HUMZA Yousaf has been elected the new leader of the SNP. Before that, he ran in the contest for about a month, he served as Scotland’s health secretary, as the justice secretary, and as a transport minister.
It’s fair to assume that a top journalist might have read his name once or twice in all that time.
But Adam Boulton – the Westminster stalwart, former Sky News political editor, and current Times Radio host – seems to have managed to avoid seeing anything at all about the biggest news in Scottish politics.
About 12 minutes after the winner of the SNP leadership race was announced, Boulton helpfully tweeted: “BREAKING New SNP leader Hamza Yousef.”
*Both* his names misspelled. Impressive
— Susan Aitken (@SusaninLangside) March 27, 2023
Glasgow Council leader Susan Aitken noted it was “impressive” that Boulton had managed to misspell both of the incoming leader’s names.
“Not Cait Fawbs then? Nor Esh Rogun?” another user quipped, as others variously thanked “Adem Biltong” and “Alan Botting” for his reporting.
“London media showing they're on top of Scottish issues as usual,” one Twitter user commented.
And a fourth added: “Well, as things change in Scotland we can always rely on some things to remain constant.”
Isn’t that the truth.
After all, Boulton's not the first in recent weeks to get the name Humza Yousaf wrong. A whole polling firm managed it earlier this month.