In a dramatic twist of political fate, First Minister Humza Yousaf finds his future potentially in the hands of MSP Ash Regan, a colleague he previously dismissed as “no great loss” to the SNP upon her defection.
With Yousaf teetering on the edge of being toppled after a tumultuous day, it’s Regan who might hold the key to his survival.
Yousaf was unfazed by Regan’s departure to join Alex Salmond’s breakaway pro-independence party, Alba, where she made history as its first MSP at Holyrood. Regan cited the SNP’s waning commitment to independence as her reason for leaving.
Now, as Yousaf faces a precarious vote of no confidence that threatens to end his tenure as first minister embarrassingly soon, we revisit his candid remarks about Regan’s switch.
His words were cutting: “It is no great loss to the SNP group I have to say, and it is also hardly not a surprise either given Ash’s statements for many months, in fact for longer than that.”
He didn’t stop there, adding: “Ash should do the decent thing, she should resign her seat she was elected on an SNP ticket. I can give you a guarantee that people did not vote for Ash in her constituency because of any personal vote, they voted for her because she had the SNP logo next to her name in the 2021 election.”, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Concluding his scathing assessment, Yousaf insisted: “So if she had principles she would do the right thing and resign but I have to say it is no great loss to the SNP.”
The general consensus is that he grossly miscalculated the wave of anger his Thursday morning announcement to terminate the Bute House Agreement would trigger.
However, he’s likely well aware of this sentiment now, as the Greens have joined forces with Labour and the Lib Dems in supporting Douglas Ross’ motion of no confidence. The vote is anticipated to occur next week.
