Humza Yousaf

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 40 min

Humza Yousaf
Official portrait, 2023
First Minister of Scotland
In office
29 March 2023 – 7 May 2024
MonarchCharles III
DeputyShona Robison
Preceded byNicola Sturgeon
Succeeded byJohn Swinney
Leader of the Scottish National Party
In office
27 March 2023 – 6 May 2024
DeputeKeith Brown
Preceded byNicola Sturgeon
Succeeded byJohn Swinney
Ministerial offices
(2012–2023)
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
In office
20 May 2021 – 28 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byJeane Freeman
Succeeded byMichael Matheson
Cabinet Secretary for Justice
In office
26 June 2018 – 20 May 2021
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byMichael Matheson
Succeeded byKeith Brown
Minister for Transport and the Islands
In office
18 May 2016 – 26 June 2018
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byDerek Mackay
Succeeded byPaul Wheelhouse
Minister for Europe and International Development[a]
In office
6 September 2012 – 18 May 2016
First Minister
Preceded byFiona Hyslop (2011)
Succeeded byAlasdair Allan
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow Pollok
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded byJohann Lamont
Majority7,105 (21.0%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
In office
5 May 2011 – 5 May 2016
Personal details
Born
Humza Haroon Yousaf

(1985-04-07) 7 April 1985 (age 39)
Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouses
Gail Lythgoe
(m. 2010; div. 2017)
(m. 2019)
Children2
EducationHutchesons' Grammar School
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
Signature
Websitehumzayousaf.scot

Humza Haroon Yousaf (/ˈhʌmzə ˈjsəf/;[1] born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as justice secretary from 2018 to 2021 and then as health secretary from 2021 to 2023. He has been Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Pollok since 2016, having previously been a regional MSP for Glasgow from 2011 to 2016.

Born to Pakistani immigrants in Glasgow, Yousaf studied politics at the University of Glasgow, before working as a parliamentary assistant for Bashir Ahmad, the first Muslim and second generation immigrant elected to the Scottish Parliament. Following Ahmad's death in 2009, Yousaf went on to work as a parliamentary assistant for both Alex Salmond and Sturgeon. Prior to his election at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, he worked in the SNP's party headquarters as a communications officer. Appointed as a junior minister under Salmond in 2012, Yousaf served as Minister for External Affairs and International Development until 2014.

Yousaf supported Sturgeon's successful leadership bid in 2014 and after she was sworn in as first minister, he was subsequently appointed as Europe minister before being appointed Minister for Transport and the Islands in 2016. As part of a cabinet reshuffle of Sturgeon's second ministry in 2018, Yousaf was promoted to the cabinet as justice secretary. He introduced a controversial bill to parliament which ultimately became law as the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.[2][3] In 2021, he was appointed health secretary during the later phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and was responsible for the NHS's recovery, as well as the mass roll-out of the vaccination programme which began under his predecessor.

Following Sturgeon's resignation as leader of the SNP and as first minister, Yousaf won the 2023 SNP leadership election. Yousaf was appointed first minister on 29 March 2023, becoming the youngest person, the first Scottish Asian, and the first Muslim to serve in office. He was sworn into the Privy Council in May 2023.[4] In April 2024, he formed a minority government after terminating a power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens. After facing an imminent motion of no confidence amid a government crisis, he announced his intention to resign as first minister and party leader on 29 April 2024.[5][6] He formally resigned on 7 May 2024 and was succeeded by John Swinney, becoming the second shortest serving first minister after Henry McLeish.

Early life and education

[edit]

Humza Haroon Yousaf was born on 7 April 1985 in Rutherglen Maternity Hospital in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.[7][8][9] He is son of first-generation Pakistani Punjabi Muslim immigrants: his father Mian Muzaffar Yousaf Arain was born in Mian Channu, Punjab, Pakistan, and emigrated from the city with his family in the 1960s, eventually working as an accountant.[10][11] His paternal grandfather worked in the Singer sewing machine factory in Clydebank in the 1960s.[12] Yousaf's mother, Shaaista Bhutta, was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to a family of Pakistani-Punjabi descent.[13][12] Due to their non-African background, her family was regularly harassed and occasionally assaulted: following an incident where her mother was attacked with an axe, they emigrated to Scotland.[14]

Humza attended Mearns Primary School in East Renfrewshire.[15][16][17] Yousaf was one of two ethnic-minority pupils to attend his primary school.[14] Yousaf was privately educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, an independent school in Glasgow, where his Modern Studies lessons inspired him to become involved in politics.[18][19]

He described the September 11 attacks as the "day that changed the world and for me" when he was 16 years old. Prior to the attack, Yousaf was close to two pupils whom he sat next to in his registration class, but after the attack in New York, he claims that they asked him questions such as, "Why do Muslims hate America?"[14]

Yousaf studied politics at the University of Glasgow where he was President of the Glasgow University Muslim Students Association.[14][20] He graduated in 2007 with a Master of Arts (MA).[21]

Early career and political involvement

[edit]

From an early age, Yousaf was involved in community work, ranging from youth organisations to charity fundraising.[22] He was the volunteer media spokesperson for the charity Islamic Relief,[22] worked for community radio for twelve years and on a project which provided food packages to homeless people and asylum seekers in Glasgow.[23]

Yousaf joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2005, while studying at Glasgow university. Speeches by then-party leader Alex Salmond and anti-war activist Rose Gentle speaking out against the Iraq War convinced him that independence would be the only way for Scotland to avoid going to war.[24] He started campaigning extensively for the SNP, including for the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, which resulted in the first SNP government in Scotland and Yousaf's first job in the Scottish parliament.[14]

In 2006, Yousaf worked in an O2 call centre,[25] before working as a parliamentary assistant for Bashir Ahmad, from Ahmad's election as Scotland's first Muslim MSP in 2007 until Ahmad's death two years later.[26] Ahmad was a personal influence. Yousaf then worked as parliamentary assistant for a few other MSPs including Anne McLaughlin, Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond, who was then First Minister.[27][28] Before his election to the Scottish Parliament, he worked in the SNP's headquarters as a communications officer.[25]

