Political representatives from across the region have reacted to the election of Humza Yousaf as the new First Minister this week.
The Health Secretary prevailed in a narrow contest against Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and former Community Safety Minister Ash Regan to be confirmed as the successor to Nicola Sturgeon, who stood down last month.
The Glasgow Pollok MSP’s nomination to become First Minister was backed at Holyrood on Tuesday afternoon - with the formal appointment to be made at the Court of Session early this morning.
Mr Yousaf’s record as Health Secretary and in previous roles in government had come under scrutiny from his colleagues in the contest as well as political opponents from other parties.
Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed - who backed Mr Yousaf in the contest - said: “I offer my congratulations to Humza Yousaf for being elected the new leader of the SNP after a well fought campaign. All candidates should be proud of the energy and commitment they brought to the leadership race.
“I hope that, as our new leader, Humza Yousaf will prioritise working towards reducing inequalities, from alleviating the impacts of the Tory-made cost-of-living crisis on the people of Scotland to promoting the rights of marginalised groups.
“We need to be united in our quest for independence and to stand firm against Westminster’s assault on democracy.
“The Scottish Government, under Nicola Sturgeon, made great progress towards a fairer and more equal Scotland, and I look forward to supporting our new leader in continuing this legacy.”
Meanwhile, Stirling MP Alyn Smith, who didn’t publicly back a candidate in the contest, added: “Congratulations to Humza on his election as SNP Leader, and as he said so himself: let’s get on with the job.
“I’ve been struck throughout the campaign by Humza’s strong focus on the priorities of the people of Scotland. Right now across Stirling and the Forth Valley that’s the cost of living crisis Westminster, Covid and Brexit have inflicted upon us, defending Scotland’s democracy from the Westminster power grab and persuading more people that independence in Europe is our best future.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell confirmed his party would vote for Mr Yousaf’s nomination to become Scotland’s next leader. Mr Ruskell said: “I’d like to congratulate Humza Yousaf, he has clearly committed to the Greens and the SNP continuing to work together for the benefit of the people and environment of Scotland.
“I look forward to working with him and his new Ministerial team to deliver our power sharing co-operation agreement.
“On issues from child poverty to climate change there is no room for complacency from the Scottish Government and much work for us collectively to do.”
But fellow Mid Scotland and Fife representative, Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart said Mr Yousaf had much work to do.
Mr Stewart said: “Whilst Humza Yousaf’s election as the first leader of his party from an ethnic minority should be congratulated, I strongly encourage him to start as he means to go on; to govern for the whole of Scotland and abandon his divisive plans to push independence relentlessly as a self-styled ‘First Activist’.
“As their main opposition party, we in the Scottish Conservatives will not be afraid to hold this new First Minister to account not if, but when he lets the Scottish people down.
“Unfortunately, we collectively hold serious concerns regarding his ability.
“For the good of Scotland, we hope that he does not lurch from failure to failure as he did when he was Nicola Sturgeon’s Health Secretary latterly, then Justice Secretary and Transport Minister before that.
“Humza Yousaf’s election as leader clearly demonstrates that the Scottish Government, run by a party of separatism and divisiveness, is moving ever farther away from the real priorities of the Scottish people; to relentlessly obsess over independence above all else.”
