Youngest MSP claims Nicola Sturgeon legacy is at stake in bitter SNP leadership contest

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scotland’s youngest MSP has claimed Nicola Sturgeon’s legacy is at stake in the bitter battle to succeed her as SNP leader. Emma Roddick, who will pay tribute to the outgoing First Minister in a debate today, is backing Humza Yousaf and said it would be a “mistake” to throw away a “winning recipe”.

Sturgeon’s shock resignation triggered a three-way battle between Yousaf, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and ex-Minister Ash Regan.The contest has been dominated by clashes between the Yousaf, who is pro-Sturgeon, and Forbes, who has criticised the record of the Government.

Roddick, 25, said Sturgeon’s legacy would include policies such as the £25 a week Scottish Child Payment and the Baby Box.She added: "But the one that I think people are really going to connect to is who she’s helped in her time. "She’s always put such a focus on supporting other women and girls into politics, but also to feel empowered, whether that’s standing themselves or making their voice heard.” The Highlands and Islands MSP also said Sturgeon had cemented the SNP as a party of the centre left: “If you look at our members, and why they joined - the points that we got spikes in membership, the points that we got people turning out to knock doors and deliver leaflets - it was that vision, and that hope that was provided by her leadership that really motivated them to want to get into politics. “She really made politics more accessible and made it clear what it means - that it’s about everything in life.

It’s not about reading lots of books or legislation. It’s actually what affects your day-to-day life.” Asked whether Sturgeon’s legacy is at stake in the contest, she replied: “Yes....