Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, has contacted opposition parties calling for “common ground” as he faces a significant challenge at Holyrood. This follows the collapse of the SNP government’s power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens. Yousaf has written to all opposition parties as he prepares for the confidence votes in his leadership. However, the Scottish Conservatives immediately rejected the appeal, describing it as “humiliating and embarrassing.”
On Saturday, Yousaf also said that the political turmoil could result in an earlier than anticipated Scottish election. During a walkabout in Fife, he reiterated that he has no plans to resign. However, when asked about the possibility of the election, he stated that it cannot be ruled out.
The political upheaval began on Thursday when Yousaf abruptly terminated the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens. This decision resulted in angry recriminations from the Greens, who later announced their backing for a motion of no-confidence in the first minister, tabled by the Scottish Conservatives. Scottish Labour tabled a separate motion of no confidence on Friday, targeting the Scottish Government as a whole.
Letters inviting the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, the Greens, the Lib Dems, and Alba for talks at Bute House were sent on Friday night. Yousaf called for “constructive contribution” while acknowledging “strong feelings” remain in the build-up to next week’s ballots. The SNP currently has 63 MSPs in the 129-seat Scottish Parliament and must now rule as a minority government.
Former business minister Ivan McKee said Yousaf would most likely have to resign if he lost the Tory-led vote, even though there is no legal obligation to do so. He noted that the vote of confidence, while not legally binding, would be a clear indication of Parliament’s will. Yousaf’s success or failure faces a finely balanced vote, which is considered a critical test of his credibility as the leader of Scotland
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More