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STV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Talk of Blackford running should be taken ‘with huge dose of salt', says Forbes
Talk of former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford running to replace Kate Forbes should be taken with a 'huge dose of salt', the deputy First Minister has said. Forbes announced earlier this week she would be standing down as the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch at next year's election. Newspaper reports subsequently suggested Blackford was considering seeking the nomination after being encouraged by members. But appearing at a live recording of the Herald's Unspun podcast at the Edinburgh Fringe, Forbes said she had spoken to the former MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber in recent days and he had not mentioned considering seeking the seat. The Deputy First Minister said she was taking such reports with a 'huge dose of salt'. 'I had a chat with him a few days ago and that certainly wasn't in the conversation,' she said. Forbes added that the question of her successor becomes an issue for local party members. 'I do think it needs to be a healthy competition and certainly he hasn't told me that,' she added. Asked if she was likely to vote for the former Westminster leader, who was ousted by current incumbent Stephen Flynn, to fill her seat, Forbes refused to be drawn, saying instead that she would wait to see who the candidates were. The deputy First Minister also dodged a question on who would be the next leader of the SNP in her absence. Forbes, Flynn and Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan have widely been seen as the likely contenders in any future contest, but the deputy First Minister said she rejected the premise of the question from a journalist in the audience. She also expanded on her decision for leaving Holyrood next year, saying the ultimate breaking point came following a visit to an Indian orphanage last month. 'I was just really overwhelmed that these kids, these really precious kids, didn't have something that my daughter did have and that my absence from home so often was a serious matter,' she said. 'I realised that in voluntarily signing up for another five years, I was choosing to essentially say goodbye to her every Monday morning and say hello again, hopefully, on a Friday night – on a good week, sometimes on a Saturday night … I just don't have the heart to do that for another five years.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Kate Forbes opens up on decision to stand down at Holyrood election
The Deputy First Minister told The Herald's Unspun live show at the Edinburgh Fringe that she did not want her announcement to be seen as 'standing down in the face of difficulty'. She also revealed that she had made the decision not to stand again after visiting an orphanage in India on a family trip this summer. Forbes, who represents Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch, said that she 'didn't have the heart' to put her young daughter through another five years of her being largely absent and 'outsourcing her upbringing'. She added that former SNP MP Ian Blackford had not told her he was going to bid for her seat and said she was taking reports with a 'huge dose of salt'. READ MORE: Rushanara Ali quits after reports of £4000 rent hike for tenants Asked what the reasons were behind her decision not to fight the Holyrood 2026 election, Forbes said she had made the decision in mid-July after the family visit to India. Recounting visiting an orphanage on the trip, she explained: 'I was just really overwhelmed that these kids, these really precious kids, didn't have something that my daughter did have and that my absence from home so often was a serious matter. 'I realised that in voluntarily signing up for another five years, I was choosing to essentially say goodbye to her every Monday morning and say hello again, hopefully, on a Friday night – on a good week, sometimes on a Saturday night … I just don't have the heart to do that for another five years.' Forbes added: 'Every election is a choice, and to voluntarily choose to essentially outsource my daughter's upbringing was a sacrifice too far. 'So whilst it was a really difficult decision, and has been a difficult decision – I don't want to let people down – I'm conscious of the impact it will have on my own patch, when you boil it down like that, it becomes a really easy decision and a really simple decision to make. 'I came back from India mid-July thinking that I knew what I needed to do. And then obviously I had to have conversations that I needed to have.' Forbes said that she hoped her departure from politics would force the Scottish Parliament to 'fix the basics' and give MSPs more nursery hours to allow them to do their job whilst having a family life. 'I'd love that to be one of the changes that my decision delivers, because there are other mums and dads in that Parliament, some of whom will be elected for the first time in the next election. 'I think that's the least we can do to support carers and parents to ensure that there is a facility that is not limited to three hours per day.' She added that politics had become a 'pretty brutal' place, adding that social media had become 'much more toxic' in recent years and that has translated into 'real-life abuse'. 'The world is an angrier place,' she said. 'I find that really exhausting. It's a tough gig.' 'I think you get used to the anger,' she added. 'I am not a quitter, my choice to stand down is not – I don't want to be characterised as quitting in the face of difficulty. 'I have made that decision with all polling suggesting that I would win my constituency seat. I'm not a quitter. But I do find that argument absolutely exhausting.' Forbes announced on Monday that she wouldn't be seeking re-election to spend more time with her young family, and told the event she didn't know what she would be doing next. READ MORE: John Swinney to consider imposing state boycott on Israel After her announcement, reports surfaced suggesting Blackford, the former MP for Ross, Skye, and Lochaber, was considering putting himself in the running after encouragement from members. Forbes said that she had spoken to Blackford in recent days and he had not mentioned considering seeking the seat. 'I had a chat with him a few days ago and that certainly wasn't in the conversation,' she said. Forbes added that the question of her successor is an issue for local party members. 'I do think it needs to be a healthy competition and certainly he hasn't told me that,' she added. The DFM refused to be drawn on if she would vote for Blackford to be her successor, adding that she would wait to see who the candidates are.
