Kate Forbes most popular to replace Nicola Sturgeon in SNP poll despite row over religious beliefs

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Kate Forbes is the most popular candidate to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister despite the row over her religious beliefs, a poll of SNP supporters has found.Scots who voted for the Nationalists at the 2021 Holyrood election were questioned on who they think should replace her as party leader - with almost a third (31 per cent) of those questioned said they do not yet know who to back.But 28 per cent said they support Forbes - putting her ahead of rivals Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan, who polled 20 per cent and seven per cent respectively.It is the first survey of SNP supporters to be carried out since the leadership contest began.The poll is a much needed boost for Forbes' flagging campaign after several MSPs withdraw their support for her amid the row over her religious beliefs.The backlash against Forbes, who is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, began after she revealed she would not have voted for same-sex marriage if she had been an MSP at the time the legislation was passed.The poll, carried out for communications agency the Big Partnership, involved 1,001 Scots who voted SNP in 2021.

They were questioned between Monday and Wednesday this week.It found only five per cent of SNP supporters think the new leader’s faith or personal beliefs are important.But 58 per cent said it is important for whoever succeeds Sturgeon to have a plan in place to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and 53 per cent said the new leader should have a blueprint to grow the economy.The poll also found that 61 per cent of SNP voters want a referendum on independence to be held within the next two years – with 75 per cent saying such a vote should take place within the next five years.Paul Robertson, head of public affairs at Big,