Yousaf: Vote SNP to prevent Scotland being "ignored" by Starmer
The SNP leader said it is "very clear now" that Sir Keir will be the next prime minister.
Humza Yousaf says voting for the SNP in the general election will ensure Scotland is not "ignored" by Sir Keir Starmer when he moves into Downing Street.
With Labour comfortably ahead in the polls, the SNP leader said it is "very clear now" that Sir Keir will be the next prime minister.
Officially launching his campaign in Glasgow, he said backing his party could make Scotland a "Tory-free zone".
Humza Yousaf said: "Keir Starmer doesn't need Scotland to win the election.
"Scotland needs SNP MPs to make sure that we are not ignored, and that Scotland's voice is heard."
The SNP leader attacked Labour for its support of Brexit, and warned Sir Keir's party could follow Conservative policies on areas such as public spending.
"Time after time, when people are looking for leadership, Labour under Keir Starmer has been posted missing," he said.
"With Labour leading the Tories by 20-25 points in the polls, this would be the time for Keir Starmer to be bold and to be radical.
"Instead, he spends his time attempting to neutralise Tory attacks by imitating their policies."
Mr Yousaf went on to vow his party's MPs would seek to "work constructively with a Labour government to introduce measures for a fairer country".
But he also promised they would look to prevent a future Labour government from "backsliding on green investment" and look to "protect the NHS from creeping privatisation at Westminster".
He said the SNP remains focused on independence - repeating a previous commitment that "page one, line one of the SNP election manifesto will say 'Vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country'".
Here, the First Minister argued that independence is necessary because on issues such as the economy and living standards, Labour and the Conservatives are "offering more of the same".
He said: "Economic decline is still decline, even if they manage it more competently."
Insisting the election will be an "important moment for Scotland's independence movement", Mr Yousaf said Sir Keir will "use every single vote for Labour in Scotland as a vote against independence".
The SNP leader had earlier conceded the case for independence will move "backwards" if his party loses seats at Westminster.