RIVALS including Douglas Ross have put their names forward to go up against Humza Yousaf in the first minister election.
Yousaf - who won the SNP leadership election on Monday - will need to be recommended by the Scottish Parliament before he becomes FM and any MSP can nominate a colleague for the position.
Scottish Tory leader Ross has thrown his hat in the ring alongside LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton.
It is also understood Anas Sarwar will table a bid to become first minister.
Big day. pic.twitter.com/1xbuznaAd8
— Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP🔶🇺🇦 (@agcolehamilton) March 28, 2023
On Twitter, Cole-Hamilton said it was a “big day” for him as he shared a picture of a “Selection of Nominee for Appointment as First Minister” form. He has been nominated by Beatrice Wishart and seconded by Willie Rennie.
When Ross was asked by The National on Tuesday if he thought he had any chance of winning the vote, he said at Holyrood: "We’ll I hope I get 31 votes."
Ran into Douglas Ross in a hoody and jeans in parly, asked if he thought he’s any chance of winning vote to be next FM… “We’ll I hope I get 31 votes” 😂 pic.twitter.com/u3b4LZtNn9
— Abbi Garton-Crosbie (@agc_reports) March 28, 2023
There are 31 Tory MSPs, including Ross, at Holyrood.
Whoever wins the election will only officially become first minister when they are sworn in at the Court of Session on Wednesday.
Yousaf was pictured signing his nomination form alongside his family and Shona Robison and Neil Gray who nominated and seconded him respectively.
