Humza Yousaf resigns, orders contest for replacement

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
29 Apr 2024 11:51

The no-confidence vote, sparked by Yousaf terminating the government alliance with the Greens, is scheduled for this week in Holyrood.

Scotland’s First Minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Humza Yousaf arrives in Scotland, on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. (AP)

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on Monday and said he had ordered a contest be held to select a replacement.

"I've concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm," Yousaf said at a press conference in Edinburgh.

"I have therefore informed the SNP's national secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader and ask that she commences a leadership contest for my replacement as soon as possible."

However, Yousaf would continue as First Minister until a successor has been elected.

Earlier reports revealed that Scotland's First Minister and the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Humza Yousaf was planning to resign today after serving approximately thirteen months in his role before a no-confidence vote in his leadership, Reuters reported.

A senior party member revealed that Yousaf would step down amid significant pressure to gain support beyond the SNP.

The no-confidence vote, allegedly sparked by Yousaf terminating the government alliance with the Greens, is scheduled for this week in Holyrood.

Meanwhile, The Insider indicated that Humza preferred former Deputy First Minister John Swinney to assume full-time leadership.

Yousaf requires 64 votes to remain in office but currently only has the backing of 63 from the SNP. The pro-independence Greens, angered by their treatment, are backing the effort to oust him.

Yousaf was reportedly reluctant to form an alliance with Alex Salmond’s Alba party, which holds one MSP seat, and resignation was being considered. Both the BBC and the Times have suggested that he would step down before the votes take place.

Israeli crimes in Gaza amount to 'ethnic cleansing': Scotland's Yousaf

This comes as pressure on public and political figures opposing "Israel's" genocide in Gaza is on the rise.

Earlier, Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf deemed the Israeli genocide in Gaza "tantamount to ethnic cleansing" in an interview conducted on January 2024.

At the time, Yousaf said the UK government must clarify to "Israel" that its conduct in Gaza has surpassed what is considered a "legitimate response".

"Frankly, my plea is one of desperation. I mean, I am seeing the same images you are seeing and the same images your viewers are seeing, day in and day out," he added during an interview for Sky News.

"And I think it's tantamount of importance for every single person to raise their voice and say that what we're seeing from Israel, the indiscriminate attacks we're seeing, go far beyond a legitimate response. They look now like vengeance and have done, I have to say, for quite some time,” he stressed.

He also called the UK's stubborn refusal to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza "shameful".

Since January, nothing has changed; the genocide continues unabated. The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza due to the Israeli genocidal war, ongoing since October 7, has now reached 34,454, with 77,575 injured.