Humza Yousaf on the brink: SNP leader threatens snap Holyrood election as he ... trends now Humza Yousaf has threatened a snap Holyrood election as he faces a potentially disastrous no-confidence vote. The Scottish First Minister is frantically trying to bolster his support after triggering meltdown by summarily ditching his Green coalition partners. They have now pledged to back a confidence motion this week, leaving the result on a knife edge. Although Mr Yousaf has been pleading with the Greens to prop him up, his fate could rest on the position of Ash Regan, the sole MSP in Alex Salmond's Alba Party. Mr Salmond, a former First Minister, has called for a deal with the SNP that would see one pro-independence candidate stand in each Scottish constituency. However, that has been dismissed as 'fantasy' by Mr Yousaf's spokesman, and the SNP leader suggested they were 'ready' for an early election. Humza Yousaf is frantically trying to bolster his support after triggering meltdown by summarily ditching his Green coalition partners Alex Salmond, a former First Minister, has called for a deal with the SNP that would see one pro-independence candidate stand in each Scottish constituency The Scottish First Minister is frantically trying to bolster his support after triggering meltdown by summarily ditching his Green coalition partners Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater (pictured) If a majority of MSPs back the vote Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign Mr Salmond effectively laid out his demands, saying a 'top line' of any discussion with Mr Yousaf would be the idea of reviving the Scotland United strategy – which would see a single pro-independence candidate stand in each Scottish constituency. He told the Sunday Times: 'If you remember the Scotland United idea from last year which Humza just ignored, which was very popular with the Yes groups and amongst SNP supporters. 'It would be difficult to revive it in full now because obviously candidates have been selected [for the general election], but it could be revived in part, or there could be an understanding for the Scottish elections in two years' time. So a discussion along these lines, so it's a menu of independence options.' But a spokesman for Mr Yousaf dismissed the idea, saying: 'This is fantasy. There is no possibility of the First Minister agreeing any deal like this with Alex Salmond.' Ms Regan, a former SNP leadership rival to Mr Yousaf, has written to him with a list of priorities, including 'defending the rights of women and children'. That is thought to mean accepting the results of the Cass review, which criticised gender therapies, in full. Ms Regan is also pushing for a commitment to invest in the Grangemouth oil refinery, and unilateral moves towards an independence referendum. JK Rowling has waded into the row, saying it is 'karma' that the First Minister is now reliant on Ms Regan, who defected to Alba in protest at the SNP's gender ID stance. Tensions had been rising between the SNP and Greens over trans and Net Zero policies, but Mr Yousaf's decision to scrap the so-called Bute House agreement was still a bombshell. He rubbed salt in the wound by making his newly-sacked ex-colleagues do a walk of shame in full view of cameras. With other parties ranged against him, that leaves Mr Yousaf at risk of defeat. Excluding the presiding officer there are 128 MSPs in total, and the SNP only has 63. Ms Regan holds the balance, as if she supports the First Minister he would have 64 votes. In the event of a tie the presiding officer is meant to back the status quo, so he would be able to hold on. The confidence vote, expected Wednesday or Thursday next week, has been tabled against Mr Yousaf personally rather than the government. As a result, he would not technically be obliged to quit if he loses. However, in reality it would be almost impossible for him to stay on. There would then be 28 days to appoint a new First Minister who can command a majority before new Holyrood elections are triggered. Mr Yousaf said he was still determined to win the confidence vote. 'I'm intending to win the vote of no confidence, but I wouldn't rule out a Holyrood election,' he said. 'We're on an election footing – we're prepared if that's required.' Alba MSP Ash Regan is yet to decide how she will vote this week All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility