Humza Yousaf is to resign as Scotland's First Minister.
His leadership has been in turmoil since his shock decision to terminate the Bute House Agreement and kick the Scottish Greens out of government.
The beleaguered SNP leader was facing two knife-edge confidence votes in Parliament this week. It looked increasingly unlikely that he would secure the support of enough MSPs to survive.
Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems had all been clear that they would not back him.
Yesterday, the Greens indicated that not only would they vote for the motion expressing no confidence in the First Minister but that they would only oppose the motion expressing no confidence in the Scottish Government if Mr Yousaf resigned.
Given the tight arithmetic in Holyrood, Mr Yousaf’s only hope of getting through the week was to cave into demands from Alex Salmond’s Alba, but doing so would alienate his own ministerial team and backbenchers.
SNP sources suggest the First Minister could step down as soon as today.
Asked about the prospect of Mr Yousaf quitting, SNP MSP Michelle Thomson told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland: “I’m hearing the same rumours and I think we’re all waiting to see what the actual position is.
“I guess the rumours suggest that something is afoot, but I honestly can’t clarify because I’ve had no update nor, as I understand, have my MSP group, so I guess we’ll all hear definitively one way or another this morning.”
Ms Thomson - who was a key player in the leadership campaign of Kate Forbes - described the First Minister as an “honourable man” who is “well liked” within the SNP Holyrood group.
Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie told BBC Radio 4’s Today that Mr Yousaf was no longer "in a position to be able to lead.”
He added: “I don’t think there is anything that Humza Yousaf will be able to say to restore the trust he has broken.”
The ex-minister later told BBC Radio Scotland that he bears no “personal ill will” against Mr Yousaf.
"I take no pleasure at all, none of us in the Greens do, in turbulence and chaos over the last week or two," he added.
“But it is clear that Humza Yousaf, in the decision that he made last week, has broken trust with the Scottish Greens, cannot command a majority in Parliament, and we stand ready to work with someone who can."
More to follow...
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel