Yousaf to snub deal with Salmond party despite collapse of SNP grip on power

SCOTTISH First Minister Humza Yousaf was last night set to refuse an electoral pact with Alex Salmond's Alba Party as he battles to save his political future.

- Martyn Brown

Alba, headed by Mr Salmond, is likely to have the deciding ballot in a knife-edge vote of no confidence in the SNP's Mr Yousaf at Holyrood this week.

Its only MSP, Ash Regan, is to make a set of demands to Mr Yousaf, and one of those included her rivals stepping aside in some seats to allow Alba to be elected.

Mr Salmond told Sky News yesterday his party would be "prepared to assist" Mr Yousaf in a noconfidence vote