Embattled Humza on the rack - as rivals turn the screw

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Humza Yousaf yesterday launched a ‘humiliating’ bid to save his job amid warnings he is on course to be ditched as First Minister.

The SNP leader was branded a ‘lame duck’ as he fought for his political life following the extraordinary fallout from his decision to dump the Greens from his government and run a minority administration.

But only 24 hours later and facing a no-confidence vote, he insisted he was prepared to grovel to his former coalition partners for support, as well as Ash Regan, Holyrood leader of Alex Salmond’s Alba Party.

In a bombshell admission, Mr Yousaf even claimed he is prepared to call a Holyrood election to hold on to his job. But the Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie insisted it is ‘pretty clear’ that the First Minister will not win a majority in parliament.

Labour also yesterday lodged a no confidence motion in the entire SNP Government, which would force Mr Yousaf and his ministers to resign if it was backed by a majority of MSPs.

First Minister Humza Yousaf cancelled a planned speech earlier in the day as he battles for political survival

In a sign of the crisis engulfing his administration, a speech that Mr Yousaf had been due to deliver at Strathclyde University was cancelled hours before it was due to begin.

He instead visited a housing project in Dundee to announce an extra £80million of funding for affordable housing over two years – after facing criticism over major cuts to budgets.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: ‘This was a desperate and humiliating attempt by a lame duck First Minister to save his job.

‘Humza Yousaf has failed Scotland, his government is in meltdown and, despite his bluster, he knows he’s finished.

‘That’s why we got his emergency announcement of more money for affordable housing, months after an SNP budget containing a brutal £196million cut to it.’

Mr Yousaf insisted he wanted to ‘make minority government work’. In a last-ditch attempt to cling on to power, he is offering personal talks with opposition figures behind the bid to unseat him.

He also grovelled to the Scottish Greens, saying he regretted hurting their feelings by ejecting them from government on Thursday, the ministerial cull that triggered the crisis.

Scottish Greens co-convener Lorna Slater signalled that her party could consider its position on a no confidence vote again if talks take place with Mr Yousaf in the coming days. 

But fellow co-convener Mr Harvie insisted his party would not back Mr Yousaf.

He said: ‘Very clearly, he doesn’t have the confidence of parliament. 

We said very clearly the responsibility of the decision [to end the deal] is on him. He needs to bear the consequences of that reckless and damaging decision.

‘It’s pretty clear he’s not the person who is going to be able to bring together a majority of parliament. 

I think the SNP really need to consider, who do they think they can put forward as a First Minister who is capable of gaining the support of the majority of parliament? The ball is in their court.’

Greens MSP Gillian Mackay broke down in tears during a radio interview, saying the SNP and Greens have worked well together and ‘it is really sad that has been undone by one person’. 

She also claimed some ministers are ‘hurting as much as we are’.

If the Tory no confidence vote succeeds, Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign but would not be obligated to.

Labour’s no confidence motion in Mr Yousaf’s government has been backed by the Liberal Democrats and is also set to be scheduled for debate next week. 

If it succeeded, all ministers would have to resign, parliament would be dissolved and an election called if a new First Minister was unable to secure support from a simple majority of MSPs within 28 days.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: ‘It’s a matter now of when, not if, Humza Yousaf will step down as First Minister. 

It would be untenable for the SNP to assume it can impose another unelected First Minister on Scotland. Scottish Labour has no confidence in Humza Yousaf or this SNP Government – that is why we are laying a motion today to this effect to say that the parliament has no confidence in the Scottish Government.’

The Labour motion is also likely to be supported by the Tories but the Greens have signalled they are less likely to support it.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘I want to see a government that is focused on driving down waits for healthcare, tackling the sewage in our rivers and taking action on the cost of living. 

This is clearly not that government.’

Speaking to journalists in Dundee, Mr Yousaf said: ‘I’ll be writing to all the party leaders in the Scottish parliament, asking them to come to meet with me because we have to make minority government work.’ 

He insisted he would not resign and expected to win next week’s vote – even though he may have to rely on the support of Ms Regan.

But he admitted winning back the support of the Greens would be a priority, saying: ‘I’ll be writing to Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. 

I do understand and empathise with their position... I’ve heard the anger, I’ve heard the upset and it was not my intention to make Patrick, Lorna or any Green Party colleague, who I respect, to feel that way.

‘It’s incumbent on everyone here to really consider if they’re acting in good faith when it comes to minority government. 

I would suggest to the Greens that the Conservatives are not acting in good faith, and therefore I would ask them to reconsider their position in support of that motion.’

Asked yesterday by Channel 4 News whether the SNP could afford a Holyrood election, Mr Yousaf said: ‘I’m intending to win the vote of no confidence, but I wouldn’t rule out a Holyrood election. 

We’re on an election footing – we’re prepared if that’s required.’