Achi news desk-
The prospect of another messy battle leading to a ridiculously difficult general election has left many of the MPs who will be fighting to hold on to their seats completely disheartened.
The pressure has been to avoid that at all costs.
By Wednesday night, it had become clear from conversations with senior sources in the party and government that this had been achieved.
READ MORE: John Swinney to be the next SNP leader and First Minister
John Swinney and Kate Forbes did not concede anything in parliament, but they confirmed that they had spoken on Tuesday.
Others had also acted as emissaries, including MPs Stewart McDonald and Ian Blackford.
Mr Blackford, who knows Ms Forbes and Mr Swinney well, denied their involvement had been crucial.
“I don’t want to overplay the role either of us played, but I’ve been around a long time and all I care about is the best interests of the party ,” he told The Herald.
“If there was anything I could have done that might have helped in some respects, then that’s fine, but I wouldn’t overplay it.”
He was, he admits, worried about the possibility of a leadership contest.
The conversation between Ms Forbes and Mr Swinney was “sincere”.
In her statement, she said what had emerged “was that we share a powerful common purpose for the country.”
Some of that common purpose was evident in some of the similar thoughts expressed in Mr Swinney’s speech and Ms Forbes’ statement.
Tellingly, both appeared to be gently pushing back against Humza Yousaf and the Bute House Agreement.
“The climate crisis is a real and present threat to our society. But we have to design an approach to net zero that takes people and business with us,” said Mr Swinney to the audience of supporters and journalists. at the Grassmarket.
The transition to net zero “must work with, and not against, our communities and businesses,” Ms Forbes said.
There were also echoes when it came to economic growth and party reform.
READ MORE: Kate Forbes to make an announcement on the SNP leadership race
The race to replace Humza Yousaf began last week when it became clear that the Greens were fierce at the end of their time in government and that the FM could not count on them to support him in a motion of confidence.
On Tuesday morning, just 24 hours after he formally announced his resignation, a camera crew was outside the Forbes’ house in Dingwall waiting on their doorstep.
Her husband, Ali, left the house driving his van right in front of the camera, allowing his wife the luxury of a three and a half hour drive along the A9 before she had to answer questions about her leadership ambitions.
By 12.30, the Scottish Parliament Gardens Lobby was full of reporters and camera crews all waiting for her to leave the ASA block.
When she eventually appeared just over an hour later, she was encouraging, saying nothing, although, as always, very polite.
Kate Forbes has not yet said whether she will throw her hat into the ring for the SNP leadership pic.twitter.com/VOAJZJpU5s
— Andrew Learmonth (@andrewearmonth) April 30, 2024
Ms Forbes was due to be at the External Affairs, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on Thursday but pulled out unexpectedly.
According to reports, her 21-month-old daughter, Naomi, had an accident on Wednesday which led to them both spending a few hours at Sick Kids Edinburgh.
She is well, but Ms Forbes, understandably, wanted to spend time with her family rather than answer questions from journalists.
Those SNP MPs and MLAs who started the week deserted are now ‘cock-a-hoop’.
“This is the best result we could have had,” said one.
Another source said that any unhappiness from members who did not get a vote or a chance to ask questions in a husting would certainly be short-lived as two of the party’s best and brightest performers joined.
It should, if it goes well, secure an unstable government and bring peace to the wicked and formidable Holyrood group ahead of the most difficult election in the history of the SNP, the bid for a sixth term – a quarter of a century of government.
But how long will that peace last? Although Swinney has insisted he wait until at least 2031, that’s only six years away.
It is believed that part of the reason why Ms Forbes did not throw her hat into the ring was that, if she had lost a second time, it might have been impossible to stand again for a third.
The next SNP leadership contest will not be that far off.
