Sam Hancock
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Humza Yousaf spoke immediately after being announced as winner of the SNP leadership election - here are the key points:

Independence

Unsurprisingly, a main focus of that speech was the new SNP leader's intention to carry on fighting for Scottish independence. He wants to be the person to make this long-time promise a reality, he told those sitting before him.

Immediate vision

His priorities will be to continue to "protect" Scottish people from the "harm" inflicted by the cost of living crisis, to "recover and reform" the NHS and other vital public services, to support the economy and to improve the life chances of people across Scotland.

UK government

In a look ahead to what could be one of the hardest issues Yousaf will inherit, he told SNP members he's had his "fair share of battles with the UK government over the years" - and acknowledged there may be more to come.

"I will work with them, and with other devolved nations constructively, where I can in the best interests of our nation," he said of Rishi Sunak's government.

Family and identity

In an emotional tribute to his family, Yousaf praised his wife and daughters as well as his grandparents who he thanked for making "the trip from the Punjab to Scotland over 60 years ago".

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says regardless of politics, it is important to reflect on the fact Scotland will have a first First Minister from an ethnic minority background.

It is a “significant moment” for Scotland, he says, and offers his “sincere congratulations” to Yousaf and his family.

Sarwar goes on to say that amid an economic crisis and record NHS waiting lists presided over by Yousaf as health secretary, the country needs someone of competence and ability and new ideas, which he doesn’t believe the SNP provides.

Yousaf has inherited Nicola Sturgeon’s record, but not her mandate, the Scottish Labour leader says.

The recovery from the Covid pandemic has “not even started”, he adds.

"I don’t think Mr Yousaf is up to the task, to be frank, of the big challenge now facing Scotland.”

Yousaf hugs Forbes, but can he keep her supporters on side?published at 14:43 British Summer Time 27 March 2023

14:43 BST 27 March 2023

Nick Eardley
Chief political correspondent

Humza Yousaf was widely seen as the continuity candidate. He had the backing of several senior figures in the SNP. He is also the candidate who was most likely to maintain the governing deal with the Scottish Greens.

But the result was very close in the end. Kate Forbes had the backing of a considerable chunk of the SNP's membership. Given that Forbes wanted a change of direction, it seems a safe bet many of her backers did too.

Yousaf takes over a party which has just been through a pretty divisive campaign. He gave Forbes a big hug after the result - but keeping all her supporters on side might be harder.

Sir John Curtice says "the nationalist ship which had taken a bit of a battering" will come to a calmer position.

The University of Strathclyde polling expert adds that if Kate Forbes had won a lot of SNP parliamentarians would have been unhappy.

He says given the strength of support Humza Yousaf has within the two parliamentary parties, one has to say that after only getting 52% of the votes after the second vote redistribution, was a "rather narrow result".

Sir John suspects Yousaf will have to offer Kate Forbes a senior position in his cabinet, possibly staying as finance secretary.

"Whether or not she decides to take it, that is another matter."

The leadership election was decided by the Single Transferable Vote system, with 50,490 of the SNP's 72,169 members casting a ballot - the vast majority of them online.

After Ms Regan was eliminated in the first round, Mr Yousaf defeated Ms Forbes by 52% to 48% in the second round, with Mr Yousaf receiving 26,032 votes and Ms Forbes 23,890.

Image source, Reuters

Humza Yousaf was widely seen as being the preferred candidate of the SNP establishment - including Sturgeon herself.

The health secretary was endorsed by far more MSPs and MPs than his two rivals, with Deputy First Minister John Swinney predicting that he would "complete our journey to independence".

He was undoubtedly the most experienced of the three leadership contenders, having served in government since 2012 in roles including justice secretary and transport minister.

His supporters said he was a polished communicator who was best placed to unite the party and maintain the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens after what has been a deeply fractious leadership contest.

Read more here.

Isabel Hardman from the Spectator tells the BBC that you could see from the emotion on the faces of Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf that they had not known how this contest would play out.

Hardman says the reaction from Westminster will be quite a bit of relief from unionist parties who were anxious about Kate Forbes taking over.

"Whithin the SNP movement there's probably quite a lot of relief this is not going to cause a big split over moral issues."

Image source, Getty Images

Before finishing up, Yousaf thanks everyone from his wife through to his daughters and campaign staff, calling them all "very special people".

"I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for the support, encouragement and hard work of a number of people," he tells them.

He thanks his "amazing wife" Nadia, who he says is not just his rock but his "compass who helps guide me through the most difficult of times".

Yousaf also tells his daughters that there's no job more important to him than being their father, before acknowledging his new role as party leader and Scotland's FM will be "all-consuming".

Humza Yousaf says he will lead Scotland "in the interests of all its citizens".

He says he will work "every minute of every day" to "earn and re-earn" their respect and trust,

He says his first priority will be to protect every Scot from the harm inflicted by the cost of living crisis.

He also pledges to reform the NHS and other pubic services, improve the life chances of people.

As first minister he will move quickly to extend childcare, improve rural housing and support small business, he says.

Yousaf adds that he "won’t shy away" from tough challenges that require difficult decisions.

Humza Yousaf says he'll represent everyone in Scotland, if confirmed as the new FM in tomorrow's vote, no matter their political preference.

