ALAN Cumming has backed Humza Yousaf to take over as first minister of Scotland.
The Yes-supporting actor and celebrity used Instagram to endorse Yousaf for SNP leader.
The Health Secretary is in a three-horse race against Kate Forbes and Ash Regan to take over as party chief following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon.
He is currently leading the pack in terms of endorsements from SNP parliamentarians, with the backing of ministers who had been tipped to enter the race themselves including Mairi McAllan, Neil Gray, and Jenny Gilruth.
Yousaf can add Cumming to his list of backers, after the actor wrote on Instagram: “I think this man must be the next leader of Scotland, don’t you?!”
He included a picture of the Health Secretary, and tagged him in the post.
Cumming confirmed to The National that he is an SNP member and will have a vote in the ballot.
On Twitter, Yousaf "liked" a post from this paper reporting on Cumming's decision.
In late January, Cumming hit the headlines after he returned his OBE over "misgivings" surrounding the "toxicity" of the British Empire.
The Scottish star received the award in 2009 for his activism on equal rights for the gay and lesbian communities in America.
But following conversations around the history of the British Empire, and its "exploitation of indigenous peoples" Cumming decided to hand the honour back.
In an Instagram post to mark his 58th birthday on Friday, the Hollywood actor said he began to "open my eyes" on the monarchy and Britain's empire following the death of the Queen.
