Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned from his role following a no-confidence motion on Monday. This decision came after the breakdown of his coalition with the Scottish Green Party, as reported by the BBC.
Earlier reports indicated that he was preparing to step down amidst legislative moves to oust the 39-year-old leader.
During the resignation speech, he paid an emotional tribute to his family saying: “I am in absolute debt to my wonderful wife, my beautiful children and my wider family for putting up with me over the years.”
He also joked: “I’m afraid you’ll be seeing a lot more of me from now, You are truly everything to me.”
The SNP chief said he had “underestimated the level of hurt after ending a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens last week, however, he said would be holding the position until a replacement is found.Â
He urged other parties to act in “good faith” and not just “oppose for opposition’s sake”, which according to him is vital for having a functioning government under Scotland’s political system.
Yousaf wished MSPs from other parties well and acknowledged that politics is a “brutal business” which takes a toll on people from all sides of Scotland’s divides.
He also called SNP a “family”, adding “I will always be with you, campaign alongside you.”
At the conclusion of his speech Monday, Yousaf said that he was so grateful and so blessed to have had the opportunity that so few get — to lead his country.
“Who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland?” he asked proudly before ending his speech.
The leader expected to face a vote of no-confidence this week. Yousaf has been serving as Scotland’s first minister since March 2023.
He was facing two no-confidence votes at Holyrood after he decided to withdraw from a coalition agreement and try to run a minority government.
Yousaf sacked the Scottish Greens who have now joined hands with the opposition to oust him.
MP Neale Hanvey, who is Alba Party’s Westminster leader, told Sky News that Yousaf’s “hand is being forced from within the SNP”.
“It seems that the internal manoeuvrings within the SNP have made it impossible for the First Minister to continue,” he said.