He also says he'll continue pushing for Scottish independence.

"I was determined then, as I am now, as the 14th leader of this great party, that we will deliver independence for Scotland – together as a team," he says, adding Scotland is a European nation.

He goes on to acknowledge that "elections by their nature can be bruising" but insists the SNP is "a family".

What does a Humza Yousaf win mean for the SNP?published at 14:22 British Summer Time 27 March 2023

14:22 BST 27 March 2023

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent, live from Murrayfield

Mr Yousaf was seen as the “continuity candidate” throughout the campaign – a strong position given Nicola Sturgeon’s enduring popularity with SNP members.

He had by far the most endorsements from MSPs and MPs, including most of Ms Sturgeon’s inner circle.

That means he should have a relatively easy time putting together a cabinet and bringing the party back together in parliament.

He was also the candidate best-placed to bring the Greens back into government, although they are meeting this afternoon to decide their next steps.

But it is inescapable that Mr Yousaf’s margin of victory was razor-thin. A big, big chunk of the SNP voted for candidates promising change.

So the question now will be the extent to which the “continuity candidate” seeks to differentiate himself from his predecessor’s agenda. Will he forge on with all of her policies, or seek to carve out more of an identity for himself?

And given he only just won over half of his own party, will he be able to replicate Ms Sturgeon’s popularity with the broader electorate when the next election rolls around?

We're hearing from Humza Yousaf now, who's just been named as Nicola Sturgeon's replacement.

He pays tribute to his "colleagues" Ash Regan and Kate Forbes, congratulating them on putting in a "good shift" on their campaign trails.

He adds that he's sure they'll all continue to work hard for the SNP.

Lorna Finn, the SNP's national secretary, says a total of 50,494 ballot papers were received from 72,169 eligible members.

There were three rejected postal ballots with a total turnout was 70%.

Humza Yousaf's first preference votes was 24,336.

After Ms Regan was eliminated in the first round, Mr Yousaf defeated Ms Forbes by 52% to 48%.

Once the second preference votes were redistributed he had 26,032 which represents 52.1% of the vote.

Sam Hancock
Live reporter

Humza Yousaf has just been named as the new leader of the Scottish National Party, beating Kate Forbes and Ash Regan to the post.

He'll replace Nicola Sturgeon as party leader right away but not as Scottish first minister until a vote by MSPs, due to take place at Holyrood tomorrow.

At Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh we're about to hear who's won the SNP leadership race.

Lorna Finn, the ruling party's national secretary, will make the announcement in front of an audience of about 300 people.

Stay with us for live updates.

When Nicola Sturgeon confirmed she was resigning as Scotland's first minister, she said there was much more "intensity" and "brutality" to the life of a politician, than there was in previous years.

These are some of the recent moments from her political career where she didn't hold back her thoughts on the government, Jeremy Clarkson and possible controversial haircuts.

A political crossroadspublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 27 March 2023

14:00 BST 27 March 2023

Nick Eardley
Chief political correspondent

Nicola Sturgeon's departure is a huge moment. The SNP's new leader will not have her profile - nor her ability to command attention beyond Edinburgh. Not immediately, anyway.

Labour and the Conservatives are delighted Ms Sturgeon is going. Both think it could be a chance to end the SNP's dominance of elections in Scotland.

Labour in particular are optimistic. Keir Starmer has visited several times in recent weeks. Senior figures in the party think this opens a door for them - something which could prove important at a general election.

But remember, the SNP dominate Scottish politics for a few reasons. Some of it was down to Ms Sturgeon and her personal popularity, but some of it was down to independence and other issues.

So this is a crossroads. But nobody can be completely certain where Scottish politics will end up.

We're minutes away from finding out who's won the SNP leadership race: Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf or Ash Regan.

Scotland's outgoing FM Nicola Sturgeon announced last month that she was standing down after more than eight years in the role.

We'll bring you the result as it happens. You can also watch the moment Sturgeon's replacement is announced live by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.

James Cook
Scotland Editor, BBC News

Image source, PA Media

If Nicola Sturgeon had prevailed, Scotland would be going to the polls again this autumn to consider dissolving the 316-year-old union with England.

Last summer, Scotland's outgoing first minister proposed 19 October 2023 as the date when, for the second time in nine years, voters would be asked "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

But the plan she set out in Edinburgh was thwarted by politicians and judges in London.

Prime minister Boris Johnson refused to recognise a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament - the accepted trigger for the first referendum in 2014 - as a mandate for a second vote.

Then, in November the UK Supreme Court ruled that the Scottish Parliament did not have the power to organise its own referendum without Westminster's approval.

Read more here.

Image source, PA Media

If you're just joining us, it is the climax of the contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and then almost certainly as first minister too.

Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes have been standing in the race.

The ballot of SNP members closed at 12:00, with the result to be announced shortly by SNP national secretary Lorna Finn in front of an audience of about 300 people at Murrayfield Stadium.

It is the first time the SNP has had a leadership contest since 2004, with Nicola Sturgeon being unopposed when she replaced Alex Salmond in 2014. Whoever wins will become only its fifth leader since 1979.

• How will Scotland's new first minister be decided?
• Where next for Scotland as the Sturgeon era ends?
• What next for Sturgeon, the SNP and Scotland?