Humza Yousaf quits as Scotland's first minister

[Emrys]

Last edited Mon Apr 29, 2024, 08:32 AM - Edit history (1)

Scottish National party leader’s decision comes less than a week after collapsing his coalition with the Scottish Greens

Humza Yousaf has said he will resign as Scotland’s first minister, forcing his Scottish National party into a leadership contest ahead of the UK general election expected this year.

At a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh, Yousaf said he would step down once a successor had been appointed. The announcement on Monday came ahead of a pair of no-confidence votes.

“I am not willing to trade my values and principles, or do deals with whomever, simply for retaining power,” he said.

“I‘ve concluded that repairing [the SNP’s] relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm,” he added.

https://www.ft.com/content/d11e2dc1-0254-45a4-80f2-69f5fe001474

Amid much mainstream media slavering and noisy jubilation among the vast bevy of racists on Twitter who've targeted him since he took office ("deport him", "time for a Scottish First Minister", "send him home" - home being Glasgow, where he was born), Yousaf's resignation speech was statesmanlike and transcripts will no doubt be available later.

I explored some of the background to the abandonment of the 2030 carbon emission target and dissolution of the Bute House Agreement in earlier replies, such as here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/108822833

More has emerged over the weekend about just how dysfunctional the Scottish Green Party has become:

The inside story of the Greens in meltdown as rebels demand leaders go

A rebel faction has formed within the Greens and they want vengeance for how party leaders handled the deal with the SNP. Our Writer at Large spent the week with them

The anger among Green Party rebels is palpable. Some are close to tears.

There’s demands for co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater to go. There’s calls for every Green MSP to be “de-selected” for “selling out the party’s values”. There’s accusations of gaslighting and bullying cliques at the top of the party creating a toxic culture of fear and intimidation.

In the days leading up to Humza Yousaf kicking Greens out of government, the Herald on Sunday was invited to a series of meetings with the party’s ‘rebel faction’. They wanted to see Greens pull out of the Bute House Agreement (BHA) unilaterally, and said they feared if they didn’t act soon, they’d be humiliated by the SNP moving against them first. Their prediction came true.

Among the rebels there’s councillors; current and former General Election candidates; people who sat or sit on key party committees, associations and representative groups; senior branch members; members who sat on the party’s ruling executive and council; party staff; and current and former employees of Green MSPs. More than a dozen rebels, from across Scotland, spoke. Much fury was directed at Ross Greer.

He’s seen by the rebels as key to the failure of the BHA. They say he was instrumental in the agreement’s mechanics, and hashed out details of the programme for government with SNP leaders, making him culpable for the “corruption of Green values”.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24283157.inside-story-green-rebels-want-rid-leadership/

It's hard to see how a party as riven as this could have played a constructive role in a stable government coalition. I should emphasize that the Scottish Green Party is entirely separate to the Green Party in the rest of the UK, which currently has its own problems.

Resigning at this point has spiked the guns of the Tories, all set for leading a personal vote of no confidence in him, and not least the Alba Party, which excited itself over the weekend at the prospect of being able to dictate a deal to support Yousaf in return for very significant concessions, including some sort of electoral pact - concessions, in the end, Yousaf was not willing to grant.

[T_i_B]

1. Before we get started with the contenders to succeed Yousaf...

....I have a question. How come Kate Forbes gets pilloried for being a Wee Free but Ian Blackford being a Wee Free was ignored while he was leading the Westminster MP's in Parliament?

Just strikes me as a bit odd, that's all.

[Emrys]

2. DU's acting up here, so I don't know if I'll even be able to post this reply!

You're certainly not the first to ask that question, and it'll probably come back to haunt us if Forbes crops up again as a leadership contender.

THe TL;DR answer is that Blackford wears his religious opinions lightly, and has indicated in the past that he's not particularly conservative on social issues, supporting same-sex marriage and rights to abortion, for instance.

