Leaders | A Holyrood ending

The wider lessons of Scotland’s political turmoil

Humza Yousaf’s resignation is the latest in a string of setbacks

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf speaks during a press conference at Bute House.
Photograph: Reuters

HUMZA YOUSAF announced his resignation as Scotland’s first minister on April 29th after a mere 13 months (or 8.1 Liz Trusses) in office. Four days earlier he had unilaterally terminated a coalition agreement with the Scottish Green Party, claiming that this would free the Scottish National Party (SNP) to run an unencumbered minority government. The Greens promptly said they would support a vote of no confidence in him, and when it became clear that Mr Yousaf would struggle to survive, he fell on his sword.

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