In 2008, while working as an aide, Yousaf partook of the International Visitor Leadership Program, a professional exchange run by the United States Department of State.[29] He was awarded the "Future Force of Politics" at the Young Scottish Minority Ethnic Awards in 2009, which was presented to him in Glasgow City Chambers.[30]

Early parliamentary career

[edit]

Election to Holyrood

[edit]
Official parliamentary portrait, 2011

Yousaf was elected to the Scottish Parliament as an additional member for the Glasgow electoral region in the 2011 election.[31][32] At 26 years old, he was the youngest MSP to be elected to the 4th parliament.[33] When being sworn in, he took his oath in English and then in Urdu, reflecting his Scottish-Pakistani identity;[34] he was dressed in a traditional sherwani decorated with a Partick Thistle tartan touch, and a plaid draped over his shoulder.[35]

He served on the SNP's backbenches and was a member of the parliament's justice and public audit committees.[36] On 25 May 2011, Yousaf was appointed as a Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Office of the First Minister, remaining in this post until 4 September 2012.[37]

Junior ministerial career (2012–2018)

[edit]

On 5 September 2012, First Minister Alex Salmond appointed Yousaf as Minister for External Affairs and International Development, responsible for external affairs, international development; fair trade policy and diaspora.[38] This junior ministerial appointment saw him working under the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs. He was the first Scottish Asian and Muslim to be appointed as a minister to the Scottish Government.[39][40]

Yousaf signs Nicola Sturgeon's nomination for first minister, 19 November 2014

In October 2013, he outlined the SNP's plans to set out the United Nations target for overseas aid at 0.7% in an independent Scotland and accused the UK Government of going back on its promise in the 2010 coalition agreement to guarantee that level of spending.[41] Yousaf also outlined that an independent Scotland would "add a progressive voice to global issues promoting peace, equality and fairness" and added independence would be "achieved through a democratic, peaceful means without a single drop of blood being spilled and engaging with all the diverse communities that make up our rich tapestry in Scotland.".[42]

When Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister in November 2014 following Salmond's resignation, she kept Yousaf as a junior minister, although the name of the position he held was changed to the Minister for Europe and International Development.[43]

On 18 May 2016, he was appointed as Minister for Transport and the Islands following the formation of Sturgeon's second government.[44]

Cabinet Secretary for Justice (2018–2021)

[edit]

On 26 June 2018, Sturgeon reshuffled her cabinet. She promoted Yousaf to the Scottish cabinet to serve as Cabinet Secretary for Justice, succeeding Michael Matheson.[45] In the year prior to his appointment (2017–18), 244,504 crimes were recorded by the police in Scotland; in the final year of his tenure (2020–21), the figure was 246,511.[46]

Hate Crime Bill

[edit]

One of his flagship policies was the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, which he promised would streamline existing legislation as well as add additional protections to minorities while maintaining rights to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.[47] The bill has been criticised by the Catholic Church, the National Secular Society as well as writers,[48] and in September 2020 it was amended to remove prosecution for cases of unintentionally stirring up hate, which could theoretically include libraries stocking contentious books.[49] Despite his initial promises, Yousaf in October 2020 said that the exception to the Public Order Act 1986 which allows people to use "otherwise illegal language" in their own homes should be abolished.[50]

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (2021–2023)

[edit]
Yousaf at the COP26 Climate Action for Health event, 2021

In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Yousaf was re-elected as the MSP for the Glasgow Pollok constituency. The SNP fell two seats short of an overall majority in the election, but remained the largest party, with more than double the seats of the Scottish Conservatives. Sturgeon formed a third administration and appointed Yousaf as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, succeeding Jeane Freeman, who stepped down at the election.[51]

COVID-19 pandemic

[edit]
Yousaf at Scottish Government press conference on COVID-19 in 2020.

Yousaf entered office amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2021, he said that ten children up to the age of nine had been admitted to Scottish hospitals in the previous week "because of COVID".[52] Professor Steve Turner, Scotland officer for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, contradicted him and said that children's wards were "not seeing a rise in cases with Covid". He added that the children in question had been hospitalised for other reasons. Yousaf clarified his statement and apologised for "any undue alarm".[53]

In July, the World Health Organisation concluded that six out of Europe's ten virus hotspots were in Scotland.[54] Tayside topped the list with 1,002 cases per 100,000 head of population over the previous fortnight.[55] The Scottish Government was accused of being 'missing in action' after it emerged that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Yousaf were all on holiday.[56] Yousaf said he had promised to take his stepdaughter to Harry Potter World, tweeting that: "Most important job I have is being a good father, step-father & husband to my wife and kids. In the last seven months they've had virtually no time from me."[57]

NHS waiting times

[edit]

In September 2021, the average waiting time for an ambulance in Scotland soared to six hours and Yousaf urged the public to "think twice" before they called 999. Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane criticised the remark as "reckless messaging [that] could put lives at risk" and instead urged people to call an ambulance if they thought they needed one.[58] Following reports of elderly Scots dying while waiting for an ambulance to arrive,[59] Yousaf asked the Ministry of Defence for help and soldiers from the British Army were deployed to drive ambulances.[60] Audit Scotland concluded that 500 people died in Scotland in 2021 due to delayed access to emergency treatment.[61]

2023 SNP leadership election

[edit]
Leadership campaign logo

On 15 February 2023, Nicola Sturgeon resigned as Leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland, which triggered a leadership election within the SNP to elect her successor.[62][63][64] On 18 February, Yousaf declared his candidacy for leader in an interview with the Sunday Mail.[65][66] He committed to challenging the UK Government over its decision to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill and stated he wanted to increase support for Scottish independence before delivering a referendum.[67][68]

Yousaf launched his leadership campaign in Clydebank on 20 February.[69] He said he was not "wedded" with using the 2024 United Kingdom general election as a de facto referendum on Scottish independence and that one of the issues would be the inability for 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds to vote.[70][71] Yousaf reaffirmed his commitment to defend the Scottish Parliament against the UK Government's Section 35 order, which aims to block the gender reform bill.[72] He added that he could not pretend the bill had not "caused some division" within his party and stated he was "keen to work with those who have got real concerns".[72]

