A FORMER SNP cabinet minister has said that Humza Yousaf’s account of missing a key vote on equal marriage is “not true”.
Speaking to The Herald, Alex Neil – who served as an MSP between 1999 and 2021 – said that Yousaf arranged a ministerial meeting 19 days before the final vote because he was under pressure from religious leaders.
"The truth is he asked to be 'skipped' because he was under pressure and he then arranged a ministerial meeting, and that was his cover for not voting, and if he says anything different it’s not true,” he said.
"There was no reason why that meeting had to be at the same time as the vote on the bill. I remember it very vividly.
"There is no doubt at all that Humza asked for and was given leave of absence from the vote because of 'pressure from the mosque'.
"He asked if he could be skipped from the vote, and the first minister gave him permission, and it was agreed he would arrange a ministerial appointment which would be timed for the day of the debate and the vote, so that he would have cover.
"I thought to be honest at the time it was a bit disappointing, because it was a matter of principle.
"He’s parading himself as being very much in favour of equal marriage. Why did he deliberately not vote for it?
“There’s no doubt in my mind that that is what happened.
He added: "I was the cabinet secretary in charge of the bill and it was a free vote, so I had to know and be sure that we had the majority.
"I was given all the information about who couldn't make it and what the numbers were likely to be and all the rest of it.” Yousaf, who was serving as a junior minister for Europe at the time, initially voted in favour of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill at stage one in November 2013.
However, he was the only minister to miss the final stage three in February 2014 as he had a meeting with the Pakistan Consul General in Glasgow at the same time.
The meeting reportedly related to the case of a Scot with a history of mental illness who was on death row accused of blasphemy in Pakistan.
When asked why he had missed the vote, Yousaf said: “Had ministerial engagement arranged beforehand but signed pledge, voted for stage one and v public about my (continued) support!”
He has claimed that attempts to resurrect the issue of his missed vote are an attempt to undermine his leadership bid and reiterated his support for equal marriage.
Responding to Neil’s comment Yousaf issued a statement.
It read: "I was proud to vote in favour of the Equal Marriage Bill in Scotland's Parliament.
"I was vocal about my support for marriage equality at the time and I remain unequivocal on that position.
"As your SNP first minister, and as someone from a minority background myself, I will stand up and champion equal rights for all."
