Frontrunners in SNP leadership race vow to eradicate poverty

Two of the three favourites in the SNP leadership race – Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes – named eradicating poverty as their signature policy, while Ash Regan chose improving the NHS. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The leading contenders to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister have said eradicating poverty would be their main goal if they took power in Scotland.

Questioned in the final televised debate of the Scottish National party leadership campaign, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes, the frontrunners in the contest, told a BBC audience that combating poverty was the centrepiece of their policy programme.