"I am not willing to trade my values and principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power."
Humza Yousaf announces his resignation as First Minister of Scotland.
Muslims may find this statement somewhat ironic. pic.twitter.com/r3PoHIVQsh
— 5Pillars (@5Pillarsuk) April 29, 2024
Scotland’s first Muslim leader, Humza Yousaf, resigned on Tuesday as First Minister, saying he was not willing to trade his principles to win a no-confidence vote.
The move came ahead of two forthcoming confidence votes, which were called by the opposition after Humza ended a power-sharing deal between his Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Scottish Greens last week. The Bute House agreement was brokered by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021.
The end of the cooperation agreement led opposition parties in the parliament to table two no-confidence votes – one targeting the first minister and another aimed at the SNP government.
Addressing journalists at his official residence, Yousaf said after a weekend of reflection, he had concluded that “repairing a relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm.”
Yousaf said he will be staying on as first minister until the SNP elects a new leader.
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