His exit triggers the second leadership fight in the SNP in two years. Yousaf only came to power after long-running First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unexpectedly called time on her own leadership of the pro-Scottish independence force, which has long been dominant in Scottish politics.
Yousaf’s position has been in major peril since he moved to end the power-sharing deal between the SNP and Greens last Thursday amid a bitter row over ditched climate targets.
The manner of the break-up enraged the Greens’ leadership, which said it would support opposition efforts to remove Yousaf via a confidence vote in the Scottish Parliament. Yousaf was also facing a separate confidence vote on his entire government.
Speaking Monday, Yousaf — who was moved to tears as he thanked his family for their support — said that “while a route through this week’s motion of no confidence was absolutely possible,” he was “not willing to trade my values and principles” with ” whomever simply to retain power.”
The outgoing first minister conceded that, in ditching the coalition deal with the Scottish Greens, he “had underestimated the level of hurt and upset” that he caused that party.
“Although I am sad that my time as first minister is ending, I am so grateful and blessed for having the opportunity so few are afforded — to lead my country, and who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland,” a visibly emotional Yousaf said — before leaving the press conference podium without taking any questions.
Yousaf — whose party faces a police probe into its finances — had struggled to reverse the SNP’s poor performance in opinion polling ahead of a Westminster election later this year.
This developing story is being updated.
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