HUMZA Yousaf could become Scotland's first Muslim leader if he is successful in the SNP race.
He first revealed his candidacy in the Sunday Mail and has been attending an array of campaign events to try and win the hearts and minds of voters over the past couple of weeks.
Here’s everything you need to know about the candidate.
Who is Humza Yousaf?
Yousaf currently serves as Scotland’s Health Secretary and has worked as the MSP for Glasgow Pollock since 2016.
Before this, he represented the Glasgow region having become the youngest MSP elected to Holyrood aged 26 in 2011.
Born and raised in Glasgow, he attended university in the city where he earned a degree in politics.
He worked as a parliamentary assistant for many prominent MSPs, including Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon while she was deputy first minister.
What positions has he held since going into politics?
Following his success at the 2011 election, the MSP served in a variety of junior ministerial posts including minister for external affairs and development, minister for Europe and international development and minister for transport and the islands.
His first major Cabinet position came during Nicola Sturgeon’s 2018 reshuffle when he was made justice secretary – a position he held until 2021.
Following the 2021 election, when Yousaf regained his seat, Sturgeon announced her intention to form a third administration.
He was then appointed as Scotland’s Health Secretary, a position he has remained in since.
What has he said about his leadership bid?
In a video posted on social media when he launched his campaign, he spoke about how the days following Sturgeon’s resignation had been a “rollercoaster of emotion”.
He thanked the First Minister for her time in office and explained he wanted to put himself forward for the role.
“I’m doing it because the top job requires somebody who has experience and I have been trusted by Nicola Sturgeon with some of the toughest jobs in government”, he explained.
I am delighted to say I have put myself forward to be @theSNP next leader & Scotland's next First Minister. Watch my video below to see why I think I'm best placed for the job. SNP members can also now nominate me on the link below 👇https://t.co/3agL4LSGLz pic.twitter.com/b08PevH1jD
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) February 19, 2023
He added that he believes in independence “with every fibre of my being” and that it was “needed now more than ever before, particularly after a decade of austerity”.
“I want us to talk about policy, I want us to build and grow our movement from the grassroots upwards.”
He has made many pledges during TV debates and hustings. These include appointing a senior figure to devise a strategy for rejoining the EU, challenging Westminster on its Section 35 block on gender reforms and reforming the SNP HQ following the resignation of Peter Murrell and communications chief Murray Foote over the reporting of membership numbers.
Yousaf has also promised more action on Scotland's drugs death crisis and had said he will hold a series of independence campaign workshops, which would be available to all SNP members.
NHS waiting times
Yousaf has served as Health Secretary in a time when the NHS has faced the hardest winter in its history.
Despite repeated calls from opposition parties to sack Yousaf, Sturgeon backed the MSP and accused other parties of “political game-playing”.
She explained how she did not believe that the challenges facing the NHS were down to Yousaf specifically and accused opposition parties of not understanding the pressures facing the health service.
Scotland has also thus far managed to avoid nurses strikes with a record pay offer being put to unions on Friday.
Hate crime legislation
One of Yousaf’s flagship policies during his time as justice secretary was the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill.
The legislation consolidated existing laws but also established a new offence of “stirring up hatred” on the grounds of religion, sexual orientation, age, disability and transgender identity.
Despite some opposition MSPs suggesting the bill would lead to people facing criminal charges simply for expressing controversial opinions, Yousaf said: “Solely stating a belief is not breaching the criminal threshold.”
It was passed in Holyrood in March 2021.
Who is supporting Humza Yousaf?
Yousaf has had backing from some huge parliamentary names including John Swinney and Angus Robertson.
Other MSPs backing Yousaf include Neil Gray, Michael Matheson, Maree Todd, Shirley-Anne Sommerville and Mairi McAllan.
He's also been backed by the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn alongside MPs Chris Law, Stuart McDonald, Anne McLaughlin, Tommy Sheppard and Alison Thewliss, to name just a few.
Law has showed his support on social media very early on.
I’m delighted to see that @HumzaYousaf is putting himself forward as First Minister & leader of the @thesnp.Great breadth of experience in the toughest jobs; hugely respected across Scotland & extremely capable of bringing people together as we strive for Scotland Infldependence https://t.co/J6vIuUqhzK
— Chris Law MP (@ChrisLawSNP) February 19, 2023
He said: "I’m delighted to see that @HumzaYousaf is putting himself forward as First Minister & leader of the @thesnp.
"Great breadth of experience in the toughest jobs; hugely respected across Scotland & extremely capable of bringing people together as we strive for Scotland Infldependence."
Gray was originally tipped to enter the contest but swiftly ruled himself out and backed Yousaf.
Writing on social media, he said: "My view is that @HumzaYousaf has the skills and experience to bring people across the party and civic Scotland together behind our vision for a fairer independent Scotland.
"I will therefore be giving him my full support as the next @theSNP leader and first minister of Scotland."
