Humza Yousaf nominated as first minister

Following a parliamentary vote, Humza Yousaf has been nominated to become the sixth first minister of Scotland.

Yousaf was elected leader of the SNP on Monday.

MSPs voted 71 to 57 to select Yousaf as First Minister from a total of four nominees who put themselves forward.

Yousaf said: “This is a really proud day for me and my family. I hope it is also a proud day for Scotland, as it speaks to our values as a country as I stand here as the first ever Muslim to lead a western democratic nation.

“A key priority of my government will be to protect every Scot, as far as we can, from the harm that has been inflicted by the cost-of-living crisis. We will protect and we will reform our NHS and social care and other vital public services – to support our wellbeing economy to improve the life chances of people right across our country. We will rapidly develop plans to extend childcare, improve rural housing, support small businesses, and boost innovation.

“On Thursday, I will nominate the team of Ministers who will deliver on those priorities. I will then set out more detailed policies to this chamber in the first week after the Easter recess.

“I am also pleased to confirm my intention to appoint Shona Robison as Deputy First Minister – her counsel and cross-government experience has been indispensable to me so far, and I look forward to working together as we deliver for the people of Scotland.

“The Parliament has given me the opportunity to help steer this nation’s course, as we make the next stage of that journey together. Doing that will be the honour and the privilege of my life. I will strive every single minute of every day to be worthy of it and will do so in the best interests of our nation."

The same day, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon tendered her resignation to the King after more than eight years in the role.

“Being First Minister of the country I love has been the privilege of a lifetime – an opportunity for which I will always be grateful beyond words to the people of Scotland. As the first woman to hold this office, I am proud to demit it knowing that no girl in our country is in any doubt that a woman can hold the highest office in the land. My congratulations go to Humza Yousaf who, subject to Parliamentary process and appointment by His Majesty the King, will become the first person from a minority ethnic background to lead our country as its First Minister – and in doing so will reiterate the powerful message that it is a role that any young person in Scotland can aspire to.

“Every day in this office is an opportunity to make something better for someone, somewhere in Scotland. That has been my guiding mission throughout my time in office, and the motivation behind everything my government has stood for. I think it is evidenced in much of what we have achieved: doubling of early years education and childcare; the Scottish Child Payment; widening access to higher education with a record number of young people from backgrounds like mine now going to university; minimum unit pricing, a policy that is saving lives; a publicly-owned, mission driven national investment bank; and putting the climate emergency at the heart of all we do.

“That’s not to say that every day was straightforward – all of the achievements I am proudest of involved taking steps that were difficult but vital. This was also the case in by far the toughest challenge of my time as First Minister – leading Scotland through the pandemic.

“Covid shaped all of us - I know that it changed me, and, in many ways, it defined my time as First Minister. But the pandemic showed us how much we can achieve when we face huge challenges with common purpose. Above all, it reinforced in me an abiding admiration for the people of this wonderful country, who made such painful sacrifices to keep each other safe. In the toughest of times, our country showed the best of itself with love, care and solidarity. That will live with me for ever.”

Image: Scottish Government, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons