Humza Yousaf's dramatic resignation is a tartan gift for Keir Starmer with the ... trends now
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The SNP was plunged into turmoil yesterday after Humza Yousaf dramatically quit as First Minister - helping to clear Sir Keir Starmer's path to No 10.
Mr Yousaf announced he would resign four days after he tore up the power-sharing agreement he had with the Scottish Greens.
He admitted he 'clearly underestimated' the level of 'hurt and upset I caused Green colleagues'.
His resignation and the party's other difficulties are likely to give Labour a major boost in the forthcoming general election – and could set the Scottish independence cause back a generation.
After a weekend of reflection, Mr Yousaf said: 'I've concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm.'
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf announced he would resign four days after he tore up the power-sharing agreement he had with the Scottish Greens
Labour leader Keir Starmer. Mr Yousaf's resignation and the party's other difficulties are likely to give Labour a major boost in the forthcoming general election – and could set the Scottish independence cause back a generation
It is exactly 13 months since he was sworn in as Scottish First Minister. He said, however, that he would stay on until a successor was found. Whoever is chosen to replace him will be the seventh person to hold the post since the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999 – as well as being the second person in just over a year to have the top job.
Mr Yousaf has had a tricky tenure as SNP leader since he took over when Nicola Sturgeon stepped down last year. Just days later Ms Sturgeon's husband – former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell – was arrested by police investigating the whereabouts of £600,000 of donations. He was charged earlier this month in connection with the alleged embezzlement of funds.
Labour has just two Scottish MPs, down from 56 under Tony Blair in 1997. Securing more Scottish seats would make Sir Keir's path to victory at Westminster far easier.
Labour peer and former Scotland minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock said the SNP's leadership chaos would mean it losing seats to Labour. 'There's a tipping point that if we go one or two points further, not very many, we could win many, many more seats. It's very good from the Westminster election point of view.'
A YouGov survey, carried out over the weekend, found Labour holds a narrow lead over the SNP in Westminster voting intentions by 34 per cent to 33 per cent.
Lord Foulkes said that
