Politics latest: Yousaf quits as Scotland's first minister (2024)

Humza Yousaf's decision to sack the Green Party from his coalition ultimately triggered a series of events that sealed his political fate, our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies reports.

"It was the biggest political miscalculation of his career that sealed the fate of the first minister," he said, speaking after Mr Yousaf announced he will step down (see 12.04 post).

Ending the three-year powersharing deal at Holyrood was a "fatal mistake" which saw the "walls come closing in".

Those close to Mr Yousaf had suggested that agreement "had become a liability within government and many in the SNP were uneasy about how many strings they were pulling".

"So he got rid of them and that triggered a set of events in motion that ultimately led to this moment and ultimately led to his demise."

No confidence votes

No confidence motions were looming at the Scottish parliament later this week, and he was facing wipeout and a backlash of "no" votes from the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, who were furious.

"And then at that stage there was a suggestion that the ALBA party, Alex Salmond's party, would prop up the SNP government with their one MSP, Ash Regan," Gillies added.

"That was just a step too far. Allies and sources close to Scotland's first minister said, 'look, that would be like doing a deal with the devil'.

"So, there was only one other option and that was to resign."

Stepping in for Sturgeon

Gillies added an "interesting" element to this is how Mr Yousaf said to Sky News just 48 hours ago he would defy that vote of no confidence.

"On a human level, this is a man who is well-liked within the SNP," Gillies said.

"He is a man who stepped up to the plate when Nicola Sturgeon stepped down last year, and he was always going to have a battle ahead."

But even his closest of allies, Gillies said, would realise "he was not Nicola Sturgeon, and he did not command her authority".

Humza Yousaf gave an emotional end to his resignation announcement.

"I bear no ill will and certainly no grudge against anyone. Politics can be a brutal business," he says.

"It takes its toll on your physical and mental health. Your family suffer alongside you."

Becoming emotional, he adds: "I am in absolute debt to my wonderful wife, my beautiful children and my wider family for putting up with me over the years.

"I'm afraid you'll be seeing a lot more of me from now. You are truly everything to me."

Mr Yousaf continues: "I am so grateful. I'm so blessed for having the opportunity afforded to so few to lead my country, and who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland? Thank you very much."

Mr Yousaf says he is "incredibly proud" to have a "fair tax system", which he hails as "the most progressive in the UK".

"I've always been guided by my values," he says.

"As first minister, I'm incredibly proud to have a fair tax system, the most progressive in the UK.

"But those who earn the most, contribute the most, and it will always be my core belief that a country as rich as ours wealth must be far more evenly distributed."

He added he has "no doubt at all" that whoever takes over "will continue the Scottish government's drive to reduce child poverty".

"I'm proud that through our actions, an estimated 100,000 children are expected to be lifted out of poverty this year," he claimed.

He also said he will "continue to champion… the rights and the voices of those who are not often heard", including those suffering the "most horrific humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

Humza Yousaf says he is stepping down at a time when Scottish independence "feels frustratingly close".

"As the world watches on, let me say to my SNP family, I will always be with you," he says.

"I will always campaign alongside you. We have had setbacks in our movement, but we have overcome them, and we will do so again.

"Independence feels frustratingly close. Believe me, no one feels that frustration more than the leader of the SNP.

"For the last few miles of the marathon are always the hardest, and we have run this race as a team and I now will prepare to pass the baton to a successor who I'm absolutely certain will lead us over the finish line."

Giving a message to his successor, Mr Yousaf says: "First ministers get to meet countless inspirational people and communities across Scotland working to make life better for those around them.

"First ministers get to see first-hand many of the exciting businesses and industries that will power Scotland's future.

"And whenever first ministers set foot beyond Scotland's shores, no matter where they go in Europe or across the world, they encounter friends and admirers of our nation.

"If only every person in Scotland can be afforded the opportunity of being first minister for just one day on the very next day. It's my belief that they would vote for independence with both their head and their heart."

Humza Yousaf announces he will continue as first minister until his successor is elected.

He says he "clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset" he had caused his colleagues in the Green Party by ending the powersharing agreement between the SNP and the Greens.

"For a minority government to be able to govern effectively and efficiently, trust when working with the opposition is clearly fundamental," he says.

"And while a route through this week's motion of no confidence was absolutely possible, I am not willing to treat my values and principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power."

He said he after a weekend of reflection, he'd concluded "repairing a relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm".

Mr Yousaf adds: "I have therefore informed the SNP's National Secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader and ask that she commence a leadership contest as soon as possible.

"In order to ensure a smooth and orderly transition, it is my intention to continue as first minister until my successor has been elected."

Humza Yousaf has said he will resign as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister.

Mr Yousaf had previously said he would not resign, and he intended to win the confidence votes.

He was fighting for his political future after ending the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday.

He was facing two votes of no confidence - one from the Scottish Conservatives, and another from Scottish Labour, which has tabled one for the Scottish government as a whole.

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf is just about to hold a press conference at Bute House, his official residence in Edinburgh.

Mr Yousaf is expected to resign as first minister of Scotland.

You can watch his announcement in the stream above.

The Scottish Conservatives have "forced Humza Yousaf out of office for repeatedly failing Scotland", the party's leader has said.

The Scottish Tories had tabled a motion of no confidence in the first minister.

Douglas Ross said: "Faced with our vote of no confidence, the SNP leader has quit rather than face a humiliating defeat."

While he stressed that "on a personal level, I wish Humza Yousaf and his family well", he added his party "cannot forgive the damage he did to families and households across Scotland by raising taxes, letting NHS waiting lists spiral and attacking free speech".

Mr Ross added: "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."

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf could be set to announce his resignation at a news conference in half an hour's time.

The SNP leadertriggered a crisis at Holyrood after he dramatically brought the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens to an end.

The backlash plunged Mr Yousaf's future into doubt.

How did we get here?

The Bute House Agreement - signed back in 2021 and named after the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh - brought the Green Party into government for the first time anywhere in the UK.

It gave the SNP a majority at Holyrood when the votes of its MSPs were combined with those of the seven Green members, and also made Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater junior ministers.

Without it, the SNP would need to have operated as a minority administration at Holyrood.

What caused the relationship to sour?

There had been mounting tensions between the largest party at Holyrood and their junior partners in government.

The Greens were angered at the SNP-led administration's recent decision to ditch a key climate change target.

That, combined with the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers to under-18s at Scotland's only gender clinic, resulted in the Greens announcing they would have a vote on the future of the power-sharing deal.

What brought things to a head?

Mr Yousaf decided to pull the plug on the agreement - arguing it had "served its purpose" - prompting a major fallout with his former allies, who vowed to back a no-confidence motion in his leadership proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has arrived at Bute House, his official residence in Edinburgh, ahead of a news conference on his political future at midday.