Humza Yousaf resigns - live: Former SNP leader John Swinney mulls bid to become Scotland’s next first minister
Mr Yousaf’s resignation comes after the collapse of his power-sharing agreement with the Greens last week
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Your support makes all the difference.Former SNP leader John Swinney is considering becoming Scotland’s next first minister after Humza Yousaf quit the role in an emotional speech at midday.
Mr Swinney, 60, who led the party between 2000 and 2004 and stood down after Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation last year, said he was “actively considering” the role of Scottish first minister.
“I’ve been somewhat overwhelmed by the requests that have been made for me to do that, with many, many messages from many colleagues across the party. So I’m giving that issue very active consideration,” he told Sky News.
It comes after Yousaf announced he was stepping down during an address at Bute House, Edinburgh, just days before a vote on his leadership was expected.
As he choked up, the 39-year-old thanked his “wonderful” wife and “beautiful” children for supporting him throughout his time in office.
The SNP leader faced two no confidence votes scheduled by the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour – which the Scottish Greens said they would join to oust him.
It came after the SNP’s power-sharing agreement with the Greens collapsed when Yousaf sacked them from his government on Thursday last week.
Yousaf: I underestimated hurt caused to Greens by axing power-sharing deal
Mr Yousaf said he had underestimated the level of hurt ending the power-sharing deal with the Greens, which ultimately led to the toppling of his leadership, would have.
While he said it was "the right decision", he said: "Unfortunately in ending the Bute House Agreement in the matter I did I clearly underestimate the level of hurt and upset that caused Green colleagues.
"For a minority government to be able to govern effectively trust when working with the opposition is clearly fundamental."
He added a route through the no-confidence vote was "absolutely possible".
But he added: "I am not willing to trade in my values or principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power."
Ian Blackford thanks Yousaf
Scottish National Party MP Ian Blackford has thanked Humza Yousaf for serving as first minister and and said he was a “decent man”.
Writing on X, Mr Blackford said: “Thank you Humza Yousaf for being our first minister and leader of the SNP. It has been a pleasure to work with and support you.
“You are a good and a decent man and I am so sorry that you have felt compelled to resign as first minister. We can be proud that you were elected as our leader. Thank you and good wishes my friend.”
Who could replace Yousaf as Scotland’s first minister?
Mairi McAllan
The Clydesdale MSP has been tipped as a future leader as she quickly moved up the ranks despite only being elected in 2021.
At the age of 31, Ms McAllan would become the youngest first minister, but her portfolio in Holyrood shows she is already capable of handling a significant brief.
The party’s rising star was given a ministerial post for environment, biodiversity and land reform in May 2021, shortly after being elected.
But, under Humza Yousaf, she quickly ascended to a cabinet post just two years later, taking on the Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition portfolio.
Her brief was widened further in February 2024 after Neil Gray was moved to Health Secretary. She became Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Secretary.
Ms McAllan announced she was expecting her first child in February 2024, adding she planned to take maternity leave in the summer with a scheduled return for March 2025.
Neil Gray
The wealth of experience held by Neil Gray could make him a likely contender for leadership.
He is thought to be the closest ally of Mr Yousaf but may be able to unite Parliament.
He is a former MP and became an MSP in 2021 serving as a culture and international development minister before being promoted to Economy, Fair Work and Energy Secretary around a year later.
He stepped up to become Health Secretary following the resignation of Michael Matheson.
Jenny Gilruth
Former teacher Jenny Gilruth represents Mid Fife and Glenrothes and is the current Education Secretary.
Her brief is one of the toughest as she faces pressure to address the increasing issue of violence in schools.
She has also held transport minister briefs and Europe, migration and international development minister.
Who could replace Yousaf as Scotland’s first minister?
Kate Forbes
The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP is perhaps the most likely replacement after she narrowly lost to Mr Yousaf in the fiery leadership contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon just over a year ago.
And as finance secretary under Ms Sturgeon, Ms Forbes has been known to help her government through tough crises, stepping into the role and delivering a budget at short notice after her predecessor, Derek Mackay, resigned in disgrace in 2020.
A Free Church of Scotland member, Ms Forbes’ first run at the leadership was not smooth sailing as her stance on social issues is at odds with many within her own party, particularly her opposition to gender reform.
A key obstacle in her leadership, however, would be the Scottish Greens, they have previously ruled out working with her over her views so it is unlikely she would command the support to effectively rule.
In the last leadership contest, Ms Forbes did not have the backing of most of her own SNP MSPs but did win over a significant number of members, losing the closely-fought leadership election by 47.9 per cent of the vote compared to Mr Yousaf’s 52.1 per cent.
John Swinney
The loyal deputy first minister to Ms Sturgeon could throw his hat in the ring as an SNP MSP with significant experience.
He has been an MSP since the Scottish Parliament’s inception in 1999, serving North Tayside, and previously representing the same constituency at Westminster in 1997.
Mr Swinney previously led his party in Holyrood between 2000 and 2004 during the SNP’s time on the opposition benches.
He has held a raft of cabinet positions, including education and finance and resigned at the same time as Ms Sturgeon.
He also ruled himself out of the 2023 leadership race, stating he had to put his young family first. However, the SNP politician could take the reigns to unite his party in a time of turmoil.
Pictured: Yousaf arrives at Bute House with wife
Yousaf ‘tore up trust’ says Scottish Greens co-leader as she encourages resignation
Scotland in ‘absolute chaos’, Sir Keir Starmer says
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that the situation with Humza Yousaf and the SNP is “absolute chaos” and called for a “fresh start” in Scotland.
“I despair at the situation in Scotland - 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,” Sir Keir said.
He said the Scottish People have been “fundamentally let down” and “all the SNP can offer is chaos. We’ve got to turn the page on this now - we need that general election and a fresh start.”
Scottish Conservatives will work to ‘remove SNP government from office'
Humza Yousaf has “jumped before being pushed” and the Scottish Conservatives will remove the “entire rotten SNP government” from office, a Tory MSP claimed.
Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross said: “We knew the best chance of winning a vote of no confidence was in Humza Yousaf himself. That’s why the Scottish Conservatives tabled it last Thursday and he’s now jumped before being pushed.
“We saw off Nicola Sturgeon and now Humza Yousaf. Now we work to remove this entire rotten SNP Government from office.”
Yousaf set to give press conference today
Embattled Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf is set to give a press conference at around 12pm today after it emerged he was considering resigning.
The Scottish National Party leader will speak to reporters at his official residence of Bute House, Edinburgh, amid reports he could “call it quits” today.
It comes after the collapse of his power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens last week, according to senior SNP officials.
New SNP-Greens coalition ‘unrealistic’, says Lorna Slater
Lorna Slater, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens, appeared to rule out striking another formal coalition deal with the SNP.
She told Sky News that “reassembling something like that after the trust has been lost between the parties I think is probably unrealistic”.
She said she hoped the SNP would replace Humza Yousaf with someone who could “command the confidence of the parliament” and lead a minority administration.
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