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Humza’s latest gaffe has cost him a finance secretary

Credit: Colin Fisher/Alamy Live News

Dear oh dear. It seems the newly-elected gaffe-prone First Minister of Scotland has blundered once again. Shortly after announcing that former social justice secretary – and Sturgeon’s old chum – Shona Robison would be his deputy, Humza Yousaf spoke to Kate Forbes about her place in his new cabinet. Widely expected to give her a top job, if only for appearances, the former finance secretary was said to be less than happy when he proposed to, er, demote her to rural affairs. She was so displeased in fact that she reportedly told the FM ‘where to stick it’, and promptly quit the government thereafter. So much for party unity.

Yousaf’s questionable decision-making hasn’t escaped the scrutiny of shrewd political commentators or even his own supporters. Safe to say, they’re less than impressed…

‘If it’s true that Humza has offered a woman whom almost half his party supported, not to mention a majority of the electorate, a major demotion, then that’s a truly stupid start to his time in office,’ writes journalist Ruth Wishart. 

‘[It is] an inexplicable own goal for ‘Team SNP’,’ comic Fred MacAuley grumbled, while commentator Euan McColm summarised: ‘What a dunderheid move’.

As reported by Kieran Andrews of the Times, even Yousaf’s own supporters have been left grimacing. ‘If he had got 70 per cent [of the vote] that’s fine, but this is cack-handed,’ said one, while others described the move as ‘politically flat-footed’.

‘What a cheek,’ one senior SNP figure cried of the offer. ‘This move is going down like a cup of cold sick with the members,’ says another.

Former SNP minister Alex Neil has called the offer an ‘insult’ while ex-politician Joan McAlpine has described the move as ‘so obviously a demotion’, leaving Forbes with ‘no option but to go’.

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Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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