Humza Yousaf will be sworn in as the sixth First Minister of Scotland at the Court of Session this Wednesday, the Scottish Government has announced.
At the session, Yousaf will take the official oath before the Lord President of the Court of Session and other senior judges, the government said. He was nominated to become Scotland’s first minister after a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, the government noted, adding that MSPs voted 71 to 57 to select Yousaf as first minister from a total of four candidates who presented themselves.
“This is a very proud day for me and my family. I hope it’s also a proud day for Scotland as it speaks to our values as a country as I stand here as the first Muslim to lead a western democratic nation,” Yousaf said in a government statement on Tuesday.
“A key priority of my government will be to protect all Scots, as far as we can, from the damage caused by the cost of living crisis. We will protect and reform our NHS and social care and other vital public services, to supporting our welfare economy and improving the life chances of people across our country,” he added.
SNP elections
Members of the Scottish National Party (SNP) elected Yousaf as the party’s new leader in an election held between March 13 and 27, the SNP website confirmed on Monday.
The final number of eligible members was 72,169 and a total of 50,494 ballot papers containing a valid vote were received, 48,645 of which were cast electronically and 1,849 by post, the SNP revealed. There were three postal ballots rejected and turnout was 70 per cent, the SNP said.
In February, Sturgeon announced her intention to resign as First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP. Glasgow Southside MSP Sturgeon was elected First Minister on 19 November 2014.
Yousaf has been the MSP for the Glasgow Pollock constituency since 2016 and was the former MSP for the Glasgow region from 2011 to 2016, the Scottish Parliament website shows. He previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care under Sturgeon.
“It is difficult to find the words to describe the honor that I am entrusted by the members of the SNP to be the next leader of our party and to be on the verge of being the next prime minister of our country,” Yousaf said in a speech in victory posted on the SNP site on March 27.
“If he is elected as prime minister after tomorrow [March 28] vote in parliament, know that I will be a First Minister for all of Scotland, that I will work every minute of every day to win you and earn back your respect and trust,” he added in the speech.
“As prime minister I will not shy away from difficult challenges, those that require difficult decisions, but where there is a challenge, I will use it to find opportunities. My Government will seize the economic and social opportunities of the journey to Net Zero, a country as energy rich as Scotland should not have people living in energy poverty,” Yousaf continued.
Answer OEUK
Commenting on Yousaf’s victory, David Whitehouse, CEO of industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), said: “Offshore Energies UK congratulates Humza Yousaf as he becomes the new leader of the SNP and Prime Minister of Scotland”.
“We wish him every success at this critical time for businesses and individuals seeking energy security and stability in their daily lives,” he added in a statement posted on the OEUK site.
In the statement, Whitehouse also noted that “energy policy is a great opportunity to drive high-value jobs and growth for Scotland.”
“Our rich oil and gas heritage and supply chain in Scotland puts us in a strong position to take advantage of the opportunity,” he said.
“I am therefore looking forward to a highly collaborative relationship and building exciting new partnerships between government and industry for the good of Scotland and the UK as a whole,” Whitehouse added.
“Our new Business Outlook report… shows how we can lead the world by fueling today’s own energy production and giving people the confidence to invest carefully in tomorrow’s technologies and talent,” he continued the CEO of OEUK.
Goodbye sturgeon
In Sturgeon’s farewell speech to the Scottish Parliament, which was published on the SNP website on March 23, the country’s former first minister said: “No matter what I do in the future, nothing will approximate the experience of the last 3,046 days.”
“Being Prime Minister of the country I love has been a deep honor. I have led Scotland in good times, but also in the toughest period of our recent history,” Sturgeon added.
“It’s time for me to contribute in a different way to the causes I care deeply about: gender equality, young people with caring experience, climate justice and always, until the job is done, winning independence Scottish,” Sturgeon continued.
In the speech, Sturgeon also reserved some words for her successor.
“Next week we will find out the portrait of who will stand next to mine on the steps of Bute House. With the approval of this House, she will be the second female First Minister of Scotland or the first from an ethnic minority background.” Sturgeon said.
“In any case, it will send a powerful message that this, the highest office in the land, is one that any young person in Scotland can aspire to. Never forget that every day in this office is an opportunity to do something better for someone, somewhere in Scotland. Don’t shy away from big challenges or difficult debates,” Sturgeon added.
“You’re not going to get everything right. But it’s always better to aim high and fall short than not try at all,” Sturgeon continued.
Rigzone previously examined whether Sturgeon’s resignation would affect Scottish energy policy. To view this article, click here.
To contact the author, please send an email andreas.exarcheas@rigzone.com
Photo Credit – iStock.com/Daniel Tomlinson
