Andrew Neil has slammed SNP leader Humza Yousaf in a brutal three-word takedown after he jetted off to Qatar on a family holiday. The First Minister of Scotland has travelled to the Middle-Eastern nation for a short break with his wife Nadia El-Nakla after departing Edinburgh on Saturday, the Herald reports.
While Holyrood is in parliamentary recess Shona Robison, Mr Yousaf’s deputy, is covering for him while he is on holiday. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister is on leave during the parliamentary recess this week, with the Deputy First Minister covering his duties. For security reasons, the First Minister’s travel arrangements are not made public.”
In a brutal three-word takedown while sharing the news of Mr Yousaf’s holiday on social media platform X, the 74-year-old journalist simply said: “As you do.”
But in a nightmare start to his holiday, it rained on the first day, the Scottish Daily Express reports. The news of Mr Yousaf’s getaway in Qatar comes months after the First Minister pleaded with the Gulf State to help broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking back in November, Scotland’s First Minister, who is plummeting in the polls, said that any ceasefire would need to involve the Qataris and the release of more than 20 hostages who were captured by Hamas terrorists in their horrifying attack on Israel on October 7.
He said at the time: “We know that there are actors, take the Qatari government, who have helped to negotiate the release of hostages. They’re playing a role in trying to bring about the release of hostages and a peaceful resolution.
“It’s like the late Lord Ashton often said, you don’t make peace with your friends, you’re going have to make peace somehow, with enemies. Now Hamas are a terror organisation who’s committed the most abhorrent atrocity. Those who have any influence over Hamas, such as, for example, the Qatari Government, they’re all going to have to work unbelievably hard to get a ceasefire.”
Qatar is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination of late, with VisitQatar insisting that the country is one of the best places for a romantic break. A spokesperson for the tourist board said: “Visitors to Doha are spoilt for choice, with a plethora of options to explore the vibrant city’s cultural sites, world-class restaurants, beachfront luxury hotels or the majesty of the desert.”
The Nationalist leader’s holiday came just hours after his disgraced Health Secretary Michael Matheson was forced to quit over an £11,000 iPad bill. Mr Matheson ran up the huge £10,935.74 bill during a family trip to Morocco – but at first insisted the data had been used to carry out “parliamentary business”.
The MSP initially agreed to contribute £3,000 towards the Bill using his office expenses, while the Scottish Parliament was to pay the rest. But in a shocking turn of events, the SNP heavyweight later admitted that his sons used the iPad to livestream football matches.
His shock decision to quit has plunged the SNP into chaos as the party plummets in the polls, while it faces a tough general election campaign letter this year, with many seats north of the border expected to swing from SNP to Labour.
