Assistant Professor Mitya Pearson on the resignation of Scotland's first minister, Humza Yousaf

"Recent events have highlighted the culmination of several challenges faced by Humza Yusuf and the SNP. Long incumbency, a mixed policy record, and an investigation into the party's finances have all contributed to the SNP now being neck and neck with Labour in the opinion polls. Yusuf has been unable to reverse this decline, and his seeming miscalculation regarding the Green MSPs' reaction to their sacking has triggered today's event.

Stepping down was the only viable option for Yusuf given the lack of confidence from the Green MSPs and the difficulty of doing a deal with the Alba Party. Even if Alba had supported Yusuf in the confidence vote in him, the chances of running a sustainable government after that looked slim."

Looking ahead, the SNP appears to be considering succession options, possibly through a full leadership contest or a shortened process. A new leader/FM would likely seek to lead a minority government, cooperating with other parties on a case-by-case basis, particularly the Greens and/or Alba. This could last until the next Scottish elections in 2026."

Mon 29 Apr 2024, 15:05|Tags: Politics, Politics and International Studies