Kate Forbes has declared "it's a free world" as she shrugged off being snubbed by senior Nationalists during her campaign to become SNP leader.
The finance secretary launched her bid to replace Nicola Sturgeon last week but soon faced a storm after sharing her personal views on social issues such as gay marriage and children born to unmarried couples.
Humza Yousaf, the frontrunner to become the next First Minister, has since racked up a string of endorsements from SNP top brass including Ian Blackford, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Jenny Gilruth and Michael Matheson.
