Humza Yousaf won the SNP election... but is Sir Keir Starmer the real victor? trends now
Scotland's incoming First Minister could help put Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street, it has been feared.
Continuity candidate Humza Yousaf has triumphed by a whisker in the bitter battle to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP.
The 37-year-old health secretary is set to be formally appointed as Scotland’s first Muslim First Minister today after defeating rival Kate Forbes by a margin of 52:48.
In his acceptance speech yesterday he demanded a new referendum on Scottish independence ‘right away’, called for Scotland to rejoin the EU and vowed to take Rishi Sunak to court over the veto of controversial plans to allow gender self-identification.
During the election campaign he said an independent Scotland could ditch the monarchy within five years and replace King Charles with an elected head of state.
Continuity candidate Humza Yousaf (pictured) has triumphed by a whisker in the bitter battle to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP
This could help put Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street, it has been feared
Downing Street responded by indicating that it would reject his calls for a second referendum on independence, saying the public wanted to focus on priorities such as the economy and health. The Prime Minister said: ‘I am very clear that I passionately believe in our Union... I care about our Union, I think it is very precious.’
Mr Yousaf inherits a bitterly divided party that is already sliding in the polls. And experts warned last night that a slump in SNP support could pave the way for a Labour revival in Scotland that might help put Sir Keir in No 10.
Former Labour minister George Foulkes said Mr Yousaf’s victory was ‘a very good result for Labour’. He added: ‘Good candidates are queuing up to stand for Labour in Scotland because they feel the time is right for a Labour resurgence, and this will help.
‘We have got a lot of good ammunition to use against him from his own comrades. He will no doubt try and distance himself from Nicola Sturgeon’s failures, but he is the continuity candidate and he will have to answer for the SNP’s record at the election. It is a very good result for Labour.’
Sir Keir Starmer has visited Scotland four times in the past month in a bid to
