Party’s over for Scottish leader
EDINBURGH: Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, has quit ahead of two no-confidence votes this week that were sparked by his ditching of junior coalition partners in a row over climate policy.
The 39-year-old resigned following a turbulent year as head of the Scottish government, during which support for his pro-independence Scottish National Party has fallen.
Mr Yousaf said he had “underestimated” the hurt he had caused by ending a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens in the Scottish parliament last week.
His government had abandoned targets for the transition to net-zero carbon emissions, angering the Greens.
The opposition Scottish Conservatives lodged a vote of no-confidence in Mr Yousaf for Wednesday, while Labour also lodged a no-confidence vote in his leadership.
The Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens all said they would vote against Mr Yousaf in the personal vote.
Mr Yousaf, the first Muslim leader of a major UK political party, said he thought winning was “absolutely possible”.
But he added he was “not willing to trade in my values or principles or do deals … simply for retaining power”.
“I have concluded that repairing our relationships across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm,” he said.
Mr Yousaf became First Minister 13 months ago, after Nicola Sturgeon announced her surprise resignation after eight years in the job.
Mr Yousaf said he would continue as First Minister until a successor was elected, saying a contest should start “as soon as possible”.
Former deputy first minister John Swinney quickly emerged as the frontrunner, receiving the backing of several senior SNP figures, including the party’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn.
Kate Forbes, who lost to Mr Yousaf in the bid to replace Ms Sturgeon is also a contender.