Humza Yousaf resigns as First Minister after ending Greens deal as SNP faces new leadership contest

Humza Yousaf has officially announced he is quitting as First Minister after just over 12 months in the role

Humza Yousaf has resigned as Scotland's First Minister following a catastrophic five days that saw him facing being ousted from office.

Mr Yousaf has quit the top job in a move that will trigger a fresh leadership contest within SNP ranks, announcing he would "continue as First Minister until my successor is appointed". The First Minister pointed to his decision to end the Bute House Agreement last week.

He claimed that "ending the Bute House Agreement was the right one for the party I lead and I still believe that to be the case".

Mr Yousaf said his "hope was to continue to work with the Greens" in a "less formal agreement". But he admitted he "clearly under-estimated the level of upset and hurt that caused Green colleagues".

He added: "I'm not willing to trade my values and principles and do deals with whoever simply to retain power. Repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm."

An emotional Mr Yousaf, who battled to contain tears towards the end of his statement, concluded by paying thanks to the support of his family, stressing that “politics can be a brutal business”.

He said: “It takes its toll on your physical and mental health, your family suffer alongside you. I am in absolute debt to my wonderful wife Nadia, my beautiful children and my wider family for putting up with me over the years. I am afraid you will be seeing a lot more of me from now. You are truly everything to me.

“And although, of course, I am sad that my time as First Minister is ending, I am also grateful and blessed for having the opportunity afforded to so few – to lead my country, and who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland.”

Patrick Harvie, the co-leader of the Greens said “Humza Yousaf is right to resign”.

Mr Harvie said “his position was no longer tenable after he broke the bonds of trust with the Scottish Greens and with everyone who wanted a stable, progressive, pro-independence government”.