Humza Yousaf has won the Scottish National Party leadership contest and is set to become Scotland’s First Minister to replace Nicola Sturgeon, announced Monday.
“I will be the First Minister for all Scotland. I will work every minute of every day to earn and regain your respect and trust,” Yousaf said in his acceptance speech.
Yousaf won 52% of the final vote, running on a platform dedicated to Scottish independence, fighting the cost of living crisis, rejoining the European Union, banning transfers conversion and transition to renewable energy, among other campaign promises.
“My immediate priority will be to continue to protect all Scots as much as possible from harm caused by the cost of living crisis, to restore and reform our NHS and public services. other important. [and] to support our thriving economy to improve the living opportunities of people across this country,” he said.
Yousaf, who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Pollok from 2016 and for Glasgow from 2011 to 2016, is the first Muslim and non-white cabinet minister to serve in the Scottish Government.
Yousaf added: “To serve my country as First Minister will be the greatest privilege and honor of my life.
Yousaf’s win was confirmed at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield rugby ground on Monday afternoon after a six-week campaign in which the three contenders spent much of the competition criticizing his performance. each other in a series of personal attacks, Reuters reported.
Yousaf took over a group whose primary goal was to end Scotland’s three-century alliance with England.
But while around four in 10 Scots still support independence, according to a poll this month, the departure of Sturgeon – a charismatic and commanding leader – could slow some movement. force behind the breakup of Great Britain.
There is no unified strategy on how to push for a new referendum – one of the reasons Sturgeon stepped down.
The often bitter leadership contest has eased some pressure on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is dealing with divisions within his own party, a wave of industrial action and high inflation.
Yousaf points to her own background – born in Glasgow, to a Pakistani father and a Kenyan mother – and sees them as examples of an inclusive, socially free and multi-ethnic Scotland that the SNP has enjoyed. promoted.
Yousaf also said during the campaign that an independent Scotland should consider abandoning the British monarchy.
Scotland voted against independence by 55% compared with 45% in 2014. Britain voted to leave the EU two years later when a majority of Scots wanted to stay and Scotland’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic had brought new support for independence.
However, an opinion poll this month showed support for independents falling to 39%, or 46% when excluding “don’t know”. That compares to a record 58% in 2020.
Michael Russell, president of the SNP, said a week ago the party was in a “terrible mess”.
The Scottish government’s first and only Muslim cabinet minister, Yousaf, will be sworn in as Scotland’s leader on Wednesday if he wins a vote in the country’s parliament a day earlier.