During the campaign, Yousaf faced questions on why he missed the vote on the Marriage and Civil Partnership Act (2014). He said at the time that he was meeting the Pakistani consul to discuss the case of a Scotsman facing the death penalty for blasphemy.[73] Yousaf stated his support for the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, while his opponents Kate Forbes and Ash Regan opposed it.[74]

As confirmed on 27 March 2023, Yousaf won the leadership race, after being victorious in both rounds of voting. He won the first round with 48.2% of first-preference votes, ahead of Forbes who received 40.7%, and Regan who received 11.1%, thus eliminating Regan. He then won the final round of voting with 52.1% of the vote compared to Forbes with 47.9%.[75] Yousaf accepted the leadership at an event at Murrayfield Stadium where he promised to lead the party in the interest of all its members.[76]

First Minister of Scotland

[edit]
Yousaf is formally sworn in as First Minister, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, March 2023

Yousaf was sworn in as First Minister of Scotland on 29 March 2023, after receiving the Royal Warrant of Appointment by King Charles III,[77][78] becoming the youngest person and the first Scottish Asian and Muslim to hold the office since it was created in 1999.[79][80] In September 2023, the New Statesman named him the thirteenth-most powerful left-wing figure in the UK.[81]

Domestic policy

[edit]

Yousaf worked to challenge the UK Government's section 35 order of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.[82] During his first meeting with the UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, Yousaf requested a section 30 order to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence.[83][84] Sunak has rejected the request.[85]

In June 2023, Yousaf launched the fourth Building a New Scotland paper which focused on the constitution of an independent Scotland. Yousaf declared that there would be a written constitution for an independent Scotland, claiming that such a constitution would set a benchmark in which no future Scottish Government could fall short of as it would be a constitution enshrined into Scots law. Yousaf declared that the government had placed a commitment to a constitution that gave the population "the right to access a system of healthcare free at the point of need, as well as rules on land ownership and environmental provisions".[86] The previous three papers in the series were published by Yousaf's predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon.[87]

Yousaf launches the fourth Building a New Scotland paper

Opposition parties in Scotland criticised Yousaf and the Scottish Government for "focusing on the wrong priorities". A spokesman for the UK Government said "We want to work constructively with the Scottish government to tackle our shared challenges because that is what families and businesses in Scotland expect" and that "this is not the time to be talking about distracting constitutional change".[86]

On 27 July 2023, Yousaf launched the fifth paper in the Building a New Scotland series entitled Citizenship in an independent Scotland. The prospectus set out the Scottish Government's proposals for citizenship and passports in an independent Scotland, with the Scottish Government seeking to pursue an "inclusive" model similar to that in the Republic of Ireland. People born outside Scotland would automatically be entitled to Scottish citizenship under the plans if at least one of their parents were Scottish, and Scottish people resident in Scotland at the time of independence would be entitled to hold dual Scottish and British citizenship should it be desired.[88] The paper commits an independent Scotland to remaining a member of the Common Travel Area, meaning that there would be no hard border between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom on land or at sea.[88] Scottish citizens would have the right to a Scottish passport on the day of independence, however, British passports held by Scots after independence would remain valid until their date of expiry.[88]

Economic policy

[edit]
Yousaf meets with the International Monetary Fund's Gita Gopinath, June 2023

Yousaf entered office amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.[89] He expressed support for the introduction of the deposit return scheme, but not in its current form, suggesting it should exclude small businesses.[90] He emphasised the need for a wellbeing economy and has proposed introducing a new wealth tax to raise money for more welfare benefits.[91][92]

Drugs policy

[edit]
Yousaf at his first cabinet meeting in March 2023

During the early days of his tenure as First Minister, Scotland's drugs death had fallen to its lowest levels in five years, however, it still had a higher drug death rate than the other countries of the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe.[93] As First Minister, Yousaf advocated that the Scottish Government supports decriminalising drugs for personal use.[93] The Scottish Government stated that they aimed to provide 1,000 residential rehabilitation beds a year from 2026, prioritising spending more than £100 million on improving access to drug rehabilitation services.[93]

Yousaf argued that "more radical approaches are needed to tackle drug deaths and addiction" in Scotland on the backdrop of high levels of drug related deaths, despite a decline.[94] Yousaf urged the UK Government to examine the evidence surrounding drug rehabilitation rooms and to introduce such a facility in Glasgow, an area of Scotland's with considerably high drug related deaths and incidents.[94] However, the Home Office repeatedly rejected calls that would see sites established where users can take drugs under the supervision of medical professionals. Despite a report published by the Westminster Home Affairs Committee that recommended the establishment of a pilot drug consumption room in Glasgow, the Home Office again rejected calls for such a pilot scheme to be commissioned, leading to intervention from the First Minister who urged the UK Government to look at the evidence highlighted in the Home Affairs Committee report, and if calls were consistently rejected, then powers for the creation of drug rehabilitation rooms should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.[94]

Education policy

[edit]
Yousaf with a group of primary school children at the launch of the Reading Schools initiative, August 2023

Yousaf was challenged to review the long running Scottish Government policy of free university tuition, with University of Edinburgh vice-chancellor Peter Mathieson saying that allowing wealthier families to pay was "worthy of calm consideration". Yousaf disputed calls for a review of the policy, saying that he was "very proud" of the SNP's long opposition to any fees for education in Scotland.[95] He highlighted his support and commitment to the continuation of free tuition in Scotland by saying he was "absolutely committed to ensuring we have free education" and that "university education should be on the ability to learn not the ability to pay".[95]

Yousaf was largely criticised for saying he would stop the roll out of free school meals in Scotland in favour of a more targeted approach. Yousaf was urged to reconsider this decision, with opponents arguing that the stop of the roll out would by a "betrayal" of children in Scotland.[96] Yousaf used his own daughter as an example, and argued as to whether his daughter should be entitled to free school meals considering Yousaf's high salary as First Minister of Scotland.[96] Opponents in the Scottish Parliament accused Yousaf of "flip flopping" over free school meals policy.[97] After mounting pressure on the backdrop of his statement, Yousaf pledged his support and commitment to free school meals and reaffirmed that the policy of free school meals in Scotland would not be ending and confirmed the Scottish Government's plans to introduce free school meals entitlement in secondary school, however, Yousaf did not provide a timescale for this delivery.[98]