The slightly longer answer is all that - this (surprisingly) non-satirical blog post from 2019 challenges Blackford's views, how they chime or not with the run-of-the-mill Wee Freers and where his own personal limits might lie, these readers' letters to The National ask much the same question as you - plus a couple of other facts: (1) Blackford, when standing for high office, didn't feel the need to declare at the beginning of his campaign that his religion was at odds with relatively liberal modern values that are important to the current-day SNP, but he'd be able to ignore all that if elected; (2) he's an ex-investment banker, rather rotund and quite wordy on his feet, so there was plenty of other ammunition for his gainsayers.

For balance, since Yousaf's election, when he pointed to a voting record that was on the liberal side on such issues and has since shown himself to be a relatively secular though observant Muslim, racists the length and breadth of Twitter have branded him as some sort of jihadist maniac, perhaps not coincidentally because he's been very outspoken on the need for a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict, which wasn't surprising as for one thing he had in-laws trapped in it.

[Emrys]

3. Yousaf's resignation speech:

Last week I stood here to announce the ending of the Cooperation Agreement between the SNP and the Greens, the Bute House Agreement, and that the SNP would seek to govern as a minority Government.

I made that decision as the Leader of the SNP, as I believed ending the Bute House Agreement was the right one for the Party I lead, and I still do believe that to be the case. But most importantly I believe it was the right decision for the country.

My hope was to continue working with the Greens, in a less formal arrangement, as the SNP moved into a new phase of minority Government. Unfortunately, in ending the Bute House Agreement, in the manner that I did, I clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset my actions caused Green colleagues.

For a minority Government to be able to govern effectively and efficiently, trust, when working with the opposition, is clearly fundamental.

And while a route through this week’s Motion of No Confidence was absolutely possible, I am not willing to trade my values and principles – or do deals with whomever – simply for retaining power.

Therefore, after spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for my Party, the government and country I lead, I have concluded that repairing our relationships across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm.

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.

In order to ensure a smooth and orderly transition, it is my intention to continue as First Minister until my successor has been elected, particularly as the Parliament will be debating some incredibly important legislation in the coming days and weeks.

I cannot tell you what an honour it is being the First Minister of the country I love – the country I am raising my family in, and the only country I will ever call home.

As a young boy – born and raised in Scotland – I could never have dreamt that one day I would have the privilege of leading my country.

People who looked like me were not in positions of political influence, let alone leading Governments when I was younger.

We now live in a UK that has a British-Hindu Prime Minister, a Muslim Mayor of London, a Black Welsh First Minister, and, for a little while longer, a Scots-Asian First Minister of this country.

So for those who decry that multiculturalism has failed across the UK, I would suggest the evidence is quite to the contrary, and that is something we should all celebrate.

I have had the honour of serving in Government for almost 12 years, in a variety of roles. Whatever position I have held during my time in politics, I have always been guided by my values.

As First Minister I am incredibly proud of to have a fair tax system – the most progressive in the UK, where those who earn the most, contribute the most.

It will always be my core belief that, in a country as rich as ours, wealth must be far more evenly distributed.

I have no doubt that whoever takes over from me will continue the Scottish Government’s drive to reduce child poverty. I am proud that, through our actions, an estimated 100,000 children are expected to be lifted out of poverty this year.

I also hope that, as a country, we can be proud of the strides that we have taken to tackle inequality, prejudice and discrimination. But let us also acknowledge that far too often, in our country, hatred continues to rear its ugly head.

In a world where every issue seems to descend into a toxic culture war, it is often the most marginalised in our society who bear the brunt.

As politicians, of all political parties, we are afforded – and privileged – to have a platform. Each and every one of us must resist the temptation of populism at the expense of minorities, particularly in a general election year.

I have often said that as a minority myself, my rights don’t exist in a vacuum – they are only protected because the rights of everyone are protected.

And from the backbenches of the Scottish Parliament I will continue to champion the rights and voices of those are often not heard, be they at home or overseas, such as those suffering the most horrific humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, as the world watches on.

