Edinburgh, Scotland — After a year in office, Humza Yousaf, the first minister of Scotland, has announced his resignation. The decision comes amid mounting pressure and political challenges.
Background: Power-Sharing Deal and Struggles
Yousaf’s tenure was marked by a power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens. However, this arrangement proved contentious, leading to difficulties in passing legislation and making policy decisions. With insufficient support from his party, the Scottish National Party (SNP), Yousaf faced an uphill battle in governing effectively.
The Bute House Agreement and Backlash
The turning point came when Yousaf terminated the Bute House Agreement, which had allowed the SNP to share power with the Greens. This move followed criticism over the SNP’s decision to scrap climate targets for 2030 and gender policies. The Greens accused Yousaf of compromising the interests of future generations, further straining the relationship between the two parties.
No-Confidence Votes and Political Survival
Opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament responded by tabling two no-confidence votes: one against Yousaf personally and another against the SNP government. With only 63 SNP Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) out of 129 seats, Yousaf’s position became precarious. If the seven Green MSPs voted against him, he would rely on the support of the sole Alba party MSP, Ash Regan, to remain in office. Yousaf ruled out any deal with Alba, a pro-independence party formed by former First Minister Alex Salmond after his split from the SNP.
Resignation and Political Landscape
In his resignation statement, Yousaf emphasized that he would not compromise his morals and values to retain power. His decision reflects the challenges faced by a minority government operating on trust. As Yousaf steps down, the Scottish Parliament will now have 28 days to elect a new first minister or trigger a fresh election.
Reactions and Future Prospects
Scottish Labour confirmed that the motion of no-confidence in the government would remain tabled even after Yousaf’s resignation. Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross celebrated Yousaf’s departure, stating that they had “seen off Nicola Sturgeon and now Humza Yousaf.” Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called for Yousaf’s resignation, citing a lack of trust and misaligned priorities.
The Scottish Greens were set to decide whether to accept Yousaf’s invitation to continue in power, but his resignation has rendered that moot. As Scotland faces a pivotal moment, the political landscape remains uncertain.