In August 2023, Yousaf launched the Reading Schools project, a replacement initiative of the First Minister's Reading Challenge which was established under Yousaf's predecessor Nicola Sturgeon. 371 schools across Scotland have become accredited as "reading schools", with the hope of an additional 511 schools looking to have joined the project in the future. This is "an accreditation programme for schools that are committing to building a reading culture for their learners and communities".[99] Yousaf claimed that it was the intention of the Scottish Government to "see every school in Scotland become part of the scheme in the next three to five years" to promote and improve reading in Scottish schools.[100]

Hate crime policy

[edit]

Programme for government

[edit]

In September 2023, Yousaf launched his first Programme for Government. The programme for government focuses on reducing poverty, delivering economic growth, tackle climate change and provide high quality public services.[101]

International affairs

[edit]
Yousaf meets with President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, 2024

Yousaf entered office as First Minister on the backdrop of the Supreme Court ruling that the Scottish Government does not have the power to legislate for another referendum on Scottish independence.[102] His predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, had, prior to leaving office, published a series of Scottish Government papers on Scottish independence, titled Building a New Scotland.[103]

In December 2023, Yousaf met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan without UK officials, leading Foreign Secretary David Cameron to issue a warning, threatening to withdraw FCDO support for Scottish ministers due to a breach of protocol.[104]

European Union

[edit]

Yousaf's first international visit as First Minister was to Brussels in June 2023,[105] which, during a three-day visit, sought to set out his "vision for a meaningful and mutually beneficial relationship" between Scotland and the European Union.[106] Yousaf declared his desire to set up a permanent Scottish Government envoy to the European Union in Brussels to "aid the cause of independence".[107][106] Yousaf used the visit to Brussels to reiterate the SNP's position on the European Union and future membership should Scotland become independent, citing that a majority of Scottish voters voted to remain a member of the European Union in the 2016 referendum on UK membership of the European Union. However, the Spanish Government "professed" opposition to future Scottish membership of the European Union, citing fears that a future independent Scotland would lead to advancements in Catalonia's attempts for independence from Spain. Yousaf said that the Spanish Government made it "abundantly clear" and that he "agrees with the Spanish Government – that the situation in Scotland and Catalonia are different".[108]

Scotland–Pakistan relations

[edit]

Yousaf and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif met in May 2023 in London, with both Yousaf and Sharif declaring a commitment to "further strengthen historic ties between Pakistan and Scotland, including in the domains of trade, investment, education, water management, wind & solar technology and people to people links".[109]

Ukraine invasion

[edit]
Yousaf meets with Ukrainian ambassador Vadym Prystaiko

During the SNP leadership bid, Yousaf was highly criticised and dubbed as "embarrassing" by asking "where are all the men?" when meeting a group of Ukrainian women.[110] The group of women explained to Yousaf that their husbands were in Ukraine continuing to engage in resistance to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Yousaf told the BBC that there were in fact Ukrainian men in the building and that the group of women he had addressed the question to did not appear to take offence.[110] Alex Cole-Hamilton of the Scottish Liberal Democrats described the blunder as "clumsy, insensitive and displays a real ignorance of international affairs" from the "man who is about to lead Scotland".[110]

In August 2023, Yousaf attended a wreath laying ceremony in Edinburgh to commemorate Ukraine's independence day. During the event, Yousaf reaffirmed Scotland's support towards Ukraine and stated that Scotland "stands in absolute solidarity with Ukraine". He also highlighted that Scotland had welcomed more than 25,000 Ukrainian people since the Russian invasion in February 2022.[111] He said that it was important for countries in Europe and around the world to continue to pledge their support for Ukraine and assist the Ukrainian efforts in any way possible, and that following the war, that those countries help Ukraine to rebuild.[111] Yousaf thanked the Ukrainians who had settled in Scotland for their contributions to Scotland and said that Scotland would be their home for as long as possibly needed.[111]

Israel–Hamas war

[edit]

Yousaf condemned Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel.[112] He called for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war and criticised Israel's blockade and bombing of the Gaza Strip that killed thousands of Palestinian civilians, saying that "Israel has a right to protect itself from terror, but that cannot be at the price of innocent men, women and children who have nothing to do with those attacks. That collective punishment has to be condemned."[113][114] On 1 November 2023, he condemned Israel for the "blatant disregard for human life" after airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza.[115] He called on Home Secretary Suella Braverman to resign after she branded pro-Palestinian protesters "hate marchers" and far-right counter-protesters subsequently clashed with police in London.[116] Yousaf accused her of "fanning the flames of division".[117]

Resignation

[edit]

After Yousaf terminated the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens, he faced imminent votes of no confidence in himself and his government. Yousaf announced his intention to resign as SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland on 29 April 2024.[6] John Swinney was elected unopposed as his successor and Yousaf formally resigned on 7 May.[118]

Political positions

[edit]
Yousaf in 2018

Yousaf has been described as socially progressive.[119][66][120] He is a follower of his predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, and is in favour of continuing her socially progressive policies. This formed a major part of his leadership election campaign in March 2023, and he was successfully elected as Leader of the Scottish National Party.[121][122] He supports Scottish republicanism, stating: "I believe we should be citizens first, not subjects." He attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in London on 6 May 2023.[123]

As a member of the SNP, a pro-Scottish independence party, Yousaf voted "Yes" in the 2014 independence referendum.[124] He has supported the idea for holding a second referendum, often informally described as "indyref2".[125] Yousaf has raised concerns over using the 2024 United Kingdom general election as a de facto referendum as it would not allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote.[126] He also believes another referendum should only be held if there is clear public support, stating "It isn't good enough to have polls that put support for independence at 50 per cent or 51%."[127][128]

