NICOLA Sturgeon has insisted the SNP leadership candidates do not need her help and advice when she was asked what she made of the STV debate.
In an off-the-cuff interview at Holyrood, Sturgeon admitted to STV's Colin Mackay that she did not watch the debate but kept up with what was being said through social media.
Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan faced off in the first live TV debate and activists have spoken of their concern over infighting, warning there has been "damage done" to the party.
Asked if she felt her leadership had been mediocre as Forbes suggested, Sturgeon said: "The judge of my leadership has been, and will continue to be, the people of Scotland.
"I have chosen to step down from leadership. Those who are vying to succeed me have a right now to put forward their policies, their vision, their approaches to leadership, and they are doing that and the party will make a decision, and I think they’ve got a right to do that without a running commentary from me."
On whether she had any advice for candidates following what have been described as attacks on each other, she added: "We have got a record in government to be proud of.
"I think what all candidates need to do, and I think what all candidates are doing, is setting out how they will take that forward but I don’t think they need help and advice from me."
Nicola Sturgeon on her way to the chamber asked about last night’s TV debate - says she didn’t watch it 👀 @LBC @LBCNews pic.twitter.com/InFfaETriv
— @GinaDavidson (@ginadavidsonlbc) March 8, 2023
During the debate on STV, Forbes said in her opening remarks that “more of the same is not a manifesto – it is an acceptance of mediocrity" and launched an attack on Yousaf’s record as a minister.
SNP policy convener Toni Giugliano criticised her tactics, saying he didn’t know if it was Douglas Ross or Anas Sarwar on stage with some of the attack lines.
Other activists said they felt Forbes had "betrayed" the party and accused her of "peddling out Tory lines".
SNP members will be able to vote for who they feel should replace Sturgeon from Monday March 13, with the result to be announced on Monday, March 27.
