Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister, made an announcement about his resignation in Edinburgh during a press conference on Monday. He had assumed office a little over a year ago.
The 39-year-old decided to step down due to the termination of a power-sharing agreement between his party, the Scottish National Party (SNP), and the Green Party. This was a result of a disagreement regarding climate change targets.
Despite Yousaf’s intention to lead a minority government, opposition parties expressed their lack of support, with two parties even suggesting votes of no confidence. The Greens also made it clear that they would not back the first minister.
During the news conference, Yousaf mentioned that he could have potentially won a confidence vote by making compromises, but he was not willing to compromise his principles just to remain in power. He stated that he would continue as first minister until the SNP selects his successor.
The Scottish Parliament now has a period of 28 days to appoint a new first minister before a mandatory election is triggered.
Yousaf’s resignation marks a significant milestone as the shortest serving SNP leader since Scotland gained its own government in 1998. Notably, he held the distinction of being the first Muslim leader of government in modern Western Europe and the first Muslim to lead a major UK party.
Yousaf has been a vocal advocate for Scotland’s independence from the UK and its subsequent re-entry into the European Union as an independent nation. Last year, he signed a strategy outlining the SNP’s intention to initiate immediate negotiations with the British government regarding Scotland’s departure from the UK if the party secures a majority of Scottish seats in the upcoming general election, which is anticipated to take place in the latter half of this year.
Yousaf has emphasized that if Scotland achieves independence, it would seek to rejoin the EU. While Scotland voted to remain part of the UK in the 2014 referendum, the aftermath of Brexit has reignited the desire to sever ties with London and forge closer connections with Brussels, according to Yousaf.
Additionally, Yousaf’s wife, Nadia, has Palestinian roots, and her family members were stranded in Gaza for a month last autumn when they traveled there to visit relatives.
In January, Yousaf condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing them as “tantamount to ethnic cleansing.” He criticized the UK government for its failure to call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, deeming it “shameful.” Yousaf has consistently urged London to halt arms sales to Israel.