In 2020, Yousaf expressed support for increasing the racial diversity among top government positions in Scotland. He stated "for 99% of the meetings I go to, I'm the only non-White person in the room... Every chair of every public body is White. That is not good enough."[129] Yousaf said in 2023 that he was "firmly committed to equality for everyone" and has vocally supported same-sex marriage and gender reforms for transgender persons.[130] In 2014, he was absent for the final vote of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 due to a ministerial engagement, although he voted in favour of the bill in earlier stages.[131] He also voted in favour of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.[132] Additionally, Yousaf has vowed to secure the rights of the LGBT community in a written constitution if Scotland gains independence.[133]

Yousaf is a strong advocate of LGBT rights. On the topic of marriage equality and gay sex he commented: "I believe that people's marriage, if they are gay, and they are married, that their marriage is no more inferior, or worth less, than my marriage as a heterosexual individual. So no, I don't subscribe to that view [that gay sex is a sin]." Amid controversy over Kate Forbes' religious views, Yousaf, a practising Muslim, said that he does not "legislate on the basis of [his] faith". Yousaf's belief that gay sex is not a sin (contradicting Islamic law and teachings) caused controversy in the Muslim community, leading to prominent Muslim figures like Mohammad Hijab and Hamza Tzortzis excommunicating him from Islam given Yousaf effectively deemed something impermissible in Islam as permissible.[134][135][136][137] On 24 June 2023, at an event at the Caird Hall in Dundee, Yousaf restated the SNP's intention of using the next general election as a de facto referendum to demand Scottish independence.[138] In October 2023, he announced that this would take the form of interpreting the SNP winning a majority of UK parliamentary seats in Scotland as a vote for independence.[139]

Parliamentary electoral history

[edit]

2021

[edit]
2021 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Pollok[140][141][142]
Party Candidate Constituency Regional
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
SNP Humza Yousaf[b] 18,163 53.7 Decrease1.1 16,600 49.1 Decrease0.4
Labour Zubir Ahmed 11,058 32.7 Increase1.1 8,899 26.3 Increase0.5
Conservative Sandesh Gulhane[c] 1,849 5.5 Decrease4.0 3,832 11.3 Increase2.2
Scottish Green Nadia Kanyange 1,651 4.9 New 1,975 5.8 Increase0.9
Alba 659 1.9 New
Liberal Democrats James Speirs 522 1.5 Decrease0.6 455 1.3 Steady0.0
All for Unity 318 0.9 New
Scottish Family 240 0.7 New
Independent Green Voice 180 0.5 New
Abolish the Scottish Parliament 105 0.3 New
UKIP Daryl Gardner 185 0.5 New 95 0.3 Decrease1.8
Freedom Alliance (UK) 76 0.2 New
Scottish Libertarian Alan Findlay 157 0.5 New 75 0.2 New
TUSC 62 0.2 New
Women's Equality 58 0.2 Decrease0.4
Communist 51 0.2 New
Reform UK 50 0.1 New
Reclaim Leo Kearse 114 0.3 New 32 0.1 New
No label Joseph Finnie 94 0.3 New
Independent Craig Ross 25 0.1 New
SDP 20 0.1 New
Renew 11 0.03 New
Independent Daniel Donaldson 10 0.03 New
Majority 7,105 21.0 Decrease2.2
Valid Votes 33,793 33,828
Invalid Votes 131 87
Turnout 33,924 54.3 Increase8.5 33,915 54.3 Increase8.4
SNP hold Swing
Notes
  1. ^ External Affairs and International Development (2012–14)
  2. ^ Incumbent member for this constituency
  3. ^ Elected on the party list

2016

[edit]
2016 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Pollok[140][143]
Party Candidate Constituency List
Votes % ±% Votes % ±%
SNP Humza Yousaf[a] 15,316 54.8 Increase10.1 13,902 49.5 Increase7.4
Labour and co-operative Johann Lamont[b][c] 8,834 31.6 Decrease15.8 7,237 25.8 Decrease12.3
Conservative Thomas Haddow 2,653 9.5 Increase3.8 2,545 9.1 Increase4.9
Liberal Democrats Isabel Nelson 585 2.1 Steady0.0 375 1.3 Decrease0.1
TUSC Ian Leech 555 2.0 New
Scottish Green 1,363 4.9 Increase2.4
Solidarity 915 3.3 New
UKIP 582 2.1 Increase1.6
BUP 341 1.2 New
Animal Welfare 224 0.8 New
Scottish Christian 212 0.8 Steady0.0
RISE 185 0.7 New
Women's Equality 158 0.6 New
Independent Andrew McCullagh 25 0.1 New
Majority 6,482 23.2 N/A
Valid Votes 27,943 28,064
Invalid Votes 142 69
Turnout 28,085 45.8 Increase6.3 28,133 45.9 Increase6.4
SNP gain from Labour and co-operative Swing Increase13.0
Notes
  1. ^ Incumbent member on the party list, or for another constituency
  2. ^ Lamont stood on a joint ticket on behalf of Scottish Labour and the Scottish Co-operative Party. The regional list vote was for Scottish Labour only.
  3. ^ Incumbent member for this constituency

Personal life

[edit]
Yousaf's family at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, 2023 (from left to right; his step-daughter, himself, his wife, Nadia, and mother Shaaista)

Yousaf was married to former SNP worker Gail Lythgoe from 2010 to 2016.[144][145] In 2019, he married psychotherapist Nadia El-Nakla and has one child and one stepchild.[146] In March 2024, the couple announced that they were expecting another child.[147]

In November 2016, Yousaf was fined £300 and had six penalty points added to his driving licence, after being caught by police driving a friend's car without being insured to drive it. Yousaf accepted full responsibility, saying: "I totally accept the decision. I paid the fine and told my insurers about the points. This was an honest mistake, and the result of my personal circumstances during my separation."[148]

He and his second wife made a complaint of discrimination against a Dundee children's nursery that did not offer a place to their daughter in 2021. The complaint was upheld by the Care Inspectorate who found that the nursery "did not promote fairness, equality and respect" in terms of its admission policy.[149][150] The legal action was subsequently terminated by Yousaf and Nadia.[151]

On 9 October 2023, Yousaf announced that his wife's parents were "stuck" in the Gaza Strip following the Israel–Hamas war.[152] On 5 November, they were able to return to Scotland.[153]

