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Humza Yousaf under fire from opponents as SNP-Green Scottish government power-sharing deal collapses

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Summary

Live Reporting

  1. That's all from us todaypublished at 17:12 26 April

    17:12 26 April

    That's all from our live coverage of the ongoing fallout after the SNP scrapped its power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens - and sparked upcoming votes of no confidence in First Minister Humza Yousaf and his government.

    Our editors today were Steven Brocklehurst and Calum Watson. The writers were Megan Bonar, Morven Mckinnon and Katy Scott.

    Stay up to date with the latest coverage by clicking on our main BBC Scotland news story here.

    Thanks for being with us today.

  2. Get under the skin of Scotland's first ministerpublished at 17:06 26 April

    17:06 26 April

    Image source, PA Media

    Humza Yousaf became Scotland's sixth first minister just over a year ago.

    But he has never before faced the level of political pressure and scrutiny as we've witnessed in the last two days.

    It's worth remembering that he was seen as the continuity candidate when he was elected to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader.

    But after ending the Bute House agreement which his predecessor had struck with the Scottish Greens, he is now fighting to save his political future.

    Read our full profile of the first minister here.

  3. A re-cap of today's headlinespublished at 16:56 26 April

    16:56 26 April

    Here's a catch-up on the main headlines after another day of justification and recrimination regarding the SNP scrapping its power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens.

  4. Greens unlikely to change decision on FM - Slaterpublished at 16:52 26 April

    16:52 26 April

    Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater says she "can't think of anything that would change our mind" on her party supporting a vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf's leadership.

    "Nothing has been proposed," she says. "But the fact of the matter is that we have lost confidence in the first minister, particularly in his judgement."

    Slater adds that when the Scottish Greens supported Yousaf's appointment as first minister last year, it was on the understanding that the two parties would be working together.

    However, she insists his recent "jump to the right of the party" has left the delivery of certain policies "in doubt", including a ban on conversion therapy, rent controls and measures to tackle the climate crisis.

  5. Watch: Ash Regan says she hasn't spoken to Humza Yousaf in a yearpublished at 16:43 26 April

    16:43 26 April

    Media caption,

    Ash Regan not spoken to Humza Yousaf in a over year

    Alba MSP Ash Regan has revealed she hasn't spoken to Humza Yousaf since losing the SNP leadership contest to him last year.

    Regan says she is open to talks with the first minister before he faces a no confidence vote next week.

  6. People of Scotland should decide on new FM - Sarwarpublished at 16:34 26 April

    16:34 26 April

    Image caption,

    Anas Sarwar criticised the record of Humza Yousaf's SNP government

    Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has told BBC Scotland it is a case of "when, not if" the first minister stands down, adding that Humza Yousaf "clearly" does not have the confidence of the Scottish Parliament.

    Sarwar said Scottish Labour tabled a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government because "it should be the people of Scotland who decide who leads the country, and not just a handful of SNP members".

    He said it would be "untenable" for the SNP to "impose another unelected first minister in Scotland".

    Sarwar said he was happy to engage with people of all political parties, but one conversation with Yousaf would not change his view of the "incompetent government".

  7. Alba's Regan calls for Grangemouth investment ahead of talks with FMpublished at 16:16 26 April

    16:16 26 April

    Image source, Getty Images

    Alba Party MSP Ash Regan has suggested investment in the Grangemouth refinery could be a price of her support of Humza Yousaf in the upcoming confidence vote.

    In a letter to party members, Regan said protecting jobs at the refinery - which is due to shut as early as next year and shift to an import and export terminal - was critical.

    "A sign of good faith would be a significant Government investment, reinforcing the campaign to save the Grangemouth refinery from closure," she said. "I am hopeful that the first minister will commit to such an initiative in the near future as a sign of our shared dedication to Scotland's welfare."