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Benjamin Netanyahu will not listen to Keir Starmer, says Anas Sarwar
The Scottish Labour leader was speaking at an Unspun event held by The Herald at the Edinburgh Fringe when he was asked if he believed the UK Prime Minister had 'done enough' to stop Israel's bombardment on Gaza. Although Sarwar failed to answer if he believed Starmer had done enough, he did say the Prime Minister had caused 'a lot of upset' following an interview on LBC in the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas, where he said Israel had the 'right to defend herself' by withholding power and water from Palestinian civilians. Sawar said that he believes cutting off food and water is a clear breach of international law and that Netanyahu is 'clearly in breach' of international law and agrees with the International Court of Justice that Israel is carrying out genocide in Gaza. READ MORE: BBC dismisses complaint after host calls Israel spokesperson 'propagandist' He added that Netanyahu is not a 'fair actor for peace' and is motivated more by 'staying in power and staying out of jail' rather than in the best interests of his people and the Middle East. When pressed if he thought that Starmer was doing enough to stop Netanyahu, Sarwar said he didn't believe the Israeli prime minister would listen to his UK counterpart. 'One is, I think there are probably more people that think they have influence to stop Benjamin Netanyahu, or even the UK has more influence in stopping Benjamin Netanyahu than we do,' Sarwar said. 'I don't think he [Netanyahu] will listen to the Prime Minister of the UK.' When asked if he thinks Starmer has no influence over the Israeli Prime Minister, Sarwar said, he believes the Labour leader has influence over the US president Donald Trump, who ultimately is the only person who could stop Netanyahu. 'I think Trump is ultimately the only one who can exert influence over Benjamin Netanyahu,' Sarwar said. When asked if he thought Starmer had enough influence on Trump, Sarwar didn't answer and said: 'Let's be honest, the globe has utterly failed the people of Palestine.' 'The world has failed. 'We often talk about the international community as if somehow there is a group of people out there that can automatically do something or resolve something. The international community, if any such thing exists, has clearly failed and that means we have a population that's been collectively punished. 'People are being literally starved to death and also it is looking like the peace process is further away than it has ever been.' Sarwar went on to say that although he believes the UK Government have made the right steps recently in saying that it would recognise the state of Palestine, Labour have to be doing 'much more to hold the Israeli government to account'. He also called on the Labour Government to do more to provide evidence that there is no 'hint' of components supplied by the UK that are being used by Israeli forces in Gaza. 'I think every single form of pressure that can be put on Benjamin Netanyahu has to be applied if we are to see a peaceful resolution. 'Palestinian statehood is welcomed. I want the state of Palestine to be recognised. 'My one frustration with the debate about Palestinian statehood. Palestinian statehood is not going to stop the war in itself. 'The most urgent pressing thing we need right now is for the war to stop. 'Bombs to stop dropping, bullets to stop firing, people to get the food and supplies, medicine they need, and a pathway to that piece of freedom.'
