contest."
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Forbes also hinted at her desire to accept Swinney’s offer to return to Government, should he take on the top job.
Promising she would play a “significant part” in his team, Swinney said on Thursday morning: “If elected I will make sure Kate is able to make that contribution.”
Forbes thanked SNP members who had reached out and urged her to stand, recognising some may be disappointed.
“To those people I say this – you can be certain that delivering on the priorities for which we have, together, advocated in recent years has been at the heart of today’s decision,” she said.
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