Humza Yousaf has been nominated to become the sixth First Minister of Scotland, following a parliamentary vote yesterday. As expected the Greens voted with the SNP to secure the nomination.
Mr Yousaf also announced his intention to appoint Shona Robison as Deputy First Minister.
MSPs voted 71 to 57 to select Mr Yousaf as First Minister from a total of four nominees who put themselves forward; he will be formally appointed this afternoon with a Royal Warrant from His Majesty King Charles III.
He will be sworn in at the Court of Session today, where he will take the Official Oath in front of the Lord President of the Court of Session and other senior judges.
First Minister-designate Humza 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.”
No mention of independence, then?
Deputy First Minister-designate Shona Robison said: “I am honoured to accept Humza’s request to be his Deputy First Minister. I look forward to working with him and our Cabinet on the issues that matter most to the people of Scotland.
“I have served alongside Humza for a long time and I know that his leadership will build on the solid foundations we have been left by the former First Minister and Deputy First Minister. His election as First Minister is a historic moment and marks the beginning of a new chapter for the country.”
Lothian Labour list MSP Foysol Choudhury said: “
Responding after the election of Humza Yousaf MSP as First Minister of Scotland, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “I extend my sincere congratulations to Humza Yousaf MSP on his election as First Minister.
“Whilst we might have our political differences, Humza has always been friendly and supportive since I entered the Scottish Parliament and I wish him well.
“It is important to reflect on this significant moment for Scotland, who will now have its first First Minister from an ethnic minority background.
“This is an excellent reminder that Scotland is diverse and supports people from all backgrounds.
“No matter your background, religion, ethnicity, gender or identity in Scotland, you can succeed.
“Humza’s election as First Minister is a stark reminder of that and marks the road towards a more inclusive and progressive Scotland.”
The Tories – the official opposition at Holyrood – were rather less magnanimous – unsurprising given Scotland’s new First Minister is the man they dubbed ‘Hopeless Humzah’:
Humzah Yousaf’s reign as First Minister got off to the worst possible start, however. Mr Yousaf, who just scraped home in the vote to become SNP leader, effectively demoted main leadership rival Kate Forbes by offering her post of Rural Affairs secretary.
Rather than be humiliated Ms Forbes, narrowly defeated in the leadership contest and widely seen as one of the more able ministers in Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet, rejected the offer and chose instead to return to the backbenches.
Building bridges in a cabinet ‘of all the talents’ clearly isn’t on the Yousaf agenda so we can expect to see the promotion of those MSPs who swore their allegiance to Yousaf during the leadership campaign when cabinet appointment announcements are made.
Inclusive and progressive? We’ll see.
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