Scotland’s First Minister position has been left vacant after Humza Yousaf resigned due to a lack of confidence following his tenure in office for over a year. The Scottish National Party (SNP) has appointed John Swinney as its new leader, who will also become Scotland’s First Minister. Swinney, a seasoned SNP politician, faces no opposition for the position.
However, the SNP does not have enough votes on its own to secure Swinney’s election with 63 representatives out of 129 in parliament. This is a significant challenge for the party given that it has faced criticism for prioritizing independence over other issues such as the cost of living and health services. The SNP’s support has been declining recently due to party funding scandals and a decrease in support for Scottish independence.
In the Scottish parliament, decision-making power is limited in areas like health, education, transport, and the environment as the British government decides on country-wide issues such as defense and foreign policy. Yousaf’s resignation came before he was likely to lose a confidence vote due to displeasing government partners and other parties. Despite these challenges facing the SNP, Swinney will now lead the party and serve as First Minister.