Humza Yousaf is Scotland’s successor to Nicola Sturgeon. He is now the Scottish National Party’s leader and the country’s next first minister. He was largely seen as the preferred candidate of the SNP – including by Sturgeon herself.
The 37-year-old is the most experienced of the three candidates who ran for the title. He served in government since 2012 in roles including transport minister, justice secretary and health minister. Yousaf went up against Scotland’s Finance Minister, Kate Forbes. A rising star who lost supporters with her anti-same-sex marriage views. And politician, Ash Regan, who quit the government to oppose the proposed changes to gender recognition.
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‘From Punjab to our Parliament’ – Humza Yousaf
The son Asian immigrant parents is set to be the first person of colour to serve as Scotland’s first minister. This come just six months after Rishi Sunak became the first British prime minister of colour.
Humza Yousaf’s supporters describe him as a polished communicator, best placed to unite the party. They say he can also maintain the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens following the deeply fractious leadership race.
The leadership contest ended on Monday after a grueling five-weeks that exposed some deep fractures in the pro-independence movement. Yousaf will now have the heavy task of leading the party after former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unexpectedly stepped down.
During his victory speech in Edinburgh, Yousaf referenced his South Asian origins reports Al Jazeera:
From the Punjab to our parliament, this is a journey for our generations…Using our devolved powers to the absolute maximum effect to tackle the challenges of today…I will ensure our drive for independence is in fifth gear. The people of Scotland need independence now more than ever
Speaking with the BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Humza Yousaf insisted that he was his “own man and will do things my own way”.
Opposition claims upwards failure
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Those in opposition to Yousaf claim he “failed upwards” with little accomplishments behind his time in office. Jackie Baillie from the Scottish Labour Party describes his as a “the worst health secretary on record” who “now aspires to be the worst first minister on record”.
Fellow SNP leadership contender, Kate Forbes, said during a live STV debate:
You were transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we’ve got record high waiting times
Humza Yousaf was the health secretary presiding over the National Health Service during the Covid-19 pandemic. He is criticised greatly for this.
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