Humza Yousaf, the youngest candidate and the first member of a minority ethnic group to win the position, will be tasked with renewing the flagging independence campaign after Nicola Sturgeon’s lengthy reign.
Following a contentious leadership contest brought on by Sturgeon’s unexpected resignation last month, Hamza Yousaf won with 52% of the preferentially ranked ballots from SNP members.
Hamza Yousuf Will Take Oath as Scotland’s First Minister
On Wednesday, Hamza will take the oath of office as first minister, making history as the first Muslim and member of an ethnic minority to head a significant UK political party.
He assumed office a few months after Rishi Sunak, the youngest UK prime minister in modern history, entered 10 Downing Street at the age of 42, making him Scotland’s youngest leader as well.
The 37-year-old vowed to keep pushing the SNP’s main position, Scottish independence, which Sturgeon has supported ever since the group lost a 2014 referendum on the subject by a 10-point margin.
“The people of Scotland need independence now, more than ever before, and we will be the generation that delivers independence for Scotland,” Hamza said in his victory speech.
He added his “immediate priority” was protecting Scots from Britain’s cost-of-living crisis and reforming public services. “I will lead Scotland and the interests of all of our citizens, whatever your political allegiance,” Hamza Yousaf insisted, noting he would “constructively” with the UK´s Conservative government.
Once party voters’ second votes were counted, Hamza, who served as health minister in Sturgeon’s cabinet, narrowly defeated finance minister Kate Forbes to become SNP leader. Former cabinet minister Ash Regan came in far behind second.
According to polling, about 45% of Scots currently support leaving the United Kingdom, despite 55% of Scots voting against it in a referendum in 2014.
Yousaf claimed that during the campaign, too much time had been spent highlighting the shortcomings of the UK administration in London and insufficient time had been spent developing a vision for an independent Scotland.
He has stated that the campaign will be led by a civic movement. Given that a UK general election is anticipated within the next 18 months, he faces the difficulty of gaining support from the larger Scottish electorate.
Only 22% of the electorate had a favorable opinion of Yousaf, according to Ipsos polls, following Forbes at 27%.
As a member of the Free Church of Scotland, which opposes abortion and same-sex marriage, Forbes, who received 48% of the vote, attracted attention for her conservative views.
However, Hamza, who is close to Sturgeon, has came under scrutiny and criticism for his performance in previous positions within the Scottish government.
Despite being the first minister since November 2014, Sturgeon, 52, stated last month that she was unable to devote “every ounce of energy” to the position.
She encountered controversy with a new rule that allowed anybody over 16 to alter their gender without a medical diagnosis during her final months in office.
The statute would have permitted a transgender woman who had been convicted of rape before beginning her transition to serve her prison term in a facility with only women.
The UK government used an extraordinary veto to stop the legislation as the debate raged. The Scottish government was also prohibited from holding a second referendum on sovereignty without London’s consent, according to a decision made by the UK Supreme Court last year.
Since then, a number of polls have revealed dwindling public support for seceding. Yet, Sturgeon asserted that she had “absolutely no doubt” that her successor will guide Scotland towards independence.
After devolution changes started by the UK government in London, the devolved administration in Edinburgh was established in 1999.
Since then, the SNP has been the dominant force in Scottish politics, displacing the Labour party.
But, Labour is expecting that Sturgeon’s exit would open up a possibility for a comeback north of the English border that will allow them to defeat the Conservatives in the upcoming UK election.
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