'Politics can be a brutal'

Emotional Yousaf resigns as first minister in blow to SNP

- ZOE GRUNEWALD, ARCHIE MITCHELL

An emotional Humza Yousaf has quit as Scotland's first minister, in a huge boost for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's hopes north of the border. In the latest blow to the SNP, which has been in turmoil since the departure of Nicola Sturgeon last February, Mr Yousaf threw in the towel ahead of two tough no-confidence votes this week.

“Politics can be a brutal business,” the outgoing first minister said, at times fighting back tears. Professor Sir John Curtice told The Independent that chaos engulfing the SNP was “God’s gift to the Labour Party”. Under Sir Keir, it is battling to win back tens of seats lost amid a wipeout for Labour in Scotland in 2015.

At the last general election, Labour won just one Westminster seat north of the border, with current polls putting it on course to win 22 when the country goes to the polls later this year.

In a desperate bid to avoid another damaging leadership contest playing out in public, the SNP looks set to crown former deputy first minister John Swinney as its new leader. He has said he is “considering” a bid to take over from Mr Yousaf, with senior SNP figures including Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and his predecessor Ian Blackford also in the running.

The divisive contest to replace Ms Sturgeon just over a year ago saw contenders Mr Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan publicly attacking one another. Mr Yousaf was facing two votes of confidence after he terminated the power-sharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens last week.

Despite previously saying he would not stand down and intended to win the confidence votes, the first minister then announced he would be leaving his role, giving the news at a hurriedly arranged press conference.