Rumours are swirling round that former deputy first minister John Swinney is being lobbied to take over from Humza Yousaf till the 2026 Holyrood election, writes Simon Johnson, The Telegraph’s Scottish political editor.
Insiders argue that Mr Swinney, an SNP grandee who’s massively revered and favored, is best positioned to see the occasion by means of this era of disaster than any of the opposite potential replacements.
He might hand over the reins after the 2026 election, they are saying, a delay that may give SNP Westminster chief Stephen Flynn time to get a seat at Holyrood.
Nevertheless, Mr Flynn has been blamed in latest days for being one of many primary architects of the disaster that has precipitated Mr Yousaf’s anticipated resignation.
Mr Flynn is in search of to carry his Aberdeen South seat within the forthcoming common election, which comprises hundreds of North Sea oil and fuel employees.
He was extraordinarily eager to eliminate the Greens and travelled to Holyrood final Wednesday for talks with the First Minister. Mr Yousaf held his ill-fated press convention to announce he was ditching the Greens the next day.