The Political Downfall of Humza Yousaf: How Sacking the Green Party Sealed His Fate

Humza Yousaf’s decision to sack the Green Party from his coalition has sent shockwaves through the political landscape in Scotland. According to our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies, this move ultimately sealed his political fate.

Gillies described it as the “biggest political miscalculation of his career” that led to the downfall of the first minister. Ending the three-year powersharing deal at Holyrood was deemed a “fatal mistake” that saw the walls closing in on Yousaf.

The decision to remove the Green Party from the coalition sparked a series of events that culminated in looming no confidence votes at the Scottish parliament. Facing backlash from the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party, Yousaf was left with no other option but to resign.

There was even talk of the ALBA party, led by Alex Salmond, potentially propping up the SNP government with their one MSP, Ash Regan. However, allies and sources close to Yousaf deemed this option as “doing a deal with the devil,” leading to his resignation.

Despite Yousaf’s initial defiance of the no confidence vote just 48 hours ago, the pressure became too much to bear. Gillies highlighted the fact that Yousaf, while well-liked within the SNP, was not able to command the same authority as Nicola Sturgeon, whom he had stepped in for last year.

In the end, Yousaf’s decision to remove the Green Party from his coalition set off a chain of events that ultimately led to his political demise.