  8. Watch: Yousaf on why he wants to meet opposition partiespublished at 16:06 26 April

    16:06 26 April

    Speaking to the BBC, Humza Yousaf says Scottish politicians now have to make minority government work, but says it will depend on the opposition parties also playing their part. That is why he has asked to meet with them, the FM says.

    With mounting speculation over his future following the termination of a power-sharing agreement with the Greens, the first minister faced the cameras on a trip to Dundee, having cancelled a different event earlier in the day.

    "I will leave the opposition to do the game-playing, to do the naked political opportunism, if that is what they wish to do," he says, vowing to focus on the priorities of the Scottish people.

    He does not say whether he will agree to demands made by Alba MSP Ash Regan, but acknowledges minority government is "not easy" and says he will fight for the issues he believes in.

  9. What's been happening today?published at 15:48 26 April

    15:48 26 April

    If you're just joining us, it's been another frenetic day in Scottish politics as the fallout continues after the SNP scrapped its power-sharing deal with the Greens. Here's a quick catch-up on the headlines for far:

  10. Scottish Tory leader Ross to back Labour motion against governmentpublished at 15:39 26 April

    15:39 26 April

    Douglas Ross has now said he will support a Labour-led motion of no confidence in the Scottish government.

    The Scottish Tory leader told Times Radio: "I want to get rid of the Scottish government but, ultimately, we are on the brink of removing Humza Yousaf from office.

    "He has been a failure as first minister and we have an opportunity next week to end his time in office."

    The Scottish Lib Dems earlier said they would also back the Labour motion.

  11. Talks might be difficult for Humza, but not for me - Reganpublished at 15:22 26 April

    15:22 26 April

    Ash Regan says she has not spoken to Humza Yousaf since losing out to him in the SNP leadership contest in 2023.

    She says she would not find the talks with the first minister hard but it "might be difficult for Humza", pointing to "some of the things he said about me" when she defected from the SNP to the Alba Party last October.

    When asked if she would be backing Scottish Labour's motion of no confidence in the Scottish government, Regan said she was still considering how she would cast her vote, but Yousaf's first priority would be surviving the no confidence vote in his leadership.

  12. Regan 'relishes' chance to look at ways to work with SNP governmentpublished at 15:01 26 April

    15:01 26 April

    As we have been reporting, Alba's Ash Regan wrote to First Minister Humza Yousaf on Thursday after he announced the scrapping of the Bute House agreement.

    She says her letter centred around progressing independence, women and children's rights, and competent governance.

    "I would relish the opportunity to sit down and talk through these areas and see if there are areas where we might be able to agree and work together," Regan adds.

    She also says she hopes that there might be an opportunity to speak to the Scottish government about accepting the recommendations of the Cass review into gender identity services.

  13. 'A big opportunity for a reset' - Alba's Ash Reganpublished at 14:58 26 April

    14:58 26 April

    Ash Regan, the Alba Party's sole MSP, says there is a "big opportunity for a reset" following the end of the Bute House agreement.

    She tells BBC Scotland News that Humza Yousaf made the right decision in ending the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens.

    "I felt the Greens' influence was potentially bringing the policy platform of the Scottish government into areas that were not really in alignment with the things that the public wanted to see.

    "In some cases I felt, particularly in terms of women's rights, they were actually harmful."

  14. 'Yousaf needs to go' - Scottish Conservativespublished at 14:54 26 April

    14:54 26 April

    The Scottish Conservatives have reacted to Humza Yousaf's defiant comments about not resigning as first minister by reiterating their position that he "needs to go".

    Posting on the social media platform X, external, they say: "Humza Yousaf has only ever governed in the SNP's interests, not Scotland's.

    "He needs to go. That's why we are bringing a vote of no confidence against this lame duck First Minister."

  15. First minister putting on a brave facepublished at 14:39 26 April

    14:39 26 April

    James Cook

    Scotland Editor, BBC News

    Humza Yousaf is putting on a brave face in sunny Dundee.

