WATCH: Humza Yousaf set to be elected as First Minister after winning SNP leadership vote

Humza Yousaf is set to be named as the new First Minister of Scotland following a procedural vote at the Scottish Parliament.

The health secretary will take over from Nicola Sturgeon in the top job at Holyrood after the outgoing FM officially handed in her resignation to King Charles on Tuesday morning.

Yousaf, who will become the first Muslim, first person of colour and first child of immigrants to take up the role, is expected to win the ballot with the support of the Scottish Greens after the party agreed to continue the Bute House agreement following his SNP leadership election victory.

The 37-year-old has already said he will have “conversations” with rivals Kate Forbes and Ash Regan about adding the pair to his cabinet after being sworn in on Wednesday.

But he will technically have to defeat Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Conservatives’ Douglas Ross and Labour’s Anas Sarwar in a vote from midday.

How does the vote happen?

MSPs from any political party can be nominated for the role, before candidates each make a brief speech in the Holyrood chamber.

They will then hold a vote – but a winner is only declared if one contender has more votes than their rivals combined.

If that doesn’t happen, the bottom-placed candidate drops out and another round of voting takes place.

The process continues until someone wins a majority, with that person then appointed first minister by the King.

If MSPs fail to elect a new FM within 28 days, a Scottish Parliament election will be held.

In 2003, seven candidates put themselves forward to be first minister, while Ruth Davidson, Willie Rennie and Douglas Ross all challenged Sturgeon for the top job in 2014, 2016 and 2021.

Presuming a new FM is elected on Tuesday, they will be sworn in during a short ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, which will probably be held on Wednesday.

The oath of office – known as the “official declaration” will be taken, and they will pledge to be the Keeper of the Scottish seal and make an oath of allegiance to the King.

Government ministers are likely to start being appointed later on Wednesday, before the new FM faces opposition leaders at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.