Scottish nationalists picked Humza Yousaf to be the country\u2019s next leader on Monday after a bitterly fought contest that exposed deep divisions in his party over policy and a stalled independence campaign.
\nThe 37-year-old practicing Muslim succeeds Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the governing Scottish National Party (SNP) and will take over as head of the semi-autonomous government once he wins an approval vote in the Scottish parliament.
\nSetting out his goals, Yousaf said he would concentrate on tackling the cost of living crisis, ending the divisions in the party, and making a renewed push for independence.
\n\u201cThe people of Scotland need independence now, more than ever before and we will be the generation that delivers independence,\u201d he said in a speech in Edinburgh after the results were announced.
\nYousaf\u2019s victory was confirmed at the country\u2019s national rugby ground after a six-week campaign where the three candidates spent much of the contest criticising each other\u2019s record in a series of personal attacks.
\nThe SNP\u2019s unity, which had been one of its strengths, broke down over arguments about how to achieve a second independence referendum and the best way to introduce social reforms such as transgender rights.
\nYousaf takes over a party with an overriding objective to end Scotland\u2019s three-centuries-long union with England. His predecessor stepped down after the British government repeatedly blocked a route to a new vote on independence.
\nWhile about four in 10 Scots support independence, according to a poll this month, the departure of Sturgeon \u2014 a charismatic and commanding leader \u2014 may initially slow some of the momentum behind a break up of the United Kingdom.
\nThe often bad-tempered leadership contest has relieved some pressure on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is dealing with divisions in his own party, waves of industrial action, and high levels of inflation.
\nFrontrunner
\nYousaf won 52 per cent of the vote of SNP members in the second round of counting, beating Kate Forbes, the finance secretary, who got 48pc. Ash Regan, who had quit the government because of her opposition to proposed changes to gender recognition, was eliminated in the first round of counting.
\nCoree Brown Swan, a lecturer in politics at Queen\u2019s University Belfast, said it would be difficult for the party to unite after a divisive leadership contest.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a broad church of a party, which incorporates lots of different ideologies and opinions on things beyond independence,\u201d she said. \u201cHow do you get everyone moving in the same direction again?\u201d
\nThe frontrunner to replace Sturgeon, Yousaf has stressed continuity with her record, including her push to make it easier for transgender people to gain official recognition to change their gender.
\nYousaf has spoken of the need to focus on building the case for independence and achieving consistent support for the movement, adding that he was open-minded on which process to pursue once that level of support was achieved.
\nHe pointed to his own background \u2014 born in Glasgow, with a father from Pakistan and a mother from Kenya \u2014 and views as examples of the inclusive, socially liberal, and multi-ethnic Scotland that the SNP has promoted.
\nDuring the campaign, Yousaf appeared more relaxed than Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, in balancing his religious views with the party\u2019s socially progressive policies.
\nWhile Forbes faced criticism when she announced her opposition to same-sex marriage, Yousaf said he supports it. In 2016, Yousaf took his oath of allegiance in the Scottish parliament in Urdu while wearing a kilt, and he has referred to himself as coming from a \u201cbhangra and bagpipes\u201d heritage.
\nYousaf also said during the campaign an independent Scotland should look at ditching the British monarchy.
\nScotland voted against independence by 55pc to 45pc in 2014. Britain\u2019s vote to leave the EU two years later when most Scots wanted to stay, and Scotland\u2019s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, brought new support for independence.
\nHowever, an opinion poll this month showed the backing for independence dropped to 39pc, or 46pc when \u201cdon\u2019t knows\u201d are excluded. That compares with a record 58pc in 2020.
\nYousaf will be sworn in as Scotland\u2019s leader on Wednesday if he wins a vote in the country\u2019s parliament the day before.
\n\u201cThe key to getting independence is ensuring we have that consistent majority support,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we have that, the political obstacles that are put in our way by Westminster will disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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