Anas Sarwar launches no confidence motion in Humza Yousaf's Government

Anas Sarwar will try to bring down Humza Yousaf by lodging a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Labour leader's move goes further than the Tories' motion of no confidence in Yousaf as it would require the First Minister to stand down if it passes.

The Tory motion would not require Yousaf to quit, although SNP sources believe he would walk away if he lost.

Sarwar said he launched the motion to allow "the people of Scotland to decide who is First Minister, not just a group of SNP members."

Yousaf is under pressure after he booted the Greens out of the Scottish Government on Thursday.

The Greens said they supported the Tory motion. This means 64 MSPs back it as Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems are also in support.

There are 63 SNP MSPs, which leaves Alba's Ash Regan as the king maker.

The Lib Dems have said they back the Labour motion. It is unclear what the Greens and Tories will do.

Sarwar said: “It’s a matter now of when – not if – Humza Yousaf will step down as First Minister.

“It would be untenable for the SNP to assume it can impose another unelected First Minister on Scotland.

“Scottish Labour has no confidence in Humza Yousaf or this SNP Government – that is why we are laying a motion today to this effect to say that the parliament has no confidence in the Scottish Government.

“People across the parliament should support our motion because it is for the people of Scotland to decide who is First Minister, not just a group of SNP members.

“Removing Humza Yousaf alone will not deliver the change we need – we need to get rid of the entire SNP government which has left almost 1 in 6 Scots on an NHS waiting list, public finances in chaos and public services at breaking point.

“The people of Scotland deserve a fresh start – this can only come with a Scottish election.

“Scottish Labour is ready and willing to deliver the change we need – from restoring our NHS, to creating jobs and making Scotland a global leader in clean energy.

“The time for change has come.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"I want to see a government that is focused on driving down waits for healthcare, tackling the sewage in our rivers and taking action on the cost of living.

“This is clearly not that government.

“For that reason Scottish Liberal Democrats are prepared to vote no confidence in this failed nationalist regime and will provide the remaining signatures required to bring this motion to Parliament."

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