Connect with us

Published

on

SNP deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black has backed Humza Yousaf in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish First Minister.

Ms Black said Mr Yousaf was the only candidate that would take “our party and our country forward”.

Mr Yousaf, the current Scottish health secretary, faces competition for the top job from Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan.

Mhairi Black and Humza Yousaf
Image:
Mhairi Black and Humza Yousaf

Paisley and Renfrewshire MP Ms Black endorsed Mr Yousaf after describing how she was “incredibly hurt” by Ms Forbes’ remarks on gay marriage.

Ms Forbes, a Free Church of Scotland member, revealed how she would not have voted for the legislation on same-sex unions had she been at Holyrood at the time.

Ms Black, who married her wife last year, also said Mr Yousaf was the only candidate “willing to take the fight directly to Westminster” over its decision to veto controversial gender recognition reforms passed by Holyrood.

Speaking on Sunday, Ms Black said: “Having listened to the early stages of the leadership campaign it is already clear to me that Humza is the only candidate that can take our party and our country forward.

More on Nicola Sturgeon

“His vision of a progressive and fairer independent Scotland is one which I share.”

Mr Yousaf “understands the challenges the party faces, particularly internally, and is not afraid to rise to those challenges,” Ms Black added.

Scottish National Party leadership candidate Kate Forbes in Edinburgh after the recording of a television interview. Ms Forbes has said her campaign to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister is "absolutely not over" despite a backlash on her equal marriage views. She has received criticism from members of her own party after she said she would not have voted for same-sex marriage if she had been in office during the 2014 vote. Picture date: Wednesday October 26, 2022.
Image:
Scottish National Party leadership candidate Kate Forbes

He said he was “thrilled” to receive Ms Black’s endorsement.

“Like me, Mhairi has a record of standing up for equality and social progress.

“I am glad she shares my vision for building the team in government, and across the party, to take us on to independence.

“Mhairi understands, like me, that the SNP must earn our support, rather than simply expect it.”

‘Not wedded to de-facto referendum’

Mr Yousaf met supporters at the V&A Waterfront in Dundee on Saturday as the leadership contest continues.

Setting out his views on how the SNP should move forward after Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation, her would-be replacement said the Scottish independence campaign should not get stuck in a “quagmire of process”.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon in the chamber for First Minster's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Picture date: Thursday February 23, 2023.
Image:
Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon

If he does win the leadership, he vowed the party will have a series of regional assemblies to have “honest and frank discussions” with members.

Read more:
Final three in SNP leadership contest confirmed
A look back at Nicola Sturgeon’s political career

“I think all options that are within a legal framework should actually be on the table,” Mr Yousaf said.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sturgeon: What next for independence?

“I’ve made my views clear: I’m not wedded to the de facto referendum idea.

“I think there’s advantages but certainly disadvantages to that option.”

Mr Yousaf joins Dominic Raab, David Lammy, Mark Francois, Bernie Sanders and Mary Bousted on Sophy Ridge on Sunday, from 8.30am on Sky News

Continue Reading

World

Ukraine war: Russia launches drone strike on Kyiv – as commander ‘sacked for lying about war progress’

Published

on

By

Ukraine war: Russia launches drone strike on Kyiv - as commander 'sacked for lying about war progress'

Russia launched a large drone attack on Kyiv overnight, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning the attack shows his capital needs better air defences.

Ukraine’s air defence units shot down 50 of 73 Russian drones launched, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries as a result of the attacks.

Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs and around 460 attack drones in the past week.

Warning that Ukraine needs to improve its air defences, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “An air alert has been sounded almost daily across Ukraine this week”.

“Ukraine is not a testing ground for weapons. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state.

“But Russia still continues its efforts to kill our people, spread fear and panic, and weaken us.”

Russia did not comment on the attack.

More on Russia

It comes as Russian media reported that Colonel General Gennady Anashkin, the commander of the country’s southern military district, had been removed from his role over allegedly providing misleading reports about his troops’ progress.

While Russian forces have advanced at the fastest rate in Ukraine since the start of the invasion, forces have been much slower around Siversk and the eastern region of Donetsk.

Read more:
Russia ‘ready to hit UK with cyber attacks’
Lack of defensive shield must ring alarm bells
Putin threatens West with ‘unstoppable’ missile

Russian war bloggers have long complained that units there are poorly supported and thrown into deadly battles for little tactical gain.

Russia’s ministry of defence has not commented on the reports.

Continue Reading

World

Russian forces capture ‘former British soldier’ fighting for Ukraine – reports

Published

on

By

Russian forces capture 'former British soldier' fighting for Ukraine - reports

Russian forces have reportedly captured a British man while he was fighting for Ukraine.

In a widely circulated video posted on Sunday, the man says his name is James Scott Rhys Anderson, aged 22.

He says he is a former British Army soldier who signed up to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion after his job.

He is dressed in army fatigues and speaks with an English accent as he says to camera: “I was in the British Army before, from 2019 to 2023, 22 Signal Regiment.”

He tells the camera he was “just a private”, “a signalman” in “One Signal Brigade, 22 Signal Regiment, 252 Squadron”.

“When I left… got fired from my job, I applied on the International Legion webpage. I had just lost everything. I just lost my job,” he said.

“My dad was away in prison, I see it on the TV,” he added, shaking his head. “It was a stupid idea.”

In a second video, he is shown with his hands tied and at one point, with tape over his eyes.

Read more:
Russia ‘ready to hit UK with cyber attacks’
Lack of defensive shield must ring alarm bells
Putin threatens West with ‘unstoppable’ missile

He describes how he had travelled to Ukraine from Britain, saying: “I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton. Bus from there to Medyka in Poland, on the Ukraine border.”

Russian state news agency Tass reported that a military source said a “UK mercenary” had been “taken prisoner in the Kursk area” of Russia.

The UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention”.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment at this stage.

Continue Reading

World

Body of missing rabbi Zvi Kogan found in UAE – as Israeli PM says he was murdered in ‘antisemitic terror incident’

Published

on

By

Body of missing rabbi Zvi Kogan found in UAE - as Israeli PM says he was murdered in 'antisemitic terror incident'

The body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been found, Israel has said.

Zvi Kogan, the Chabad representative in the UAE, went missing on Thursday.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office on Sunday said the 28-year-old rabbi was murdered, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident”.

“The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death,” it said.

On Saturday, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad said it was investigating the disappearance as suspicions arose that he had been kidnapped.

The Emirati government gave no immediate acknowledgment that Mr Kogan had been found dead. Its interior ministry has described the rabbi as being “missing and out of contact”.

“Specialised authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the interior ministry said.

Mr Kogan lived in the UAE with his wife Rivky, who is a US citizen. He ran a Kosher grocery store in Dubai, which has been the target of online protests by pro-Palestinian supporters.

The Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism, said Mr Kogan was last seen in Dubai.

Read more:
Hamas claims Israeli hostage killed in IDF attack on Gaza
No 10 indicates Netanyahu would be arrested

Israeli authorities reissued their recommendation against all non-essential travel to the UAE and said visitors currently there should minimise movement and remain in secure areas.

The rabbi’s disappearance comes as Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October.

While the Israeli statement on Mr Kogan did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have previously carried out kidnappings in the UAE.

The UAE diplomatically recognised Israel in 2020. Since then, synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners have been set up for the burgeoning Jewish community but the unrest in the Middle East has sparked deep anger in the country.

Continue Reading

Trending