Humza Yousaf’s decision to abruptly end the SNP’s power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens has plunged the country into what Tom Harris, writing for the Telegraph, describes as the country’s greatest political crisis since devolution began in 1999.
It’s difficult to disagree with that assessment. Despite Mr Yousaf’s continued insistence that he won’t resign as First Minister, it’s clear his career is hanging by a thread.
A motion of no confidence in Mr Yousaf tabled by the Scottish Conservatives now has the backing of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens.
A separate motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government tabled by Labour has the backing of the Tories and the Liberal Democrats, with the Greens currently undecided. The First Minister’s subsequent plea for opposition parties to find “common ground” with the SNP was immediately rejected by the Scottish Conservatives as “humiliating and embarrassing”, while Scottish Labour described it as an act of “desperation”.
If the Greens vote with Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in these confidence votes, which could come as soon as Wednesday, Mr Yousaf will need the support of Ash Regan, his former SNP leadership rival, and now the Alba Party’s only MSP.
Even if she can be persuaded to rescue the beleaguered First Minster, her support may be too high for many SNP voters to stomach – a particularly apt metaphor, as it happens, with one SNP MSP already anonymously briefing the press that any form of pact with a party led by Alex Salmond would go down “like a cup of cold sick” with the electorate.
The disastrous roll out of Scotland’s new Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, which turned the First Minister into a laughing stock, is undoubtedly contributing to his political demise.
Following last week’s political turmoil in Holyrood, is there a possibility that the Act could be amended?
Will the staunch defender of women’s sex-based rights Kate Forbes leverage her new-found role as ‘kingmaker’ to demand new legislation which amends the existing Act and incorporates clear free speech protections for Scots with gender critical beliefs?
And what might happen if an election is called in the wake of next week’s confidence vote – will the fact that high-profile public figures such as JK Rowling, Joe Rogan and Elon Musk have mercilessly exposed the legislation’s deeply illiberal underlying philosophy sway people’s decisions at the ballot box?
We’ll be discussing these, and many other issues on Wednesday 1st May, when we bring together an expert panel to discuss what we have learnt from the first 30 days under the country’s new hate crime regime.
Our expert panel includes MSP Murdo Fraser, FSU general secretary Toby Young, and lawyer David McKie, who has been involved in some of the most significant cases in Scotland in the last 25 years.
Although tickets for the in-person event have already sold out (which gives an indication of the level of concern in Scotland about the country’s new hate crime regime), FSU members can of course still attend online by using the link sent out in the weekly newsletter and in emails from FSU Events.
To cater for additional demand, we’ve also opened up a £5 pay to view option for the public – and FSU supporters who aren’t (yet) members – to attend online. If you’re reading this, and you know of family members or friends who would be interested in watching the event, please do pass on this link.
