Humza Yousaf live updates: Scotland's first minister to resign 'as early as Monday' - BBC News

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Possible Replacement For Humza Yousaf?

If Humza Yousaf takes the blame and resigns, who will be his successor?

It’s easy to think of Kate Forbes as a candidate for the SNP leadership position. She had a close defeat to Humza Yousaf in the competition and he was subsequently chosen as the leader.

Although the Scottish Greens do not agree with her position on various societal matters, there is a chance that she could take charge by forming agreements with other political parties.

The Scottish Conservatives have mentioned that they are willing to collaborate with Ms Forbes on certain policies. However, they have emphasized that the issue of national sovereignty should not be the main focus.

There is talk going around about the ex-deputy first minister John Swinney.

Many people consider him a skilled, well-liked, dependable member of the party. However, during the previous occasion, he was not interested in accepting the position. Have there been any alterations?

Stephen Flynn is a prominent figure in the SNP, holding the position of Westminster leader. Although he cannot become the first minister from Westminster, should Humza Yousaf step down as party leader, Flynn has the potential to assume the role of SNP leader.

Having a leader for a party in Westminster and a distinct first minister in Holyrood could potentially become complex.

Additional individuals also mentioned are Jenny Gilruth, who serves as the Education Secretary, and Neil Gray, who is the Health Secretary.

Can Humza Yousaf Continue Until New Successor Found?

A journalist who reports on politics for the BBC in Scotland

Last year, when Nicola Sturgeon stepped down from her position, it was a carefully planned sequence of actions.

She declared that she plans to depart at a later time, giving the SNP sufficient time to pick a new leader.

Scotland's first minister only handed in her formal resignation after Humza Yousaf took over.

Yousaf is not privileged because he's currently confronted with two votes of no confidence at Holyrood this week.

Once he hands in his resignation to both the presiding officer and the King, the countdown begins.

According to regulations, the parliament has a maximum of 28 days to select a new FM and if the MSPs cannot reach a consensus, a new election would be necessary.

There has been talk that the SNP might appoint an interim leader to serve as the first minister for a brief period.

The decision-making regarding the procedure for selecting the party's fresh head will rest solely on their shoulders. However, they will be obliged to do it quickly.

Swinney Urged By SNP Leaders To Run

I have knowledge that prominent members of SNP are attempting to convince John Swinney to run for the position of leader.

At present, he is delivering a speech at a gathering in the city of London.

However, his supporters are of the opinion that he could take the initiative to stabilize the SNP's course.

Someone confided in me saying, "I reckon there's a high chance he'll go through with it."

Although Mr. Swinney had previously served as the leader, he decided against making a comeback after Nicola Sturgeon's departure last year.

Can he have a change of heart on this occasion? Stay tuned.

'Restoring Stability Is Crucial'

According to Patrick Harvie, who is a co-leader of the Scottish Greens, the present condition is "extremely unfortunate and avoidable".

During an interview with BBC Radio 4 Today programme, he emphasized the significance of restoring stability.

According to him, the SNP has the ability to lead as a dependable minority government even if they are not in possession of the majority in the Scottish Parliament.

I believe that Humza Yousaf is no longer capable of leading a reliable minority group as trust is a vital aspect, and he has previously shattered that trust.

Yousaf Pressured To End Bute House Deal

Professor Nicola McEwan, a devolution specialist from Glasgow University, claims that Humza Yousaf was facing intense internal pressure to terminate the power-sharing pact between the Scottish Greens and Bute House.

She mentioned to Nicky Campbell during her appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live that there could have been an alternate approach that would have been more considerate and would not have provoked anger.

She mentioned that his level of influence within the SNP was "not particularly significant prior to last week".

When the Scottish first minister steps down, what occurs afterward is a highly significant and uncertain event, according to her.

Scottish Tories Win Against Sturgeon And Yousaf

The Scottish Conservatives' leader, Douglas Ross, is declaring that Humza Yousaf's resignation is a significant triumph for his party, even though the first minister has yet to confirm it.

At the previous week's party hosted by Ross, they put forward the primary motion of confidence, intending to coerce Yousaf to act after the loss of the foundational agreement that supported his administration.

In a recent post on X (previously known as Twitter), Ross expressed that they were already aware that the most favorable opportunity to succeed in a vote of no-confidence was by focusing on Humza Yousaf himself.

This is the reason why the Scottish Tories proposed it last week and he has now resigned before facing the possibility of being forced out.

We said goodbye to Nicola Sturgeon and now Humza Yousaf.

Our current aim is to oust the entire corrupt SNP administration from their positions of power.

