Pakistani origin Humza Yousaf has created history by becoming the head of Scottish National Party (SNP) and he is set to be named as Scotland’s new first minister at the age of 37. He has replaced Nicola Sturgeon who tendered her resignation last month.
He will be the youngest person to hold this office and the first Muslim to lead the Scottish nation.
In the first round of vote system, Humza Yousaf took 24,336 (48%), while her opponent Kate Forbes grabbed 20,559 (40%) votes. Yousaf took 26,032 (52%) and Ms Forbes took 23,890 (48%) votes in the second round.
After securing the victory Yousaf said: “I feel like the luckiest man in the world to be standing here as leader of the SNP.”
As immigrants, Yousaf said, they could not have imagined that their grandson would one day be on the cusp of being the next first minister of Scotland. He said that would be minister of all the Scotland. He said that he would work hard for his nation.
He said that we would work as a team for the betterment and the independence for Scotland. He will get a vote at Holyrood on Tuesday before being formally confirmed as first minister.
Humza Yousaf will face some strong challenges as he takes office. Key responsibilities will include defining a clear plan for independence and others.
Following the victory of Humza Yousaf, Ms Forbes congratulated her colleague in a Tweet.
She wrote, “My heartiest congratulations to @HumzaYousaf, our new @theSNP leader and Scotland’s next First Minister. I’m delighted for him, wish him all the best and will back him as he leads our party and our nation to better days.”
Ms Sturgeon also paid tribute to the new leader with a tweet.
She wrote, “I pay tribute to all 3 candidates for @theSNP leadership for rising to the challenge. Most of all I congratulate @HumzaYousaf and wish him every success. He will be an outstanding leader & First Minister and I could not be prouder to have him succeed me.”
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer also greeted Humza Yousaf with a tweet.
He wrote: “Congratulations to Humza Yousaf – the first first minister of an ethnic minority background is a significant moment for Scotland. The SNP do not have the answers on the NHS or on the cost of living crisis. Only Labour can provide the change that Scotland needs.”
