FINANCE Secretary Derek Mackay has ruled himself out from standing in the forthcoming contest to become the SNP’s next depute leader.

Mackay already holds a high-profile role in the Cabinet that has seen him strike crucial deals with the Greens for the last two years to ensure the passage of the minority Scottish Government’s Budget proposals.

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Mackay has been applauded for the creation of a new five-band “progressive” income tax system which from April will see those on higher earnings pay more, and those on lower earnings less. The system will raise an additional £428 million in revenue and marks the first major break north of the Border with income tax policy in the rest of the UK.

In addition to his Scottish Government post, the 40-year-old is the SNP’s business convener, a role which sees him oversee the party’s headquarters operations and chair the main proceedings at party conference.

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Mackay is regarded by many as a likely contender to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and had been among the figures discussed as possible contenders likely to enter the depute race.

However, last night the MSP for Renfrewshire North and West told The National he would not be entering the contest. “It is an enormous compliment to even be suggested to be depute leader of the party I joined at 16, but no, I will not seek a nomination,” he said in a statement to us.

“I currently serve as business convener, which as you know is the equivalent of chairperson of the party, chairing the national executive committee and conferences, as well as overseeing HQ and party business.

“I understand I am now the longest-serving such convener, having been appointed in June 2011.”

Mackay added: “I have also been enjoying the Cabinet role of Finance Secretary, a position that is an immense privilege and one that I wish to focus on, successfully delivering my second Budget and progressing a fairer and more prosperous Scotland. This week will see the completion of the Budget Bill and Scottish tax policies set.”

Glasgow Cathcart MSP James Dornan and the party’s former political education officer Julie Hepburn have so far thrown their hats into the ring to succeed Angus Robertson, who stood down as depute earlier this month.

Writing in The National, below, Hepburn re-iterated that, if successful, she would use the experience and networks she had built up over two decades in the party to help prepare for another independence referendum as well as future elections. She told of her sadness at the Yes side’s defeat in 2014 and her resolve to win next time.

“September 19, 2014, was a bleak day for me,” Hepburn says. “I had dedicated my adult life to campaigning for independence as a member of the SNP and it had felt well within our grasp within those final weeks of the referendum campaign.

“The despair I felt that day has faded, but it has turned into even greater resolve to make indep-endence happen.”

The timetable for the depute race is due to be unveiled early next month with the winner to be announced at the SNP conference in June.

Earlier this week, Pete Wishart, the Perthshire MP, ruled himself out of the race. He had been considering standing, but hinted party members had not responded positively to his call for “caution” over the timing of a second independence referendum Wishart, Scotland’s longest-serving MP, had previously suggested a new vote could be delayed until after the next Holyrood election in 2021 unless it was certain Yes would win.

Other possible contenders for the depute leadership include MSP Ivan McKee and MPs Tommy Sheppard and Philippa Whitford. Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, has said he will not stand.