First Minister’s political future is on a knife edge
LABOUR will back a motion of no confidence against SNP leader Humza Yousaf and has tabled a further motion against the whole Scottish Government, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said.
“If Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour are successful with that amendment, the Government will fall and there’ll be fresh elections,” Ms Reeves said.
She added: “We now have two broken governments: the SNP in Scotland and the Conservatives in Westminster. It is time for fresh elections in Scotland and across the UK.”
Ms Reeves said: “The SNP are terribly divided and that is having a real impact on the lives and communities across Scotland. We don’t just want another leader of the SNP – we’ve already had two during this parliament so far.”
Scottish Labour meanwhile has now submitted a motion of no confidence in the First Minister’s government. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “It’s a matter now of when, not if, Humza
Yousaf will step down as First Minister.” He added it would be “untenable for the SNP to assume it can impose another unelected first minister on Scotland” to replace Mr Yousaf if he was to resign.
Mr Sarwar stated: “Scottish Labour has no confidence in Humza Yousaf or this SNP Government, that is why we are laying a motion today to this effect to say that the parliament has no confidence in the Scottish Government.”
He also insisted: “It is for the people of Scotland to decide who is first minister, not just a group of SNP members.
“The people of Scotland deserve a fresh start, this can only come with a Scottish election.”
Meanwhile Mr Yousaf cancelled a planned speech yesterday, with SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn saying the First Minister will “come out fighting”. Mr Yousaf was due to speak about the labour strategy in an independent Scotland at Strathclyde University.
It comes as the Alba Party MSP whose vote could be crucial to Mr Yousaf’s future has written to the First Minister, setting out demands in exchange for her support in a vote of no confidence in him.
Ash Regan, a former SNP minister who defected to Alex Salmond’s party, said she wants to see progress on Scottish independence and defending “the rights of women and children”.
Mr Yousaf is battling to save his position after the SNP leader dramatically brought the powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens to an end on Thursday.
His decision to end the Bute House Agreement was branded an act of “political cowardice” by the smaller pro-independence party.
The Greens will back a no-confidence motion proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, leaving Mr Yousaf facing a knife-edge vote.
A tight vote is expected at Holyrood next week, and since the SNP have 63 out of the 128 MSPs, Ms Regan’s vote would appear to be crucial in getting Mr Yousaf over the line.