Scotland's leader cancels speech as he fights for his political life following decision to withdraw from three-year power-sharing deal
LONDON — Scotland's leader canceled a speech Friday as he fights for his political life following a decision to scrap a three-year power-sharing agreement, a move that puts the government at risk.
Scottish National Party First Minister Humza Yousaf was due to give a major speech on Scotland's independence from the United Kingdom, but the uproar over his decision to scrap a power-sharing agreement with the much smaller Green Party on Thursday As a result, it was canceled.
Without Green Party support, the SNP would fall two seats short of a majority in the Scottish Parliament, meaning it would be unable to pass legislation and a budget without support from other parties. Although Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, the government has broad powers, including health and education, and limited powers to raise revenue.
On Friday, the Scottish Labor Party, which is linked to Britain's main opposition Labor Party, said it hoped to introduce a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government next week.
If all opposition MPs, including the Greens, vote against the government, it could start a chain of events that could lead to early elections in Scotland, which are scheduled until 2026.
Government ministers will be asked to immediately resign, and Edinburgh Parliament will then decide within 28 days whether a new government can be formed with majority support. If this is not possible, early elections will be held.
Anas Sarwar, leader of the Scottish Labor Party, said: “The question now is not whether Humza Yousaf will resign as First Minister, but when he will resign.'' “I don't think it's tenable to think that it could be imposed,” he said.
Mr Yousaf, who took office in March 2023 to replace long-serving leader Nicola Sturgeon, may need the vote of former SNP MP Ash Regan to survive. She has indicated that she intends to extract compensation from Yousaf in order to support him and the government in the no-confidence vote.
The SNP holds 63 of the 129 seats in Parliament. Mr. Reagan's support would give the government at least 64 votes. In the event of a tie, the Speaker of Parliament (Scottish equivalent of the Speaker) is expected to vote in favor of maintaining the status quo.
That may be tough enough. The Green Party is furious at his ouster from government and has already announced that it will vote against Mr Yousaf himself, along with other main opposition parties including the Conservatives and Labor. It is not yet clear whether they will vote against the entire government or abstain.
Relations between the SNP and the Green Party, which support Scottish independence from the UK, have soured recently over clashes over climate change policy.
The SNP, which has dominated Scottish politics since 2007 despite losing the 2014 independence referendum, said earlier this month that Ms Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell was charged with embezzlement in an investigation into the party's finances. I'm upset by the news.
The SNP, which has dominated Scottish politics since 2007, faces stiff opposition from Labor as the UK general election approaches, according to opinion polls. Votes are expected to take place in the coming months.