Let me say to my SNP family, I will always be with you, and always campaign alongside you.

We have had setbacks in our movement, but we have overcome them, and we will do so again.

Independence feels frustratingly close – and believe me, no one feels that frustration more than the leader of the SNP – but the last few miles of any marathon are always the hardest.

We have always run this race as a team – and I will now prepare to pass on the baton to a successor who I am absolutely certain will lead us over the finish line.

And I will tell you today, what I will say to that successor.

First Ministers get to meet countless inspirational people, in communities across Scotland, working to make life better for those around them.

They see first-hand many of the exciting businesses and industries that will power Scotland’s future.

And whenever First Ministers set foot beyond Scotland’s shores – no matter where they go in Europe or across the world – they encounter friends and admirers of our nation.

If only every person in Scotland could be afforded the opportunity of being First Minister for just one day, on the very next day it is my belief that they would vote for independence with both their head and their heart.

To my fellow MSPs of all political persuasions, next week is a crucial milestone – we mark 25 years of devolution.

We have an electoral system that is designed for no political party to have an overall majority. Devolution’s founding fathers and mothers, rightly in their wisdom, believed that no one loses out by politicians sharing wisdom, counsel and ideas.

The converse is also true.

That is why I would make an appeal to colleagues from across the political spectrum, that while Government must of course act in good faith, so must our opposition and be prepared to collaborate with us, not just oppose for opposition’s sake.

The only people who suffer as a result of such an impasse are the very public we seek to serve.

Politics and politicians – not unreasonably I’m afraid – are often maligned. However, I truly believe that when we get it right, and for the most part we do, we are a force for good that can transform people’s lives for the better.

To my colleagues in the opposition, regardless of political party, I genuinely only wish you well. I bear no ill-will, and certainly bear no grudge, against anyone.

Politics can be a brutal business. It takes its toll on your physical and mental health; your family suffer alongside you. I am in debt to my wonderful wife, my beautiful children and wider family for putting up with me over the years, I am afraid you will be seeing a lot more of me now. You are truly everything to me.

And although of course, as you can tell, I am sad that my time as First Minister is ending, I am so grateful and so blessed for having the opportunity afforded – to so few to lead my country.

And who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland.

Thank you.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. The SNP has won the 'no confidence in the government' vote, with Green support

Didn't seem worth an extra thread.

How MSPs voted in no confidence debate

The Scottish parliament has released the division list for the no confidence vote. All 63 SNP MSPs and all seven Green MSPs voted for the government, and against the motion.

And all 31 Tory MSPs, all 22 Labour MSPs, all 4 Lib Dem MSPs and Alba’s Ash Regan voted for the motion.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/01/kemi-badenoch-rwanda-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-uk-politics-live?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-663257e98f08cb0a1ccaa37a#block-663257e98f08cb0a1ccaa37a

[Emrys]

5. "Didn't seem worth an extra thread."

No indeed.

Spoilt, shameless, useless placeholder jumped-up son-of-a-millionaire brat Anas Sanwar, who can't even be bothered to pay his family wholesaler firm's lowlier employees a living wage, simply had to have his moment in the limelight, not least because it seems Labour in London was prodding him hard to go for it:

Link to tweet

Channel 4 News
@Channel4News

"We now have two broken governments, the SNP in Scotland and the Conservatives in Westminster."

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer says it is "time for a fresh start in Scotland'' due to SNP "chaos and division" having an impact on the public.
[Twitter video]

Reeves really seems to be going for the Thatcher necrophiliac vote. I don't think she has a clue how bad it looks in Scotland for Scottish Labour's branch office to be publicly told what to do by a Westminster Shadow Cabinet member, let alone one led by, in her own and Anas Sarwar's terms, an unelected leader. As for her ravings about the Scottish Government's record, compare it with the demonstrably broken government she'd like to displace in Westminster, only to follow much the same policies and not risk frightening the horses:



Dutifully doing his masters' bidding, Sarwar didn't acquit himself at all well in the face of moderately robust challenging from Channel 4 News's Krishnan Guru-Murthy the other day:

Link to tweet

MSM Monitor
@msm_monitor

Krishnan Guru-Murthy showing BBC Scotland and STV News how to challenge Anas Sarwar when the Scottish Labour leader attacks the SNP for doing something his own party has already done.

