SNP leadership candidates face party members at first hustings event from Cumbernauld Theatre

The SNP leadership candidates are to set out their vision for Scotland in front of a live audience for the first time in the campaign as part of a controversial hustings event.

Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf will each be given the opportunity to pitch their manifesto to party members at the Cumbernauld Theatre from 7pm.

A camera will be there to capture the action after party bosses u-turned on a decision to exclude media from attending following complaints from all three candidates standing to replace Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister.

The hustings is not a debate, with each being given six minutes to present their plans on a range of issues before taking questions from the audience.

STV will be the camera representatives on a pool basis, with one print journalist and one radio journalist from other outlets also granted access.

All three will effectively work together to provide coverage for a range of platforms.

Forbes, Regan and Yousaf each issued statements calling for the media ban to be revoked on Tuesday.

STV will host the first debate of the leadership race live from Pacific Quay at 9pm on March 7.

Channel Four and BBC Scotland will also screen their own debates.

SNP members will cast their ballots later this month, with the winner chosen on March 27.