Humza Yousaf

Humza Yousaf will be confirmed in the role by a vote at Holyrood this afternoon, with Nicola Sturgeon formally sending her resignation letter to the King ...

Tories believe that Mr Yousaf's triumph will help secure the union, as Ms Forbes would have been a more dangerous opponent. He will have his own leadership style.' She tore into his record handling the health service during the campaign, and has warned the closer-than-expected 52 per cent-48 per cent result shows 'continuity won't cut it'. Assuming he wins the vote Mr Yousaf will be sworn in as first minister of Scotland at the Court of Session in Edinburgh tomorrow, before facing his first FMQs on Thursday. Mr Yousaf will be confirmed in the role by a vote at Holyrood this afternoon, with Nicola Sturgeon formally sending her resignation letter to the King this morning Mr Yousaf will be confirmed in the role by a vote at Holyrood this afternoon, with

Humza Yousaf, the first Muslim leader of a major UK political party, faces an uphill battle to revive Scotland's drive for independence following the long ...

He also vowed to be his own man as Scotland’s first minister. He says he will “always fight for the equal rights of others” and not legislate based on his own faith. Yousaf insisted he had a prior engagement, and contrasts his own record to Forbes’ religiously conservative views as a member of a Scottish evangelical church. The Glasgow-born Yousaf took his oath in English and Urdu when he was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011, before progressing to become the first Muslim to serve in the devolved government’s cabinet. “We should all take pride in the fact that today we have sent a clear message: that your colour of skin or indeed your faith is not a barrier to leading the country that we all call home,” Yousaf said. Despite the UK government’s opposition to a new referendum, and a Supreme Court setback, Yousaf vowed in his victory speech Monday to deliver independence in this generation.

Newly appointed leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Humza Yousaf speaks at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on March 27, 2023. Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty ...

“We will be the generation that delivers independence for Scotland,” he said in a victory speech. It remains etched into the memories of many who experienced it, and their descendents. Britain’s Home Secretary Suella Braverman also has Indian roots, while London mayor Sadiq Khan was born to a working-class Pakistani immigrant family. In 2014, Scotland voted against independence by 55%. The hardship reached a breaking point when his grandmother was attacked with an axe, he said. His mother was born in Nairobi, Kenya, also to a family from Punjabi descent. But 75 years since the end of the British Raj, many commentators have remarked at how history has come full circle. [interview](https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,interview-humza-yousaf-on-tackling-hate-headon_9401.htm) with Scotland’s Holyrood newspaper, Yousaf explained in detail how his mother’s family faced racial discrimination in the East African city for being seen as taking away jobs from the local population. Yousaf joined the SNP while he was a student at the University of Glasgow and rose through the ranks of the party, becoming a member of parliament in 2011 – the first Muslim and non-White cabinet minister to serve in the Scottish Government. Noor Ahmed, from the Citizen’s Archive of Pakistan, a non-profit organization dedicated to cultural and historic preservation, described the journey Yousaf has taken as a “Pakistani story that is moving and aspirational, and will be lauded locally.” On Tuesday, the Scottish Parliament will vote to elect the country’s sixth first minister, a position Yousaf is expected to claim as the head of the party with the most lawmakers. “It was time to get away and again, it made sense because there was a British call for people from the Commonwealth to come and take on industrial jobs,” Yousaf said.

Alex Salmond has warned Humza Yousaf not to put the campaign for Scottish independence on the "back burner" as he said doing so would likely cost the SNP at the ...

He said: "It is a formidably difficult task for him. there is always going to be 40, 45 per cent of people for the time being supporting independence, probably voting for the SNP. Lord Hague said that as a minister who served under Ms Sturgeon, Mr Yousaf does have "baggage".

Yousaf emerged victorious with 52 percent of Scottish National Party (SNP) members' preferentially ranked votes, following a divisive leadership battle ...

