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Beleaguered Humza Yousaf says he does not rule out Scottish election | |
(32 minutes later) | |
SNP leader wrote to other parties asking them to find ‘common ground’ ahead of no confidence vote | |
Humza Yousaf has said he does not rule out a Holyrood election after writing to the leaders of Scotland’s political parties asking them to find “common ground” ahead of a no confidence vote. | |
Yousaf has come under increasing pressure in recent days after his decision to axe the Scottish National party’s governing agreement with the Scottish Greens on Thursday morning. | Yousaf has come under increasing pressure in recent days after his decision to axe the Scottish National party’s governing agreement with the Scottish Greens on Thursday morning. |
The first minister, who is facing two confidence motions, sent letters to the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens and the Alba party on Friday night. | The first minister, who is facing two confidence motions, sent letters to the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens and the Alba party on Friday night. |
Speaking to Sky News on Saturday he said he “looked forward to hearing back from them soon.” | Speaking to Sky News on Saturday he said he “looked forward to hearing back from them soon.” |
He said it would be a “poor choice” for the Scottish Greens to back the no confidence motion, which would mean he was dependent on the former SNP MSP Ash Regan – whose defection to the Alba party he described as “no great loss” – for his political survival. | He said it would be a “poor choice” for the Scottish Greens to back the no confidence motion, which would mean he was dependent on the former SNP MSP Ash Regan – whose defection to the Alba party he described as “no great loss” – for his political survival. |
He added: “That would be really disappointing if that is the Greens’ position. As I say, I’ve reached out to them, they are saying publicly that they’re going to support a Conservative motion against – a first minister, an independence government. | He added: “That would be really disappointing if that is the Greens’ position. As I say, I’ve reached out to them, they are saying publicly that they’re going to support a Conservative motion against – a first minister, an independence government. |
“I think that would be, I think, a poor choice to make. So of course I have written to Ash Regan as well. I look forward to speaking to her too.” | |
On Saturday he received the backing of his former leadership rival Kate Forbes ahead of the looming confidence votes. | On Saturday he received the backing of his former leadership rival Kate Forbes ahead of the looming confidence votes. |
Forbes, who came second in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon last year, said recent events had been “an embarrassment for every parliamentarian in every party”. | Forbes, who came second in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon last year, said recent events had been “an embarrassment for every parliamentarian in every party”. |
“It is easy to be loyal to a party when times are good and the party is ahead in the polls,” Forbes wrote in the National. | “It is easy to be loyal to a party when times are good and the party is ahead in the polls,” Forbes wrote in the National. |
“But you find out what real leadership is – and what real loyalty looks like – when times are tougher and that is why I will back the SNP and the first minister through next week’s fight and I urge everyone in our party and everyone who cares about Scotland to do the same.” | “But you find out what real leadership is – and what real loyalty looks like – when times are tougher and that is why I will back the SNP and the first minister through next week’s fight and I urge everyone in our party and everyone who cares about Scotland to do the same.” |
Forbes has previously expressed doubts about the Bute House agreement, which was brokered by Sturgeon in 2021. | Forbes has previously expressed doubts about the Bute House agreement, which was brokered by Sturgeon in 2021. |
Yousaf’s decision to end that agreement, to the surprise of supporters and opponents alike, followed growing frustrations within the SNP about a host of electorally unpopular policies championed by the Greens. | Yousaf’s decision to end that agreement, to the surprise of supporters and opponents alike, followed growing frustrations within the SNP about a host of electorally unpopular policies championed by the Greens. |
Tensions between the parties became more apparent earlier this month after the SNP ditched its flagship target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030. | Tensions between the parties became more apparent earlier this month after the SNP ditched its flagship target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030. |
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Also divisive was the decision to pause prescription of puberty blockers at Scotland’s only gender identity clinic for under-18s. | Also divisive was the decision to pause prescription of puberty blockers at Scotland’s only gender identity clinic for under-18s. |
The Greens had announced plans to have a vote on the future of the power-sharing deal before Yousaf pulled the plug. | The Greens had announced plans to have a vote on the future of the power-sharing deal before Yousaf pulled the plug. |
On Thursday the first minister said the once-stabilising agreement – which gave the SNP a majority when its votes were combined with those of the seven Green MSPs – had now “served its purpose”. | On Thursday the first minister said the once-stabilising agreement – which gave the SNP a majority when its votes were combined with those of the seven Green MSPs – had now “served its purpose”. |
The Bute House agreement also created ministerial posts for the Green party co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie. | The Bute House agreement also created ministerial posts for the Green party co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie. |
Yousaf’s decision led the former to accuse the SNP of “political cowardice”, and has since resulted in the two no-confidence motions – one in the first minister, the other in his government. | Yousaf’s decision led the former to accuse the SNP of “political cowardice”, and has since resulted in the two no-confidence motions – one in the first minister, the other in his government. |
These are expected to take place next week, with the first minister insistent that he will not resign. | These are expected to take place next week, with the first minister insistent that he will not resign. |
While maintaining on Friday that his decision was the right one, he is understood to have been surprised by the scale of the backlash. | While maintaining on Friday that his decision was the right one, he is understood to have been surprised by the scale of the backlash. |
Yousaf has since admitted that he empathises with the Greens’ position and has “heard their anger”. | Yousaf has since admitted that he empathises with the Greens’ position and has “heard their anger”. |
The SNP’s 63 out of 129 seats gives the party two short of an outright majority, making the Alba party Holyrood leader’s support vital. | The SNP’s 63 out of 129 seats gives the party two short of an outright majority, making the Alba party Holyrood leader’s support vital. |
She told the BBC on Friday that she is still considering how to cast her vote. | She told the BBC on Friday that she is still considering how to cast her vote. |
“I think that potentially some of the things he said about me when I left to go to a different political party last year probably shows that it’s always wise to have that level of professional courtesy to people that you work with.” | “I think that potentially some of the things he said about me when I left to go to a different political party last year probably shows that it’s always wise to have that level of professional courtesy to people that you work with.” |
PA Media contributed to this report | PA Media contributed to this report |