SNP leadership contest: Humza Yousaf says he would shift Scottish independence campaign into 'fifth gear'

Humza Yousaf has said he would shift the campaign for independence into “fifth gear” if he wins the SNP leadership, following a suggestion from a colleague that it should “go down a gear”.

Ben Macpherson, minister for social security in the Scottish Government, exclusively wrote in Scotland on Sunday that it would take longer than the short or medium term for Scotland to become a successful independent country.

His exclusive column stated: “Any reckless, overly disruptive path to statehood would quickly make our quality of life in Scotland poorer. Better to go down a gear and take the journey at a reasonably safe speed than crash trying to rush things.”

Mr Yousaf, the health secretary, visited the Made in Stirling shop on Monday, where he was greeted by local MSP, and supporter, Evelyn Tweed.

Humza Yousaf speaks during the SNP leadership debate in Aberdeen on Sunday. Picture: Craig Brough/PA

With ballots being sent out to SNP members around the country, Mr Yousaf said: “I’ll lead from the front as first activist, I’ll build the team that will deliver independence.

“I’ll protect our pro-independence majority in Parliament, I’ll defend our Scottish democracy from attack from Westminster power grabs.”

With polls showing more of the Scottish public favouring rival Kate Forbes to become first minister, Mr Yousaf said he wanted to grow support for the party and independence.

He said: “I’ve managed to quadruple support amongst the public since the first polls came out, but also I’m ahead when it comes to SNP members and SNP voters. That tells me that the party believes that my vision, a progressive agenda, is one that reflects their values.”

Asked about Mr Macpherson’s comments, he said: “I have the opposite view, I think we should be ramping up, not ramping down activity. If I was the first minister I’d put us into fifth gear – let alone take it down a gear.

“There’s a number of prospectus papers I would commit to publishing around the case for independence as soon as I become first minister. But also, on day one, we’ve got to kick start the Yes movement.”

The health secretary has said he wants to establish a consistent majority and “settled will” for independence. He said he would not give an exact timescale for how many polls showing independence support over 50 per cent would be needed for this to be the case, saying it would be “obvious” when the “settled will” is achieved.

At the weekend, he refused to rule out calling a snap Holyrood election to advance independence.

Mr Yousaf said: “I’m simply saying that we should use any means that is necessary in terms of process to advance the cause of independence, that’s within a legal framework.”

Leadership rival Kate Forbes said she would “fundamentally disagree” with Mr Macpherson’s comments. But she admitted the road to independence must be “gradual” as the key focus of her campaign centres around convincing those who voted against independence in 2014.

“I would fundamentally disagree [with Mr Macpherson],” she said. “I think we have learned lessons of how not to do it from Brexit, but I think you can be far more effective in laying the groundwork from the very beginning.

“I think the nature of the transition is that it’s gradual, but I would distance myself from the assumption that it would take decades, or indeed many, many years.”