Fergus Ewing: Absurd to allow Green zealots to determine next first minister

SNP backbencher Fergus Ewing has said it would be “absurd” to allow the Scottish Greens to determine his party’s next leader as he backed Kate Forbes to replace Humza Yousaf.

Former leadership candidate Forbes is among those being named as a possible successor to Yousaf who announced his intention to resign earlier.

Speaking to the World at One on BBC Radio 4, Ewing said Yousaf had made the right decision but had been undermined by his partners in the Bute House Agreement, which came to an end last week.

He said: “I respect his decision; it was the right one. He did, of course, have many problems over his short time in office – most of them were not of his making, some of them were inherited from Nicola Sturgeon’s time and some of them, I’m afraid, arose with the deeply damaging relationship with the Scottish Green party, who are frankly zealots and extremists – they’re not really politicians.”

Asked who the next SNP leader should be, Ewing backed Forbes, the former finance secretary.

He said: “Kate Forbes has the biggest majority of any MSP. If any other candidate is chosen because the Greens say they won’t work with Kate Forbes – we’re actually allowing the Green party to determine who the next first minister will be, that’s surely absurd.

“Politicians should work together far more than they do. Most of the political agreements seem to be more about theatre than substance. There’s no doubt in my mind that the people in the leadership of the other main parties – Tory, Liberal and Labour – respect Kate Forbes. They will trust her, they will work with her.”

Following Yousaf’s announcement earlier, Green co-leader Patrick Harvie warned his successor not to take “your political allies for granted”.

He said: “The Scottish Greens have a long track record of working constructively from opposition and will do so with any first minister who shares our progressive values and who can secure our confidence. 

  “We know many people will be disappointed by the events of the last week. We are too. But we cannot afford to look backwards. This is a pivotal moment for our country, and our politics must live up to the challenges we face, and hold true to our values . 

“Finally, to the next first minister. Trust matters, integrity matters, values matter. Do not ever take them or your political allies for granted. The country expects, demands, and deserves better.”