Humza Yousaf is stepping down as first minister of Scotland. After feverish speculation over the weekend, Yousaf has announced this lunchtime in a press conference at Bute House that he intends to stand down from the role once an SNP leadership contest has taken place to find his successor. Acknowledging the events that had led up to this moment, Yousaf said he had ‘clearly underestimated the level of hurt’ that ending his party’s power-sharing agreement with the Greens caused the SNP’s minority partner. He said trust was ‘fundamental’.
Yousaf went on to say that from his discussions over the weekend with figures in the Scottish Greens and Alba, he had found there was a path through that would allow him to win the two confidence votes this week in his leadership. However, he said he had decided that it was a price not worth paying as he was ‘not willing’ to make deals just to stay in power that would go against his principles:
I have concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm.
Yousaf went on to try to put a positive spin on his time in the brief – speaking of his pride of being the first politician of Asian and Muslim heritage to hold the role and describing one of his achievements as Scotland having the most progressive tax system in the UK. Yousaf also said on independence that if every Scot could have the opportunity to be first minister for the day, then they would all see why independence is so important. If the SNP keep this level of turmoil up, perhaps most of their MSPs have that chance.
So, what happens next? Yousaf’s comments about how he felt a deal to stay in power would compromise his values appear to be a reference to the demands from Alex Salmond‘s Alba party on independence in order to win their one MSP Ash Regan’s support. Listening to his statement, Yousaf appeared to express regret for burning his relationship with the Greens. His comments appear to suggest that he feels only a new leader can repair them. In keeping with this, the Scottish Greens have put out a conciliatory statement suggesting that the SNP have the right to form a minority government and adding their party has a ‘long track record’ of working ‘constructively from opposition’. This implies they could support the right leader.
The favourite to replace Yousaf is John Swinney, who was deputy first minister until last month. Swinney could be the only person to run for the leadership – he is the obvious unity candidate and an experienced pair of hands. But the contest could also spring some surprises. Were Kate Forbes – Yousaf’s former rival – to run again and win, the Scottish Greens would not play ball. There’s also talk over whether Westminster’s Stephen Flynn could throw his hat in the ring. By sparking a leadership contest but staying in post, Yousaf has brought some stability to the situation – it means that the party has time to pick a successor. However, whoever replaces Yousaf will have their work cut out trying to lead a minority government and avoid an early trip to the polls.
Catch up on today’s Coffee House Shots with Lucy Dunn, Katy Balls and Iain Macwhirter:
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