FM Yousaf is branded ‘weak and out of depth’ one year in
AS Humza Yousaf marks one year as First Minister, his deputy leader hailed his leadership – but opposition leaders described him as weak.
Keith Brown said Mr Yousaf’s first year has seen the party taking “bold actions” to create a fairer society for everyone in Scotland – including tackling child poverty, resetting the Scottish Government’s relationship with business, supporting Scotland’s just transition to net zero by investing in Scotland’s offshore renewable supply chain, and standing up for peace by being the first Western leader to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
He added that Mr Yousaf also united the party to agree an independence strategy for the General Election at the SNP conference last October.
“At a time when the Westminster parties have never been so out of touch with the people of Scotland, Humza Yousaf has shown himself to be the leader Scotland needs,” Mr Brown said.
“In the past year, the First Minister has put Scotland’s values and priories first at every turn – from delivering a budget that invests in our NHS and public services, to freezing council tax for households across Scotland to support people suffering from Westminster’s cost of living crisis, to resetting the Scottish Government’s relationship with business.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, however, pointed to the SNP’S electoral troubles in the past year, particularly the loss of the Rutherglen and
Hamilton West by-election to Labour and the defection of two elected members – Ash Regan MSP to the Alba Party and MP Lisa Cameron to the Conservatives – as well as MP Angus Macneil leaving the party.
Mr Sarwar also attacked the First Minister’s efforts to tackle child poverty and drug deaths.
He said: “After a year in post, it is clear to see that Humza Yousaf is a weak leader who is out of his depth and leading a chaotic and divided government that is not delivering for Scotland. Every sector of our public services is now weaker thanks to Humza Yousaf’s SNP.
“Not only is it clear to the people of Scotland that Humza Yousaf has no vision for the future – even his own former Cabinet colleagues are saying so in public.
“This is a record of shame and failure.”
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross highlighted more than 100 instances of what he claimed were failures during Mr Yousaf’s time in office, including missing A&E waiting times targets, the publication of nine new papers in the independence prospectus series, and the country’s economy.
Mr Ross added that voters will have the chance to pass judgment on the
First Minister’s “dire reign” at the upcoming General Election.
He said: “Humza Yousaf’s first year as SNP leader has been nothing short of a disaster for him, his party and – most importantly – the people of Scotland.
“It’s a tale of independence obsession, abject failures and broken promises;,of a First Minister out of his depth and unable to control his feuding, scandal-ridden party.”
A spokesperson for the First Minister said: “Opposition parties will oppose – it’s their job, and the job given to them by the electorate for the past 17 years and counting.
“The most recent polling evidence is that the SNP remains ahead of the opposition on who people trust on health, education, the economy, and cost of living.
“The First Minister is governing on the basis of clear values – prioritising investment in public services, helping people with the cost of living crisis by freezing council tax, supporting business opportunities in Scotland, and showing leadership on major issues, such as consistently calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.”
Most opinion polls have put the SNP ahead in terms of Westminster voting intentions, but also show that the party’s lead over nearest rivals Labour has considerably narrowed.
Ipsos Mori’s Scottish Political Monitor, run in partnership with STV News and published last month, showed that the SNP leads Labour in Scotland by seven points on Westminster General Election voting intention.
And although the SNP remains the party most trusted by the Scottish public, trust in Scottish Labour has increased across a range of issues, including the NHS and the economy.
It also showed support for Scottish independence is at a similar level to a poll in November 2023, with Yes slightly ahead (53%).
However, research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies earlier this month suggested Labour leader Anas Sarwar had overtaken Mr Yousaf to be the public’s preferred choice for First Minister.
It was the first time that the Scottish Labour leader moved ahead of the SNP incumbent, although optimism for Mr Sarwar may be tempered by the fact that both rivals lag behind “don’t know”.
The same research also put the two parties neck and neck in General Election voting intentions, which analysis predicted would leave Labour with the most Scottish MPS.
Humza Yousaf’s first year as SNP leader has been nothing short of a disaster