Scottish separatists chose Humza Yousaf on Monday March 27 to succeed Nicola Sturgeon and become the new Prime Minister, promising to lead Scotland to independence this generation.
Aged 37, this close friend of Nicola Sturgeon inherits the delicate mission of reviving a losing independence movement which comes up against London's obstinate refusal to authorize the holding of a new referendum.
Until then Minister of Health, he became the first Muslim to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom.
He is to be elected Prime Minister on Tuesday by the local Parliament in Edinburgh.
We will be the generation that achieves independence for Scotland
Humza Yousaf, new leader of the Scottish National Party
“
We will be the generation that will achieve independence for Scotland
,” Humza Yousaf said in his speech, stressing that “
the people
” of Scotland “
need independence now, more than ever
”.
After an internal ballot triggered by the surprise resignation of Nicola Sturgeon last month after eight years in office, he wins against Finance Minister Kate Forbes, with controversial Conservative positions, and Ash Regan, a former local government member.
No candidate having won more than 50% of the vote in this ballot where voters rank the candidates in order of preference, he won the second count, winning 52.1% of the vote.
More than 50,000 SNP members took part in the vote, for an electorate of just over 72,000 members.
The local government of Scotland, a territory with 5.5 million inhabitants, is responsible for many subjects including education, health and justice.
More broadly, this election has potentially serious consequences for the future of the United Kingdom, whose divisions between its four constituent nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) have been aggravated by Brexit.
Humza Yousaf, the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, March 27, 2023. RUSSELL CHEYNE / REUTERS
2014 referendum
But support for independence, at the heart of the program of the SNP, a party anchored on the left, has stagnated.
According to a YouGov opinion poll on March 13, 46% of respondents are in favor of independence (against 50% last month).
Including the undecided, the proportion drops to 39%.
In the referendum held in 2014, 45% of Scots voted for independence.
The independence cause had however been revived by Brexit, which was opposed by 62% of Scots, the SNP seeing in a break with London the way to return to the European Union.
Humza Yousaf says too much time has been spent pointing out the failures of the British government in London and not enough time creating a vision for an independent Scotland.
He pledged on Monday to launch a grassroots movement for self-determination.
Embodiment of Progressivism
According to the Ipsos institute, Kate Forbes was the favorite candidate of the Scots, with 27% of favorable opinions, against 22% for Humza Yousaf and 14% for Ash Regan.
But within the SNP, Humza Yousaf came out on top, with 38%.
Kate Forbes is not far behind with 37% (22% for Regan).
Kate Forbes had a rocky start to the campaign due to her conservative views.
She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, which opposes same-sex marriage and abortion.
Scottish Finance Minister Kate Forbes, unsuccessful candidate for the leadership of the Scottish National Party (SNP), in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK, March 12, 2023. CRAIG BROUGH / REUTERS
Humza Yousaf embodied continuity with progressive positions on social issues and anchored on the left on the economy, wishing for example to increase taxes on the richest.
He was criticized for his record in his various posts in the Scottish government.
Nicola Sturgeon, 52, announced her resignation on February 15 to everyone's surprise, explaining that she no longer had the necessary energy after eight years in power.
She also found herself in trouble after London blocked a controversial law making it easier to change gender.
This law was to allow the recognition of gender change, without medical advice and from the age of 16.
The British Supreme Court also ruled last year that the Scottish government could not organize a new referendum without London's agreement.
But Nicola Sturgeon said she had "
full confidence
" that her successor would succeed in leading Scotland to independence.