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Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf Resigns

Image copyright: Andrew Milligan-Pool/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Humza Yousaf announced his resignation as Scotland's First Minister on Monday afternoon, having ended the Scottish National Party's (SNP) coalition agreement with the Green Party last week.

  • Yousaf said that while he believed his decision to end the Bute House Agreement with the Greens was the "right decision for the country," he "underestimated the level of hurt" caused during attempts to agree to a "less formal arrangement" while acting in the minority government.


The Spin

Narrative A

While Yousaf's political career has taken a blow, his story is one of success. Although unfortunately defined by the chaos and scandals of the post-Sturgeon era, by becoming Scotland's youngest-ever first minister and also its first Asian and Muslim appointee, Yousaf's rise to the top will be remembered.

Narrative B

Despite Yousaf's emotional sendoff, there is no doubt that the fall of the first minister's career was self-induced. Having led his party into a political crisis, Yousaf's tenure at the top of Scottish politics never felt quite right and there is a deep sense of irony that the SNP's destruction will come at the hands of Alex Salmond.


Metaculus Prediction


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