Humza Yousaf resignation latest: SNP begins search for new first minister - BBC News

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Labour Hit With 'game Playing' Accusation Over No Confidence Motion By Greens

The Scottish Green party has advised the Labour representatives in MSP to relinquish their plans for a confidence vote in the Scottish government and cease their "unproductive actions".

We shared that Holyrood is scheduled to discuss the no confidence vote in the coming afternoon.

The support of the Greens is necessary for Labour to win the vote. Otherwise, they will most likely be defeated.

The Scottish Conservatives declared that they have retracted their intended motion of no-confidence in the leader of Scotland.

The Labour motion was deemed impossible to pass by Green MSP Gillian Mackay.

If No Confidence Motion Passes, What's Next For Scottish Government?

Tomorrow afternoon, a Labour vote of no confidence against the Scottish government will proceed, even though Humza Yousaf resigned from his position yesterday.

If the proposal is approved, government representatives would have no choice but to resign from their positions.

The motion would only need a basic majority. This implies that the amount of members who support the motion would have to surpass the ones who are against it.

The Scottish Green Party has called on the Members of Scottish Parliament (MSPs) affiliated with the Labour Party to cease their "dishonest tactics" and abandon their intention to cast their votes on a certain matter.

This indicates that the proposal is highly likely to be unsuccessful.

In the meantime, the Scottish Conservative Party has withdrawn their vote of confidence in the chief executive of Scotland.

Who Is Kate Forbes, The Potential SNP Leader?

Kate Forbes has gone through both positive and negative experiences in her brief time in politics at Holyrood.

She experienced a swift ascent to become the initial woman finance secretary of Scotland in 2020, however, she was narrowly beaten in the previous year's SNP leadership competition by Humza Yousaf.

There is currently a lot of talk about the possibility of the MSP who isn't part of the government making another attempt to become the leader of their political party.

In March 2023, the ex-minister stepped down from their position in the cabinet. This happened because they were offered the rural affairs role by Yousaf, but this was seen as a significant reduction in status.

While competing for the SNP leadership position, Forbes, who belongs to the Free Church of Scotland, faced criticism due to her opinions regarding same-sex marriage, abortion, transgender rights, and having kids out of wedlock.

Forbes' campaign was also highlighted as she spoke out against the Scottish National Party's decision to share power with the Scottish Greens. This agreement crumbled, leading to Yousaf's resignation, but Forbes was steadfast in her opposition.

Regarded as a talented and smart statesperson, she secured the support of 48% of the SNP members during the previous leadership selection.

The main concern is whether she can gather enough support in parliament to secure her place in Bute House after a contentious political battle centered around "progressive" policies.

Discover further information on Kate Forbes by reading more below.

Holyrood's Scenic Vista

The SNP Members of the Scottish Parliament have been expressing their opinions regarding the leadership of the party. John Swinney and Kate Forbes are alleged to be contemplating the possibility of running for the leadership position.

The ex-Business Minister Ivan McKee, who was a momentary campaign manager for Forbes amidst the leadership competition previous year, has commended her as a promising contender and an outstanding inaugural minister.

He stated that she connects with segments of the populace that other members of the political faction do not, and acknowledges that presently, we require as much assistance as possible.

According to McKee, Forbes could offer a unique and innovative outlook for the party and the independence movement.

Ex-minister Kevin Stewart supported Swinney and expressed his confidence in him becoming an excellent first minister. According to him, Swinney's expertise and leadership skills can unite the party and lead them towards their ultimate objective of independence. This was communicated to BBC Scotland News.

According to Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, it is crucial for the political party members to select a leader who can unify the party and exhibit remarkable diplomacy skills and expertise to handle a minority administration.

Christine Grahame did not support any Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP), but suggested that there should be a fair contest instead of a predetermined outcome.

The statement made to BBC Scotland News suggests that having an uncontested leadership campaign like Nicola Sturgeon's in the past was deemed unfavorable.

Swinney & Forbes Skip SNP Meeting

It seems that neither John Swinney nor Kate Forbes are present at the SNP MSPs' weekly gathering in Holyrood.

As both are considering running for leadership positions, maybe they have decided to use their time for different activities today.

