‘He’s toast!’ Humza Yousaf’s future hangs by thread as ex-SNP MSP ‘carefully considers’ whether to topple First Minister
Humza Yousaf’s position has been left hanging by a thread as a former SNP MSP is forced to “consider carefully” whether or not to topple the Scottish First Minister.
Yousaf, who replaced Nicola Sturgeon in Bute House last March, is facing pressure after Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross tabled a vote of no confidence.
Alba Party MSP Ash Regan, who defected from the SNP just six months after running to replace Sturgeon as First Minister, could now decide the future of politics in Holyrood.
An Alba Party source told GB News: “That is a decision for Ash to consider carefully.
“She intends to write to the First Minister tomorrow morning to set out her position.”
Former Scottish Tory MP Ross Thomson also made a scathing prediction ahead irrespective of the result of next week’s vote.
He told GB News: “Yousaf’s toast. The fact that he even has to rely on Reagan, who he described as ‘not a great loss’, for his survival, that she will be writing up him with her demands, is embarrassing and demonstrates how weak he is.
“I’ve worked with Ash and I’m sure she’ll enjoy being a king maker. She’ll want to drag it out and Humza will hate it, but in the process also look completely pathetic. He’d be better resigning tomorrow than allowing himself to be humiliated further.”
Thomson, who also warned SNP MSP Fergus Ewing could look to seek revenge after he was disciplined for opposing ex-Green Minister Lorna Slater, added: “Even if he survives the confidence vote, he’s still gone after the general election. If the SNP lose 20 seats his position is untenable. The vultures are already circling. If Forbes and Flynn decide on their pact then it’s done.”
The no confidence motion was called shortly after Yousaf terminated his coalition deal with the Scottish Green Party.
Ross said: “I can confirm today that on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives I am lodging a vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf.
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“He is a failed First Minister. He has focused on the wrong priorities for Scotland.
“He has governed in the SNP’s interest and not in Scotland’s interest. He is unfit for office. Shouldn’t this be the end of the road for this weak First Minister?”
Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have agreed to back the motion.
Patrick Harvie later confirmed alongside Slater that Green Party MSPs will oppose Yousaf staying on as First Minister.
The current situation leaves 63 SNP MSPs likely to support Yousaf, with 64 opposition MSPs poised to vote against.
Voting against Yousaf in next week’s no confidence motion would prove enough for opposition MSPs to defeat the Glasgow Pollok MSP.
However, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, formerly a Green MSP, would be required to cast the deciding vote if Regan lent her support to Yousaf.
Defeat next week would force the SNP Government to resign and appoint a new First Minister within 28 days or call an election.
Scottish Labour is pinning its hopes on an early election, with Anas Sarwar saying: “The people of Scotland didn’t vote of this, First Minister. The people of Scotland didn’t vote for this mess and this chaos. So isn’t it time to end the circus and call an election?”
Speaking at a press conference, Harvie also made a damning assessment of Yousaf’s stint in Bute House.
He said: “Humza Yousaf becoming first minister was on the basis of a political cooperation which both parties members signed in good faith, which Humza Yousaf endorsed, and even two days ago was still endorsing. He’s now chosen to end that. That’s his decision and it can’t come without consequences.”
The power-sharing agreement between the SNP and Green Party was made in 2021 when Nicola Sturgeon returned to power just short of an overall majority in Holyrood.
Yousaf appears to have frustrated the Scottish Green Party by ditching his commitment to cut emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 and pause puberty blockers following the landmark Cass review south of the border.
The Scottish First Minister swatted away Ross’ no confidence talk, insisting: “I’ll leave it to Douglas Ross to play the political games that he wants to play.”
He added: “If he wants to put our record and his party’s record on the line, let’s do that.
“There’s a General Election coming this year and I can guarantee you the electorate will give the Conservative Party an almighty thumping, show them the door, and they deserve nothing less.”
Labour’s call for an election came as opinion polls show support for the SNP slipping.
A recent Redfield & Wilton survey put the SNP on 34 per cent, 13-points down compared to the last election.
Sarwar’s Labour has been chasing down the SNP, receiving a double-digit boost to register 32 per cent.
The Scottish Tories and Scottish Liberal Democrats recorded 21 per cent and six per cent respectively.
Such a situation could prove problematic for the SNP, with Unionist parties potentially holding a majority of seats in Holyrood.
However, any administrative change would bring to an end 17-years of SNP rule north of the border.