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Catalonia-style indy push? Swinney says 'not going to work'
SPEAKING at The Herald newspaper's Unspun event at the Edinburgh Fringe yesterday, First Minister John Swinney poured cold water on an alternative motion proposed by 43 SNP branches. It calls for the totality of votes for pro-independence parties in the list vote in next year's Scottish elections to be taken as votes for independence. Should these votes exceed 50% across all pro-independence parties, then the Scottish Government should immediately open independence negotiations with the Westminster Government. However, when asked about the plan, the First Minister insisted that it's "not going to work". Speaking to former BBC politics editor Brian Taylor, Swinney was asked whether he had "any truck" with the proposal. He replied: "No, I don't. Because I don't think that is an argument that would have any legal force at the end of it, because it's not an agreed process. READ MORE: Media 'giving false impression' Scots care about independence, Tory MP claims 'It might be what we would like to do – I would love Scotland to be independent today, but it's not going to deliver that process of Scotland becoming an independent country." He was then asked if the SNP branches supporting this motion should drop the idea. He replied: "Well, I don't think it's an idea worth pursuing because I think it's going to lead to the type of situation that has emerged in Catalonia. 'Without an agreed process, Catalonia tried to secure its independence and it did not succeed.' He added: 'I totally understand the frustration and I feel it – but I don't think I am serving people well if I put in front of them a proposition that I know in my heart is not going to work." Catalonia held an independence referendum on October 1, 2017. The referendum was held after the Catalan Parliament, the Generalitat de Catalunya, which had a pro-independence majority, passed its law on the Referendum on Self-determination of Catalonia on September 6 that year. The parliamentary debate was boycotted by the anti-independence parties who walked out in protest. The following day, the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that the law was unconstitutional and void and ordered its immediate repeal. The Spanish Supreme Court cited the clause in the Spanish Constitution which states that Spain and its territory are "una e indivisible", one and undividable. This clause effectively prohibits any part of the Spanish state from becoming independent without a Spanish-wide referendum to alter the constitution. The Spanish Supreme Court also cited Catalonia's Statute of Autonomy, which states that any law which alters Catalonia's constitutional status must be passed with a two thirds majority in the Catalan Parliament. Even without the walk-out of anti-independence politicians, this could not have been achieved as the pro-independence parties lacked the necessary numbers. Despite the Supreme Court ruling, the referendum went ahead. It was boycotted by Catalan anti-independence parties, and the local authorities which they controlled refused to facilitate the ballot or provide any means of voting. These parties called upon Catalans who opposed independence to boycott the ballot. The Spanish Government controversially ordered the National Police and the Guardia Civil to physically block citizens from reaching ballot stations. Despite scenes of violence and the difficulty of voting, the "Yes" side won, with 2,044,038 (90.18%) voting for independence and 177,547 (7.83%) voting against – though the turnout was only 43.03%. For comparison, turnout in the 2017 Catalan Parliament elections was 79.1%. The Catalan government estimated that up to 770,000 votes were not cast due to polling stations being closed off during the police crackdown. Given the widespread anti-independence boycott, it's hard to tell what the result of the referendum would have been if those opposed to independence had participated and there had been no attempts from the Spanish government to suppress the vote. However, given that opinion polling in Catalonia at the time consistently showed a small majority for independence, many observers believe that the referendum would have resulted in a small but decisive independence majority. READ MORE: John Curtice lays out 'most likely' route to new Scottish independence referendum The referendum was followed by a declaration of independence, which Madrid refused to recognise or engage with. The international community likewise refused to recognise Catalan independence. Arrest warrants were issued for the president of the Catalan government, Carles Puigdemont, and vice president Oriol Junqueras on charges of abusing public funds on a referendum which the Spanish Supreme Court had ruled illegal. Former president Carles Puigdemont Puigdemont fled into exile in Belgium, while Junqueras was arrested and later sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was pardoned and released in 2021, along with eight other Catalan pro-independence politicians who had been imprisoned for their role in the referendum. The UK Government cannot rule that it's illegal for Scottish pro-independence politicians to stand on an independence platform during a Scottish Parliamentary election. There is no constitutional prohibition in the UK on any part of the UK becoming independent. Neither would it be able to order the police to prevent people voting or take legal action against pro-independence politicians. However, what it would certainly do would be to refuse to engage with the Scottish Government on the issue, no doubt citing the UK Supreme Court ruling that the Scottish Parliament lacks the legal authority to hold an independence referendum. It's worth noting that there was a narrow majority of votes cast for pro-independence parties on the list vote in 2021. Between the SNP, the Scottish Greens and Alba, the pro-independence parties secured an absolute majority of votes cast on the regional list, winning a combined total of 50.1%. However, this did not even register with the Westminster government, which, as we all know, refused to allow an independence referendum to take place. Unless the combined vote for pro-independence parties was well in excess of 60%, which on current polling seems highly unlikely, Westminster would continue to stonewall, gaslight, and obstruct. The international community would also most probably refuse to recognise Scottish independence. Under such circumstances, Spain would threaten to employ its infamous veto on Scottish membership of the EU. That said, Swinney told those attending the Edinburgh event that there would be 'no mucking about' and that voters would be in no doubt that a vote for his party in 2026 would be a vote for Scotland to be an independent country.