How hard is it to challenge this guy on this? It's an open goal FFS.

[Twitter video]

[T_i_B]

6. You think Scottish Labour gets told what to do by Starmer too much?

I live in one of those places where Kier Starmer has put the local party into special measures for an extra large dose of being told what to do by Westminster!

If they fail to take electoral advantage of the SNP's turmoil then that might also be the fate of the Scottish party.

[Emrys]

7. I think (as you'd probably expect) the "turmoil" in the SNP is much overstated

In fact, from what I can see among SNP supporters, there's been a perhaps predictable circling-the-wagons effect.

Labour's big problem in Scotland is that it's really not a Scottish party. There is no such party as Scottish Labour registered with the Electoral Commission, and it's classed as an accounting unit of the UK Labour Party.

There is always a tension between Labour in Scotland's policy wishes and those of Westminster Labour. The best Sarwar can do is claim he'd "stand up" to Starmer as PM. Then he cowers cravenly whenever the boss bothers to wander up north.

You have my sincere sympathy. I'd be in utter despair if I didn't live in Scotland.

[T_i_B]

8. You'll see more about my local situation tomorrow

As tomorrow is polling day, and I have 2 votes to cast.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/108822838

As to Labour, I think there is an important pointer here as to how Starmer is likely to operate in office. Screw things up and you'll be out or put in special measures!

As to the SNP, I think it'll take a big electoral defeat before the party can turn things round. The party leadership may be something of a poison chalice right now.

[Emrys]

9. It'll be interesting to see, and I hope you report on it

I've already seen plenty from Starmer and his cabal to have a clear idea of what they'll be like in government, and I'm not looking forward to it.

As for the SNP, all I'll say is if you think they're in a mess or turmoil, you should see Scottish Labour, the Scottish Tories and the Scottish Lib Dems (the Scottish Greens I dealt with in the OP)!

[Emrys]

10. John Swinney is the first to throw his hat into the ring

John Swinney confirms he is standing for SNP leadership and first minister

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/02/john-swinney-announce-snp-leadership-first-minister-bid

He's served as SNP leader before, in 2000-2004 - very different times for the party - and as well as holding various Cabinet roles was Deputy First Minister to Nicola Sturgeon during 2014-2023.

Having announced last year he was retiring from Holyrood, he emphasized in his announcement that he didn't intend being a caretaker First Minister, but was in it for the long haul. He and Kate Forbes have had discussions over the last few days, and he spent time during is speech lavishing praise on her and emphasizing that he intended her to play a prominent role in his government if he's elected.

We'll have to wait and see whether that means Forbes won't stand against him. She only entered politics in 2016 and had a fairly meteoric rise, so I think some more time in government might help her mature and quit making some of the crass missteps she's proven prone to.

Swinney would have got my enthusiastic first vote in the previous election if he'd stood. We'll see who else may decide to stand, but that will probably be the case this time round. I doubt Forbes will get my second vote, as she did last time to ensure Ash Regan didn't win, as I think it gave her an over-flattering impression of the level of support for her and her policies within the party.

[Emrys]

11. Kate Forbes has announced she's not running

Kate Forbes not running in SNP leadership race to replace Humza Yousaf as Scotland's first minister

It would appear Ms Forbes has cleared the way for John Swinney to succeed Mr Yousaf after his resignation on Monday. But in a lengthy statement, she looked to be setting out a case for a key role in the SNP's future.

https://news.sky.com/story/kate-forbes-not-running-in-snp-leadership-race-to-replace-humza-yousaf-as-scotlands-first-minister-13126137

Whatever. As long as she behaves herself and is willing to take a lead from the vastly more experienced and diplomatic Swinney and her fans in Holyrood and Westminster don't get too disruptive, she'll do little harm. There are bigger hitters in Westminster who might end up in Holyrood and would give her stiffer competition if they wanted to enter a future contest anyway.

