Humza Yousaf, a 37-year-old politician from the Scottish National Party (SNP) became Scotland’s youngest and one of its most powerful politicians as he takes over from Nicola Sturgeon as the country’s First Minister. The announcement follows his victory in a leadership contest against Kate Forbes, which saw him receive the backing of the Scottish Greens, with whom the SNP entered a power-sharing deal following the 2021 Holyrood election.
Yousaf’s victory comes at a time when Scotland faces significant challenges, with a recent Ipsos poll revealing that half of adults in the country believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Furthermore, the poll found that the Scottish Government’s management of key policy areas, such as the economy and the National Health Service (NHS), was viewed more negatively than positively. As a result, Yousaf will inherit a significant and pressing list of priorities as he takes on his new role.
Rachel Ormston, the research director at Ipsos in Scotland, stated that the poll’s findings underline Yousaf’s “very full in-tray.” She noted that Yousaf will be taking office at a time when the Scottish public is “feeling pretty gloomy about the direction of their country, and negative about the Scottish Government performance across a range of key areas.” She added that “addressing these challenges and turning around public perceptions, particularly on the NHS and cost of living, will no doubt feature strongly on his first to-do list.”
Despite the challenges he faces, Yousaf is optimistic about the future, describing himself as the “luckiest man in the world” and pledging to “dedicate every waking moment” to serving the people of Scotland. His victory has been welcomed by the Scottish Greens, who renewed their support for the Bute House Agreement, the power-sharing deal with the SNP, following his appointment as party leader. Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvey, the co-leaders of the Scottish Greens, met with Yousaf to reaffirm their commitment to the agreement, which they believe will “maintain our pro-independence majority” and “deliver for the people of Scotland.”
Not everyone is convinced of Yousaf’s ability to lead Scotland, however. The Scottish Conservatives have expressed “serious concerns about his ability,” while Scottish Labour has called for an election, arguing that “Scotland deserves a fresh start.” Nevertheless, Yousaf’s appointment marks a significant milestone in Scottish politics, with the youngest First Minister in the country’s history set to take the reins at a critical juncture in its future.
In summary, Humza Yousaf’s appointment as Scotland’s youngest and one of its most powerful politicians comes at a time of significant challenges for the country. However, he has pledged to address the issues facing Scotland head-on and to “dedicate every waking moment” to serving its people. The support of the Scottish Greens, with whom the SNP has entered a power-sharing deal, provides him with the backing he needs to begin his work as First Minister. Nevertheless, concerns have been expressed about his ability to lead Scotland, and he will need to work hard to win over those who doubt his abilities.