But Labour is hoping Sturgeon's departure could provide a path for a potential comeback north of the English border that would pave the way to defeat the Conservatives in the next UK election. The law would have allowed a transgender woman who was convicted of rape before she began transitioning to serve a prison sentence in a women-only facility. He is set to be sworn in as first minister on Wednesday, becoming the first ethnic minority leader of a devolved government and the first Muslim to lead a major UK party. Forbes, who won 48 percent of the votes in the contest, came under the spotlight for her conservative views as a member of the Free Church of Scotland, which opposes same-sex marriage and abortion. He has a challenge to win over the wider Scottish electorate, with a UK general election expected within the next 18 months. Polling indicates that around 45 percent of Scots are currently in favour of Scotland leaving the United Kingdom, after 55 percent of Scots rejected such a move in a 2014 vote.

He has pledged to be a "first minister for all of Scotland" after being chosen by party members to replace Nicola Sturgeon. Mr Yousaf, who had been serving as ...

Humza Yousaf has indicated he would like to continue that support, and indeed make it more of a priority for the Scottish government. Or does more of the focus need to be on poverty and disadvantage itself? None of these are simple, single issues to be filed away. An appeal for extra funding was met instead with the threat of 10% cuts. There's the clamour, notably from retailers, to reform business rates. Humza Yousaf is well aware of the mammoth task required to fix the problems across health and social care. And there is a question mark over economic strategy. But to deliver that will have to involve unpopular decisions about what the healthcare system can and cannot afford. But worries have been expressed that it is sometimes proving harder for other young people - who are not necessarily actively advantaged - to get places on certain courses. Can the government properly reset its strained relationship with teachers after the recent strike? It wanted to be judged by its progress raising attainment and helping children and young people from disadvantaged areas. Inevitably, the pandemic has thrown up new problems which are still real issues.

Elected to lead the pro-independence Scottish National Party, the 37-year-old politician with Pakistani roots will have to navigate his party and government ...

Yousaf was born and raised in Glasgow in a working-class family and attended local schools before earning a degree in politics from the University of Glasgow. Many have lauded him for his trailblazing role as the first person of colour and Muslim to hold the top position. However, others have questioned his qualifications and experience, and some have criticised his support for Scottish independence. The case was later Yousaf’s political career has been marked by a commitment to social justice and equality. The number was as high as 58 percent in 2020. Yousaf runs against Kate Forbes and Ash Regan — two influential members of the Scottish party. Before the election, Yousaf was targeted by his opponents for being too local, focused on identity politics and not sufficient on the country’s policy issues. But a recent opinion poll conducted in March “I will be a First Minister for all of Scotland. His historic election has been seen as a sign of progress and a testament to the diversity and inclusivity of Scottish society. After earning a degree from the University of Glasgow for politics, Yousaf worked as a researcher for the SNP and was later elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament in 2011.

After eight and a half years of Nicola Sturgeon the SNP is now under the stewardship of a man with a net approval rating among voters of a pitiful -20 per cent.

[Yousaf](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/who-is-humza-yousaf-scotland-leadership-race-nicola-sturgeon-first-minister-b1061675.html) will become [First Minister](/topic/first-minister) during a special meeting at Holyrood today. It is, no doubt, an important milestone that Scotland’s sixth First Minister is from a minority ethnic background. [SNP](/topic/snp) members to elect [Humza Yousaf](/topic/humza-yousaf) as their new leader is a blow to the Scottish independence movement.

Scotland's outgoing First Minister drew supporters to her cause in droves. Now the nation's new leader has big boots to fill.

He’s likely to enjoy a brief honeymoon period when international newspapers are interested in who he is and what he stands for — and when, officially, there is not the legal need for an election until 2026. Next, he will need to convince the whole electorate — not just the party faithful — that the new leadership is worth another chance. He is likely to want to overhaul a Cabinet that has barely seen a fresh face in a decade. What he does have going for him is youth, optimism and the chance to re-energise the electorate. There is also a great risk he will become bogged down in the politics of the recent past, and combative sessions in Holyrood’s sniping debating chamber. He and many other Scotsmen were swayed to vote for the Nationalists in the years between then and now.

