Humza Yousaf to quit as First Minister today ahead of no confidence vote in his leadership

Paul Hutcheon
·2-min read

Humza Yousaf will resign today ahead of a vote of no confidence in his leadership, the Record understands.

A senior party figure said he will quit amid huge pressure on him to secure support outside the SNP.

The insider said he wanted former deputy first minister John Swinney to take over on a full-time basis.

The no confidence vote will take place this week at Holyrood and was triggered by Yousaf ending his Government partnership with the Greens.

He needs 64 votes to survive, but can only currently command 63 from the SNP.

The pro-independence Greens, furious about their treatment with the Greens, are supporting the bid to topple him.

It is understood Yousaf is not keen to do a deal with Alex Salmond’s Alba, which has one MSP, and resignation is an option.

The Record understands he will resign later today on Monday after around thirteen months in post.

Both the BBC and the Times reported that he could walk ahead of the votes.

On Monday morning, Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie told the BBC: “I don’t think Humza Yousaf any more is in a position to be able to lead.”

He added: “I don’t think there is anything that Humza Yousaf will be able to say to restore the trust he has broken.”

He said he should stand down, but insisted he bears no “personal ill will” against him.

Harvie, who was fired as a government minister when the Bute House Agreement was scrapped, said: “I do want to say there is a human impact to all of this, a human element to all of this. I don’t bear Humza Yousaf personal ill will or malice in any way at all and I take no pleasure at all, none of us in the Greens do, in turbulence and chaos over the last week or two.

“But it is clear that Humza Yousaf, in the decision that he made last week, has broken trust with the Scottish Greens, cannot command a majority in Parliament, and we stand ready to work with someone who can."

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