Summary

  • Scottish National Party leader Humza Yousaf quits, triggering a search for a successor and new first minister

  • He said he had "underestimated" the level of hurt after ending a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens last week

  • Yousaf says he will stay on as first minister until the SNP chooses his replacement

  • Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar warned the SNP not to "impose another unelected first minister on Scotland"

  • Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative leader, said Humza Yousaf had "let the people of Scotland down"

  • You can stream live BBC News video by clicking the "play" button in the picture at the top of this page

Live Reporting

Edited by Paul McLaren

  1. First Minister faces a grim choice

    James Cook
    Scotland Editor, BBC News

    Humza Yousaf needs the support of at least one member of the opposition at Holyrood to survive a vote of confidence in his leadership which could come as soon as Wednesday.

    The Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all say they will vote against him.

    That leaves Ash Regan, the sole MSP from Mr Salmond's Alba Party, as a possibly ally. But senior SNP sources have told the BBC there is zero chance of a deal with Alba.

    If nothing changes, that leaves the first minister facing a grim choice — a humiliating defeat in a vote of no confidence at Holyrood, or resignation before it comes to that.

    Last night a senior source close to Yousaf said no decision had yet been taken but resignation was an option on the table, telling BBC News the “clock has been ticking ever downwards.”

  2. Good morning and welcome

    Emma Owen
    Live reporter

    The BBC has been told that Scotland's First Minister, Humza Yousaf, is considering resigning.

    The SNP leader has been struggling to secure support to lead a minority government after he terminated a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens, four days ago.

    He’s due to face two confidence votes this week - one in him personally, the other in his government.

    We’ll be keeping across all the latest developments, so stick with us.