Candidates expected to be announced soon following Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation

Following the resignation of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, candidates are expected to make announcements that they plan to run following the unveiling of the timeline for Sturgeon’s successor to be appointed.

While no candidate has official announced their bid to become  Sturgeon’s successor, several have ruled themselves out.

Stephen Flynn, who was recently elected to replace Ian Blackford as Leader of Westminster following his resignation in December, told Sky News: “I’ll indeed not be standing.”

“Of course, the next leader of the Scottish National Party needs to have the ability to be first minister – no MP has the ability to be first minister for obvious reasons that we are located in London and not Edinburgh.”

John Swinney, who had a short spell as the leader of the SNP from 2000 to 2004, also confirmed that he would not be running to be the new leader.

“To create the space for that fresh perspective to emerge, I have decided not to be a candidate for leadership in the SNP” Swinney Tweeted.

SNP MP Joanna Cherry also confirmed she would not be running for leader.

Cherry confirmed this in her column in The National newspaper: “Our next leader must be able to become first minister and so she must come from within the current Holyrood contingent and it should be someone with at least some ministerial experience.”

Sturgeon said in her resignation speech that her party has an “array of talent” ready to take her place.

Those who still remain in the running are Deputy Leader Keith Brown, Finance and Economy Secretary Kate Forbes, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.