Humza Yousaf has announced his resignation as Scotland’s First Minister ahead of two looming confidence votes.
Mr Yousaf had been battling for his political survival after terminating the power-sharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday.
He was facing a vote of no confidence, tabled by the Scottish Conservatives, while Scottish Labour had tabled one of no confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole, with both expected to take place this week.
Announcing his resignation at a press conference at Edinburgh’s Bute House on Monday, Mr Yousaf said: “After spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for my party, for the government and for the country I lead, I’ve concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm.
“I have therefore informed the SNP’s national secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader and ask that she commences a leadership contest for my replacement as soon as possible.”
Here are 12 of the best images from another day of political drama in Scotland’s capital.
5. Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole Hamilton speaks to the media
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole Hamilton speaks to the media in the Scottish Parliament after Humza Yousaf announced his resignation as First Minister. Picture: Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS Photo: Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS
6. Crowds gather outside Bute House
Members of the public gather outside Bute House, where Humza Yousaf announced his resignation as First Minister. Mr Yousaf was in office for just 398 days after the previous leader Nicola Sturgeon stood down in March 2023. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Photo: Jeff J Mitchell
7. PIC LISA FERGUSON 29/04/2024 Members of the public listen to Humza Yousef statement on their phones as he quits as Scotlands First Minister Members of the Media and public gather outside Bute House, the home of Scotlands First Minister as Humza Yousaf quits as Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf is to stand down Scotland's first minister once a successor is found. He said he had made the decision after spending the weekend reflecting on what was best for the SNP, the government and the country. Mr Yousaf said he had concluded that someone else would need to take over in order to "repair our relationship across the political divide". It follows the collapse of the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Greens. Mr Yousaf's decision to abruptly end the agreement just 48 hours after saying he had no intention of doing so angered the Greens and left him struggling to secure enough support in order to lead a a minority government. He had been facing two votes of no confidence later this week that he was not certain to win, with the Greens saying they would vote to remove him as first minister.
Members of the public listen to Humza Yousaf's resignation statement on their phones as he quits as Scotland's First Minister. Picture: Lisa Ferguson Photo: LISA FERGUSON
8. Humza Yousaf walks down the staircase at Bute House
First Minister Humza Yousaf arrives for a press conference at Bute House, his official residence in Edinburgh, where he said he would resign as SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister, avoiding having to face a no confidence vote in his leadership. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Photo: Andrew Milligan