THE election of Humza Yousaf as the new SNP leader and likely first minister dominated the front pages of the Scottish papers today.
But the huge political change in one of the UK’s four nations – which also sees the first ethnic minority leader of a devolved government and the first Muslim to lead a major UK party – seemed to be barely acknowledged by some of the editions south of the border.
The Daily Mail front page led with a story about a crackdown by Rishi Sunak on staycation "party houses" and the big question everyone is talking about.
Not what’s next for Scotland - but whether Trinny Woodall has split with Charles Saatchi.
Tuesday's Mail: Crackdown On Nuisance Airbnb 'Party Houses' #TomorrowsPapersToday #DailyMail #Mail pic.twitter.com/KmvnQdd3AC
— Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) March 27, 2023
However it did have a double page spread inside covering Yousaf winning the contest, while the Scottish Daily Mail dedicated its entire front page to fuming about Yousaf ramping up the drive for independence.
The Sun also had a very different page north and south of the Border, with a story about a relative of Philip Schofield dominating the English edition and not a mention of the SNP leadership contest.
In Scotland, it takes up the entire front page, with the headline “Lucky for Hum”.
The Guardian and The Times both featured the outcome of the SNP contest on the front page, as did the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times.
Tuesday's front page: PM - I'll fight every day for our 'precious union'https://t.co/CIkRfXfEDP#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/zHm1kijOhZ
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) March 27, 2023
While the issue dominates the Daily Express, which takes the line of a promise by Rishi Sunak to “fight every day for our precious union”.
Which is kind of weird when unionists are insisting the recent SNP turmoil means independence is now doomed, right?
