Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie makes election demand after Humza Yousaf resigns as First Minister

Dumbarton’s MSP has called for a Holyrood election, following the resignation of First Minister Humza Yousaf.

The SNP leader stepped down today (Monday) in a tearful address from Bute House, saying: “I have concluded that repairing the relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm.”

However Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said Mr Yousaf had “presided over a litany of failures” and has now demanded a Scottish Parliament election.

She said: “It is right that Humza Yousaf has taken the decision to resign rather than limp on.

“He has lost the confidence of Parliament and presided over a litany of failures.

“Humza Yousaf alone is not the problem, this is an out of touch, out of ideas and out of date SNP Government, which has let the people of Scotland down.

“This will be the third SNP leader in as many years. They should be elected not by the SNP members, but by the people of Scotland.

“We need a general election so the people of Scotland can have their say.

“It is time for a change and Scottish Labour can deliver the change that Scotland needs.”

The First Minister’s resignation comes after a chaotic week for the SNP-led Scottish Government.

On Thursday the power-sharing deal between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, known as the Bute House Agreement, was ditched.

Green co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie, from Dumbarton, were also sacked from their ministerial positions.

It comes after weeks of speculation as relations between the parties deteriorated.

Tensions had been rising in the wake of the SNP’s U-turn on climate change, with the Scottish government abandoning its target of cutting carbon emissions by 75 per cent by 2030.

Difficulties have also arisen over a number of policy areas such as the Cass Review of gender services and marine policy.

The outgoing First Minister faced two votes of no confidence in his leadership following the collapse of the power-sharing deal; one tabled by the Conservatives and one by Labour.

On Saturday he said he would “absolutely” lead the SNP into the general election and the 2026 Holyrood election. And rubbished reports that he would step down.

However his tenure ended on Monday, in an emotional speech at his Bute House residence.

Mr Yousaf said: “My hope was I would continue working with the Greens in a less formal arrangement as the SNP moved into a new phase of minority government.

“Unfortunately in ending the Bute House Agreement in the manner that I did, I clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset I caused Green colleagues.

“While a route through this week’s motion of no confidence was absolutely possible, I am not willing to trade my values and principles, or do deals with whoever, simply for retaining power.”

He will leave office as Scotland’s second shortest serving FM, having only replaced Nicola Sturgeon in the role last March.

The SNP will now launch a leadership election, and have 28 days to appoint a new leader - who will become Scotland’s seventh First Minister.