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Humza Yousaf: Scotland's First Minister resigns

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Media caption,

Search for new first minister is on as Humza Yousaf resigns

Scotland's First Minister, Humza Yousaf, has resigned.

Humza Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon as first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), just over a year ago.

The SNP and Scottish Greens led the Scotland's government together in a power-sharing deal which Mr Yousaf ended last week.

Following this, Scotland opposition parties lodged a vote of no confidence against him and his party - the SNP.

Humza Yousaf will continue as first minister until his replacement as leader of the SNP has been found.

Who is Humza Yousaf?

Humza Yousaf.Image source, Getty Images

Humza Yousaf was voted as the leader of the Scottish National Party in March 2023 and was voted in as first minister of Scotland in the May.

He took over from Nicola Sturgeon who served as Scotland's first minister for 8 years - making her the longest serving, and the first female first minister.

Mr Yousaf made history becoming Scotland's first Muslim and ethnic minority first minister.

What does Scotland's first minister do?

First Minister Humza Yousaf speaking during First Minster's Questions (FMQ's) at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh,Image source, PA Media

The leader of the government in Scotland is known as the first minister.

They are elected in a vote by the Members of Scottish Parliament (MSPs).

While the UK Government is in charge of defence and immigration for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government is in charge of decisions in areas like education, the environment and transport in Scotland.

Why has Humza Yousaf resigned?

patrick harvie, humza yousaf, lorna slaterImage source, HUMZA YOUSAF VIA TWITTER
Image caption,

From left to right - here's Patrick Harvie, Humza Yousaf (First Minister) and Lorna Slater. Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater are the co-leaders of the Scottish Greens.

Humza Yousaf has been under pressure after he ended a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens. Power-sharing is when two or more parties lead a government together.

The deal ending meant that Yousaf would have had to lead with a minority government - there weren't enough MSPs in the Scottish Parliament from his party, the SNP, to support any decisions he or the SNP may have made - making it very difficult to pass laws or make changes.

The end of power-sharing upset a lot of MSPs, and opposition parties lodged a vote of no confidence against Mr Yousef and the SNP, a vote that was due to take place later this week.

What is a minority?

When the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Green Party ended it meant the SNP became a minority government.

A majority government means that a party's MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament) make up over half of the Scottish parliament.

For example, if there were 100 members of a parliament voted in, and 70 of them were from one party, that party would have a majority.

If your political party has less than half of the members of any parliament, you have a minority.

In a press conference, Humza Yousaf said he "clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset" he had caused his colleagues in the Green Party by ending the power-sharing agreement.

"I am not willing to treat my values and principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power."

Humza YousefImage source, Reuters

He added: "I cannot tell you what an honour it is being the first minister of the country I love, the country I'm raising my family in and the only country I will ever call home."

The first minister added that, as a boy he could never have dreamed of the privilege of "leading my country".

"People that looked like me were not in positions of political influence."

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