At the start of this year, the Scottish National Party appeared impregnable. It had an average poll lead of 20 points even midway through its fourth term in office. The campaign for Scottish independence had stalled, but few doubted that the SNP would remain the natural party of devolved government.
But all is changed, changed utterly. The fraught leadership contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon following her sudden resignation as first minister exposed the SNP’s internal divides and resulted in the election of Humza Yousaf. Despite having the backing of the party machine, and the opprobrium heaped on his rival, Kate Forbes, because of her socially conservative views, Mr Yousaf won the contest in the second round with only 52 per cent to Ms Forbes’ 48 per cent. His poll ratings are poor and he struggles to convince even many inside his own party.
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