BBC Newsbeat spent a week finding out what youth voters think about big issues in Scottish politics.

Three and a half million came to the ballot box. "It took me a long time to figure out who I was," says Andi. Remember those 16 and 17 year olds given a vote in 2014? "They need to focus on the prices of stuff. "I don't really look at news," catering student James told us. "Folks still have them on their cars and everything... "You still see them now," he says. She says her experience has highlighted the need for a "balance of what people have and what people need". "It's kind of scary to be a trans person in Scotland and also the UK right now," Andi says. "A lot of the time it's difficult to track because you're recording by gender identity and not sex, then you can't trace the impact," she says. "The cost of petrol is the only thing I have to really worry about." The cost of living's going up far too much and people are struggling far too much."

BIRMINGHAM, England. The members of the Scottish Parliament have elected Scottish National Party's (SNP) leader Humza Yousaf as the new first minister.

Our youngest ever first minister, our first Muslim leader, and the first minority ethnic leader of a devolved government in the UK," she said. [Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Yousaf's political rival, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, said regardless of politics, it is important to reflect on the diverse political landscape of Scottish politics. I can hear my three-year-old speaking to me, and waving to me from the chamber," Yousaf said. “This is a proud day for me, for my family. The 37-year-old received a chamber majority with 71 votes.

The 37-year-old succeeds Nicola Sturgeon, who formally tendered her resignation to the king on Tuesday morning after announcing her intention to stand down last ...

I am proud of the work we have done alongside others to stand against hatred and bigotry, and my promise is that I will continue to stand alongside you in that fight for all of us.” Jack added: “I hope that Mr Yousaf will govern for the whole of Scotland. The Scottish Labour leader welcomed Yousaf to his position as the first first minister from a minority ethnic background, saying: “It is something our grandparents would never, ever have imagined when they arrived in this country and made Scotland their home.” Speaking ahead of the vote, Yousaf referred to the fact he and Sarwar were of Pakistani Muslim heritage. The fact that no one bats an eyelid at this tells me we are making progress in our nation for which we should all be very, very proud.” The four Lib Dem MSPs backed Cole-Hamilton.

The UK is now the only democracy where the children of formerly colonised people are running the country that colonised their parents' and grandparents' ...

They were part of a generation of immigrants who were able to come to the UK and make a better life for themselves. Class is the true divide in British politics, whatever colour rosette a candidate wears. Sunak the son of a doctor and a pharmacist. It remains to be seen whether their ethnicity becomes a factor in the public debate around their politics. This reminds us that the ethnic minority political identity is not uniform, although for years parties on the left took the minority vote for granted. It is important to note that neither Yousaf or Sunak have yet faced the real stress test. [first minister of Scotland](https://theconversation.com/humza-yousaf-becomes-scotlands-first-minister-a-decade-of-polls-suggest-hell-struggle-to-deliver-independence-just-like-nicola-sturgeon-202666) is a historic moment for the UK. His political awakening had taken place a decade earlier in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Indeed, it is rare to hear him described as a “Muslim minister” or “British Asian MSP”. Though Yousaf has stated he is a practising Muslim, he is also clear that he does not believe that legislators should be led by faith in their decision-making. This first wave of postcolonial migrants often worked in the great British industries, in factories and in mills, settling in large town and cities. The moment is monumental.

All three opposition leaders stood against him but knew they had no prospect of being successful. Mr Yousaf, who succeeds Nicola Sturgeon, is the country's ...

