He will remain in office until successor is elected

Humza Yousaf resigned on Monday as Scotland’s first minister, saying he was not willing to trade his principles to win a no-confidence vote.

The move came ahead of two forthcoming confidence votes, which Yousaf could lose and were called by the opposition after he ended a power-sharing deal between his Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Scottish Greens last week. The Bute House agreement was brokered by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021.

Addressing journalists at his official residence, Glasgow-born Yousaf whose father emigrated from Pakistan said after a weekend of reflection, he had concluded that “repairing a relationship 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 commence a leadership contest as soon as possible,” he added.

“For a minority government to be able to govern effectively and efficiently, trust when working with the opposition is clearly fundamental,” he said. “And while a route through this week’s motion of no confidence was absolutely possible, I am not willing to treat my values and principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power.

‘We should all celebrate multiculturalism’

Yousaf, who took over from Sturgeon last year, expressed a deep-seated commitment to his values over political expediency. “I cannot tell you what an honor it is being the first minister of the country I love, the country I’m raising my family in and the only country I will ever call home,” he said. “People that looked like me were not in positions of political influence.”

He said the UK 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.”

He added the nation should all celebrate that multiculturalism.

“For those who decry the multiculturalism has failed across the UK, we suggest that the evidence is quite to the contrary,” he said.

“And that is something we should all celebrate. I’ve had the honor of serving yours in a variety of roles, whatever position are held during my time in politics have always been guided by my values,” he said.

Despite politicians being maligned, he said “when we get it right, and often we do. We are a force for good that can transform people’s lives for the better.”

“I love the country, raising my family and the only country or whatever culture as a young boy born and raised in Scotland, I could never have dreamed that one day, I would have the privilege of leading my country,” he added.

Yousaf said he will be staying on as first minister until the SNP elects a new leader.

The Scottish parliament has 28 days to opt for a new first minister before an election is forced.

Source: Anadolu Agency