#alex-salmond

#alex-salmond

The SNP could make life very difficult for Labour after the next general election if Sir Keir Starmer does not co-operate with it, Humza Yousaf has said.The Scottish First Minister said a demand for a second independence referendum would be top of the list of his party's requests if Labour needs help forming a government at Westminster.

The Scottish Conservatives have called for a parliamentary inquiry focusing on the ongoing investigation into the SNP's finances.The party's chief whip Alexander Burnett has written to the Presiding Officer to push for the probe, asking the parliamentary bureau the cross-party group which decides on Holyrood business to establish a committee that will examine the facts of the case.

Scotland's outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said Humza Yousaf will be an outstanding successor as she congratulated him on his appointment as SNP leader.Mr Yousaf defeated the current Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan in what was the SNP's first leadership contest for almost 20 years.

Nicola Sturgeon is to face her final First Minister's Questions on Thursday after more than eight years as head of the Scottish Government.The leader of the SNP announced last month she was stepping down from her role at a press conference in Edinburgh, saying she no longer has the stamina to carry on in the pressured and demanding role.

Nicola Sturgeon has said her husband Peter Murrell was right to announce his immediate resignation as chief executive of the party she leads.Mr Murrell said on Saturday he was stepping down from his role with immediate effect, following suggestions the party's ruling National Executive Committee was considering a vote of no confidence in him.

First Minister Humza Yousaf should have ordered police to have a standoff at Edinburgh Castle to stop the Stone of Destiny being taken to Westminster, Alex Salmond has said.The stone was taken to London last week to be used in the coronation of the King this weekend, as it has been used for centuries, but the former first minister said it could have been used to barter for another referendum on Scottish independence.

Humza Yousaf, who has become the first minority ethnic leader of the Scottish government, has had the advantage and the curse of being seen as the continuity candidate and Nicola Sturgeon's unacknowledged favourite.Of all three candidates, Yousaf, 37, was the only enthusiast for Sturgeon's approach and earned by far the most endorsements from SNP parliamentarians and ministers, notably including Sturgeon's deputy and closest political friend, John Swinney, himself a former leader of the party.

Scottish health secretary Humza Yousaf will finally find out his fate in the SNP leadership contest today.Mr Yousaf has been standing in the tense five-week contest against Ash Regan and Kate Forbes after Nicola Sturgeon announced she would resign, and will find out if he wins at around 2pm on Monday.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Humza Yousaf is currently the Scottish Health Secretary and one of the SNP's most senior and high-profile ministers.The 37-year-old's decision to run in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon came after careful consideration of the impact it will have on his family.

Nicola Sturgeon has utterly refuted allegations that a decision to award a major ferries contract to an ally of the Scottish government was jobs for the boys.The first minister told MSPs there was nothing improper about her government's decision to give a 97m contract to build two ferries in 2016 to Jim McColl, a financier who had advised Scottish ministers on the economy and was a political ally of her predecessor, Alex Salmond.

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Watch as Nicola Sturgeon announces her resignation as Scotland's first minister after more than eight years in the role.The Scottish National Party leader confirmed the shock news during a press conference in Edinburgh at her official residence, Bute House, on Wednesday morning She will leave office once her replacement has been selected.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails The first contested SNP leadership election in almost 20 years was triggered last month when Nicola Sturgeon announced her intention to resign.All three candidates who put their names forward to replace Ms Sturgeon who has been Scottish First Minister for eight years met the threshold of nominations to formally enter the race.