The Scottish Parliament will deliberate on the formal election of Humza Yousaf as Scotland’s sixth first minister.
If elected, the new SNP leader will be the first ethnic minority to lead a devolved government.
He will likely face the Conservative, Labour, and Lib Dem leaders.
But nobody has any chance of winning the competition.
The Scottish Greens, who have a power-sharing agreement with the SNP, have already stated that they will support Mr. Yousaf, which should ensure that he receives a majority in the first round of voting, which will commence at approximately 14:20.
Before the vote, each candidate will make a brief statement, and Mr. Yousaf is expected to be formally sworn in as the first minister on Wednesday at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
He will form his new cabinet later this week and face party leaders at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
Mr. Yousaf won the SNP leadership on Monday after narrowly defeating Kate Forbes by 26,032 votes to 23,890. After reallocating the second preference ballots of Ash Regan, who came in a distant third.
Mr. Yousaf had been serving as health secretary and was viewed as Ms. Sturgeon’s preferred successor. Some analysts were astonished by the closeness of the final vote.
Despite the turmoil of the campaign, during which Ms. Forbes launched a highly personal attack on Mr. Yousaf’s competence during a live television debate, both of the defeated candidates congratulated the new leader on his victory and exhorted the party to rally behind him.
Ms. Sturgeon praised all three candidates for “meeting the challenge” during the leadership contest. Adding, “I congratulate Humza Yousaf most of all and wish him the best of luck.
I’m thrilled he’ll replace me as prime minister.
Neil Gray, the culture minister who managed Mr. Yousaf’s campaign for leadership, stated that the new first minister would have to discuss bringing Ms. Forbes and Ms. Regan into government with both of them.
Speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, Mr. Gray also rejected Scottish Labour’s proposals for elections.
“Humza has a very clear mandate,” he said. And he has absolute authority to govern going forward.”
During last year’s Conservative leadership campaign, the SNP repeatedly demanded a general election. Contending that whoever succeeded Boris Johnson would lack a mandate. Because they were selected by Tory party members rather than the entire nation.
However, Mr. Gray stated, “The democratically elected MSPs who choose the first minister through a vote in the Scottish Parliament have that opportunity today.
“This is a different situation than when Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair when there was no election or the various Conservative leaders who have been elected by the party in recent years,” the author writes.
Mr. Yousaf characterized himself as the “luckiest man in the world” after being confirmed as the new leader of the SNP and vowed to serve as “first minister for the entire nation of Scotland.”
He assured the electorate that he would “work every minute of every day to earn and re-earn your respect and trust” and that he would “launch” a grass-roots campaign to “ensure our drive for independence is in fifth gear.”
He added, “The Scots require independence now more than ever, and we will be the generation to deliver it.”
After his victory, Mr. Yousaf told that he would “immediately” ask the British government for permission to conduct another referendum.
Downing Street has already stated that it will maintain its opposition to a referendum, and the prime minister’s spokesman has stated that he will instead concentrate on “issues that matter” to the public, such as reducing inflation and addressing the cost of living crisis.
“Obvious that Humza Yousaf has the wrong priorities for Scotland,” said Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross. As he affirmed he would run against Yousaf for the position of the first minister.
Mr. Ross continued, “During the leadership election, he prioritized independence above all else. So I believe it is appropriate for the people of Scotland to hear voices within parliament.”
Jackie Baillie, the health spokesperson for Labour, alleged that Mr. Yousaf’s record in government was “dismal.”
She added, “As transport minister, trains were never on time. As justice secretary, he destroyed the justice system. As health secretary, he was the worst in the history of devolution. I am concerned that he has failed upwards, is out of his depth, and is incompetent. And I fear for the country.”
