Forbes' husband attended Tory-only hustings

Campaign claims he was guest at Sunak v Truss event exclusively for party members and media

- BY PAUL HUTCHEON

SNP leadership contender Kate Forbes' husband attended a private Tory hustings in the race to elect the next Conservative leader.

Alasdair MacLennan was in the middle of the audience to hear Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak spell out their right-wing visions for the UK.

Forbes campaign said he was a non-member "guest" but a Scottish Tories spokesperson said only party members were allowed to attend.

Forbes is in a three-way battle with Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and backbencher Ash Regan, to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister.

The Finance Secretary has faced claims she wants to shift the party to the right and has been blasted for her opposition to gay marriage.

Now her husband Ali, who she married in 2021, is at the centre of a riddle over his own political sympathies.

He attended the high-security Tory hustings in Perth in August last year - a five-hour round trip from the Highlands home he shares with Forbes.

A picture obtained by the Record verifies his attendance.

After being approached for comment, a spokesman for the Forbes campaign said: "Confirming that Ali attended as a guest and that he's not a member of any party.