Kate Forbes tossed a grenade into the SNP leadership contest by savaging the record of rival Humza Yousaf in Government, but she may have also blown up her own campaign.
Yousaf’s supporters privately admit she had turned her campaign around after a disastrous first week dominated by her opposition to same sex marriage.
But angry party MSPs and MPs believe her excoriating attack on the Health Secretary on live TV, and by implication on Nicola Sturgeon’s Government, have sunk her chances.
One senior MSP described her approach in the STV debate as “batshit f****** crazy”, adding:
“She tarnished the Government’s record and tarnished the record of one of her colleagues.”
Her critics believe Sturgeon is popular with SNP members who will take a dim view of attack lines they believe could have come from the Tories.
Party members may see Forbes as handing the SNP’s Unionist opponents ammunition for years to come.
Forbes’ view that Yousaf is the “continuity” candidate is also based on the questionable assumption the SNP want a fundamental break with Sturgeon’s leadership.
Her criticisms, one party insider believes, make it almost certain that Deputy First Minister John Swinney will back Yousaf - a prized endorsement.
“John is a stickler for conduct and he will not like what Kate has done at all,” the source said.
Her scorched earth policy is also likely to leave her isolated in the SNP group at Holyrood, whose members are lining up behind Yousaf.
The failed leaderships of Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Truss were in no small measure down to their lack of support among their party groups.
If Forbes pulls off a win, her conservative views on gay marriage and abortion, as well as her mauling of Yousaf, would see some colleagues refuse to serve in her administration.
Forbes' attacks confirm there is a huge difference between being bright and politically savvy.
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