SNP leadership: 'We're not worried about a Kate Forbes coup', asserts key Humza Yousaf ally

Neil Gray said he was not worried about the threat of Kate Forbes’ so-called ‘shadow government’

One of Humza Yousaf’s key allies has said the Scottish Government is not worried about the possibility of a leadership challenge from Kate Forbes if the SNP have a difficult general election.

Neil Gray, the economy secretary, also passionately defended the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens.

The minister, speaking at a midge-ridden event at a wind farm in his constituency alongside Green co-leader Patrick Harvie, also called on his fellow SNP MSPs to return to “speaking with one voice”.

Humza Yousaf hugs Kate Forbes in the main chamber during the vote for the new First Minister at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

Mr Gray and Mr Harvie were at the event to mark the second anniversary of the Bute House Agreement – a deal that has faced increased scrutiny over the summer from critics of Humza Yousaf’s leadership.

Both defended the deal, with Mr Gray stating it was “absolutely the right thing to do” and that it was “still right now”. He repeated familiar defences of the deal, such as it securing a pro-independence majority and neutering some of the fierce pushback to SNP policy and politicians witnessed towards the end of the 2016-21 parliamentary session.

The SNP figure added: “I think it is absolutely the right thing to do, I obviously want to see it continue and I have confidence that it will.”

However, the deal has been criticised by defeated leadership contenders in Ms Forbes and Ash Regan. Ms Forbes’s allies within the SNP such as Fergus Ewing are pushing for the deal to be scrapped or have SNP members vote again on its continuation.

It has been reported that Ms Forbes’ allies also operate as a “shadow government” as they continue preparations to overthrow Mr Yousaf in a coup, most likely after the general election.

Some MSPs have suggested a figure of 20 seats lost to Labour or the Tories would be enough to trigger a leadership contest and likely unseat the SNP leader.

Asked whether he was worried about this approach from Ms Forbes, Mr Gray batted the suggestion away.

He said: “No, I’ve had very positive interactions with Kate over the summer on a number of things, including on the Gaelic report that she commissioned when she was in office, I also had a very good conversation with her as she is one of my predecessors around ensuring that we are able to achieve the economic agenda that we want to.

"No I don’t believe that’s the case. Political movements obviously have people within them that have differing opinions, different viewpoints.

"Kate has set hers out during the leadership campaign and it would be strange if she didn’t continue to advocate the positions that she’s previously taken. But obviously our strength is always going to be in ensuring that we continue to have common cause.

"I hope that colleagues continue to speak strongly and passionately on the areas that they believe in, but also continue to support the Government in its objectives, which is about making sure, in my case, we have a wellbeing economy, one that is fair, green and growing, but also the Government’s objective of achieving independence.”

Mr Gray also flatly rejected the suggestion that Mr Yousaf was the first SNP First Minister to struggle to handle internal discipline, arguing “most of those, without naming particular names, that were opposed to the Bute House Agreement were anything other than opposed to the agreement then”.

He said: “Internal party issues are not unique to Humza Yousaf’s premiership or leadership. I remember well these things happening previously under previous party leaders and previous first ministers, so it’s not a modern phenomenon, but certain commentators would like it to be so.

"I’m quite comfortable where we are, I think we’re making good progress in government, and looking forward to the First Minister’s programme for government, which will continue that momentum behind the new First Minister’s set of priorities.”

Earlier in the week, polling guru Sir John Curtice suggested that splits within the SNP playing out in public, particularly during the leadership contest, had damaged the party’s polling figures more than other factors such as the ongoing police investigation into its finances.

Asked whether critics of Mr Yousaf should tone down attacks to help the SNP recover, Mr Gray said: “I’ve already said that it’s always better when political movements are speaking with one voice.

"People are entitled to their views and I don’t believe that the current polling situation can purely be put down to the change in First Minister.

“Obviously the current First Minister hasn’t had his challenges to seek outwith of his control that make it difficult for his agenda to be cutting through in terms of what he is trying to deliver in government.

"I'm confident that the next couple of weeks with the programme for government that people are going to see very clearly what our direction of travel is and I hope that that will continue to see a growth in his popular support which the polls have shown has been growing since he took over as First Minister.”