Scottish Conservative leader, Douglas Ross, has said he has “serious concerns” about Humza Yousaf's ability after he was named the next SNP leader.
Ross congratulated Yousaf on his election victory and on becoming the first leader of his party from an ethnic minority background.
Independence has been front and centre of the campaign, with Yousaf promising not just to be First Minister but "first activist" when it comes to independence.
My statement on the SNP leadership election result👇 pic.twitter.com/27AmG2F1f2
— Douglas Ross MP MSP (@Douglas4Moray) March 27, 2023
The Tory leader, who splits his time as a politician with his role as a football linesman, said: “I congratulate Humza Yousaf on his election, and on becoming the first leader of his party from an ethnic minority.
“We encourage him to govern for all of Scotland and abandon his divisive plans to push independence relentlessly as the self-styled ‘First Activist’.
“As the main opposition party, we will hold Humza Yousaf to account when he lets the Scottish people down."
The Moray MP – who also holds a seat in the Scottish Parliament – criticised Yousaf’s record as health minister.
Ross continued: “Unfortunately, we have serious concerns about his ability. For the good of Scotland, we hope he does not lurch from failure to failure as he did when he was Nicola Sturgeon’s Health Secretary, Justice Secretary and Transport Minister.
“Humza Yousaf’s election as leader shows that the SNP Government are moving further and further away from the real priorities of the Scottish people to obsess over independence.
“The Scottish Conservatives will continue to focus on the issues that matter to people across the country, such as strengthening our economy, supporting our struggling NHS and helping families with the global cost-of-living crisis.”
This is despite recent polling showing a likely wipeout for the Scottish Conservatives, with the Labour party replacing them as the main opposition.
However, throughout the leadership campaign, Yousaf pointed to the fact that Scotland has both the best performing NHS in the UK and the most GPs per head of the population.
These comments come after more than a decade of Conservative rule at Westminster, which has overseen a rise in poverty and the worst UK living standards on record.
The Glasgow Pollock MSP will also become the first leader of Scotland from an ethnic minority if the Scottish parliament ratifies his position as first minister.
