Humza Yousaf announced as new leader of SNP
The former Health Secretary has beaten Kate Forbes and Ash Regan in the leadership race.
Last updated 27th Mar 2023
Humza Yousaf is the new leader of the Scottish National Party.
He is set to become Scotland's youngest first minister and the first person from a minority ethnic background to hold the post.
The former Health Secretary is replacing Nicola Sturgeon in her role after receiving a 52.1% majority in the second round of votes.
However, Mr Yousaf will face another vote in Holyrood tomorrow before being confirmed as Scotland's First Minister.
He succeeds Nicola Sturgeon after defeating the current Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan in what was the SNP's first leadership contest for almost 20 years.
Around 70% of SNP members turned out to vote for the next leader using a Single Transferable Vote system.
For first preferences, Mr Yousaf took 24,336 (48%), Ms Forbes took 20,559 (40%) and Ms Regan took 5,599 (11%) of the vote.
When second preferences were distributed in the second stage, Mr Yousaf took 26,032 (52%) and Ms Forbes took 23,890 (48%).
'Honoured'
Speaking at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh today, he said is honoured to be named as the SNP's new leader.
He said: "It is hard for me to find the words to describe just how honoured I am to be entrusted by our membership of the SNP to be the party's next leader and to be on the cusp of being our country's next first minister."
He paid tribute to Ms Forbes and Ms Regan, adding: "It's felt we've seen each other more than our respective families.
"You both have put in an incredible shift and I know that collectively we will work hard as part of Team SNP."
Focus on independence
He said it is now time for the SNP to come together and deliver independence.
"Leadership elections, by their very nature, can be bruising," he said.
"However, in the SNP we are a family.
"Over the last five weeks we may have been competitors or supporters of different candidates.
"We are no longer team Humza, or team Ash, or team Kate, we are one team.
"We will be the team, we will be the generation, that delivers independence for Scotland."
Viewed as the continuity candidate, Mr Yousaf had greater levels of public support from SNP parliamentarians at both Holyrood and Westminster than the other candidates, with high-profile backers including outgoing Deputy First Minister John Swinney, and new SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.
Mr Yousaf was first elected in 2011 as a regional MSP for Glasgow and was appointed a junior minister the following year, becoming Justice Secretary in 2018.