LONDON – Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s First Minister since March 2023, is contemplating resigning from his position as early as today instead of confronting a no-confidence vote against him later this week, the British media reported on Monday.
Although Yousaf initially expressed intentions to challenge the no-confidence vote from political adversaries, recent developments suggest a shift in his stance.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) leader is facing two impending no-confidence votes at Holyrood after withdrawing from a coalition agreement and attempting to govern as a minority government, which led to the dismissal of the Scottish Greens, who have now aligned with the opposition to vote him out.
Talks were scheduled between the SNP and the Alba party, led by rival Alex Salmond, with Ash Regan, the party’s sole Member of the Scottish Parliament, expected to cast the deciding vote. Regan was likely to present demands as conditions for her agreement.
However, dissent within the SNP ranks regarding these negotiations indicates internal pressures on Yousaf. MP Neale Hanvey, the Alba Party’s Westminster leader, implied that Yousaf’s position was untenable due to internal dynamics within the SNP.
Meanwhile, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride remarked on the situation, criticizing the SNP’s handling of governance and suggesting that their preoccupation with independence has resulted in subpar outcomes in healthcare, education, and other sectors.
