Humza Yousaf has resigned as First Minister and leader of the SNP after enduring a turbulent final few days at Holyrood.
Facing a vote of no confidence both in his leadership and his government Mr Yousaf said in his resignation speech at Bute House: “that repairing our relationships across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm”.
The pressure began to mount following the announcement that he would be ending the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, which had been brokered by his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon following the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.
The agreement, which introduced the first-ever Green ministers to the Scottish government, created a majority of pro-independence MSPs at Holyrood and focused on shared interests such as climate change, economic recovery, and the constitution.
Cracks began to appear in the agreement when it was announced that the Scottish government was abandoning its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030. There was also tension between the Greens and the SNP over the decision to pause the prescription of puberty blockers for children following the publication of the Cass Review.
Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, and former government minister under the Bute House Agreement, confirmed that the Greens would be consulting their members to determine the future of the deal. Although, stressed in a statement on X that he believed the best course of action was to continue with the agreement.
However, it was then Humza Yousaf who announced that the Bute House Agreement would be coming to an end. In a press conference speech, Yousaf said that “the Bute House Agreement was intended to provide stability to the Scottish Government, and it has made possible a number of achievements… but it is no longer guaranteeing a stable arrangement in Parliament… Therefore, after careful consideration, I believe that going forward, it is in the best interests of the people of Scotland to pursue a different arrangement.”
Following this announcement, the Conservatives were quick to table a vote of no confidence in Yousaf, which the Greens were set to support. Labour also called for a vote of no confidence in the government, however following the resignation of Yousaf, the Greens lent their support to the SNP to survive this vote.
Following this, the SNP have appointed their second party leader and first minister in less than 18 months. John Swinney, the former deputy first minister and former leader of the SNP, have taken up the office after Kate Forbes, who lost out to Yousaf in the last leadership contest, ruled herself out and endorsed Mr Swinney.
In a statement on X last week, Forbes said that “It is now clear from this morning’s statement that in @ JohnSwinney we have someone who not only understands that need for reform, but has now committed to delivering it. I look forward to playing my role in making that happen.
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