Humza Yousaf elected SNP leader
Andrew Hirst
Humza Yousaf has been elected the SNP’s new leader.
Mr Yousaf defeated rival candidates Kate Forbes and Ash Regan to take the top role.
Announcing the vote at Murrayfield today (Monday), SNP secretary Lorna Finn confirmed Mr Yousaf received 48.2 per cent of first preference votes.
Ms Forbes came second with 40.7 per cent, followed by Ms Regan with 11.1 per cent.
As no candidate had received more than 50 per cent of the votes, Ms Regan’s second preference votes were added to the two remaining candidates’ totals.
The final total saw Mr Yousaf command 52.1 per cent of the vote.
He is set to be appointed Scotland’s new first minister tomorrow, taking over from Nicola Sturgeon who has led the party and Scotland since 2014.
Mr Yousaf said: “To serve my country as first minister will be the greatest privilege and honour of my life, should parliament decide to elect me as Scotland’s next First Minister tomorrow.
“And just as I will lead the SNP in the interests of all party members, not just those who voted for me, so I will lead Scotland in the interests of all our citizens whatever your political allegiance.
“If elected as your first minister after tomorrow’s vote in Parliament, know that I will be a First Minister for all of Scotland, that I will work every minute of every day to earn and re-earn your respect and your trust.
“I will do that by treating you, the people of Scotland with respect.
“There will be no empty promises, no easy soundbites when the issues in front of us are difficult and complex, because government is not easy and I won’t pretend it is.”
Mr Yousaf visited Shetland last year as health secretary and in 2016 as transport minister.
Andrew Holt
This is indeed good news, both for unionists and voters who are open to persuasion on the independence question. Humza Yousaf is a serial incompetent having served in three previous positions in the current administration to no great distinction to put it mildly. He has stated his intention to push ahead with the Gender Recognition farce, a policy opposed by the majority of the electorate. And after promising to act to reinstate unity in his party decided to humiliate his rival Kate Forbes. Of course if he wants to stay in power, placating the odious Greens is the only path open to him.