Humza Yousaf’s resignation has sparked a fresh crisis at the top of the SNP, with the party on course for another explosive race to become Scotland’s First Minister
The SNP has yet again been plunged into crisis after Humza Yousaf dramatically quit only a year after taking the top job.
Mr Yousaf’s leadership collapsed after he scrapped a coalition deal with the Scottish Greens last week. The two parties were at odds over the SNP’s decision to scrap 2030 climate targets, with Mr Yousaf accused of “selling out future generations”.
Opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament dealt him a hammer blow by tabling two confidence votes – one in him as First Minister an another in the SNP-led Scottish Government. Mr Yousaf initially seemed buoyant about his chances, but over the weekend he appeared to accept his fate.
He required the support of at least one member of the opposition at Holyrood – but had failed to get an agreement with Alex Salmond’s Alba party or patch things up with the pro-independence Green party.
Announcing his resignation at a press conference at Edinburgh’s Bute House, he said: “After spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for my party, for the government and for the country I lead, I’ve concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm. I have therefore informed the SNP’s national secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader and ask that she commences a leadership contest for my replacement as soon as possible.”
His decision fires the starting gun on another leadership race, with Kate Forbes – who stood against Mr Yousaf when Nicola Sturgeon unexpectedly quit – among the favourites. Here are the names being linked with the top job.
Kate Forbes
Readers may remember Kate Forbes from last year’s SNP leadership contest after Nicola Sturgeon stepped down. The former Finance Secretary sparked controversy early in the race after saying it’s wrong to have children out of wedlock.
Ms Forbes, 34, who was an early favourite for the top job last time around, secured 48% of the vote to Mr Yousef’s 52%. She triggered a backlash after revealing she would have voted against same-sex marriage if she’d been an MSP at the time.
Ms Forbes is a member of the evangelical Free Church of Scotland. Despite her views, she said last time around that she would not force them on others. “By and large, I absolutely believe in… freedom of choice, freedom of belief and of expression,” she said. “I don’t believe my views should be imposed on other people.”
Stephen Flynn
Mr Flynn will be familiar to those who tune in to PMQs each week as he leads the SNP’s Westminster group. He has been tipped as a future First Minister, but the fact he’s not a member of the Scottish Parliament could make things difficult.
This might not be a deal breaker, however, as former leader Alex Salmond managed to head the SNP despite not being an MSP. It remains to be seen whether Mr Flynn, 35, fancies a run now.
Jenny Gilruth
Ms Gilruth has been a member of the Scottish Parliament in 2016, and held a number of cabinet posts since then. She served as Culture Secretary for two years before moving over to transport, and then becoming Education Secretary.
Ms Gilruth, 40, MSP for Mid-Fife and Glenrothes, is married to former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale. Insiders say she’s likely to be viewed as a “Stop Kate Forbes” candidate.
Neil Gray
The recently-appointed Health Secretary is strongly tipped to take over. A close ally of the outgoing First Minister, Mr Gray, 38, served as MP for Airdrie and Shotts between 2015 and 2021.
During his time in Parliament he was the SNP’s spokesman on social justice, work and pensions, and fair work and employment. After he quit Westminster, Mr Gray successfully stood for the Scottish Parliament later that year.
Mr Gray, a former BBC reporter and producer, is claimed to be reluctant to put himself forward, but colleagues are said to be pushing him to stand.
Mairi McAllan
Scottish Net Zero Secretary Ms McAllan, 31, is another name linked with the top job. A close ally of Nicola Sturgeon, who pushed her to stand in 2021, she has a solid support base in the party.
In an interview with the New Statesman earlier this year she said: “I’ve watched that job [first minister] done really closely, and in good times and bad times, and having seen what happened to someone I cared very deeply about, it’s something to think very, very carefully about before taking on.”
However she is due to have her first child in July, and announced in February that she will be taking maternity leave in the summer.
John Swinney
SNP veteran Mr Swinney, 60, is understood to be Mr Yousaf’s preferred candidate. He served as deputy First Minister under Nicola Sturgeon, and has led the SNP before. Mr Swinney was in charge of the party between 2000 and 2004, and his experience may make him an appealing candidate to lead the party through troubled waters.
He’s been a member of the Scottish Parliament since it was set up in 1999, and before that he was an MP in Westminster.
Ian Blackford, the former Westminster leader of the Scottish National Party and MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said Mr Swinney “has what it takes” to lead the SNP. Speaking to the BBC, he said: “He certainly is an individual that I believe carries widespread respect in the party across the Parliament, and indeed the country, a long experience.