Brian Taylor: Yousaf's Self-Confidence Lost

Humza Yousaf is preparing to step down from his position today, as there is a possibility of being voted out of confidence by his peers, as well as the government as a whole later in the week.

Brian Taylor, a political commentator and columnist for The Herald, recently stated on Radio Scotland's Mornings show that Humza Yousaf is no longer feeling confident in himself.

According to him, the initial action of the prime minister to terminate the Bute House pact with the Greens was an attempt to take a proactive stance.

"He eventually caused harm to himself in a similar manner," he includes.

Furious Greens Slam Humza Yousaf

It's evident that the Scottish Greens are taking the issue personally and their anger is directed towards a specific target over the past few days.

Humza Yousaf was severely criticized for his decision to terminate the governing agreement, and there was an intense level of anger directed towards him.

Could they potentially support another SNP leader as the first minister, in turn bypassing the need for a Scottish Parliament election?

There's a chance that the Greens might consider discussing matters concerning environmentalism and societal change, provided that the person is willing to engage in a conversation.

If John Swinney is considering running, it could potentially place him in a favorable position to gather backing.

It may prove to be challenging for Kate Forbes to convince the Greens to support her, given her conservative stances on social issues. Nevertheless, is it possible for her to rally the support of a different political party and achieve the necessary backing to gain control?

Despite Humza Yousaf's decision to step down, the SNP still faces significant hurdles that need to be addressed.

Humza Yousaf Sets Off To Edinburgh For Statement

This morning, Humza Yousaf, who is the leader of Scotland, was observed entering his formal vehicle and departing from his residence near the city of Dundee.

He is currently en route to Edinburgh, where it is anticipated that he will declare his decision to step down at noon.

Humza Yousaf's Announcement At Noon!

It has been confirmed that Humza Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland, will give a statement today at 12:00 BST.

Many people believe that he will make a statement about resigning from his position.

"Swinney Predicts Eventful Day Ahead"

The ex-deputy premier of Scotland has hinted that a significant declaration will be made by Humza Yousaf later on in the day.

John Swinney briefly spoke to reporters before attending an event in Westminster. He suggested that they should wait for the first minister's announcement as there are various important things happening today.

When asked once more about Yousaf's future, he replied by stating that they will hold off until they hear what the first minister has to say later today.

Since the Scottish National Party won power in 2007, Swinney has become one of their most well-known members. However, he relinquished his position as deputy first minister in the previous year.

If they need to find a temporary first minister to take over from Yousaf until a proper SNP leadership election can be held, Swinney is somebody who is often mentioned as a possible choice for the job.

Forbes Considered As Replacement Option

Who could take over Humza Yousaf's position once he steps down?

Possible rewrite: This morning, the SNP is considering various names, including Kate Forbes, whom Yousaf defeated in last year's leadership competition.

There are individuals who are encouraging ex-deputy premier John Swinney to pursue the position.

Jenny Gilruth, who holds the position of Education Secretary, has also been referred to.

Effects Of The First Minister's Resignation?

In the event of the Scottish first minister stepping down, the Scottish Parliament is given a period of 28 days to select a replacement.

The responsibility of selecting a replacement for Humza Yousaf will fall upon the Scottish Parliament members (MSPs).

Generally, the Scottish National Party (SNP) is leading the parliament as they have the majority of seats in the parliament.

The individuals who have been chosen as contenders are allowed to plead their case and after that, Members of the Scottish Parliament make their choice on the candidate they prefer.

When one political faction holds the majority of seats in parliament, this procedure is typically a mere formality - however, that is not the current situation.

If the MSPs come to a consensus on a new first minister, they are then suggested to the monarch for official appointment, which is approved without question.

After being elected, the freshly-appointed primary minister will select their own set of ministers to serve in the government and take charge of the administration.

Nonetheless, in the event that the MSPs are unable to reach a consensus on appointing a new prime minister, the parliament must be dissolved and fresh elections held.

Humza Yousaf's Dundee-Edinburgh Journey

A journalist who reports on politics in Scotland for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The number of media personnel outside Bute House in Edinburgh, which is the official residence of the first minister, is currently increasing.

I have seen two of Humza Yousaf's experienced advisors who arrived just 30 minutes ago.

The head minister is journeying to Edinburgh from his residence in Dundee. It is anticipated that he will step down from his position later on today.

Humza Yousaf's Journey To Success

The BBC News editor in Scotland

The moment Humza Yousaf removed the Scottish Greens from his government, he initiated a countdown to secure backing that would keep him in his job.

All of the choices available to him were unappealing.

