Humza Yousaf stepped down as Scotland’s first minister amidst mounting pressure and two looming confidence votes triggered by his decision to end the coalition with junior partners over climate policy disagreements.
The 39-year-old’s resignation comes after a challenging tenure marked by declining support for his pro-independence SNP.
Yousaf’s government faced criticism for scrapping ambitious carbon emission targets, leading to a loss of confidence from the Scottish Greens and subsequent no-confidence motions from opposition parties.
Despite initially vowing to weather the storm, Yousaf acknowledged the necessity of a leadership change to mend political divisions. His departure leaves Scotland’s parliament with a 28-day window to appoint a new first minister.
Yousaf’s leadership was marred by internal strife within the SNP and controversies surrounding hate crime legislation and transgender rights, contributing to the party’s waning popularity.
Meanwhile, the Labour party’s resurgence poses a challenge to the SNP ahead of a looming UK general election.
Despite aspirations for independence, Scotland’s secession movement faces hurdles in gaining momentum, with the SNP struggling to rally support for another referendum.
