Commenting on the decision today by Humza Yousaf that he will stand down as First Minister as soon as the SNP chooses a new party leader, SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar Alasdair Allan commented:

“I have rarely, if ever, met anyone in politics as genuine and sincere as my friend Humza Yousaf. At a personal level, I therefore feel immensely sad at today’s events. 

“It is very clear now, as Humza has acknowledged, that parliamentary arithmetic dictates that the way ahead for the independence cause involves a new SNP leader and First Minister. 

“The focus of the coming days will be to find that new leader and to create stable government in a parliament of minorities. 

“I want, however, to record my own thanks for the efforts which Humza has put into working for the people of Scotland during his time in office. One of his first acts as Frist Minister was to triple the Fuel insecurity Fund to £30m. He also secured a fully funded council tax freeze across Scotland during the cost of living crisis, as well as presiding over a record number of affordable housing completions and record investment in Scotland’s NHS, at a time when Scotland’s budget was at its lowest proportional level ever.

“I would want to recognise those and other achievements and wish Humza and his family well for the future.”