It was suggested to me very firmly that Yousaf had no interest in making an agreement with Alex Salmond's Alba party. This option was completely off the table. Yousaf did not want to owe anything to the ex-leader of the SNP, who is presently suing the Scottish government over their mismanagement of harassment allegations against him.

Yousaf attempted to regain the support of the Scottish Greens, but unfortunately, his efforts were unsuccessful. He attempted to persuade them to support his minority government but his approach caused insult to Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. They were angered by the potential implications on environmental and social policies and remained firm in their belief that Yousaf, rather than the SNP, needed to be removed from his position.

Eventually, he may have attempted to confront the Greens and Alba without making any compromises or promises and challenged them to topple another pro-independence politician. However, this was viewed as an unsightly and potentially shameful choice.

The time had expired - the sole alternative that was left was to give up.

'When Is The Moment? - Scottish Labour MSP'

According to recent reports, Scotland's primary leader is anticipated to step down today, as per the BBC's sources.

During an interview with the Good Morning Scotland programme, Paul O'Kane, who is a member of the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament, mentioned that they have been expressing their thoughts that the occurrence will happen for the weekend; it is only a matter of time.

It's possible that the moment we've been waiting for is here.

O'Kane highlights that there has been a lot of disorder, and the administration is evidently in disarray, which is leading to a lack of success for the citizens of Scotland.

He maintains that the Scottish government has failed gravely.

Despite Humza Yousaf stepping down, the Labour Party's proposal to express no confidence in the Scottish government will stay on the table, as per his statement.

Rumors Of Yousaf Resignation Escalate On Weekend

From last night onwards, speculation and word of mouth has been circulating that Scotland's Chief Minister, Humza Yousaf, may be stepping down.

The BBC has just reported that the first minister is confirmed to resign and could do so as soon as today.

On Sunday, it appears that Yousaf's stance has changed significantly. The night before, a source from the SNP informed BBC's Scotland editor James Cook that Yousaf was contemplating resigning. This is different from what we had previously heard, which was that Yousaf was determined to continue.

Earlier today, our political editor Chris Mason and correspondent Nick Eardley received comparable reports from insiders who are well-versed with the inner workings of the Scottish National Party.

An hour ago, David Wallace Lockhart, who reports on politics for BBC Scotland, was informed that influential members of the party were increasingly anticipating Yousaf's resignation.

It seems highly likely that Yousaf will resign soon and the situation may change rapidly.

In the world of political reporting, it's common practice to seek insights from individuals who have direct contact with politicians and political parties. This approach is especially necessary when dealing with contentious topics that require a secretive approach. By doing so, journalists can obtain valuable information about what's happening beyond the public eye.

Yousaf as well as the SNP have not made any public statements this morning. As a result, we are depending on these sources, which are usually anonymous, to provide us with the confidential information.

We will continue to make phone calls and provide you with the most recent information as soon as it becomes available.

Alba Deems Yousaf's Resignation As 'Absurd'

Kenny MacAskill, the former justice secretary of Scotland and current Member of Parliament for East Lothian, recently switched to Alba political party and stated on BBC's Good Morning Scotland that the single Alba MSP, Ash Regan, has reconnected with the first minister.

According to him, Alba's requests remain the same and there has been no arrangement set up for a meeting yet.

According to MacAskill, it would be ridiculous for Yousaf to step down from his position when there's a potential chance for the SNP to revive its push for independence through a partnership with Alba.

Nonetheless, he declared that the Alba party's purpose was not solely to endorse the SNP.

He mentioned that the party was prepared for an election, however, he also expressed that it might not align with the desires of the Scottish people.

Yousaf To Resign Soon, Says Sources

There are reports from the BBC suggesting that Humza Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland, may resign from his position today.

Will SNP And Alba Form A Pact?

Reportedly, Humza Yousaf has decided against making an agreement with Alba, a political party that advocates for Scottish independence and was founded by former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond following his departure from the SNP.

The group has just one member of parliament, named Ash Regan. However, their solitary vote could potentially level the playing field in a trust vote for the SNP. This would result in the first minister being spared, providing all of his party members support him.

Yesterday we informed that Salmond had presented his conditions for any potential agreement with the SNP.

He stated that the plan would hinge on a reinvigorated effort towards achieving Scottish independence, as well as transitioning from prioritizing individual identities to focusing on what matters most to the general public.

Salmond desires the SNP's backing on his proposal for a referendum on granting the Scottish Parliament the lawful authority to conduct a fresh referendum on independence. Currently, such an approval can only come from Westminster.

It doesn't seem probable that Yousaf will accept the proposal.