Mr Yousaf says questioning the ballot is “very upsetting”
for members, while one MP, Gavin Newlands, went so far as to call the row
“Trumpian nonsense” and “fake news”.
But SNP HQ has run face-first into a series of preventable
rows, from initially barring the media from hustings to refusing to reveal
membership figures to even the candidates themselves.
These unforced errors – which inevitably resulted in U-turns
– are particularly glaring given the professional manner in which the party has
utterly dominated Scottish politics for the best part of two decades.
This comes home for Ms Sturgeon, literally, because the
party machine is still run by the First Husband, Peter Murrell.
So once again she will be forced to spend her final days as
first minister not on a victory lap or cementing her legacy, but accounting for
a party threatening to slide into chaos.
Welcome
Jane Barlow/PACopyright: Jane Barlow/PA
Welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions on Thursday 16 March 2023.
We'll bring you live updates, backgrounds to stories and analysis.
To watch FMQs just click on the play icon at the top of the page.
Live Reporting
BBC Scotland News
All times stated are UK
'Downright scandalous'
Dougls Ross says "It is not acceptable for the first minister to say tune in in a couple of hours time."
The Scottish Tory leader asks again what these bonuses were for.
They are "downright scandalous", he adds.
'We deeply regret the delays to the completion of the ferries and the cost overruns'
The first minister says John Swinney will make a statement on the issues around ferries this afternoon.
Nicola Sturgeon welcomes the Audit Scotland report published on Tuesday and acknowledges the legitimate issues raised in it.
She points out that the report is critical about the payment of these bonuses and the government accepts that criticism.
The FM tells the chamber: "We deeply regret the delays to the completion of the ferries and the cost overruns."
BACKGROUND: £87,000 bonus for Ferguson bosses branded 'unacceptable'
Scotland's public spending watchdog has raised concerns over £87,000 paid in bonuses to six senior managers at Ferguson shipyard in Inverclyde.
The auditor general said it was "unacceptable" the money had not been cleared by the Scottish government.
The BBC understands the money was paid under former turnaround director Tim Hair, who was brought in in 2019.
Current chief executive David Tydeman said the firm had introduced greater transparency over incentives.
Read more on this story here.
Ross asks what ferry bonuses of £87,000 were for
The Scottish Conservative leader says the "SNP ferry scandal" has left islanders without vital links they need.
Audit Scotland say the cost to date is £338m and bonuses are being paid to the tune of £87,000 to management at Ferguson Marine.
Mr Ross asks: "What were these bonuses for?"
FMQs gets under way...
Nicola Sturgeon is sitting poised with anticipation as Douglas Ross gets to his feet to begin this week's FMQs.
What can we expect from today's FMQs?
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Nicola Sturgeon’s penultimate session of questions to the first minister looks likely to be dominated, once again, by the race to succeed her.
Last week the SNP leadership contest was dragged to her door by the conduct of the candidates; this week the storm is over that of the party itself.
Ash Regan and Kate Forbes had already raised an eyebrow about heavyweight names in the SNP hierarchy swinging in behind Humza Yousaf.
And following on from their complaints about the misuse of member email lists by a Yousaf backer and “serial hustings attendees” turning up at multiple party events, they are now demanding an independent audit of the whole process.
Mr Yousaf says questioning the ballot is “very upsetting” for members, while one MP, Gavin Newlands, went so far as to call the row “Trumpian nonsense” and “fake news”.
But SNP HQ has run face-first into a series of preventable rows, from initially barring the media from hustings to refusing to reveal membership figures to even the candidates themselves.
These unforced errors – which inevitably resulted in U-turns – are particularly glaring given the professional manner in which the party has utterly dominated Scottish politics for the best part of two decades.
This comes home for Ms Sturgeon, literally, because the party machine is still run by the First Husband, Peter Murrell.
So once again she will be forced to spend her final days as first minister not on a victory lap or cementing her legacy, but accounting for a party threatening to slide into chaos.
Welcome
Welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions on Thursday 16 March 2023.
We'll bring you live updates, backgrounds to stories and analysis.
To watch FMQs just click on the play icon at the top of the page.