Two SNP leadership candidates call JK Rowling a ‘national treasure’

Kate Forbes and Ash Regan describe author, who opposed Nicola Sturgeon’s gender recognition reforms, as ‘brave’ in TV debate

Two of the candidates seeking to be the next leader of the Scottish National party have described author JK Rowling as a “national treasure” despite her branding their predecessor Nicola Sturgeon a “destroyer of women’s rights”.

Kate Forbes and Ash Regan who are vying with Humza Yousaf to become the next first minster, both described Rowling as “brave” when asked on a Sky News leadership debate on Monday evening about the Harry Potter author, who has made regular, often highly personal, interventions in opposition to Sturgeon’s gender recognition reforms.