SNP leadership: Should there be an election to choose first minister?

In a matter of weeks, Scotland will have a new first minister.

The three candidates are currently going around the country trying to persuade voters, appearing on TV and radio and taking part in hustings and live debates in a bid to convince people they are the best person for the job.

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And, as many will have noticed they are also doing their best to explain why the other two are not up to the job. So much so, you could be forgiven for wondering if these people are colleagues at all.

They are involved in a nationwide campaign, but only a fraction of the nation has a say in this.

First, the SNP membership will choose the leader of their party then, that person will be nominated at the Scottish Parliament and most likely will be elected by MSPs to be the country’s sixth first minister.

Like Westminster, we will have the political leader of the country in office without being put in front of the people in an election.

This has happened several times now. Rishi Sunak, chosen by MPs, was elected unopposed without even a members vote and is not likely to face the public in a vote until late 2023.

Liz Truss, again last year elected by Tory members and not in 10 Downing Street long enough to take part in a fire drill never mind a general election.

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Boris Johnson was put in place by the party midway through a parliamentary term but did however go on to win a significant mandate from the public.

Theresa May was also chosen by the Tory faithful before contesting an election.

Mr Sunak was elected unopposed last year but months earlier just 140,000 people voted in the last leadership election and only 80,000 voted for Truss.

Over the next two weeks, the SNP membership will choose our next first minister.

It has been reported that just 78,000 party members will be sent a ballot paper.

That means fewer than 40,000 could decide who runs the country.

It is a tiny amount. I’ve been to football matches with bigger crowds and I’m a Partick Thistle fan.

It is not just Westminster, Holyrood has form in this too.

Nicola Sturgeon was elected as First Minister in 2014 by MSPs three years into a five-year term with no contest.

Labour first ministers, Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell were also put in place in the top job without first standing as party leader in an election.

The fact she went on to lead the SNP to clear election victories in 2016 and 2021 means she earned support but the principle is the same, decisions are being made on who leads the country without the country having a say first.

When Mr Sunak was appointed Prime Minister, many in the SNP, rightly, said it was undemocratic and called for a general election.

The wishes of a tiny fraction of the population were being put before those of the public at large, was the charge.

There is no difference between that and what is going on in Scotland this month.

Yes, whoever wins, be it Kate Forbes, Ash Regan or Humza Yousaf, will face a vote in Holyrood of MSPs.

Similarly, but different, Rishi Sunak had to be able to command the support of a majority of MPs at Westminster to be able to be invited to form a government by the monarch.

We have heard a lot about democracy during the leadership campaign, about the UK Government respecting the will of the Scottish people and about decisions of the Scottish Parliament not being overturned by a UK Government.

Legitimate concerns and principles worth upholding.

We have also heard from the candidates how they want to listen to the people, and hear what they have to say.

So, in that spirit of democracy and listening to the people, why haven’t any of the candidates said there should be an election to choose the First Minister or at least one very soon after to give the public their say?

Holyrood has fixed-term parliaments where the Scottish election is held every five years.

However, that doesn’t mean there can’t be an election in between.

If two-thirds of MSPs vote for it, a Scottish Election can be held.

That needs 85 MSPs to vote for it so it would need other parties to back it.

But there is nothing to stop Ms Forbes, Ms Regan or Mr Yousaf from stating that is what should happen.

So, if, as it was undemocratic for Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa May and Gordon Brown before them, to be installed as Prime Minister without the people having a say, it must be undemocratic for Nicola Sturgeon’s successor to be installed on the votes of a tiny fraction of the population.

If Ms Forbes, Ms Regan and Mr Yousaf are as big supporters and upholders of democracy as they say they are then why not pledge in public to put themselves before the people of Scotland as soon as possible?

What is there to be afraid of?