Humza Yousaf will be confirmed as Scottish First Minister TODAY trends now
Humza Yousaf will be confirmed as Scotland's new First Minister today after scraping home in the SNP leadership battle.
Mr Yousaf will be confirmed in the role by a vote at Holyrood this afternoon, with Nicola Sturgeon formally sending her resignation letter to the King this morning.
But he faces a mammoth task to revive the separatists' ailing fortunes after an extraordinary meltdown over the abortive bid to loosen gender ID rules, and with support for independence well under 50 per cent.
Mr Yousaf has already pledged to push on with Ms Sturgeon's agenda on trans rights and demanded an immediate referendum on splitting the UK - something Rishi Sunak has flatly dismissed.
Allies of Mr Yousaf - ridiculed by political opponents over his track record as a 'gaffe machine' - indicated he is likely to hand a senior job to his leadership rival Kate Forbes. She tore into his record handling the health service during the campaign, and has warned the closer-than-expected 52 per cent-48 per cent result shows 'continuity won't cut it'.
Humza Yousaf will be installed as Scotland's new First Minister today after scraping home in the SNP leadership battle yesterday (pictured)
Allies of Mr Yousaf - ridiculed by political opponents over his track record as a 'gaffe machine' - indicated he is likely to hand a senior job to his leadership rival Kate Forbes (right)
Mr Yousaf will be confirmed in the role by a vote at Holyrood this afternoon, with Nicola Sturgeon formally sending her resignation letter to the King this morning
Critics have also pointed out that Mr Yousaf only just emerged on top despite having that backing of 'the entire SNP establishment'.
Tories believe that Mr Yousaf's triumph will help secure the union, as Ms Forbes would have been a more dangerous opponent. However, it could also be a major opportunity for Labour, which is eyeing picking up a dozen seats north of the border at a general election.
The 37-year-old will become the youngest First Minister, and the first from an ethnic minority.
Douglas Ross of the Scottish Conservatives, Anas Sarwar of Scottish Labour and Alex Cole-Hamilton of the Scottish Liberal Democrats are also expected to put their names forward.
They will be asked to speak by Alison Johnstone – the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament – with a separate vote for each, but as they lack the numbers they are set to fail.
Mr Yousaf has the backing of the Scottish Greens, who have reiterated their commitment to the Bute