There was some broad-brush policy towards the end - a commitment to ease cost of living pressures and boost the NHS. "I will work every hour of every day to harness the potential of Scotland and every single person. He leaned heavily on his family, who were packed into the VIP gallery. Humza Yousaf's speech was really an introduction to himself as first minister. But he went on to claim that Mr Yousaf "seems to be doing his best to offer a poor imitation of his predecessor" having decided on his first day to "renew Nicola Sturgeon's constitutional conflict with the UK government" by calling on it to grant formal consent for an independence referendum. I will stand up unequivocally for this parliament and against any attempts to undermine devolution.

The ceremony, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, will see the 37-year-old make his statutory declarations after which he will be granted his official ...

As Keeper of the Scottish Seal, Mr Yousaf will have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the crown, which effectively means the First Minister can lead the country with the support of the Scottish Parliament. On Wednesday at the Court of Session the Lord President, Lord Carloway, will administer the oath of office before another declaration to Mr Yousaf as Keeper of the Scottish Seal. The ceremony, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, will see the 37-year-old make his statutory declarations after which he will be granted his official title of First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal.

Scotland's first Muslim leader hails victory but rival Kate Forbes rejects offer of cabinet post.

The only way of getting it is building that consistent majority.” Robison, who is based in Dundee, previously stood down as health secretary in 2018 following months of intense criticism over her handling of NHS funding crises. This referred to Yousaf’s narrow victory on Monday following a contest that revealed deep divisions within the party. These were referenced on Tuesday afternoon by opposition leaders. In his first speech after he was formally confirmed as first minister after winning the SNP leadership race, Yousaf spoke frankly about the relentless racist and Islamophobic abuse he has endured in public office, revealing: “There was a time not that long ago when I felt I simply did not belong here.” Speaking to reporters after he was formally elected as first minister, Yousaf insisted that he was keen to include his rival in his new administration, despite the brutal attacks she made on his record in government during the turbulent leadership campaign.

POLITICO runs through the intimidating set of policy and party political challenges facing the incoming Scottish first minister.

Yousaf will come under pressure to act on an issue Sturgeon failed to resolve. Sturgeon herself admitted in 2020 that her government had “taken its eye off the ball” on drug deaths. The probe is ongoing. The 37-year-old becomes the youngest and only Muslim first minister in the short history of Scottish devolution. The deadline for any judicial review is mid-April. On Tuesday he offered his closest rival Kate Forbes a role in his cabinet, which according to Yousaf will have to balance his responsibilities as first minister with those he holds as SNP leader. [suffer](https://www.politico.eu/article/scotland-independence-outer-hebrides-working-ferry-service/) thanks to persistent disruption in the creaking ferry networks. But to do so, he’ll have to act quickly. Scotland is Europe’s drug death capital. [sharply criticized](https://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/multiple-failings-have-led-to-delays-and-cost-overruns-which-continue-to-obstruct-delivery-of) by Scotland’s independent auditor, the government awarded the contract for two crucial new vessels to a now-nationalized shipyard in 2015. [stalled gender reforms](https://www.politico.eu/article/scotland-gender-recognition-reform-bill-change-gender-reform-passed/) — which proved contentious within the SNP — despite the U.K.

Humza Yousaf was accused of 'pouring petrol' on the party by only offering leadership rival Kate Forbes a huge demotion to the Rural Affairs brief.

He added: 'Shona Robison's reward for railroading the hated Gender Reform Bill through the Scottish parliament is to be appointed as Humza Yousaf's right-hand woman. Asked if she would have to think long and hard about serving in a Forbes government, she said: 'Yes, I would.' 'The reality is the SNP are divided from top to bottom. Ms Robison, one of Nicola Sturgeon's close friends, quit as health secretary in 2018 following months of criticism. Ms Forbes has now announced that she will not be serving in Mr Yousaf's administration, although she insisted she will still support him at Holyrood. It is understood he then offered her the job of Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands during discussions at St Andrew's House, the Scottish Government's HQ, yesterday morning. What makes you think you can do a better job as First Minister?' 'It was amicable and Kate wishes Humza well as he puts his Cabinet together. The Prime Minister turned this down. Following the nomination of Mr Yousaf as First Minister, as the votes of MSPs were being counted, he walked to the back row of the Holyrood chamber where Ms Forbes was seated and warmly embraced her. Flanked by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC and watched by his family, Mr Yousaf pledged allegiance to the King, as well as to serve him in the office of First Minister and as the Keeper of the Scottish Seal. Mr Yousaf was officially sworn in at the Court of Session this morning, taking his oath to the King.

