Swinney favourite to replace Humza Yousaf as First Minister resigns

Humza Yousaf has quit as First Minister of Scotland in the face of being ousted with John Swinney the favourite to replace him.

Swinney has said he is considering running to become leader of the SNP after being “overwhelmed” by many requests from party colleagues.

The former deputy leader has already received support from Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, health secretary Neil Gray, education secretary Jenny Gilruth, veteran MP Pete Wishart, former Westminster leader Ian Blackford, and deputy SNP leader Keith Brown.

Not everyone in the SNP has shown support for Swinney however, with MP Joanna Cherry calling for a “complete reset”.

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It comes after Yousaf announced his resignation saying he had “underestimated” the level of hurt that ending the power-sharing deal with the Greens would have.

While he said it was “the right decision”, he added: “Unfortunately in ending the Bute House Agreement in the matter I did I clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset that caused Green colleagues.”

He said that a route through the no-confidence vote was “absolutely possible” but said he was not willing to trade his principles or do deals simply to stay in power.

Yousaf became emotional as he paid tribute to his family.

Appearing to fight back tears, he said: “I am in absolute debt to my wonderful wife, my beautiful children and my wider family for putting up with me over the years. I’m afraid you will be seeing a lot more of me from now.

“You are truly everything to me.”

He said it had been an “honour” to have served as Scotland’s First Minister, its youngest and its first person of colour to do so.

Yousaf said he “could never have dreamt that one day I would have the privilege of leading my country”, noting that as a boy, people of minority ethnicities were not seen in senior governmental roles.

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He called Scotland the only country he has ever called home, and at the end of his speech, concluded: “Although of course, I am sad that my time as First Minister is ending, but I am so grateful, I’m so blessed, for having the opportunity afforded to so few to lead my country, and who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland?”

You can read his full resignation speech here.

Yousaf had been battling for his political survival after terminating the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday and sacking Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater.

In doing so, he lost his majority in Holyrood, turning the Greens against the SNP.

Without enough supporters, Yousaf faced losing a vote of no confidence brought forward by the Tories and risked losing his entire cabinet in a second vote against the government tabled by Labour.

‘There must be an election’

His fate was largely considered to be in the hands of his former leadership rival and Alba Party defector Ash Regan.

She said it was “bizarre” that some SNP MSPs would rather he resign from the top post than do a deal with her pro-independence party, led by Alex Salmond.

“The irony will not be lost on many that the event that has cost Humza Yousaf his job was removing the Greens from Government- something most people in Scotland agreed with,” she added.

Scottish Labour, which is surging in the polls, said the people of Scotland must choose the next first minister.

Party leader Anas Sarwar said: “The SNP is a divided party which is out of ideas and incapable of rising to the challenges Scotland faces.

“They cannot impose another unelected first minister on Scotland in a backroom deal – the people of Scotland should decide who leads our country.

“There must be an election – it’s time for change and Scottish Labour is ready to deliver it.”

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said Yousaf did the right thing.

“It is regrettable that it has ended this way, it didn’t need to,” he said. “We draw no satisfaction or pleasure from this,” he said.

“He chose to end a stable majority government and jeopardised the progressive policy programme that both parties had committed to and were working to deliver. 

“It is to his credit that he has taken personal responsibility. 

“Now though is the time to return to some stability.”

Scottish secretary Alister Jack said Yousaf’s leadership “lurched from crisis to crisis from the very start”, adding that he “could not command the confidence of the Scottish Parliament”.

He said: “Scotland now needs a stable, functioning Scottish Government focused on the issues that matter most to people – fixing public services and growing the economy.”

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon paid tribute to her successor.

She wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “I know how big a privilege being first minister is, but also the toll it can take.

“I also know what a wrench it is to step aside, even when sure it is the right thing to do.

“Humza has conducted himself with grace, dignity and integrity – both as FM and in the manner of his leaving.

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“I am and always will be proud to call him a friend.”

Alex Salmond said the idea that Yousaf didn’t want to do a deal with Alba is “simply untrue”.

“At 7.30 this morning he was trying to do a deal with Alba and complemented the proposals we’d made as very reasonable,” he claimed.

“The reason he didn’t do a deal with Alba is there were forces within his own party who stopped them doing it. Let’s call them the old guard.

“See, the ultimate problem for Humza is he wasn’t actually in control of his own party, which is why he wasn’t able to survive over the next week.”

What happens next?

Getty Images

The Scottish National Party will now need to select a new leader.

If only one person puts themselves forward – like Nicola Sturgeon did when Alex Salmond resigned – there will be no contest.

But if multiple people put their hat in the ring, a leadership election will take place.

When Sturgeon announced in February last year she would quit, it took a little over a month for the party to elect Yousaf.

It’s not yet clear how many people will run, but former SNP leader John Swinney suggested he could, and has already had the backing of senior SNP figures.

SNP deputy leader Keith Proud said: “We now need experience, engagement and unity, and I very much hope that John Swinney will put himself forward.”

Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Swinney “has what it takes”, adding: “He certainly is an individual that I believe carries widespread respect in the party across the Parliament, and indeed the country, a long experience.

“So I think someone that has operated right through the period of the SNP being in government, of course, as deputy leader under Nicola Sturgeon.

“I think, if anyone has the qualities, the capabilities to lead us not just in the short term, but right through the electoral cycle, then John has these characteristics.”

Former leadership contender Kate Forbes and health secretary Neil Gray are also considered to be among the likely candidates.

Whoever takes over from him will still need to be voted in by a majority of MSPs at the Scottish Parliament.

Like in previous years, that support would likely rely on the Greens.

The SNP currently has 63 out of Holyrood’s 129 seats, meaning it needs two opposition party votes to have a leader elected as FM.

If the Scottish Parliament fails to elect a first minister within 28 days, Holyrood will be dissolved and an election will take place.

The election scheduled to take place in 2026 will still go ahead even if a ballot happens this year.

Polls suggest Labour could win more seats at the next election while the SNP could lose MSPs. But surveys also suggest neither party would win a majority.

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