As Nicola Sturgeon resigns as Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf has emerged as the frontrunner to take her place. Yousaf, who is currently the Scottish health secretary, has pledged to uphold Sturgeon’s socially progressive policy agenda.
Yousaf praised Sturgeon’s work over the last decade, calling her an “incredible party leader” and “an exceptional First Minister.”
Outlining his bid in a video announcing that he will be running for the role, Yousaf said:
“I’m doing it because the top job requires somebody who has experience and I have been trusted by Nicola Sturgeon with some of the toughest jobs in government.”
READ MORE: Why is Nicola Sturgeon resigning as Scottish First Minister?
Mr Yousaf, 37, became the first Muslim to be appointed to the Scottish government in 2012. Currently, he is the new favourite at 2/5 to be Scotland's next First Minister.
Since then he has served as Transport minister, Justice secretary and International Development minister.
Yousaf’s father is from Pakistan and his mother is from Kenya. Speaking at his press conference on Monday morning (February 20), he said he doesn’t imagine that his late grandfather, who came to Scotland from a small town in Pakistan in 1962 with 'barely a word of English', would 'in his wildest dreams' have thought his grandson would 'one day be running to be First Minister of Scotland'.
He added that Scotland “should be proud that a grandson of an immigrant can seek to become the next First Minister.”
Yousaf runs against Kate Forbes and Ash Regan - the two other confirmed candidates. Ms Forbes recently declared she is against gay marriage, to which Mr Yousaf responded saying, "It's for her to defend her views, I've made my views very clear. I think my track record on equality issues speaks loud and clear.”
Mr Yousaf backed gay marriage legislation at an early stage, however he was not present for the final vote.
He also said on Monday that he backed Sturgeon’s stances on abortion clinic buffer zones and banning conversion practices, He also stated he would “absolutely” challenge the UK government’s block on Holyrood’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill, calling it “an assault, an attack” on Holyrood’s autonomy.
Yousaf tweeted on Tuesday saying: “Equality and the protection of rights are at the very core of my being. I have lived my entire life in Scotland as a minority, often having to fight for my rights. I want there to be no doubt in anyone’s mind, whoever you are, that I will fight to protect all of our rights.”
The SNP has said it will choose a new leader within six weeks through a ballot of its members, which will close on March 27.
Sturgeon has said she is not leaving politics and that she would stay in her position until a successor has been picked.
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