Humza Yousaf resigns RECAP: First Minister steps down after tumultuous week
Recap as Humza Yousaf resigns as First Minister.
Humza Yousaf resigns as First Minister RECAP
Key Events
- Humza Yousaf has resigned as First Minister and SNP leader
- He will stay on as First Minister until a replacement is found
- Humza Yousaf says he underestimated the hurt caused by ending the Bute House Agreement
Labour MSP Paul O’Kane was on BBC Good Morning Scotland programme today.
He said: “We’ve been saying across the weekend it’s a matter of when not if.
“The moment of when is perhaps upon us.”
He added: “This has been a story of chaos and the government is clearly in chaos and is failing the people of Scotland.”
Alba says it is “absurd” for Humza Yousaf to considering resigning as First Minister when he could make a deal with the party to save his position.
Ash Regan, Alba’s only MSP in Holyrood, is the only one not to declare how she will vote in a no-confidence vote and potentially holds the deciding vote.
Alba MP Kenny MacAskill says it would be an “absurd situation” for Mr Yousaf to resign when there is an “opportunity for the SNP to get back on the independence track”.
When asked whether there should be a Scottish election, Mr MacAskill said: “It’s probably not what the Scottish people want.”
Who is Kate Forbes?
We take a look at who the Highland backbencher is who is tipped to be in the running to replace Humza Yousaf as First Minister: https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/who-is-kate-forbes-the-bold-highland-christian-who-could-become-snp-leader-4028902
Humza Yousaf has been spotted leaving his home in Dundee with his aides to travel through to Bute House in Edinburgh.
There is already a media presence outside Bute House, the First Minister’s official residence.
Unfortunately while we have all eyes on Bute House, it means we will be missing the best event of the year - Holyrood Dog of the Year 2024.
A sad day for us all.
The Scottish Conservatives have released a statement claiming responsibility for forcing Humza Yousaf to quit as First Minister.
That’s because party leader Douglas Ross announced he was lodging a motion of no confidence in him as First Minister last week.
Now Mr Ross says: “The Scottish Conservatives have delivered on our promise to be a strong opposition to Humza Yousaf and the SNP.
“We have forced Humza Yousaf out of office for repeatedly failing Scotland.
“Faced with our vote of no confidence, the SNP leader has quit rather than face a humiliating defeat.
“As he leaves office, on a personal level, I wish Humza Yousaf and his family well.
“But we cannot forgive the damage he did to families and households across Scotland by raising taxes, letting NHS waiting lists spiral and attacking free speech.
“The next First Minister must abandon the nationalist obsession with independence and focus solely on Scotland’s top priorities, such as creating jobs and improving our ailing public services.
“Scottish people cannot afford another SNP First Minister focused solely on separating Scotland.
“Humza Yousaf is gone but the SNP remains - and the power to change that is in the hands of Scotland’s voters.
“Now that we have forced Humza Yousaf out of office, we are asking voters to help us beat the SNP in seats up and down Scotland at the next general election.”
Humza Yousaf and his wife Councillor Nadia El-Nakla have arrived at Bute House ahead of the press conference at midday.
John Swinney, who is being touted as a replacement for Humza Yousaf, has said it would be a “difficult day”.
He served as deputy first minister under Nicola Sturgeon, but commented on today’s events during an appearance at a Resolution Foundation event celebrating 25 years of devolution.
He said: “We face a difficult day today.
“The First Minister is going to make a statement later on today, I think it is best if I let the First Minister speak for himself.”
When asked if he wanted to be First Minister, he said it would be a “very demanding role” and added: “I will consider what the First Minister says and reflect on that.
“I may well have more to say at a later stage during the week.”
UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says the SNP is in “absolute chaos” and says Scotland needs a “fresh start”.
He said: “I despair at the situation - it’s absolute chaos now from the Scottish Parliament, from the SNP.
“So you’ve got chaos in the Scottish Parliament, chaos in the Westminster Parliament.”
He says the Scottish people have been “fundamentally let down” and “all the SNP can offer is chaos”.
Sir Keir added: “We’ve got to turn the page on this now - we need that general election and a fresh start.”
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