Humza Yousaf is voted in as Scotland's new First Minister at Holyrood in place ... trends now
Humza Yousaf was voted in as Scotland's new First Minister today amid a furious row with JK Rowling over gender reforms.
The SNP leader won a vote of MSPs at Holyrood this afternoon - with the support of the Greens - to become Scotland's first ethnic minority leader.
He used a speech before the vote to vow to fight any attempt to 'undermine devolution' - which will be seen as a sign of his desire to fight Westminster over a controversial trans rights law.
He has pledged to continue a High Court fight to get Nicola Sturgeon's Gender Recognition Reform Bill into law, after it was blocked by Rishi Sunak using devolved powers.
His comments came hours after Harry Potter author Ms Rowling lashed out at his decision.
Ms Rowling, an outspoken critic of the law, said: 'Humza Yousaf is the kid who just saw the skater in front of him disappear through the ice, but yells ''watch me, everybody!'' while wobbling straight for the hole.'
Ms Sturgeon officially tendered her resignation to the King this morning. But Mr Yousaf faces a mammoth task to revive the Scottish separatists' ailing fortunes after an extraordinary meltdown over the abortive bid to loosen gender ID rules, and with support for independence at well under 50 per cent.
The SNP leader won a vote of MSPs at Holyrood this afternoon - with the support of the Greens - to become Scotland's first ethnic minority leader.
The Harry Potter author and activist threw the warning at the incoming First Minister of Scotland as he prepares to be confirmed in the post at Holyrood this afternoon.
Humza Yousaf will be installed as Scotland's new First Minister today after scraping home in the SNP leadership battle yesterday
Nicola Sturgeon officially tendered her resignation to the King this morning
Allies of Mr Yousaf - ridiculed by political opponents over his track record as a 'gaffe machine' - indicated he was 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
Mr Yousaf won the votes of 71 fellow MSPs, with members of the SNP and Greens backing his candidacy for First Minister of Scotland.
The 31 Tory MSPs voted for Douglas Ross while 22 of the Labour contingent voted for Anas Sarwar.
The four Lib Dem MSPs back their leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
Both Kate Forbes and Ash Regan opposed Ms Sturgeon's Gender Recognition Reform Bill (GRR) and vowed to end the legal challenge she brought after Rishi Sunak used devolved powers to block it. The Bill would lower the age at which teens can legally alter their gender from 18 to 16.
Mr Yousaf said last night he would continue the High Court case despite warnings that it was doomed to failure.
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 was 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'.
Critics have also pointed out that Mr Yousaf only just emerged on top despite having
