The only surprising element of Kate Forbes’ resignation announcement is that it’s taken so long. For the SNP though, a measure of jeopardy attaches to the news: the last reason for supporting them has walked out the door.

Two years after coming a close second to Humza Yousaf in the [[SNP]] leadership contest, Ms Forbes has become a marginalised figure in the party. Her status as deputy leader and the designated grown-up hasn’t spared her from the loathing of many of her colleagues.

The hatred directed at her by some party activists, emboldened by comments from the likes of Mhairi Black, still simmers at many levels within the [[SNP]]. And don’t be kidded by John Swinney appointing her to be his deputy. That was a small price to pay for ensuring she didn’t oppose him when he emerged as an unlikely ‘Stop Kate’ candidate from among the [[SNP]]’s scarecrow wing.

The First Minister’s hypocrisy had been laid bare in his attitude towards Ms Forbes. He had launched an extraordinarily personal attack on her during the 2023 leadership contest when he questioned whether her stance on gay marriage made her "appropriate" to be leader of the party.

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In an episode that captured the cowardice that defines this man, he also sat silently as Patrick Harvie and Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens verbally abused her at her place of work in the Holyrood chamber.

Many of us who favoured an independent Scotland had........

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