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Humza Yousaf live updates: SNP leader resigns as Scotland's first minister - BBC News Humza Yousaf live updates: SNP leader resigns as Scotland's first minister - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Kirsten Campbell A spokesperson for the first minister has contradicted claims from Alex Salmond, reported here, that Humza Yousaf wanted to do a deal with his Alba party.
BBC Scotland political correspondent Salmond told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that Yousaf had phoned Alba at about 07:30 BST this morning to say that the Alba plans were rational.
It’s a fast-changing situation with a lot of moving parts. The upcoming vote of no confidence in Yousaf could have hinged on the support of the only Alba MSP in the Scottish parliament, Ash Regan, as the SNP has 63 MSPs compared to 65 opposition MSPs.
But a snap Scottish Parliament election is now looking less likely. But the first minister's spokesperson said: "Out of courtesy, the first minister returned a call from Ash Regan this morning in which he confirmed there would not be an electoral pact or deal with Alba."
Humza Yousaf has signalled his intention to resign as first minister, but he hasn’t yet done so formally.
So the 28-day countdown for getting a new first minister has not yet started.
He intends to stay in post until his successor as SNP leader
is elected, much as Nicola Sturgeon did.
The votes of no confidence in him and his government, tabled
by the Conservatives and Labour, look likely to go ahead to allow
MSPs to give their verdict on his time in power.
But his decision to stand down has lanced the festering boil
of the Greens’ fury and they won’t now back those motions.
This means the no confidence votes are
unlikely to pass, buying the SNP more time to sort itself out.
The party has still to set out what the timetable for a
leadership election will be.
There’s clearly hope in some quarters that a contest
can be avoided, while others warn against a coronation.
Kate Forbes is being encouraged to stand again.
But many
senior politicians are swinging in behind John Swinney, who is viewed as a safe
pair of hands to see the SNP through this turbulent time.
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