    For 30 minutes or so he toured a housing development in an attempt to demonstrate he was getting on with the business of governing.

    He popped in and out of a portable building; he donned a high vis vest; he made small talk with the workers.

    That was the easy part.

    Next he made his way to a cluster of cameras to face dozens of tough questions - or, more accurately, dozens of very similar questions.

    We learned that he was fighting on and that he does not appear to have given up on winning back the support of the Greens, despite their insistence that their position won't change.

    When asked whether he would accept the demands of Alba's Ash Regan on independence, competent government and "protecting the dignity, safety and rights of women and children," he said he would set out his position by writing to all the opposition parties - including Alba.

    Most interestingly there was a glimpse of something close to regret, when he told me he empathised with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater and would be writing to them.

    Would that letter contain an apology for the manner of their departure from government?

    The SNP leader wouldn't say.

  16. Lib Dems will back Labour motion against Scottish governmentpublished at 14:31 26 April

    14:31 26 April

    The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has confirmed his party will back a vote of no confidence against the government which has been tabled by Scottish Labour.

    Alex Cole-Hamilton says he wants to see a government focused on issues like "driving down waits for healthcare and taking action on the cost of living crisis".

    "This is clearly not that government," he says.

    "For that reason, Scottish Liberal Democrats are prepared to vote no confidence in this failed nationalist regime and will provide the remaining signatures required to bring this motion to parliament."

    Earlier we reported that Scottish Labour needed the backing of at least three opposition MSPs in order for their motion to be debated. The Scottish Lib Dems have four MSPs.

  17. 'Pretty clear' Yousaf cannot unite Scottish Parliament - Harviepublished at 14:22 26 April

    14:22 26 April

    Image source, PA Media

    Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has said it's "pretty clear" Humza Yousaf is not able to unite the Scottish Parliament following the collapse of the Bute House agreement.

    Harvie told the PA news agency it was now up to the SNP to find a suitable new leader.

    He said: "Very clearly, he doesn't have the confidence of parliament.

    "We said very clearly the responsibility of the decision is on him. He needs to bear the consequences of that reckless and damaging decision."

    When asked if there was any way back for Yousaf in terms of working with the Greens, Harvie said the first minister had "broken trust".

    "He still hasn't really given any clarity on why he made such a dramatic U-turn and broke a promise on which he was elected as first minister," he added.

  18. Yousaf is 'finished', says Scottish Labour's Bailliepublished at 14:17 26 April

    14:17 26 April

    Image source, PA M

    Just before we brought you Humza Yousaf's latest comments, Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie was speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

    She was asked why her party is seeking a confidence motion in the SNP government in addition to a Tory confidence motion specifically aimed at the first minister.

    She says that, regardless of the outcome of the vote on Yousaf's role, she believes he is "finished", and if he loses there would be a 28-day period "in which the SNP will look in on itself" to find a replacement.

    "We've had enough, it's not just Humza Yousaf, it's actually his entire government that's failing," she says.

    "It's not political opportunism" to also call for a confidence vote in the SNP government, she insists, accusing the SNP of being "chaotic and incompetent".

  19. FM hopes the Greens will 'reconsider'published at 14:12 26 April

    14:12 26 April

    "I do hope they will reconsider their position because there is a lot of issues, a lot of priorities that both the SNP and the Greens share", Humza Yousaf says.

    He says he hopes to work with the party on an "issue by issue basis", despite ending the power-sharing agreement between the parties on Thursday.

  20. 'We have to make minority government work'published at 14:03 26 April

    14:03 26 April

    The first minister admits that being in a minority government will be "tough" but he will fight to make it work.

    Speaking at an event in Dundee he said: "Minority government is tough, it is not easy. You've got to fight for the issues you believe in."

    He said it is now "incumbent" on his party as well as the opposition parties "to act in good faith to deliver for the people of Scotland".

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