Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s former First Minister, has recently resigned from his position after just thirteen months in office. When he first became Scotland’s sixth First Minister in March 2023, Yousaf was seen as the continuity candidate in line with Nicola Sturgeon’s vision for Scotland. However, his time in office came to an end after cancelling the Bute House Agreement previously struck with the Scottish Greens. At the age of 39, Yousaf has spent his entire career working for and representing the SNP.
Yousaf was born in Glasgow to a Pakistani father and a mother born to a South Asian family in Kenya. Throughout his life, he has received racist abuse and has highlighted the need for more representation among Scotland’s ethnically and religiously diverse communities. He joined the SNP while a student, inspired by hearing Alex Salmond speak out against the Iraq war, and began his career as an assistant to Bashir Ahmad, the first Muslim and person of colour to be elected as an MSP.
Yousaf’s time in government was mixed, with criticism and controversy stemming from his performance as Scotland’s transport minister, justice secretary, and health secretary. Furthermore, his flagship hate crime bill was mired in controversy regarding freedom of speech. While achievements such as the delivery of the Queensferry Crossing and falling crime figures were celebrated, Yousaf faced backlash for a wide variety of reasons.
However, the decision to abandon a critical part of Nicola Sturgeon’s legacy – the power-sharing agreement with Scottish Greens – ultimately led to Yousaf’s downfall. The move angered members of the Scottish Greens, who demanded a vote on whether to continue the partnership. After Yousaf held an early morning meeting ending the power-sharing agreement, his team was surprised by the vehemence of their reaction. Despite his efforts to take control of events, Yousaf and his colleagues were met with resistance, leading to his resignation from the position of First Minister
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