POLITICS MATTERS: 'Will Kate Forbes join the illustrious group of Highlanders who have led their party?'

The late Charlie Kennedy was much admired across the political divide and led the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006, writes columnist David Stewart. His leadership saw the Lib Dems soar to over 60 MPs in the Commons. Today, the Lib Dem group in Westminster would comfortably fit in a compact-sized minibus.

We were parliamentary neighbours during my two terms in the Commons and although we were different parties, I always remember his courtesy, help and advice when I was a fresh-faced new member. In the autumn of 1997, my parents came to Westminster for dinner. They were delighted when Charlie joined us for the evening and entertained us with his wit and wealth of anecdotes.

Ramsay McDonald is another political leader who hails from the north. He was born in Lossiemouth in 1866 and became the first Labour Prime Minister in 1924. In 1929, in McDonald’s second term as PM, he made history by appointing the first female minister, Margaret Bondfield.

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The third and final member to date of this exclusive club was SNP MP Donald Stewart, who represented the Western Isles from 1970 until 1987. Donald Stewart was SNP Parliamentary group leader from 1974 when he led a group of seven MPs. In fairness, William Wolfe was the overall leader, but in my view Donald Stewart’s tenacity in campaigning for Highlands and Islands issues tips him into my A Team.

Will Kate Forbes become the fourth member of the club, lead her party and become the new First Minister? Two recent polls put Kate Forbes ahead of Humza Yousaf, with Ash Reagan trailing behind.

For many in the Highlands – whether SNP supporters or not – the bigger question will be, what difference will a new First Minister make to our day-to-day living? Who will sort out our health service? Who will tackle the cost-of-living crisis, the soaring prices for fuel, the weekly challenge to heat the home? Who is going to get a grip on dualling the A9 and A96? What about the Nairn bypass? It is easy to throw labels around as a shorthand to describe candidates, but the Scotsman’s description of Kate Forbes as “socially conservative, pro-enterprise” rings true. Humza Yousaf, rightly or wrongly, has been painted the continuity candidate, centralising but to the left of the party. Ash Regan has been sending off pot shots at the SNP over their relationship with the Greens and the role of Nicola Sturgeon’s husband as chief executive of the SNP.

My instincts are that Kate will become the new leader. Her in-tray will be overflowing with problems. If elected, she will need to reset and refresh the leadership team, focus on the myriad of immediate practical problems facing ordinary folk in the Highlands and beyond. Steer away from artificial conflicts with Westminster and the obsession with independence, and start doing the day job. After all, are they not meant to serve us?

– For drivers in the north, portholes are a growing problem, and are stimulating a booming business in tyre and bodywork repairs. I welcome the news that the Highland Council will have a dedicated pothole repair team. They will have no worries about how to fill in their time!

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