Humza Yousaf crisis as Scottish Greens file vote of no confidence in key ballot

Douglas Ross lodges vote of no confidence in Humza Yousaf

The Alba Party could decide whether Humza Yousaf is forced to resign as First Minister in a vote of no confidence that has been tabled at Holyrood.

The Scottish Green's co-leader Lorna Slater said her party had “no confidence in a progressive Government” in Scotland and would back the Tory motion to unseat Humza Yousaf.

It comes as Mr Yousaf scrapped the Bute House Agreement on Thursday morning, setting off a political firestorm at Holyrood that has put his job at risk.

Ms Slater said: “We supported Humza Yousaf to be First Minister last year on the basis of a pro-independence majority Government, where we would be working together to deliver rent controls, to deliver real change on climate, nature, new protections for tenants.

“Today the First Minister decided to tear up that agreement, to end the Bute House Agreement, and so we no longer have confidence in a progressive Government in Scotland doing the right thing for climate and nature.

“So, the Scottish Green MSPs will not be supporting Humza Yousaf in a vote of no confidence.”

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross dismissed Mr Humza as “weak" and a "failed First Minister".

While the country's Labour leader Anas Sarwar said it was time to “end this circus and call an election.

That came after an emergency meeting of the Scottish Cabinet on Thursday morning, where Mr Yousaf terminated the powersharing deal his party had with the Scottish Greens with “immediate effect”.

The Bute House Agreement had given the SNP a majority at Holyrood, and in the wake of its collapse the Tories sought to heap further pressure on the First Minister.

The Scottish Green's Patrick Harvie is expected to make an announcement within minutes confirming they will join forces to condemn Mr Yousaf's leadership.

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said Humza Yousaf has decided to “burn his bridges” as he confirmed his party would vote in favour of a motion of no confidence in the First Minister.

He said: “It’s for the Presiding Officer to chose a motion if one is presented.

“The only one I’ve seen in draft is a motion of no confidence in the First Minister. If that’s selected, we would have to vote for that.

“It’s very clear that Humza Yousaf has decided to burn his bridges with the progressive, pro-independence majority that was established in the Bute House Agreement.”

If the vote does not pass, it will still be up to Mr Yousaf to decide on how to respond.

But it puts increasing pressure on his position if he fails to hold the confidence of the majority of the parliament.

If a no confidence vote was passed on the government, the SNP government would have to resign and appoint a new first minister within 28 days or call an election.