Humza Yousaf vows to stay in power - as pressure builds on his government
The SNP leader is battling for his political survival after tearing up the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens - prompting a no-confidence motion in his leadership and a threatened knife-edge vote.
Friday 26 April 2024 16:16, UK
Embattled Humza Yousaf has told Sky News he will not resign as Scotland's first minister.
Pressure has been building on the SNP leader after he tore up the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens - prompting a no-confidence motion in his leadership and a threatened knife-edge vote.
However, Mr Yousaf, on a visit to Dundee that was arranged at short notice after he pulled out of a speech in Glasgow, insisted he was getting on with the job and accused the opposition of "playing games".
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He said he would be writing to the leaders of all Scottish political parties to seek talks on making a minority government work.
He told Sky News' Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies: "I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence, I've got every intention of winning that vote of no confidence.
"And let me say to the opposition, for minority government to work in the interest of the people of Scotland also requires the opposition to act in good faith."
But also speaking to Sky News, the leader of Scottish Labour, Anas Sarwar, said it was "now a case of when, not if" the first minister stands down.
Mr Yousaf has been left fighting for his political survival after his former allies in the Scottish Greens vowed to vote against him in a motion of no confidence, lodged by the Tories.
The crisis was sparked after Mr Yousaf dramatically brought the power-sharing deal with the Greens to an end on Thursday.
It followed tensions over the administration's climbdown on climate targets and the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers at Scotland's only gender clinic for young people.
Yousaf seeks to rebuild bridges he burned since becoming leader
Kitted out in his hard hat and hi-vis jacket, an embattled Humza Yousaf toured a new social housing development in Dundee today as he dodges incoming political fire.
It was difficult to miss the metaphor of him stepping out on to the balcony of one home - a leader whose career appears to be teetering on the edge.
I spoke to the first minister live on Sky News and his message could not have been clearer.
He is clambering to cling on - defiant that he will win a looming no-confidence vote.
He denies suggestions he even considered quitting in the past 24 hours.
Some sources within the SNP, though, told a different tale.
They contradict their leader with a suggestion he had serious conversations with his inner circle about the path ahead.
The sacked Green ministers may get the ultimate political "revenge" when they cast their vote next week.
One Green source told me the only move they would support Mr Yousaf doing is resigning.
"He needs to go now," they said.
The question is, how long can the SNP chief ride out the storm?
His fate now lies in the hands of one-time leadership rival Ash Regan.
He said she was "no great loss" when she defected to Alex Salmond's Alba Party last year.
Mr Yousaf must now reset relations with the very people he has burned bridges with since taking over as Scotland's leader in the wake of Nicola Sturgeon's shock resignation.
The ditching of the deal, branded an act of "political cowardice" by the Greens, means the SNP will now operate as a minority administration at Holyrood.
Referring to the Greens, whose co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were dumped this week as junior ministers, Mr Yousaf said he had "heard their anger, their upset".
He added: "What I will do is be writing to all the political party leaders, all the party groups represented in the Scottish parliament, including of course Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, asking them to meet with me, to say how do we make minority government work.
"It's in the best interests of the people of Scotland that all of us act in good faith and make it work."
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A tight vote is expected at Holyrood next week, where 64 out of 128 MSPs are poised to oppose Mr Yousaf continuing as first minister.
The SNP have 63 MSPs at Holyrood while there is also Ash Regan, a former leadership rival to Mr Yousaf, who defected to Alex Salmond's Alba Party last October.
She has written to the first minister, setting out demands in exchange for her crucial support, including progress on Scottish independence and defending "the rights of women and children".
In the event of a tie-break, the presiding officer Alison Johnstone, who traditionally does not vote, would be expected to support the status quo.
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Tap hereMeanwhile, Scottish Labour's Mr Sarwar has also sought to tighten the screw by lodging a no-confidence motion in the entire devolved government - rather than just Mr Yousaf - which carries more far-reaching implications, including the prospect of an election.
He told Sky News: "I believe I'm speaking on behalf of the majority of people across Scotland who do not believe they have effective government in Scotland right now.
"I'm on the record in believing that we need to get rid of the UK Tory government. But I think it's also important to stress that we have two chaotic, divided governments now.
"So Scotland has both of these governments that are ruling over it and doing it in an ineffective way and failing communities across the country."
Both the Tories and Liberal Democrats in Scotland have said they will support the Labour-led motion.
However, the move is unlikely to secure enough support with Alba coming out against it and accusing Mr Sarwar of "grandstanding".