New SNP leader Humza Yousaf will seek power to hold second independence referendum ‘straight away’
The new SNP leader made it clear to ITV News that one of his priorities will be to seek the power to hold another independence referendum, as Peter Smith reports
New SNP leader Humza Yousaf has said he will ask for a Section 30 order “straight away” just hours after it was announced he would take over the top job from Nicola Sturgeon.
Mr Yousaf, who has been Scottish health secretary since 2021, will be formally elected by MSPs as Scotland’s sixth first minister on Tuesday.
He recorded a narrow victory over rival Kate Forbes once second preference votes were taken into account when Ash Regan was eliminated from the contest after the first round of voting.
Speaking to ITV News after his victory, Mr Yousaf said he would seek the powers to hold another referendum “right away”.
The powers that could be granted under Section 30 of the Scotland Act would allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a referendum on independence – widely seen by Mr Yousaf’s wing of the party as the “gold standard” for achieving separation.Shortly after his comments, the UK Government moved to quash it.
“I think you know our well-established position,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman told reporters.
“Reducing inflation, dealing with the cost of living, tackling backlogs, those are the issues the public care about.
“That’s what the Government will be focused on."
After a five-week contest with more than a dozen hustings, the current health secretary has replaced Nicola Sturgeon as the leader of the SNP - becoming the youngest person and first Muslim to take the role.
It was a closely fought battle, ending with Mr Yousaf securing 52.1% of the vote against Kate Forbes, who got 48%.
Mr Yousaf succeeds Ms Sturgeon, who announced in February she would resign after more than eight years in the job. She was the longest-serving first minister in Scotland's history and the first female to take the job.
As Humza Yousaf succeeds Nicola Sturgeon as the leader of the SNP, Shehab Khan takes a look back at Mr Yousaf's political career
The result was announced at 2pm at the BT Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh by the SNP's national secretary Lorna Finn, who revealed that turnout in the election was 70%.
Speaking after the announcement, Mr Yousaf said: "It is hard for me to find the words to describe just how honoured I am to be entrusted by our membership of the SNP to be the party's next leader and to be on the cusp of being our country's next first minister."
He also paid tribute to his fellow leadership candidates, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, joking that they'd seen each other more "than our respective families" over the past five weeks.
"You both have put in an incredible shift and I know that collectively we will work hard as part of Team SNP," he said.
In his debut speech as the new leader of the SNP, Humza Yousaf told voters he would “work every minute of every day to earn and re-earn your respect and your trust”.
Kate Forbes and Ash Regan competed alongside the former health secretary for the leadership, in a race that was both heated and often controversial.
All three contenders clashed over their personal views, including their stance on the UK government's Gender Recognition Bill and same-sex marriage.
Ms Sturgeon paid tribute to all the candidates for “rising to the challenge” during the leadership contest, adding: “Most of all I congratulate Humza Yousaf and wish him every success.
“He will be an outstanding leader and first minister and I could not be prouder to have him succeed me.”
And Ms Forbes offered her “warmest congratulations” to her rival, adding she was confident the party will now unite behind its new leader.
She said: “I know we will continue to work together, to make the lives of all of Scotland’s people better on the next stage of our journey to independence.
“Whatever the robust disagreements or frank exchanges of the last few weeks, I am confident we will unite behind Humza as our new party leader in the shared and common objective of independence.”
Mr Yousaf, behind Ms Sturgeon, is one of the SNP's most high-profile ministers.
He has always been supportive of his predecessor, even joking over the weekend he will have the former leader on "speed dial" for advice.
The UK government has said it is focused on the “issues that matter” to the public, when asked about new SNP leader Humza Yousaf’s push for independence.
“I think you know our well-established position,” the PM’s spokesman told reporters.
“Reducing inflation, dealing with the cost of living, tackling backlogs, those are the issues the public care about. That’s what the government will be focused on.
“More broadly, you’ve heard the Levelling Up Secretary congratulate Humza Yousaf on his election as leader of the Scottish National Party, and of course, the Prime Minister looks forward to working with him in the future.”
The official said he was not aware of any formal request having been made by Mr Yousaf.
However, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for an election, saying: “While I question his mandate and the SNP’s record, it is important to reflect on the election of what will be the first first minister from an ethnic minority background. Regardless of your politics, this is a significant moment for Scotland.
“But while Scotland faces the twin crises of the cost of living and the NHS emergency, it is clear that the SNP does not have the answers that Scotland needs.
“This chaotic and divided party is out of touch and out of ideas.
“Humza Yousaf has inherited the SNP’s woeful record, but he has not inherited Nicola Sturgeon’s mandate.
“We need an election now, and Scottish Labour is the change that Scotland needs.”
The 37-year-old's first ministerial appointment was under Alex Salmond's leadership in 2012, when he was named minister for external affairs and international development.
Under Nicola Sturgeon's premiership, he was promoted to Europe minister and then went on to take over both the transport and justice briefs.
He has been heavily scrutinised for his record in government, especially regarding NHS waiting times.
On the gender recognition bill, the new SNP leader said he would fight in court over the UK government's decision to block it. He has recently appeared to backtrack slightly, indicating he would first need to look at Scottish legal advice before going ahead.
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