When Humza Yousaf showed up, people clapped, but he didn't reveal the name of his preferred successor for the SNP leadership position to me.

Yousaf Praised At Regular Cabinet Meeting

A writer on political matters who works for the BBC in Scotland

This morning, the cabinet assembled at Bute House for their weekly customary meeting.

The ministers in the cabinet room got up from their seats and clapped for Humza Yousaf, who was leaving his position as First Minister.

He informed his fellow workers that serving as first minister was the most significant privilege he has experienced and he felt appreciative for the chance.

The government officials talked about the practicalities of governing as a minority group in upcoming times.

The spokesperson for the prime minister emphasized that the government's operations will continue uninterrupted as the SNP selects its new leader.

No Confidence Debate In Scottish Government Tomorrow

On the upcoming afternoon, the Holyrood assembly will have a discussion on a Labour proposal which completely lacks confidence in the Scottish governing body.

Beforehand, the leader of the Scottish Labour party, Anas Sarwar, had suggested that his party would proceed with the proposal.

The Scottish Conservatives have confirmed that their leader, Douglas Ross, will withdraw his proposal to dismiss Humza Yousaf from his position.

The Conservative party claims that they no longer need to proceed as they have accomplished their objective of pressuring the prime minister to resign. Ross has officially retracted his proposal.

Why Would John Swinney Consider Running?

A reporter who covers the politics beat for BBC Scotland.

Around one month back, the freshly launched Perth Museum was celebrated with tremendous excitement. The event featured a pipe band, a grand parade of the high constables, and talks given by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, along with the Provost and numerous respected officials from the city.

Standing at the back of the spectators was the MSP for the area, John Swinney, who had not changed out of his workout clothes after participating in the parkrun earlier that morning.

He kindly dodged my proposal that he may have received an invite to address the gathering, considering his years of service as a representative of the region. Instead, he expressed his excitement for the latest exhibition showcasing the Stone of Destiny.

Swinney appeared to be content with the decision to take a break.

This has been true since he retreated to the outer seats.

Last spring, during a BBC podcast, he disclosed his attempt to resign from the government since 2016.

What could have occurred to entice him to return to the front lines?

Individuals who are trying to convince Swinney to run for a political position will use similar characteristics that Nicola Sturgeon employed to keep him as her supporter. These attributes consist of faithfulness and a feeling of obligation to their political party and nation.

Repeatedly, Sturgeon requested his assistance in a variety of challenging roles, and he consistently agreed to serve.

According to his supporters, his expertise is necessary to form a steady government amidst a divided parliament. They trust that this will overshadow his previous statement, where he emphasized the need for novel ideas and outlooks to lead the government.

Swinney will be considering his family and the pleasure he's found in having the opportunity to go for runs around Perth on Saturday mornings instead of seeking a high political position. How does this differ from the difficult experience he had the last time he was in charge of the SNP?

Undoubtedly, this is a tough choice to arrive at.

What's Occurred Thus Far?

The competition to succeed Humza Yousaf as Scotland's first minister and SNP leader begins today. Currently, there are two potential candidates vying for the position: Kate Forbes and John Swinney. However, we only have limited information about the situation at the moment.

SNP Leadership Nominations Open For 1 Week

The SNP leadership competition is now accepting nominations and some important figures are supporting former Deputy First Minister John Swinney for the position of leader. Swinney himself has expressed interest in the role.

On the other hand, a limited group of lawmakers from the party have endorsed ex-Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, who hasn't made it clear if she intends to participate in the race.

On Monday, First Minister Humza Yousaf declared that he would step down amidst two confidence votes in Holyrood. However, he expressed that he would remain in his position until a successor has been selected.

On Monday at 11:59 PM, the national secretary of the SNP declared the beginning of nominations, which will be concluding on the following Monday (6th May).

To enter the competition, aspiring participants must secure approval from 100 individuals belonging to 20 distinct divisions of the SNP.

Humza Yousaf's Resignation: What Happened?

Basically, the connection with the Scottish Greens and the cancellation of the Bute House agreement has happened suddenly.

In the middle of April, the Scottish administration declared that they were abandoning their principal objective of decreasing the emissions of greenhouse gases by 75% before the year 2030.

After the relocation, the Scottish Greens made an announcement that their members would take a vote on whether to stay in authority with the SNP.

Humza Yousaf expressed his support for the Bute House agreement and reassured that it will not be discarded during a pro-independence protest held in Glasgow on the 20th of April.

Several days after, on 25 April, the leaders of the Scottish Greens, Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie, received a summons to Bute House, the official residence of the first minister and the namesake of the agreement. They were informed that the agreement would be cancelled without any delay. Consequently, the first minister was left to lead a government that was in the minority.

In a tense session of the first minister's questions, Yousaf was called a weak and ineffective first minister by some and the Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross even proposed a vote of no confidence against him.

Afterwards, Yousaf declared that he will not step down from his position as first minister and will definitely guide the SNP in both the forthcoming general election and the 2026 Holyrood election.

The first minister declared on Monday that he will step down as the leader of the party, admitting that he did not realize the extent of the negative impact caused by terminating the power sharing deal with the Scottish Greens after spending the weekend contemplating the matter.

Ex-Labour FM: Opposition Thrilled About Swinney's Potential

Lord Jack McConnell, who was once the first minister of Labour in Scotland, believes that the opposing political parties in the Scottish Parliament are eagerly anticipating the possibility of John Swinney taking on the role of first minister.

During an interview with BBC Radio Wales, it was shared that in the early 2000s when Swinney was the leader of the SNP, he was responsible for pushing some of the party's well-known and well-liked politicians to leave the party.

Lord McConnell also pondered upon Humza Yousaf's tenure as the head of the SNP.

According to him, Yousaf embodied the contemporary Scotland, yet assumed his FM position during the most inconvenient time.

Flynn Endorses Swinney For SNP Leader

We previously shared the response of Stephen Flynn, who is the SNP Westminster leader, regarding Humza Yousaf's resignation.

Check out the video above to listen to his personal account.

Forbes To Unite Party With Fresh Ideas - Ewing

Fergus Ewing, the MSP for Inverness and Nairn, has suggested that the Scottish National Party not only requires a new leader, but also a different approach.

During an interview with BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland show, Ewing expressed his endorsement for Kate Forbes once again and stated that he thinks she would make a strong and competent leader as the first minister.

He expressed that he is unaware of anyone in Scotland who is acquainted with Kate Forbes and doesn't think she is one of the most truthful and genuine people in Scotland. He believes that the negative insinuations about her character are unjust and misguided, especially since she is a young woman.

In my opinion, she has the potential to bring the party together and collaborate with the Greens, provided that they can let go of any negative feelings they may hold towards her.

He foresaw that Forbes would "elevate the level of discourse in Holyrood and throughout Scotland.

She will help us regain our confidence and self-respect by putting an end to the pointless personal criticism that doesn't get us anywhere.

"She will offer innovative perspectives, a renewed strategy, and innovative concepts that I believe are both necessary and desired by Scotland."

Kate Forbes: Contemplating It All

This morning, Kate Forbes departed from her house in the Highlands and headed to Holyrood via a three-hour trip to Scotland’s capital. Throughout her journey, Kate had many thoughts to ponder.

It has been reported that she is thinking about running for the leadership position of the SNP. This news comes just over a year after her loss to Humza Yousaf.

Her supporters are urging her to run, yet the previous campaign had a negative impact on her due to facing opposition on her socially conservative beliefs.

Yesterday, when she spoke with some residents of Dingwall, her hometown, many people showed their backing for her, and not only those who support the SNP.

Plenty of people living in the countryside of Scotland are pleased that the agreement between the SNP and the Greens called Bute House is over. They are looking forward to the possibility of Kate Forbes, or someone similar, providing fresh ideas and insights on matters such as farming and connectivity in rural areas.

Tories Withdraw No-confidence Motion Against Humza Yousaf

Douglas Ross has decided to withdraw his motion to remove Humza Yousaf from his position, stating that it has already accomplished what it was meant to do, which is to put pressure on the first minister to step down.

The head of the Scottish Conservatives has officially retracted his motion in parliament.

The biggest opposition party in Holyrood has asked for the 30-minute time slot that was set aside for a debate tomorrow to be given to the Lord Advocate's statement about the Post Office Horizon scandal. Their aim is to address the "obvious inconsistencies" in the SNP government's position.