On 17 July 2024, Yousaf announced the birth of his daughter, Liyana Jenin Yousaf.[154]

Honours

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Humza Yousaf, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, visit to University Hospital Monklands". YouTube. 26 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. ^ "MSPs approve Scotland's controversial hate crime law". BBC News. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ Philip, Andy (9 September 2020). "Humza Yousaf defends controversial hate crime laws after backlash". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Orders for 17 May 2023" (PDF). Privy Council Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. ^ "How big a threat to Humza Yousaf is a no-confidence vote?". BBC News. 25 April 2024. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Harness, James (29 April 2024). "Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf to resign". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024. Scottish National Party leader Humza Yousaf quits, triggering a search for a successor and new first minister[...] He calls for a leadership contest to find his replacement as soon as possible, and will remain first minister until then.
  7. ^ Birth certificate of Humza Haroon Yousaf, 7 April 1985, Glasgow District 590/396 – National Records of Scotland
  8. ^ "Humza Yousaf MSP | PrideOfPakistan.com". Pride of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  9. ^ @HumzaYousaf (13 October 2012). "@Suhail_Ahmad well it origin is India! I too am a Pakistani Rajput but historically your family will have been Rajput pre-partition?" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 August 2023 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "Maya Amir: An inspiration: What Humza Yousaf's victory means to young Scots like me". 6 April 2023. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  11. ^ Rayner, Gordon (29 March 2023). "How British Asians came to be political powerhouses". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b Daisley, Stephen (20 February 2023). "Humza Yousaf looks like Nicola Sturgeon 2.0". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  13. ^ Bond, David; Mata, William (21 February 2023). "Who is Humza Yousaf? The frontrunner to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e Rhodes, Mandy (22 October 2018). "Interview: Humza Yousaf on tackling hate head-on". Holyrood Website. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Who is Humza Yousaf? The Pakistani-origin leader elected as Scotland's First Minister". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  16. ^ Dickie, Douglas (4 May 2023). "Alex Salmond takes swipe at public schoolboy Humza Yousaf over school meals". scottishdailyexpress. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Who is Humza Yousaf— Scotland's leader of Pakistani origin? Know about his wife and other details". WION. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  18. ^ "FPs Humza Yousaf and John Mason elected as MSPs". Hutchesons' Grammar School. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  19. ^ Mount, Harry (25 February 2023). "Humza Yousaf and Anas Sarwar's debt to private schools". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Humza Yousaf MSP | NHS Scotland Events". nhsscotlandevents.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Alumni: Our alumni: Life after Glasgow: Notable alumni". University of Glasgow. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  22. ^ a b Allan, Vicky (13 January 2013). "Exclusive: SNP aims to make independent Scotland a world leader in aid". The Herald. Newsquest. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  23. ^ "Humza Yousaf MSP". www.gov.scot. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  24. ^ Mallinder, Lorraine (17 March 2023). "Who is Humza Yousaf, Scottish favourite to replace Sturgeon?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Humza Yousaf". www.parliament.scot. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  26. ^ Robertson, Alan (18 December 2012). "Home and away: Minister for External Affairs and International Development Humza Yousaf". Hoyrood magazine. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  27. ^ "MSPs: Current MSPs: Humza Yousaf: Personal Information". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  28. ^ Paterson, Stewart (16 November 2012). "Nicola Sturgeon named Scotland's top politician ... again". Evening Times. Newsquest. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  29. ^ "Current MSPS: HumzaYousef: Register of Interests". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  30. ^ "Young Scottish Minority Ethnic Award Winners 2009". redhotcurry.com. 14 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  31. ^ "Vote 2011: Scotland elections: Regions: Glasgow results". BBC News. BBC. 8 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  32. ^ "2011 Election Results". www.parliament.scot. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  33. ^ "Stars who have risen and fallen". The Herald. Newsquest. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  34. ^ "MSPs to take oaths in six languages". STV News. STV Group. 11 May 2011. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  35. ^ Paterson, Stewart (12 May 2011). "Glasgow's magnificent seven sworn in as MSPs". Evening Times. Newsquest. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  36. ^ "Humza Yousaf". www.parliament.scot. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  37. ^ "Scottish Parliament Fact sheet: Ministers, Law Officers and Parliamentary Liaison Officers by Cabinet: Session 4" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. 22 January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  38. ^ "Who is in the Scottish cabinet?". BBC News. BBC. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  39. ^ "Democracy live: Ministerial appointments debate". BBC News. BBC. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  40. ^ Carrell, Severin; correspondent, Scotland (31 October 2013). "Independent Scotland 'would commit to UN overseas aid target'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  41. ^ Yousaf, Humza. "An Independent Scotland would be good for the world". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  42. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon announces new Scottish cabinet". BBC News. BBC. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  43. ^ "New Islands minister appointed". The Orcadian. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  44. ^ "Scottish Government Cabinet Reshuffle: Who's in and Who's out?". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  45. ^ "Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2020–2021". gov.scot. 28 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  46. ^ Yousaf, Humza (19 July 2020). "Humza Yousaf: Hate Crime Bill strikes right balance between respecting freedom of expression and tackling hate speech". Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  47. ^ "Free speech row over new hate crime bill in Scotland". BBC News. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  48. ^ "Controversial hate crime legislation to be changed". BBC News. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  49. ^ McLaughlin, Mark (28 October 2020). "Hate crime bill: Hate talk in homes 'must be prosecuted'". The Times. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  50. ^ "Scottish Government Cabinet Reshuffle: Who's in and Who's out?". www.scotsman.com. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  51. ^ McCann, David. "Humza Yousaf angers doctors with child Covid claims". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  52. ^ "Covid in Scotland: Health Secretary Humza Yousaf 'regrets' child Covid alarm". BBC News. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  53. ^ Maishman, Elsa (4 July 2021). "Covid Scotland: 'Shock and concern' as half of Europe's top ten Covid hotspots in Scotland". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  54. ^ Boothman, John. "SNP 'in disarray' as WHO says Scotland has six in ten European Covid hotspots". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  55. ^ Johnson, Simon (7 July 2021). "SNP accused of being 'missing in action' amid Covid surge in Scotland". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  56. ^ Pooran, Neil (7 July 2021). "Health Secretary Humza Yousaf defends taking holiday as Covid cases rocket". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  57. ^ "Yousaf's advice to think twice before dialling 999 raises fundamental questions about NHS funding – Scotsman comment". www.scotsman.com. 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  58. ^ Merson, Adele (21 September 2021). "'Unacceptable': Humza Yousaf apologises to families impacted by ambulance crisis". Press and Journal. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  59. ^ Andrews, Kieran, and Helen Puttick. "Humza Yousaf sends for taxis to join army tackling ambulance delays". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  60. ^ "Emergency delays 'led to 500 hospital deaths'". Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  61. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon says time is right to resign as Scotland's first minister". BBC News. 15 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  62. ^ Guy, Luke McGee, Jack (15 February 2023). "Nicola Sturgeon unexpectedly quits as first minister of Scotland amid swirl of political setbacks, citing 'brutality' of public life". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  63. ^ Carrell, Severin; Brooks, Libby; Adu, Aletha (15 February 2023). "Who will replace Nicola Sturgeon? Scottish leadership runners and riders". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  64. ^ "SNP leadership race: Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan announce bids to succeed Nicola Sturgeon". Sky News. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  65. ^ a b Carrell, Severin (20 February 2023). "Humza Yousaf emerges as frontrunner to replace Nicola Sturgeon". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  66. ^ Media, P. A. (18 February 2023). "SNP leadership: Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan announce plans to stand". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  67. ^ Sanderson, Daniel (20 February 2023). "Kate Forbes SNP campaign launch upstages Nicola Sturgeon's preferred successor". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  68. ^ "'Special place in my heart': Humza Yousaf launches leadership bid in Clydebank". Clydebank Post. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  69. ^ "Humza Yousaf: I am concerned at using general election as de facto IndyRef2". The Independent. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  70. ^ "Humza Yousaf not 'wedded' to de facto referendum plan as he launches leadership bid". The National. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  71. ^ a b "SNP leadership: Yousaf says his focus is on policies of independence". BBC News. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  72. ^ Gordon, Tom (21 February 2023). "Yousaf facing questions over missed gay marriage vote". The Herald. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  73. ^ Brooks, Libby (20 February 2023). "Top SNP leadership candidates split over LGBT+ rights". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  74. ^ Brooks, Libby (27 March 2023). "Humza Yousaf elected leader of Scottish National party". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  75. ^ Lawless, Jill (27 March 2023). "Scotland to get 1st Muslim leader as SNP elects Humza Yousaf". AP News. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  76. ^ "Humza Yousaf: How is Scotland's first minister appointed?". BBC Newsround. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  77. ^ "Humza Yousaf sworn in as Scotland's first minister at Court of Session in Edinburgh". Sky News. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  78. ^ "Humza Yousaf confirmed as Scotland's new first minister". BBC News. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  79. ^ "Humza Yousaf elected by MSPs as Scotland's new first minister". Sky News. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  80. ^ Statesman, New (17 May 2023). "The New Statesman's left power list". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  81. ^ Meighan, Craig (3 March 2023). "Yousaf vows to fight to repeal Section 35 if he becomes SNP leader". STV News. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  82. ^ "Humza Yousaf calls on PM to grant Section 30 order during first meeting". The National. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  83. ^ "Humza Yousaf calls on PM to grant Section 30 order during first meeting". Yahoo News. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  84. ^ "SNP plays longer game in bid for Scottish independence". BBC News. 29 April 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  85. ^ a b "Humza Yousaf unveils plan for written constitution for Scotland". BBC News. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  86. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon's new Scottish independence paper – the key points". The Independent. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  87. ^ a b c "Humza Yousaf reveals Scots citizenship and passport plan". BBC News. 27 July 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  88. ^ "Humza Yousaf pledges £1 million support for community cost of living projects". The National. 2 March 2023. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  89. ^ "Humza Yousaf: What will be in the new first minister's in-tray?". BBC News. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  90. ^ Kent, Lauren (27 March 2023). "Humza Yousaf wins race to replace Sturgeon as Scotland's next leader". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  91. ^ "Scotland's business community reacts to Humza Yousaf win". The National. 27 March 2023. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  92. ^ a b c "Scottish drug deaths drop to lowest level for five years". BBC News. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  93. ^ a b c "Yousaf seeks 'genuine discussion' on drug consumption rooms as MPS support pilot". 31 August 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  94. ^ a b "Humza Yousaf 'committed' to free tuition for Scots". BBC News. 10 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  95. ^ a b "Humza Yousaf suggests he could halt universal free school meals". 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  96. ^ "Humza Yousaf 'flip-flopping' on free school meals, says Labour". September 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  97. ^ "%20was%20under%20consideration "Humza Yousaf commits to expanding free school meals but gives no timescale". 29 June 2023. "%20was%20under%20consideration Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  98. ^ "Reading Schools". Reading Schools. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  99. ^ "First Minister backs next phase in 'transformative' school reading scheme". 31 August 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  100. ^ "Tackling poverty and growing the economy". Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  101. ^ "Supreme Court judgment on Scottish independence referendum". Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  102. ^ "Building a new Scotland". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  103. ^ Mason, Rowena (10 December 2023). "David Cameron threat over Humza Yousaf's meeting with Turkish president". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  104. ^ "Twitter Status". Twitter. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  105. ^ a b "Scots leader to visit Brussels to foster ties with EU". www.euractiv.com. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  106. ^ Andrews, Kieran (31 July 2023). "EU rebuffs Humza Yousaf's plan for Scottish envoy". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  107. ^ "Under-fire Scottish leader Humza Yousaf takes plea for closer EU ties to Brussels". POLITICO. 28 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  108. ^ "Pakistan High Commission London". Pakistan High Commission London. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  109. ^ a b c "Humza Yousaf explains Ukraine war 'where are the men' gaffe". 