Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousafresigned on Monday in the latest setback for his Scottish National Party, which has been mired in slow crisis over a sponsorship scandal that erupted after popular leader Nicola Sturgeon resigned in 2015. last.
Mr. Yousaf’s departure seemed increasingly inevitable after his gambling spree last week. end the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party, angering the party’s leaders and leaving him head of a minority government without clear allies. His opponents have subsequently tabled two motions of no confidence, which are expected to take place later this week.
After weighing his options over several challenging days, Mr. Yousaf, Scotland’s first Muslim leader, said he would step down in a speech on Monday at Bute House in Edinburgh, where Official residence of the Prime Minister of Scotland.
“After spending the weekend thinking about what is best for my party, for my government and for the country I lead, I have concluded that repairing our relationship through A political turn can only be made when someone else is at the helm,” Mr. Yousaf said.
He added: “My intention is to continue as first minister until my successor is elected.”
He resigned after less than a year as leader of the SNP, which has dominated the country’s politics for more than a decade and campaigned for Scottish independence. The Scottish Parliament now has 28 days to choose a successor.
Mr. Yousaf took over later unexpected resignation of Ms. Sturgeon, a prominent figure in British politics, who announced her departure last February. At the time, Mr. Yousaf was considered a continuing candidate.
But that was no longer valid when Ms Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, was arrested and later charged in connection with embezzlement of public funds when he was the party’s long-serving chief executive. Ms. Sturgeon also arrested in the same investigation but have not yet been charged.
With a funding scandal looming over the SNP, Mr Yousaf has struggled to establish himself as leader, and the crisis has coincided with the prospect of a new referendum on independence rising. Scotland’s independence, the party’s main concern is fading. In a 2014 referendum, the Scottish voted to stay in the UK it is 55.3% and polls show just over half of voters continue refuse independence.
The SNP’s troubles are a reward for Britain’s main opposition Labor Party, which once dominated Scottish politics but saw its support collapse in the mid-2010s, amid the There is growing debate about Scottish independence.
The recent revival of the Labor Party in Scotland could deliver some seats there in the general election expected later this year, which would significantly ease the path of the party leader, Keir Starmer, to 10 Downing Street, Official headquarters of the British Prime Minister.
But the latest blow to the SNP – Mr Yousaf’s resignation – was largely of his own doing.
The party’s power-sharing agreement with the Greens, signed by Ms Sturgeon in August 2021, allowed the SNP to retain power after it emerged as the largest party in that year’s election but failed to win a majority. complete number.
In recent weeks the Green Party has become unhappy after the Scottish government withdraw from his commitment Cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.
There are also tensions between the parties over the decision of the National Health Service in Scotland Temporarily stop prescribing puberty blockers and other hormone treatments for adolescents. That followed an independence Evaluate gender services in England by Hilary Cass, a pediatrician.
The Green Party had planned to consult its members on whether to stay in the coalition, but last week Mr Yousaf preempted the decision by terminating the deal himself.
He seemed to think he could continue to lead a minority government with the tacit support of the Green Party but the decisive manner in which he ended the deal angered the party. As the Scottish Conservatives move forward with a vote of no confidence in Mr. Yousaf, expected this week, the Green Party said they would vote against him.
The Labor Party then demanded a vote of confidence in the Scottish government, setting up two major hurdles for Mr. Yousaf to overcome.
His failure to secure new support has highlighted the difficult nature of Scottish politics. He might have kept his job if he had struck a deal with Ash Regan, a former rival who left the SNP to join another pro-independence party called Alba.
But Alba is led by Alex Salmond, the former first minister and leader of the SNP who had a spectacular row with Miss Sturgeonwas his patron.
The prospect of a deal with Alba looms large for the SNP’s progressive wing. That leaves some form of new compromise with the Greens as the clearest option to save the government and avoid an early election in Scotland.
But the Green Party is in no mood to forgive Mr. Yousaf. After concluding their deal last week, Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Green Party, accused the SNP of “an act of cowardice”, adding that Mr Yousaf “can no longer be trusted again”.
