Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf Faces No-Confidence Vote Amid Government Crisis

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf is facing a no-confidence vote in the Scottish Parliament amid political turmoil over his decision to end the SNP's power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens, abandon the 2030 climate target, and seek support from Alex Salmond's Alba Party to save his minority government. "Yousaf ended the power-sharing deal with the Greens after Cabinet Secretary Màiri McAllan scrapped climate change targets, leading to the resignation of Green ministers," according to sources.

The no-confidence motion was lodged by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, and Labour has also called for a second vote of confidence in Yousaf's government. "The narrow vote margins in the Scottish Parliament mean that Ash Regan of the Alba Party will have the sole decision on the outcome of the no-confidence vote," insiders say. Yousaf has written to other parties in an attempt to build bridges and establish how they could potentially work with his minority government.

However, the Greens have indicated they will back the no-confidence motion, accusing Yousaf of a "spectacular breach of trust" in abandoning the 2021 Bute House Agreement. Yousaf's political future is hanging in the balance as he faces tight parliamentary arithmetic ahead of the upcoming votes, with the support of Ash Regan, the sole Alba Party MSP, potentially crucial for him to survive the no-confidence vote.

Why this matters: The political instability in Scotland has far-reaching implications for the future of the Scottish independence movement and the broader political landscape in the United Kingdom. The outcome of the no-confidence vote will determine the fate of Humza Yousaf's premiership and the direction of Scottish politics in the coming months.

Late reports suggest Yousaf may step down on Monday, fearing he cannot survive the no-confidence vote. "Yousaf has reportedly decided to quit on Monday, as he believes he would not survive the confidence vote," sources close to the First Minister have revealed. The opposition Conservatives, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties have all supported the no-confidence motion, leaving Yousaf's chances of survival looking bleak. Former SNP deputy first minister John Swinney has been approached to become an interim first minister if Yousaf is forced from office.

Key Takeaways

• Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf faces no-confidence vote over policy changes.
• Yousaf ended power-sharing with Greens, abandoned 2030 climate target, sought Alba Party support.
• Tories, Labour, and Lib Dems support no-confidence motion, leaving Yousaf's survival uncertain.
• Yousaf may resign on Monday, fearing he cannot survive the no-confidence vote.
• Former SNP deputy John Swinney approached to become interim first minister if Yousaf is ousted.