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  110. ^ a b c "Humza Yousaf pledges 'absolute solidarity with Ukraine' on Independence Day". 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  111. ^ "In praise of Humza Yousaf's Israel response". The Spectator. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  112. ^ "Humza Yousaf condemns Israel's actions in tearful plea over mother-in-law stuck in Gaza". Sky News. 13 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  113. ^ "Yousaf calls on every UK political leader to back Gaza ceasefire". The Independent. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  114. ^ "'I am sorry that world couldn't...': Scotland leader as Gaza refugee camp bombed". India Today. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  115. ^ "Calls for Sunak to sack Braverman mount as she is accused of spawning 'hatred'". The Independent. 11 November 2023. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  116. ^ "Humza Yousaf calls on Suella Braverman to resign over protests". BBC News. 11 November 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  117. ^ "John Swinney elected unopposed as new SNP leader". BBC News. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  118. ^ Daisley, Stephen (20 February 2023). "Humza Yousaf looks like Nicola Sturgeon 2.0". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  119. ^ "Susan Aitken backs contender as 'progressive and inclusive' in SNP leadership race". Yahoo! Finance. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  120. ^ "Who is Humza Yousaf? Nicola Sturgeon loyalist gunning for SNP top job". HeraldScotland. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  121. ^ Deerin, Chris (15 February 2023). "What will Nicola Sturgeon's legacy be?". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  122. ^ Meighan, Craig (8 March 2023). "The nine things we learned from STV's SNP leadership debate". STV News. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  123. ^ Yousaf, Humza (17 April 2014). "Humza Yousaf: In run up to Scottish independence referendum SNP are still helping all Scots". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  124. ^ Live, Glasgow (23 October 2016). ""We need to protect Scotland's interests and review our care system"". GlasgowLive. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  125. ^ "Humza Yousaf: I am concerned at using general election as de facto IndyRef2". Wandsworth Times. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  126. ^ "Humza Yousaf vows to ditch Nicola Sturgeon's de facto referendum plan". HeraldScotland. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  127. ^ "Humza Yousaf accepts no 'sustained majority' for independence". ITV News. 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  128. ^ Meer, Nasar (1 March 2023). "All but one of Scotland's cabinet ministers have been white – this SNP leadership race could be a turning point". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  129. ^ Hansford, Amelia (21 February 2023). "Is SNP's Humza Yousaf Scotland's only hope for trans rights?". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  130. ^ "Why did Humza Yousaf miss the Scottish Parliament's final equal marriage vote?". uk.sports.yahoo.com. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  131. ^ "LGBTQ Rights Take Center Stage in Scottish Leadership Race". Bloomberg.com. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  132. ^ "LGBT rights would be embedded in a written Scottish constitution, says Humza Yousaf". The National. 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  133. ^ Mohammed Hijab (30 March 2023). Is Humza Yousaf Muslim?. Retrieved 20 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  134. ^ Mohammed Hijab (7 April 2023). Response to UK Muslim Brotherhood on Takfir of Humza Yusaf (1st Minister of Scotland). Retrieved 20 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  135. ^ Hamza Andreas Tzortzis (3 April 2023). Betraying Islam: Humza Yousaf, Takfir & the LGBTQ+ Agenda. Retrieved 20 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  136. ^ 5Pillars (RMS) (29 March 2023). "Humza Yousaf has trashed Islamic teachings on his way to Scotland's top job". 5Pillars. Retrieved 20 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  137. ^ "SNP will use general election to demand independence". BBC News. 23 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  138. ^ Carrell, Severin; Brooks, Libby (15 October 2023). "Humza Yousaf quells SNP rebellion with independence strategy compromise". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  139. ^ a b "Scottish Results". Glasgow City Council. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  140. ^ "Constituencies A-Z: Glasgow Pollok". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  141. ^ "Region Results for Glasgow Pollok (2021)". Glasgow City Council. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  142. ^ "Region Results for Glasgow Pollok (2016)". Glasgow City Council. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  143. ^ "SNP activist caught up in 'fake leaflet' row". The Scotsman. 17 April 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  144. ^ McLaughlin, Mark (4 October 2019). "Journey of discovery: interview with Humza Yousaf". Holyrood Website. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  145. ^ Malik, Paul (14 October 2019). "Dundee case worker married to justice secretary shares heartbreak after three miscarriages". The Courier. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  146. ^ "Humza Yousaf and wife expecting baby in July". BBC News. 1 March 2024. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  147. ^ Gordon, Tom (8 December 2016). "SNP Transport Minister Humza Yousaf blames marriage split for driving without insurance". The Herald. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  148. ^ "Humza Yousaf complaint against Dundee nursery upheld". BBC News. 3 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  149. ^ Carrell, Severin (3 November 2021). "Scottish minister's complaint against nursery upheld by inspectors". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  150. ^ Bussey, Katrine (7 February 2023). "Nursery boss says Humza Yousaf's wife has 'terminated' legal action". The independent. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  151. ^ "Scottish first Minister's parents in-law trapped in Gaza". BBC. 9 October 2023. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  152. ^ Bonar, Megan (5 November 2023). "Humza Yousaf's in-laws who were trapped in Gaza arrive back in Scotland". BBC. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  153. ^ Yousaf, Humza [@HumzaYousaf] (17 July 2024). "Welcome to the world Liyana Jenin Yousaf, we are in love. ... We give thanks to God for blessing our family with a new addition" (Tweet). Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via Twitter.
  154. ^ Tilbrook, Richard (17 May 2023). "ORDERS APPROVED AND BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD BY THE KING AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON 17TH MAY 2023" (PDF). The Privy Council Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  155. ^ "Privy council". Institute for Government. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
[edit]
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow Pollok

2016–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Leader of the Scottish National Party
2023–2024
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byas Minister for Transport and Islands Minister for Transport and the Islands
2016–2018
Succeeded byas Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands
Preceded by Cabinet Secretary for Justice
2018–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
2021–2023
Succeeded byas Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care
Preceded by First Minister of Scotland
2023–2024
Succeeded by
Order of precedence in Scotland
Preceded byas Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland
2023–2024
Succeeded byas Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament

Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humza_Yousaf
5 views |
Download as ZWI file
Encyclosphere.org EncycloReader is supported by the EncyclosphereKSF