Yousaf has the right experience and empathy to be first minister

THE SNP leadership contest is well under way, with Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan crisscrossing Scotland to meet members and attend hustings.

Thus far, these have been thoughtful and positive events, with candidates setting out their visions for both the Scottish Government and the SNP.

This leadership election within the SNP marks an unexpected end of an era, the passing of the torch from the giants of our movement in Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney to the next generation.

CC Humza has valuable experience and insight into issues facing the people They leave the SNP in a place they couldn't have envisaged when they first joined the party. I have been impressed with the passion Humza has brought and am backing him for leader.

I've known him since our time in Young Scots for Independence and have seen him work. hard and develop through the tough roles he has had in the Scottish Government.

Humza has faced challenges head-on and, as an ethnic and religious minority, has always known the importance of standing up for the rights of marginalised groups.