Who is Kate Forbes? Everything we know about the SNP candidate as a party to announce a new leader

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Kate Forbes will find out if she was elected SNP leader later today.

The politician, who was on maternity leave from her finance secretary role, stands in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon, alongside Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf.

Ms Forbes was initially considered a favourite, but will soon found herself embroiled in her opinions on topics such as same-sex marriage, which lost her a number of supporters.

Kate Forbes was considered a favorite but lost support due to some of her opinions

(PA Wire )< /figure>

The SNP's leadership race has been turbulent, with dramatic resignations and acrimonious clashes over major issues between candidates in live televised debates - ending the reputation for discipline and party unity. The result of the contest is expected at 2pm on Monday.

Below we take a look at her political career to date and her personal beliefs.

Personal life

Ms Forbes is Sky's MSP , Lochaber and Badenoch. She was born in Dingwall but spent part of her childhood in Glasgow and India.

She graduated from Cambridge University with a BA in History in 2011, before completing a the University of Edinburgh with an MA in Emigration and Diaspora History.

Before entering politics, Ms Forbes worked as an accountant for Barclays after working for two years for her Local MSP, Dave Thompson.

She married her husband Alasdair MacLennan in 2021 and is on maternity leave after giving birth to her first child, Naomi, in August.

Political career