Angus Robertson’s announcement that he is to stand for the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh Central has set tongues wagging at Holyrood.
The SNP’s former Westminster leader believes he can overturn the narrow majority of 610 won by former Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who happens to be quitting the Scottish Parliament next year.
But it is not so much how Mr Robertson will fare against the Tories that is causing the chatter. Rather the intrigue surrounds what Mr Robertson’s 2021 bid for Holyrood might mean for the SNP.
Nothing that Nicola Sturgeon has said publicly would suggest that she wants to step down as first minister. Nevertheless, there has been plenty of speculation that after more than five years in the top job she is thinking of her future beyond Bute House.
In that context, Mr Robertson’s next move is being watched closely. As one of the Nationalists’ big beasts, the theory is that the former Moray MP is eyeing up a Holyrood seat with a view to taking over from Ms Sturgeon.
Political intrigue
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that another name linked to Edinburgh Central has been that of Joanna Cherry QC, the SNP MP for Edinburgh South West.
Ms Cherry’s name is another which comes up when the SNP succession is discussed. Like Mr Robertson, Ms Cherry would also benefit from a Holyrood seat were she to attempt to take over from Ms Sturgeon. Running the SNP from Westminster, although not impossible, would not be in the best interests of any leadership candidate.
Ms Cherry is close to Alex Salmond and has been vocal in her support of an unauthorised independence referendum. Could Mr Robertson be trying to outmanoeuvre Ms Cherry – not just for Edinburgh Central but also as a rival for the leadership of the party?
In his pitch for the seat, Mr Robertson said Edinburgh Central needed a “full-time” SNP candidate – a remark which was presented as a dig at the suggestion Ms Davidson is in line for a peerage.
But some might also chose to interpret it as a dig at Ms Cherry in case she is considering fighting the seat while still representing the SNP at Westminster.
