NO, FIRST MINISTER

>> SNP MSPs aim to sink Forbes' bid to lead country if she wins contest >>Party chiefs fear rebellion may put Labour leader in Bute House

- PAUL HUTCHEON

KATE Forbes faces being blocked as first minister by SNP MSPs if she wins the leadership election.

A shock poll of voters has put the Finance Secretary in the lead - despite admitting she opposes same-sex marriage and having babies out of wedlock.

But the FM job must be approved by MSPs and that could open the door for Labour.

An SNP source said: "Some won't vote for Kate."

Cursed Minister

>> MSPs refuse to back Forbes as FM even if she wins SNP leader vote

>> Party bosses fear move would hand Sarwar keys to Bute House

BY PAUL HUTCHEON

SNP MSPs are planning to scupper Kate Forbes' bid to lead the country by refusing to vote for her as first minister.

Now party bosses fear the potential rebellion could end up with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar succeeding Nicola Sturgeon.

The warning comes as a new poll among SNP supporters found that Forbes is the most popular of the contenders to take over, despite her outspoken views on gay marriage and children born out of wedlock.

A senior SNP source said: "Some MSPs will not vote for Kate" The Finance Secretary attracted huge criticism after she said she would have voted against gay marriage in 2014 and described having children out of wedlock as "wrong".

This led to supporters deserting her campaign but she has vowed to stay in the three-way contest with Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and backbencher Ash Regan.