April 29th 2024.
Humza Yousaf has been leading Scotland as their first minister since March of last year. But news reports have revealed that he is set to announce his resignation today, rather than face two votes of no confidence this week. His authority has been crumbling since his decision to withdraw his government from a political partnership with the Scottish Greens.
According to BBC News, Yousaf has made the decision to step down from his leadership role. This announcement comes just days after he ended the alliance between the two pro-independence parties. The Conservatives wasted no time in tabling a vote of no confidence in response, still reeling from the bitter split. And the Greens, who were also hurt by the break-up, have stated that they will not support Yousaf if the vote goes ahead.
On the Radio 4 Today program this morning, Green co-leader Patrick Harvie reaffirmed his party's stance. He stated that Yousaf is no longer fit to lead and that there is nothing he can say to regain the trust he has lost. This sentiment is likely echoed by many, including Yousaf's former partners in the Greens.
The first minister was left in a precarious position, needing just one MSP from a party other than the SNP to support him. And in a twist of fate, that MSP turned out to be Ash Regan, who had previously run against Yousaf in the race for SNP leader after Nicola Sturgeon's sudden resignation in February 2023. Regan, who had since defected to the Alba party, reportedly had demands for Yousaf in return for her support.
As if that wasn't enough, the Scottish Labour party also tabled a vote of no confidence in the entire government on Friday. This adds to the mounting pressure and challenges facing Yousaf in his role as first minister.
The question now turns to who will succeed Yousaf as leader of the SNP. When Sturgeon stepped down, Yousaf was seen as the clear choice to continue her legacy. However, the current landscape is more complicated, with potential successors who are less well-known than Yousaf was at the time of his appointment.
Some potential candidates for the role include Neil Gray, a relatively new MSP who took over Yousaf's previous role as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care just two months ago. Another option could be Jenny Gilruth, the current Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and a former teacher with experience in the Scottish Parliament. And there is also the possibility that Kate Forbes, the former finance secretary who narrowly lost to Yousaf in the previous leadership race, could be chosen to lead the party. However, it is uncertain if she would be willing to step back into the spotlight after taking a step back from politics following her defeat.
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