Humza Yousaf is 'hanging on by a thread' and now faces a knife-edge no ... trends now

Humza Yousaf's job was 'hanging on a thread' last night after he plunged his government into crisis by dumping the SNP's Green coalition partners. 

He was branded a 'lame duck First Minister' after he announced a major U-turn by scrapping the Bute House Agreement despite previously being its biggest cheerleader within the SNP. 

He said that he would instead attempt to run the country with a minority government – in a move that will make it impossible to pass legislation without winning support from the opposition benches. 

Critics condemned Mr Yousaf's 'kamikaze' move as it immediately backfired when opponents said they would hold a vote of no confidence in him – and the Greens confirmed they would support it.

If a majority of MSPs back the vote, which is likely to take place next week, Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'We said from the beginning this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in chaos. Humza Yousaf's government is in crisis. He claims it is now a new beginning, but really it is the beginning of the end. Isn't Humza Yousaf a lame duck First Minister?'

After he lodged the motion of no confidence, Mr Ross said: 'He was bounced into ditching the Bute House Agreement by his own MSPs. The only leadership he has shown has been weak. His time as First Minister is up.'

Mr Yousaf unilaterally announced the move without an SNP member vote following an emergency meeting of his Cabinet yesterday.

The Greens said they would back a no confidence vote.

It means his future is reliant on whether he can persuade Ash Regan, the former SNP leadership candidate and now Alba MSP, to back him. Mr Yousaf described her departure from the SNP last year as 'no great loss'.

If he were to lose the vote, Mr Yousaf would be under pressure to resign. If he fails to do so, opposition parties could call a further no confidence vote in the Government, which would require him to resign if a majority backed it.

Liz Lloyd, former chief of staff to Nicola Sturgeon, told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: 'I think it is arguable that Humza Yousaf did need to end the agreement. But what wasn't needed was to end it in such a brutal fashion.

'It could have come to an end by agreement.

'It has led to the position where Humza Yousaf is hanging on a thread as to whether he can stay as First Minister.'

Former first minister Alex Salmond said: 'Humza has to understand he is no longer in the position of ruling the roost. I can only describe his tactics as kamikaze.

'He has insulted every opposition party in the parliament. There's a number of things you can and can't do when you are leading a minority administration, and one of them is not to insult all of the opposition parties.

'Humza is going to need to mend his ways and do it very quickly.'

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: 'This chaotic and incompetent government is falling apart before our eyes while Scots pay the price.'

At an 8am meeting with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, Mr Yousaf told them he would be 'terminating' their ministerial roles. He then met his Cabinet to inform them. Mr Yousaf's spokesman said ministers banged on the table in approval.

Just days prior to the announcement, Mr Yousaf publicly backed the partnership agreement.

At a press conference yesterday he denied he had made a weak and reactive decision.

He was asked if he was a 'lame duck leader who is heading for the exit door' and he responded: 'No, not at all. We are taking control as a party and indeed as a government on our priority terms.'

Former leadership rival Kate Forbes insisted she would support him in the no confidence vote.

Fergus Ewing, who repeatedly spoke out against the Bute House Agreement, challenged Mr Yousaf to 'do a spring clean of the policies and programmes'.

No confidence vote that could sink Yousaf is on a knife edge

By Jessica North 

Humza Yousaf's leadership was unravelling last night as he was warned ditching his coalition of chaos with the Greens was just the 'beginning of the end'.

In a day of high drama, the SNP leader was accused of dragging his party into 'absolute chaos' after unceremoniously ending the powersharing agreement.

It means that the First Minister will now lead a minority government and could face an uphill battle to pass any of his policies through parliament.

The Scottish Conservatives immediately called for a vote of no confidence in Mr Yousaf, which would force him to step down if he loses.

Scottish Labour said it would back anything that undermines Mr Yousaf's position and demanded a Holyrood election be called.

The Scottish Lib Dems also said there were 'no circumstances' in which they would offer their support to Mr Yousaf in next week's vote.

And furious Scottish Greens confirmed they would not back the First Minister after he ended their partnership.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: 'I can confirm today that on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I am lodging a vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf. He is a failed First Minister, he is focused on the wrong priorities for Scotland. He [runs a] government in the SNP's interests and not in Scotland's interests.

'He is unfit for office. Shouldn't this be the end of the road for this weak First Minister?'

He added: 'Let's be clear, the Greens never belonged anywhere near the Scottish Government. Humza Yousaf should have ditched this extreme party on day one of their leadership.'

Mr Ross criticised Mr Yousaf for refusing to say why he had changed his mind about supporting the Bute House Agreement (BHA) during the last 48 hours, amid speculation that he pushed the Greens before their party members voted to jump.

He added: 'There is no defence at all. We said this was a coalition of chaos and it has ended in absolute chaos.