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Humza Yousaf to meet Rishi Sunak in London SNP working towards deadline to file accounts - Yousaf
(about 13 hours later)
Humza Yousaf will meet the prime minister for the first time since he replaced Nicola Sturgeon Humza Yousaf met the prime minister for the first time since he replaced Nicola Sturgeon
Humza Yousaf will meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in person for the first time since he became Scotland's first minister. Scotland's first minister has told the BBC he is "going to work towards meeting the deadline" to arrange an auditor to process the SNP's accounts.
They are expected to discuss a tax rise affecting Scotch whisky and energy bill support for the drinks industry. Humza Yousaf's remarks came after the party's Westminster leader acknowledged it could miss out on £1.2m in public funds if the 31 May deadline is missed.
The meeting in London this evening will take place amid a looming court battle. Mr Yousaf was speaking after his first in-person meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak since taking the role.
The Scottish government has announced plans to launch a legal challenge to Westminster's block on its controversial gender reforms. They discussed issues including the cost of living crisis and devolution.
Speaking to the BBC about finding a new auditor for the party, Mr Yousaf said: "It'll be challenging. I won't pretend otherwise.
"There is the ability to ask for an extension if required. We're not in that space yet."
Gender law block 'irrational' - Scottish ministers
Slater announces overhaul of bottle return scheme
Mr Yousaf and Mr Sunak met in the House of Commons earlier on Monday evening.
The Scottish government said Mr Yousaf raised concerns around "UK government attacks on devolution".
It also said Mr Yousaf made clear that he expects Mr Sunak to "respect the democratic wishes of Scotland's Parliament" by granting a Section 30 order, which would grant the power to hold a second independence referendum.
The first minister told the BBC they "got along fine" during the meeting in London.
He said: "Very helpfully, at the start of the meeting, he gave me a briefing on the situation in Sudan.
"I said any briefing we can get will be very helpful, given that there will be a number of Scots with family out there who will be deeply affected.
"On a personal level, he seemed perfectly affable enough."
Mr Sunak hosted the meeting in the House of Commons
The meeting took place amid a looming court battle. The Scottish government has announced plans to launch a legal challenge to Westminster's block on its controversial gender reforms.
The proposals, which would allow people in Scotland to self-identify their sex, were passed by the Scottish Parliament in December last year.The proposals, which would allow people in Scotland to self-identify their sex, were passed by the Scottish Parliament in December last year.
But they were blocked by the UK government over their potential impact on UK-wide equality laws.But they were blocked by the UK government over their potential impact on UK-wide equality laws.
Block on gender reform laws to be challenged in court
Old tensions to remain for SNP's new leader
The first minister has previously said challenging the UK government's block on the gender Bill was "our only means of defending our parliament's democracy from the Westminster veto" but Mr Sunak said Westminster had taken "very careful and considered advice" on the issue before acting.The first minister has previously said challenging the UK government's block on the gender Bill was "our only means of defending our parliament's democracy from the Westminster veto" but Mr Sunak said Westminster had taken "very careful and considered advice" on the issue before acting.
The meeting also comes after the Scottish government delayed the introduction of its deposit return scheme from August to March next year, in a move that circular economy minister Lorna Slater blamed on Westminster. 'Work together'
The meeting also came after the Scottish government delayed the introduction of its deposit return scheme from August to March next year, in a move that circular economy minister Lorna Slater blamed on Westminster.
She said the delay was primarily due to the UK government not providing an exemption to the Internal Market Act, which was implemented after Britain left the European Union to regulate trade within the country.She said the delay was primarily due to the UK government not providing an exemption to the Internal Market Act, which was implemented after Britain left the European Union to regulate trade within the country.
During their talks Mr Yousaf is expected to raise the planned 10.1% tax hike on Scotch whisky, alongside the UK government "refusing to provide the energy-bill support the rest of the drinks industry receives". Mr Yousaf added: "I did mention to the Prime Minister that where can work together collaboratively of course I would be keen to do that.
Ahead of the meeting the first minister said: "It's time for the prime minister to bring fairness back to the way whisky is treated and I will make that crystal clear when we meet today." "And one way we could do that for example is in relation to the UK government granting an exemption to the internal market act for the deposit return scheme."
During his time in the UK capital Mr Yousaf will also meet London mayor Sadiq Khan and with ambassadors, including those from Germany and Ukraine, the Scottish government said. They also discussed the cost-of-living crisis and rising energy bills as well as the Scotch whisky industry.
While the talks will be their first in person since the SNP leader became Scotland's first minister last month, it will not be their first conversation. While the talks were their first in person since the SNP leader became Scotland's first minister last month, it will not be their first conversation.
The pair spoke via telephone after Mr Yousaf was chosen by MSPs to be first minister on 28 March.The pair spoke via telephone after Mr Yousaf was chosen by MSPs to be first minister on 28 March.
Humza Yousaf and Rishi Sunak might not have got off to the best start, after the prime minister rejected the new first minister's calls for an independence referendum within hours of his taking office.
That is not an issue they are ever likely to see eye-to-eye on, but the two leaders will look to reset relations in their first in-person meeting.
A bit of diplomacy might be a welcome distraction for both, with Mr Sunak having just lost his deputy to a bullying probe, and Mr Yousaf dealing with the fallout from the police investigation of the SNP.
They may be able to commiserate as leaders whose governments are buffeted by events outwith their immediate control.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Scottish governmentScottish government
Scotch whiskyScotch whisky
LondonLondon
Rishi SunakRishi Sunak
Humza YousafHumza Yousaf