HUMZA Yousaf laughed when he was asked if a poor result for the SNP at the next General Election would herald his resignation.
The First Minister was speaking to journalists at Bute House on Thursday, following a “bruising” day for his SNP which saw its former chief executive, Peter Murrell, arrested and questioned by police.
Given the bombshell news, Yousaf was asked if he was hopeful of holding on to all of the SNP’s Westminster seats at the next General Election, which is expected in 2024.
He said: “Look, when I go into elections I go into them to win, much as I did going into this selection contest, so clearly I’m not going into elections to lose seats.”
Yousaf was then asked if he would stand down as party leader if the SNP lost 10 MPs, leading his aide to openly laugh.
“I know,” Yousaf responded. “That’s kind of my reaction too.
“I’ve only been in the position two weeks and you’re asking me whether I’ll resign or not.”
Pressed on recent polling suggesting Labour is gaining support in Scotland, Yousaf said: “They are coming up, but I’m happy to take them on, absolutely.
“We are the most progressive party in Scotland. We are the party that has a good track record in relation to delivering on tackling inequality. I believe that speaks to the people of Scotland. There’s much more work to be done so forgive me I’m not going to be putting out a prediction on the General Election now.”
He added: “I have to say, in all the ministerial roles I’ve had, almost questioning whether or not I should resign two weeks in is probably a record.”
Two polls released on Wednesday, but conducted before the arrest of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, showed the SNP held a narrowing lead over Labour.
The first, from Redfield and Winton, showed Yousaf’s party were five points ahead of Anas Sarwar’s on Westminster voting intention. However, this gap had narrowed from 10 points in early March.
Survation’s General Election polling gave the SNP an eight-point lead over Labour. However, this had also narrowed by five points since the firm’s last poll.
A potential by-election in Margaret Ferrier’s constituency of Rutherglen and Hamilton West is being eyed up by politics watchers to give an indication of how the SNP and Labour – who have both held the seat since 2015 – may be faring with voters.
Sarwar has said his party will throw “everything” at the by-election, which could double the number of Scottish Labour MPs to two.
Yousaf accepted that a by-election in the seat would be a “difficult challenge”, but insisted it was one which he would “welcome and take head on”.
