Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf announces his resignation at Bute House in Edinburgh on Monday. Photo by Scottish Government/EPA-EFE
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf quit Monday ahead of two no-confidence votes he had little-to-no-chance of winning.
The 39-year-old Scottish Nationalist Party leader resigned four days after he collapsed a coalition with the Scottish Greens that kept his government in power in a row over carbon emissions targets. Advertisement
“After spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for my party, for the government and for the country I lead, I’ve concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm,” Yousaf said in an emotional address at Bute House, his official Edinburgh residence.
“I have therefore informed the SNP’s national secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader.”
The resignation of Yousaf, Scotland’s first Asian-Muslim leader, triggers a contest to find a new first minister — which as the largest party falls to the SNP — although he will remain until post until that happens. Advertisement
Party grandee Fergus Ewing immediately endorsed Kate Forbes, who came a close second to Yousaf in last year’s leadership contest, saying that with the party in urgent need of a reset he had “no doubt whatsoever” she would would make the best leader for the SNP and for Scotland.
Crediting Forbes with being Scotland’s most popular MSP, Ewing said the last thing the SNP needed was “another candidate that, frankly, is associated with some of the problems that have brought us down in the polls and lost us trust and confidence.”
Yousaf had insisted he would not resign and would continue to govern without a majority but has been unable, or unwilling, to gain the support from rival parties he needed to do so.
His former arch-rival and potential kingmaker, Ash Regan of the pro-independence Alba Party said she was perplexed by the SNP’s intransigence but pledged to work with whomever the party chose as its new leader.
“Bizarrely some forces in Humza Yousaf’s own party would rather see him resign than deal with a party who really want to advance independence,” said the lone MSP of former SNP First Minister Alex Salmond’s breakaway party. Advertisement
“However, a new SNP leader and a new first minister will not change parliamentary arithmetic. I continue to stand ready to work in the best interests of Scotland and to advance the cause of Scottish independence.”
The end came after the Greens, furious at being unceremoniously kicked from a coalition Yousaf had only days previously said was “worth its weight in gold,” rejected his overtures while he ruled out of hand any deal with the Alba Party.
The failure to broker a deal meant he lacked the votes to survive no-confidence votes later this week — one in him as first minister and a second in his government — leaving him no choice but to quit.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie signaled earlier Monday his party would support an SNP minority government, but only if Yousaf, whom he accused of breaking trust and creating an unnecessary crisis, quit.
“The SNP remain the largest party in the Scottish Parliament, just short of a majority, and they are capable of governing a stable minority government. Greens are ready to help make that happen.
“But I don’t think Humza Yousaf is in a position to be able to lead such a stable minority because it depends on trust and I don’t think there is anything that he will be able to say to restore the trust he has broken.” Advertisement
The resignation of Yousaf, who has been in office for a little over a year after taking over from Nicola Sturgeon after she unexpectedly quit in Feb. 2023, gives the Scottish Parliament 28 days to select a new first minister.
Failure to do so within the time limit will result in parliament being dissolved and a general election being called.