For eight years Nicola Sturgeon towered over Scottish politics. Now there is a new first minister in charge, how will he make his mark?

Libby Brooks explains how much his proximity to Sturgeon helped propel him to power – and why it now means he has inherited some serious problems, while Hannah Moore asks how Yousaf can unite the SNP after such a bruising battle and what his vision for Scotland will be. Now he has won, how will he set himself apart and imprint himself on the minds of Scottish voters? But, finally, Scotland has a new first minister – its youngest ever and the first to come from a minority ethnic background.

As the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he's taken over from Nicola Sturgeon as the country's first minister. It makes him the first ethnic ...

"Because that's another thing as well, there's not a lot of ethnic minority people within the political environment. "Just hopefully [he] could bring in more opportunities for us. And I feel that that will be a good thing." "He might not necessarily be able to help them, but then it's a good way of the Asian community being involved in politics. "And now that the first minister, the person that's controlling the country, is a South Asian, it just shows that there'll be more representation." "As a South Asian myself I think it's a pretty good thing our community is being represented," the 20-year-old says.

Yousaf, who replaced Nicola Sturgeon as head of the Scottish National Party (SNP), is the first Muslim to lead a major UK party and the first ethnic minority ...

[Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Yousaf, who joined the SNP in 2005, was also the first South Asian and first Muslim cabinet secretary to serve in the Scottish government. He was elected to the role of first minister by members of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

Yousaf said on Tuesday that Shona Robison - a close friend of Sturgeon - will serve as his deputy first minister. More appointments to cabinet roles are ...

More appointments to cabinet roles are expected on Wednesday afternoon. The 37-year-old pledged an oath of allegiance to King Charles. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story

Mr Yousaf, 37, took the oaths of office at the Court of Session on Wednesday.

Mr Yousaf is also stepfather to Ms El Nakla's daughter from her first marriage. We do that, people trust us,” Mr Yousaf told The National. Mr Yousaf is married to Nadia El Nakla, who is part Palestinian but born in Scotland. Next up was Minister for Drug Policy Angela Constance. In a letter to floating voters he promised to be the “First Activist” for the push for Scotland to go independent. [Pakistan](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/pakistan/) and [Kenya](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/kenya/), Mr Yousaf is the first person from a minority ethnic background to become the First Minister of Scotland. His father, who is from Pakistan, and his mother, from Kenya, moved to the UK in the 1960s. His decision to run to become SNP leader and First Minister came after "careful consideration" of the effect it would have on his family, a fear that was borne out after two people were charged in relation to abuse that he and his family had suffered. “As immigrants to this country who knew barely a word of English, they could not have imagined in their wildest dreams that their grandson would one day be on the cusp of being First Minister of Scotland,” he said. Wearing a Pakistani salwar kameez jacket and accompanied by his family, Mr Yousaf, 37, pledged allegiance to the king and promised to serve him in the office of First Minister and as the Keeper of the Scottish Seal. He told the new First Minister that a “successful democratic system” must be governed by the rule of law and can only be exist “if the government affords adequate protection to the judiciary from unwarranted attack”. [winning the SNP leadership on Monday](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2023/03/27/humza-yousaf-wins-election-to-become-snp-leader/) and being [voted First Minister on Tuesday](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2023/03/28/humza-yousaf-becomes-scotlands-first-minister/) by fellow MSPs in Holyrood.

