NICOLA Sturgeon has rejected claims that the SNP is embroiled in a “civil war” amid the contest to replace her as first minister.
Speaking after FMQs, the outgoing SNP leader told journalists that it had been almost two decades since the last leadership election and insisted there was no prospect of the party splitting following suggestions from Mhairi Black.
Sturgeon had clashed with Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who dug in over comments made by Kate Forbes during the STV debate earlier this week.
During a cross-examination section of the programme, Forbes said to Health Secretary Humza Yousaf: “When you were transport minister the trains were never on time, when you were justice minister the police were strained to breaking point, and now as health minister, we’ve got record high waiting times.”
And, third contender Ash Regan claimed the SNP had “lost its way” in her opening remarks.
Opposition politicians were quick to claim the SNP was “openly at war with itself” following the explosive TV debate, with Labour and Tory politicians At FMQs, Ross said Forbes comments would be used on Scottish Conservative election leaflets “going forward”.
NEW: 'I don't believe there is any prospect of the SNP splitting,' Nicola Sturgeon has told journalists. The First Minister was asked about Douglas Ross claiming there's a 'civil war' in the SNP and suggestions from Mhairi Black of a party split. pic.twitter.com/s9p58ikXxQ
— The National (@ScotNational) March 9, 2023
Black, deputy SNP Westminster leader, said she does not know if the party will stay together if Forbes is chosen as the new leader.
Asked if that could happen on The Bunker podcast, Black said: “Honestly I don’t know, to tell you the truth.”
Sturgeon denied that there was a civil war under way in the party and said the contest was a “democratic election”.
She added: “I appreciate, this is not meant as a flippant comment, we’ve had a couple of deputy leadership election campaigns in the SNP in recent years, but it's almost 20 years since there’s been a leadership election, people are not used to its, it's a democratic election and that’s something to be embraced.”
The FM added: “I don’t believe there is any prospect of the SNP splitting, I think the SNP’s having a democratic contest, and once that contest is decided it will get behind whoever emerges as the winner.”
Sturgeon said: “One of the wonderful things about Mhairi Black, and she’s somebody I have got a lot of respect for and a huge amount of affection for, I love Mhairi Black, and one of her many qualities is she just tells it as it is, she speaks straight.
“I’m not suggesting you’ve given me her comments out of context, but I’ve not seen them so I don’t want to comment any further, I’ll speak for myself.”
The FM was also asked if she believed the contest was harming the party’s reputation.
She said: “I take the view that democracy is never damaging. What I said in there and it’s not intended as a comment to any one candidate, it's all of them. This is an internal election, it's tough, sometimes internal elections can be the hardest because it's your colleagues you're up against but it is the relatively easy part.
“This job [FM] is not easy, it's really, really difficult, and the most important challenge and task of whoever succeeds me is to retain the trust of the people of Scotland.
“If we don’t have that, building on everything we’ve done in government over 16 years, eight of them under my leadership, then nothing else is possible.
“I know they’re all very conscious of that and that has to be what they keep their eyes firmly on.”
It comes as a poll, by Redfield and Wilton Strategies, put support for Yes on 45% against 55% for No, the same totals as the outcome of the 2014 referendum.
Sturgeon was asked if she believed the poll had been impacted by the SNP leadership race.
She added: “Democracy is a good thing, the leadership election is rigorous, we should expect that.
“The candidates are vying not just to be leader of the SNP, they’re vying to be first minister, so its right and proper that there was a robust exchange of policies, views, approaches.
“As I said yesterday to some of your colleagues - I’m an outgoing leader, I’ve chosen to step down from leadership, so I’m not going to give a running commentary on the twists and turns.”
Asked if the contest had made her reconsider her resignation, the FM laughed and added: “No, maybe my views are slightly skewed because I’ve just come out of First Minister’s Questions but, no, I’m quite looking forward to getting to the end of the month.”
The SNP leadership contest will conclude on Monday, March 27.