IIRC, nominations close on Monday, so the clock's ticking.

[Emrys]

12. I don't think it's a rash prediction at this stage to say that John Swinney will be unopposed

There were a number of reports yesterday that a character called Graeme McCormick, based near Loch Lomond, was going to challenge him, claiming to have gathered enough signatures (100 required from 20 different SNP branches by Monday) during an All Under One Banner pro-independence march and rally in Glasgow on Saturday. McCormick isn't a complete unknown in SNP circles, having chaired his local banch, having a prolific amount of letters published in newspapers and having run unsuccessfuly for SNP president last year.

He'd be quite entitled to do so, of course, but SNP members who've been canvassing for the forthcoming general election were unhappy because one of his stances is that SNP MPs should withdraw from Westminster, kind of undermining the whole exercise. He also wants the SNP to call an early Holyrood election. He would have been eligible to be party leader, but not First Minister, for the insurmountable reason that he's not a member of the Scottish Parliament. The prospect of a hustings lasting until the end of May, with the media predictably making a meal of supposed splits in the SNP, also didn't appeal to many when the ultimate result would be a foregone conclusion and there are more immediately pressing matters to deal with.

But tonight ...

SNP activist withdraws leadership challenge against John Swinney

AN SNP activist set to challenge John Swinney for the party leadership has withdrawn his candidacy after a “lengthy and fruitful conversation” between the pair.
...
In a statement, he said: “I refer to my nomination to be leader of the SNP and would thank everyone from across the country who supported me. We met the thresholds set by the party rules.

“I’d also like to put on record my thanks to John Swinney MSP with whom I had a lengthy and fruitful conversation.

“John and I agreed the challenges which the SNP, our Government and our people face, and explored new thinking on a range of issues which I am confident, as they are advanced, will inspire activists both within the SNP and wider independence movement in the following weeks and months.

“This is a fresh start for our members and our politicians, and I’m sure that John’s determination to deliver independence will be rewarded at the forthcoming General Election.

“I have therefore concluded that I shall not proceed with my nomination for party leader but instead support John Swinney’s nomination for party leader and first minister of Scotland."

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24300639.snp-activist-withdraws-leadership-challenge-john-swinney/

So Swinney, whose pitch for the job has been that he feels he can unite the SNP, has talked round Kate Forbes, who initially considered standing but now backs him enthusiastically, and also Graeme McCormick, who could have been a right pain in the arse.

Not a bad start before he's even in post.

There's the small matter that even if elected by the SNP unopposed, Swinney couldn't become First Minister without being elected by a majority of MSPs like any other First Minister, but given that he's had decent relationships with the Scottish Greens in the past, they almost certainly will vote with the SNP and elect him even if the whole of the rest of the Opposition oppose him.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. From what I've seen of the rules, the Greens could abstain and he'd still be elected

He just needs a simple majority of the vote, rather than an absolute majority of MSPs. That'd give them a "we're not happy, but we're not voting with the unionist opposition" get-out.

[Emrys]

14. We'll see soon enough.

I think the Greens may want to offer an olive branch after the upheaval of the last week or so, and Swinney has had good relations with many if not all of them, boasting (justifiably) during his pitch that he's successfully worked in a minority government in the past (he got ten budgets passed when the SNP was a minority government earlier last decade).

Certainly, even out of government, the Greens have vastly more chance of furthering their agendas with an SNP First Minister than they would with Labour or the Tories (and with a general election in the offing, I'd imagine both parties' strategists are shuddering at the prospect of a Tory-Labour coalition or confidence and supply arrangement in Holyrood, which is why it was hard to take their calls for an early Holyrood election seriously).

And as I type, Swinney's been announced as the new SNP leader, having been unopposed.