He is also the first person in the role who wasn't elected to the then-new Scottish parliament in 1999: now 37, he was only 14 at the time. His arrival marks a ...

We are three years from the next Holyrood election and there are obviously lots of other things that need to be done in that time. But the war could also be an opportunity to reset the Ukrainian economy – if only people and politicians could agree how. In fact, the Scottish government could do much more to boost the power of local government. There is work to be done on the educational attainment gap and drug addiction rates. The problem is that it’s not possible to change a tax system without there being losers as well as winners – and the SNP must be willing to face the politics associated with that. As should the hugely destructive burning of grouse moors; in an age of climate breakdown, it should obviously be a criminal offence to set whole hillsides on fire. Where we can ensure the positives of the data revolution are borne out, but don’t allow the wealth to be captured by surveillance capitalism? [beautiful, low-energy housing](https://hiaa.scot/hiaa-2022-awards/) across the Highlands and Islands – for those who can afford it. While high-speed internet access and the revolution in working from home since the pandemic make living there more attractive, a shortage of housing and public infrastructure – especially public transport – means that for many it remains an impossible dream. The Scottish government should prioritise such worker co-ops in procurement, and also consider handing some of its own power to workers. It’s the sense of stagnation – after 16 years in power, it feels like the party is running out of ideas. He is a politician who joined the SNP in the wake of its opposition to the Iraq War.

Ms El Nakla, 39, who married Mr Yousaf in 2019, has been at the new Scottish First Minister's side this week, posing for pictures outside Bute House, in ...

[Mr Yousaf and Ms El Nakla](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2023/03/27/humza-yousafs-win-makes-triple-crown-of-leaders-of-asian-heritage-in-uk-and-ireland/) tried to sue Little Scholars Day Nursery in Broughty Ferry for £30,000 over the accusation that it had “unfairly discriminated” against their daughter Amal, who was two at the time. [They claimed the nursery twice refused her a place](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2021/08/10/muslim-health-minister-claims-nursery-discriminated-when-refusing-his-daughter-a-place/), while approving applications for “white Scottish-sounding names”. She said at the time: “I really want to take this time in the next five years to invest in women and get them into politics because in the Broughty Ferry ward I don’t think we’ve ever seen a female councillor in I don’t know how long.”

Mr Yousaf, 37, took oaths of office at the Court of Session on Wednesday.

Mr Yousaf is also stepfather to Ms El Nakla's daughter from her first marriage. We do that, people trust us,” Mr Yousaf told The National. Mr Yousaf is married to Nadia El Nakla, who is part Palestinian but born in Scotland. Next up was Minister for Drug Policy Angela Constance. In a letter to floating voters he promised to be the “First Activist” for the push for Scotland to go independent. [Pakistan](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/pakistan/) and [Kenya](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/kenya/), Mr Yousaf is the first person from a minority ethnic background to become the First Minister of Scotland. His father, who is from Pakistan, and his mother, from Kenya, moved to the UK in the 1960s. His decision to run to become SNP leader and First Minister came after "careful consideration" of the effect it would have on his family, a fear that was borne out after two people were charged in relation to abuse that he and his family had suffered. “As immigrants to this country who knew barely a word of English, they could not have imagined in their wildest dreams that their grandson would one day be on the cusp of being First Minister of Scotland,” he said. Wearing a Pakistani salwar kameez jacket and accompanied by his family, Mr Yousaf, 37, pledged allegiance to the king and promised to serve him in the office of First Minister and as the Keeper of the Scottish Seal. He told the new First Minister that a “successful democratic system” must be governed by the rule of law and can only be exist “if the government affords adequate protection to the judiciary from unwarranted attack”. [winning the SNP leadership on Monday](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2023/03/27/humza-yousaf-wins-election-to-become-snp-leader/) and being [voted First Minister on Tuesday](https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2023/03/28/humza-yousaf-becomes-scotlands-first-minister/) by fellow MSPs in Holyrood.