YOUSAF HAILS ‘MULTICULTURAL’ UK AS SCOTTISH LEADER STEPS DOWN
▶ Muslim SNP politician quits after confidence votes were triggered when coalition collapsed
Humza Yousaf, the first Muslim leader of a western European country, has resigned as Scotland’s first minister after facing the prospect of defeat in two confidence votes.
Speaking at a hastily arranged press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh yesterday, Mr Yousaf said he had informed his party’s national secretary of his intention to step down and requested a leadership contest to decide his replacement.
He plans to stay on as First Minister until a successor is elected.
“As a young boy born and raised in Scotland I could never have dreamt that one day I would have the privilege of leading my country,” he said, reflecting on his time as leader.
“People who looked like me were not in positions of political influence, let alone leading governments when I was younger.
“We now live in a UK which has a British Hindu Prime Minister, a Muslim Mayor of London, a black Welsh First Minister, and for a little longer, a Scots Asian First Minister of this country.
“So for those to decry that multiculturalism has failed across the UK, I would suggest the evidence is quite to the contrary. And that is something we should all celebrate.”
A Glasgow-born son of immigrants from Pakistan and Kenya, Mr Yousaf was the first person from a minority ethnic background to lead devolved government in Scotland.
Mr Yousaf won global acclaim after his repeated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, where members of his wife’s family became trapped in the early weeks of the war after Israel retaliated against Hamas following the October 7 attack.
But about a year after being sworn in wearing his Pakistani shalwar kameez in the Scottish Parliament, he has now stepped down.
The move followed an abrupt end to a power-sharing agreement between the Scottish National Party and the Green Party last week, which ended slim hopes that Mr Yousaf could lead a minority government.
That precipitated two motions of no confidence – one from Scottish Labour against the whole Scottish government, with another from the Conservatives, specifically relating to Mr Yousaf.
The pro-devolution SNP’s fortunes have faltered amid a police investigation into its finances and the resignation of former leader Nicola Sturgeon last year, as well as infighting over how progressive its pitch should be as it sought to attract voters.
Mr Yousaf told the press conference that ending the Bute House agreement with the Greens was the “right decision”, but that he had “underestimated the level of hurt and upset” it had caused.
“While a route through this week’s motion of no confidence was absolutely possible, I am not willing to trade my values and principles, or do deals with whomever, simply for retaining power,” he said.
An emotional Mr Yousaf paid tribute to his family and vowed to continue championing the voices of “those who are not often heard”.
“I’ve often said that as a minority myself, my rights don’t exist in a vacuum, they are only protected because the rights of everyone are protected.
“From the backbenches of the Scottish Parliament, I will continue to champion the rights and the voices of those who are not often heard, be that at home, or indeed overseas, such as those suffering and continuing to suffer the most horrific humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as the world watches on.”
He said he was confident that Scotland would one day win its independence from Britain. “The last few miles of the marathon are always the hardest,” he said.
Former deputy first minister John Swinney, who is thought to be a leadership contender, said: “Humza Yousaf has been a pioneer, the first person of colour to hold office as First Minister. He has given principled and empathetic leadership to our country.”
The Scottish Greens said Mr Yousaf’s resignation as first minister was the right decision.
The party’s co-leader Patrick Harvie said the development was “regrettable” but welcomed the “personal responsibility” Mr Yousaf has taken.
“Humza Yousaf is right to resign,” he said. “His position was no longer tenable after he broke the bonds of trust with the Scottish Greens and with everyone who wanted a stable, progressive, pro-independence government. It is regrettable that it has ended this way, it didn’t need to.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, a UK government Minister, said Mr Yousaf had made the right decision.
“Humza Yousaf’s leadership has lurched from crisis to crisis from the very start, and he could not command the confidence of the Scottish Parliament,” he said.
“Scotland now needs a stable, functioning Scottish Government focused on the issues that matter most to people”
Yousaf vowed to continue championing the voices of people ‘who are not often heard,’ and those suffering in Gaza