, the youngest and first person
of colour to hold the office of Scotland's First Minister has
formally stepped down.
At his time of appointment, he was the first Muslim leader of any
Western nation.
Following the First Minister's election in March last year, he
announced his intention to stand down last week, remaining in
post until a new First Minister was appointed.
Mr Yousaf officially tendered his resignation in writing today to
His Majesty King Charles III which has been accepted and the
Scottish Parliament notified.
said:
“Being the First Minister of the country I love, the country I am
raising my family in, and the only country I will ever call home
has been a phenomenal honour.
“As a young Muslim boy, born and raised in Scotland, I could
never have dreamt that one day I would have the privilege of
leading my country – people who looked like me, were not in
positions of political influence, let alone leading governments
when I was younger.
“I am proud to have delivered a council tax freeze for households
in every local authority in Scotland, invested record amounts in
our National Health Service, removed peak fares on our railways,
and approved plans for Europe's largest floating offshore
windfarm. And through our actions, an estimated 100,000 children
are expected to be kept out of poverty this year.
“From the backbenches of the Scottish Parliament, I will continue
to champion the rights and the voices of those who are often not
heard, be they at home or abroad.”
First Minister Humza Yousaf's letter to His Majesty King Charles
III:
Your Majesty,
With my humble duty, I write as anticipated in my letter to Your
Majesty of 29 April to tender to Your Majesty my resignation from
the office of First Minister. I propose that my resignation
take effect from the start of Scottish parliamentary plenary
business on Tuesday 7 May 2024.
Throughout my time as First Minister, I have been most grateful
for your counsel and the kindness you have shown to both Nadia
and I.
It has been my pleasure to serve Your Majesty and the people of
Scotland since March 2023.
Background
has held a number of
ministerial positions in the Scottish Government since 2012, and
joined the Cabinet in June 2018 as Cabinet Secretary for
Justice.
He was then appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social
Care in May 2021.
He officially took up the post of First Minister of Scotland on
29 March 2023 when he was sworn in at the Court of Session.
Modelling published in February 2024 estimates that Scottish
Government's policies will keep 100,000 children out of relative
poverty in 2024-25, with relative poverty levels 10 percentage
points lower than they would have otherwise been. Child poverty cumulative
impact assessment: update - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