The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
John Swinney dismisses SNP members' rival independence plan
The First Minister was speaking at an Unspun event held by The Herald at the Edinburgh Fringe when he was asked about the rival, grassroots proposals to his own independence strategy. Writing in The National in July, Swinney had laid out his three-point plan to secure a Yes vote: building support for independence among the voting public, upping the pressure on Westminster to allow Scotland to assert its right to choose in a referendum, and urging the public to vote [[SNP]] to do so. However, 43 SNP branches responded by backing a rival proposal, which called for the list votes at the 2026 Holyrood election to be treated as a de facto independence referendum, with ballots for pro-independence parties and Unionist parties representing Yes and No votes respectively. Speaking to columnist Brian Taylor on stage at Summerhall, Swinney was asked if he had 'any truck' with the rival proposal. 'No, I don't,' he said. 'Because I don't think that is an argument that would have any legal force at the end of it, because it's not an agreed process. 'It might be what we would like to do – I would love Scotland to be independent today, but it's not going to deliver that process of Scotland becoming an independent country.' READ MORE: John Curtice gives verdict on John Swinney's indyref2 plan Asked if the [[SNP]] branches should then drop their proposals, the First Minister said: 'Well, I don't think it's an idea worth pursuing because I think it's going to lead to the type of situation that has emerged in Catalonia. 'Without an agreed process, Catalonia tried to secure its independence and it did not succeed.' He added: 'Totally I understand the frustration of people inside my own party – and outside my party and across the community. I totally understand that frustration and I feel it – but I don't think I am serving people well if I put in front of them a proposition that I know in my heart is not going to work.' Brian Taylor speaking to John Swinney at the Edinburgh Fringe (Image: Gordon Terris) The SNP leader said he was 'only interested' in a process which could see Scotland become genuinely independent on the international stage. He said a legally agreed referendum, like the one held in 2014, would be 'crucial to get domestic and international legitimacy for the independent Scotland'. Swinney said that ahead of the 2026 elections, the SNP would be urging voters to 'look at the precedent' in place. 'We did have a majority of MSPs committed after 2021 to the principle of a referendum on independence, but we were not able to secure that referendum,' he said. 'So I'm simply saying to people, look at the precedent for all of this. When we got a majority in 2011, it led to the legislation which gave us a referendum.' READ MORE: SNP members set for second meeting to challenge Scottish independence plan Since the 2014 vote, Unionist politicians have often looked to dismiss calls for a second referendum by pointing to the rhetoric that the initial ballot was a 'once in a generation' opportunity. Addressing that, the First Minister told the audience in Edinburgh: 'We are a sovereign country. 'Go back to the roots of Scotland and representative democracy. The identity and the foundations of our ethos as a country is based on the sovereignty of the people … it's deeply founded in how Scotland has influenced the world.' He added: 'By 2030, a million people will be in Scotland who were not eligible to vote in 2014. So let's start talking about what a generation is.' The SNP leader further said there would be 'no mucking about' and that voters would be in no doubt that a vote for his party in 2026 would be a vote for Scotland to be an independent country.
