Government
BBC: Scottish Prime Minister Yousaf wants to resign
Humza Yousaf came into office at the end of March 2023 after Sturgeon’s surprising resignation. photo
© Jeff J Mitchell/PA/AP/dpa
Scotland’s head of government on the brink of extinction? According to media reports, Humza Yousaf wants to resign from office – after just 13 months.
His Scottish National Party (SNP) no longer has a majority in the regional parliament after breaking government cooperation with the Greens. The opposition has announced votes of no confidence in the First Minister himself and his government. The Greens called on Yousaf to resign, the Labor Party called for new elections.
John Swinney, who served as deputy under Yousaf’s predecessor Nicola Sturgeon, could lead the government on an interim basis, the Times wrote. If parliament does not vote for a new head of government within 28 days, an early election will be held.
The independence party SNP suffered several setbacks
Yousaf came into office at the end of March 2023 after Sturgeon’s resignation. He worked as health minister under the long-time head of government and was considered her confidant. Since he took office, the independence party SNP has suffered several setbacks. A liberal gender law, which was also controversial within the SNP, was vetoed by the British central government. There is also a financial affair. Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell, who was responsible for party finances as SNP general secretary, was recently charged with embezzlement.
On Thursday, Yousaf stopped working with the Greens, who also support independence from Great Britain and held two cabinet positions. The reason was, among other things, a dispute over the watering down of Scotland’s climate targets. Yousaf now leads a minority government. In order for the “First Minister” to survive the vote of no confidence, he must receive a vote from the opposition camp – which is considered unlikely.
“Times” report report Sky News BBC report