Ross expressed his pleasure in the fact that the Scottish Conservative's motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf was successful in getting him to step down.

This week Yousaf had to deal with two votes of no confidence. The Scottish Conservatives called for a vote on his leadership as first minister while Scottish Labour called for a vote on the effectiveness of the entire government.

The leader of the Scottish Labour party, Anas Sarwar, expressed that his party intends to proceed with their proposal to question the government's competence.

In case the proposal is accepted, government officials will have to step down. It would only need a basic majority, which implies that there should be more members who vote in favor, instead of against, the proposition.

Forbes Supported By Swinney's Supporters For Cabinet Position

This morning, I heard that Kate Forbes is still in the process of thinking about whether or not she will run for the SNP leadership position. Her supporters also mentioned this to us yesterday.

There is no clear statement from John Swinney at the moment. However, his followers are becoming more certain that he will run for the position and are convinced he will be the toughest competitor.

A number of supporters are pressuring him to clearly state that Forbes will have an important position in the upcoming cabinet.

If someone says so, they'll be eager to make use of all the skills within the group.

However, it is uncertain if such actions will sway Forbes into making a deal. As of now, it remains unclear if her supporters are eager for her to declare her candidacy to prevent an automatic appointment.

Unclear When Humza Yousaf Will Be Replaced

A political journalist from BBC Scotland - The Scottish political correspondent for BBC

It is uncertain when the new first minister will be elected.

The process of choosing a new leader for the SNP is underway with nominations now open.

In order to run for the position, aspiring candidates must have backing from a minimum of 100 members from 20 different branches of the party.

They must have it ready before the deadline, which is at noon on Monday 6th May, which is less than a week from now.

The national executive committee of SNP has not yet decided on the duration of the ballot for a one-member-one-vote system.

If only one candidate is chosen for the coronation instead of having a competition involving multiple contenders, Humza Yousaf would submit his resignation to the King in a formal manner, and MSPs could choose a new first minister and hold a vote by the upcoming Tuesday.

'Lloyd: Voters Want Efficient Governance From Politicians'

Politicians are in search of the upcoming leader of SNP but what are the desires of the voters?

Liz Lloyd, who was once the chief of staff for the SNP, has spoken to BBC Radio 4's Today programme regarding Nicola Sturgeon's time in office.

According to her, the people of Scotland crave for their public services to be attended to, and they are currently not seeking the government to pursue independence.

People who vote desire for their elected officials to do their job of governing instead of worrying about the broader view of improving society and overcoming significant obstacles.

Kate Forbes' Scottish National Party Leadership Bid: Why Now?

The person in charge of writing news articles for Scotland at the BBC is called the Scotland Editor.

Kate Forbes may have numerous motives for not wanting to participate in the race.

Initially, it is evident that the SNP is completely focused on putting a stop to Kate's activities. It seems to be a meticulously planned and organized operation.

Numerous influential members of the party support John Swinney, making him well-liked among a multitude of SNP supporters.

Put differently, it's possible that the likelihood of her winning is low, and if she were to experience another loss in leadership within a short span of time, it could negatively impact her reputation as the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.

Furthermore, there is the lasting impact of the intense and contentious competition from earlier this year.

Party members are still talking about her remarks on social issues like same-sex marriage, as well as her strong critiques of Humza Yousaf's campaign skills. Despite the accuracy of her critiques, there is still tension and controversy swirling around her comments.

What about the broader perspective? The SNP is facing significant challenges in governance after being in power for 17 years.

It is doubtful that the forthcoming resident of Bute House will experience a more effortless existence.

As we approach a new general election, polls indicate that the Scottish National Party (SNP) might suffer significant losses to a resurging Labour party. Additionally, the upcoming 2026 Holyrood election might pose a challenge for the nationalists.

Forbes, who is just 34 years of age, might want to consider taking up a possible offer from Swinney for a major cabinet position, as it could be a more appealing opportunity for her.

After that, she has the option to put forth her beliefs about where the party should head next from the inside, grow her knowledge and expertise, establish a larger group of followers, and eventually, attempt to express her moral stance in a manner that can interest both progressive and traditional individuals.

To put it differently, wouldn't it be wise for her to wait patiently?