Salmond - Alba can help Yousaf out of ‘corner’
ALEX Salmond has said sole Alba Party MSP Ash Regan will present Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf with “reasonable proposals” which could help him out of a “pretty tight corner” when they meet.
It comes as Mr Yousaf’s former partners in government, the Scottish Greens, have indicated they will not be changing their minds about supporting the upcoming motion of no confidence in him - saying he must face “consequences”.
Motions of no confidence are expected to take place at Holyrood in the coming week, with the First Minister facing tight parliamentary arithmetic as he fights to save his political future.
The SNP leader has written to other parties in an attempt to build bridges and establish how they can work with his minority Government, inviting the other leaders to meetings at his official residence.
Mr Yousaf terminated the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday, leading the smaller pro-independence party to announce they would back the motion of no confidence in his leadership.
Speaking to Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Alba Party leader Mr Salmond said: “What Ash Regan will do in the meetings she’s been invited to by Humza Yousaf, the First Minister, is make a set of reasonable proposals to help him out of a very tight corner and put Scotland back on a sensible governmental road.
“Stressing the priority of independence for Scotland, the protection of women and girls in Scottish society and a return of the Government to the things that matter to the people - education, health, housing and, above all, the economy and jobs.”
He said Mr Yousaf is in a “very difficult position” and appeared to be open to “moving away from the identity agenda which has caused so much disruption in Scottish society”.
Speaking to BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, said her party’s position on the confidence motion is unchanged.
She said: “I cannot imagine anything at this point that could change that position.
“This was a spectacular breach of trust.”
She was asked if policy offers from Mr Yousaf ahead of the vote could persuade them to abstain.
She continued: “(The Bute House Agreement) was based on mutual trust and respect. I do have trust and respect for many of my SNP colleagues.
“But Humza Yousaf himself has broken that and he needs to face the consequences.”