Summary

  • Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he will not resign and believes he can survive two no confidence votes he now faces at Holyrood.

  • He accused his political opponents of "game playing" after his decision to scrap the SNP's power sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens led to angry recriminations.

  • Speaking at an event in Dundee, the first minister said he had not meant to anger or upset the Greens.

  • The Scottish Tories plan a vote of no confidence in the first minister and Scottish Labour have now have secured backing for a similar vote on the entire Scottish government.

  • The votes cannot happen until next week

Live Reporting

  1. Humza Yousaf to 'come out fighting' - Flynn

    The SNP's leader at Westminster, Stephen Flynn, has said Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf is going to "come out fighting" as he faces a motion of no confidence.

    Asked by BBC Radio 4's Today programme if it was a mistake to end the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens, Mr Flynn said: "I firmly believe it was the right thing to do, because the First Minister wanted to reset the focus of the Scottish government on the priorities of the Scottish people.

    "That of course means providing jobs and opportunities for our young people, growing the economy, protecting our NHS from the worst excesses of... Westminster and dealing with the cost-of-living crisis. He was absolutely right to do that."

    Mr Flynn added: "What I would gently urge all politicians in Holyrood to do now that we are of course a minority government is to have some cool heads and some calm words this weekend to reflect upon the consequences of any decision that were to be taken or otherwise in relation to whom or who is not the First Minister and come to a conclusion which I believe would be much more reasonable."

    SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn with Humza YousafGetty Images

    SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (left) with Humza Yousaf (right) earlier this year

  2. Humza Yousaf 'absolutely not' considering his position

    On Thursday night, a source close to the first minister said Mr Yousaf was "absolutely not" considering his position following the chaotic events of Thursday.

    His decision to end the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens was branded an act of "political cowardice" by the smaller pro-independence party.

    The Greens will back a no-confidence motion proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, leaving Mr Yousaf facing a knife-edge vote at Holyrood next week.

    The Scottish Greens said they no longer had confidence in a progressive government in Scotland doing the right thing for climate and nature.

    They were unhappy at the Scottish Government's recent dropping of 2030 climate targets and the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers at Scotland's only gender clinic.

  3. Alba's Ash Regan writes to Yousaf with demands

    Ash ReganPA Media

    The Alba Party MSP whose vote could be crucial to Humza Yousaf's political future has written to the First Minister with a list of demands to ensure her support.

    Ash Regan, a former SNP minister who defected to Alex Salmond's party, said she wanted to see progress on Scottish independence and defending "the rights of women and children".

    Mr Yousaf is battling to save his position as First Minister after his former allies in the Scottish Greens vowed to vote against him in a motion of no confidence.

    The SNP leader dramatically brought the power-sharing deal with the Greens to an end but now faces a backlash which could cost him his job.

    A tight vote is expected at Holyrood next week, and since the SNP have 63 out of the 128 MSPs Ms Regan's vote would appear to be crucial in getting Mr Yousaf over the line in a confidence vote.

  4. Can Humza Yousaf survive as Scotland’s first minister?

    James Cook
    Scotland Editor, BBC News

    Humza Yousaf has been in office for barely a year but his future as first minister is already hanging in the balance.

    His handling of a deal with the Scottish Green Party, which he inherited from his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon, is the source of much of his trouble.

    The pact, known as the Bute House Agreement, was born in the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh in 2021 amidst promises of a new politics of co-operation and collaboration.

    On a bright, cold Thursday in April, it ended where it began when Mr Yousaf summoned his two Green ministers to an early morning meeting.

    Read more.

  5. A day of turmoil at Holyrood

    Scottish First Minister Humza YousafPA Media

    It was a day of turmoil at Holyrood yesterday.

    Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf called an early morning meeting to tell the Scottish Greens that he was ending their power-sharing deal.

    The Scottish Greens were furious that three years of co-operation between the SNP and their party were ended so abruptly.

    They headed to the Scottish Parliament and promptly laid into Mr Yousaf in harsh and personal terms, accusing him of betrayal, cowardice, and weakness.

    The Scottish Conservatives later said they would be calling for a vote of no confidence in the first minister, which the Greens said they would support.

    That vote is likely to take place next week and the numbers do not look good for Humza Yousaf.