Humza Yousaf vows to stay in power – as pressure builds on his government

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2024

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Embattled Humza Yousaf has told Sky News he will not resign as Scotland’s first minister.

Pressure has been building on the SNP leader after he tore up the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens – prompting a no-confidence motion in his leadership and a threatened knife-edge vote.

However, Mr Yousaf, on a visit to Dundee that was arranged at short notice after he pulled out of a speech in Glasgow, insisted he was getting on with the job and accused the opposition of “playing games”.

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He said he would be writing to the leaders of all Scottish political parties to seek talks on making a minority government work.

He told Sky News’ Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies: “I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence, I’ve got every intention of winning that vote of no confidence.

“And let me say to the opposition for minority government to work in the interest of the people of Scotland also requires the opposition to act in good faith.”

Mr Yousaf has been left fighting for his political survival after his former allies in the Scottish Greens vowed to vote against him in a motion of no confidence, lodged by the Tories.

The crisis was sparked after Mr Yousaf dramatically brought the power-sharing deal with the Greens to an end on Thursday.

It followed tensions over the administration’s climbdown on climate targets and the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers at Scotland’s only gender clinic for young people.

Yousaf seeks to rebuild bridges he burned since becoming leader

Kitted out in his hard hat and hi-vis jacket, an embattled Humza Yousaf toured a new social housing development in Dundee today as he dodges incoming political fire.

It was difficult to miss the metaphor of him stepping out on to the balcony of one home – a leader whose career appears to be teetering on the edge.

I spoke to the first minister live on Sky News and his message could not have been clearer.

He is clambering to cling on – defiant that he will win a looming no-confidence vote.

He denies suggestions he even considered quitting in the past 24 hours.

Some sources within the SNP, though, told a different tale.

They contradict their leader with a suggestion he had serious conversations with his inner circle about the path ahead.

The sacked Green ministers may get the ultimate political “revenge” when they cast their vote next week.

One Green source told me the only move they would support Mr Yousaf doing is resigning.

“He needs to go now”, they said.

he question is how long can the SNP chief ride the storm?

His fate now lies in the hands of one-time leadership rival Ash Regan.

He said she was “no great loss” when she defected to Alex Salmond’s Alba party last year.

Mr Yousaf must now reset relations with the very people he has burned bridges with since taking over as Scotland’s leader in the wake of Nicola Sturgeon’s shock resignation

The ditching of the deal, branded an act of “political cowardice” by the Greens, means the SNP will now operate as a minority administration at Holyrood.

Referring to the Greens, whose co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were dumped this week as junior ministers, Mr Yousaf said he had “heard their anger, their upset”.

He added: “What I will do is be writing to all the political party leaders, all the party groups represented in the Scottish parliament, including of course Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, asking them to meet with me, to say how do we make minority government work.

“It’s in the best interests of the people of Scotland that all of us act in good faith and make it work.”

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A tight vote is expected at Holyrood next week, where 64 out of 128 MSPs are poised to oppose Mr Yousaf continuing as first minister.

The SNP have 63 MSPs at Holyrood while there is also Ash Regan, a former leadership rival to Mr Yousaf, who defected to Alex Salmond’s Alba Party last October.

She has written to the first minister, setting out demands in exchange for her crucial support, including progress on Scottish independence and defending “the rights of women and children”.

In the event of a tie-break, the presiding officer Alison Johnstone, who traditionally does not vote, would be expected to support the status quo.

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has also sought to tighten the screw by lodging a no-confidence motion in the entire devolved government – rather than just Mr Yousaf – which carries more far-reaching implications, including the prospect of an election.

Mr Sarwar: “It’s a matter now of when – not if – Humza Yousaf will step down as first minister.

“It would be untenable for the SNP to assume it can impose another unelected first minister on Scotland.”

Both the Tories and Liberal Democrats in Scotland have said they will support the Labour-led motion.

However, the move is unlikely to secure enough support with Alba coming out against it and accusing Mr Sarwar of “grandstanding”.

Politics

China says it has ‘no interest’ in spying on UK following latest accusations

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2025

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China says it has 'no interest' in spying on UK following latest accusations

China’s foreign ministry has hit back at what it called “unfounded” accusations of spying in Westminster, saying it has “no interest” in gathering intelligence on the UK.

Yesterday, the security service MI5 sent a warning to MPs and peers about two recruitment headhunters who are working for Chinese security services.

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They are Amanda Qiu of BR-YR Executive Search and Shirly Shen of the Internship Union.

But speaking in response to a question by Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning replied: “China has repeatedly made clear its solemn position on this matter.

“We firmly oppose such unfounded allegations and the exaggerated portrayal and sensationalism that project one’s own biases onto others.

“Judgements based on erroneous information will only lead astray.

Ms Mao added: “China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, nor does it have any interest in gathering so-called intelligence on the British parliament.”

Chinese spying accusations may signal thorny period ahead

It is China’s standard playbook to outright deny allegations of spying.

But given that it’s common knowledge countries spy on each other, and given the recent spate of allegations of this nature, it might feel a little far-fetched for China to stick so rigorously to the position that the UK is just making it all up.

Not so, says Mao Ning, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When I put it to her, she said that these allegations are, in fact, a “projection of one’s own biases on to others”, and that China doesn’t “have any interest in gathering so-called intelligence on the British parliament”.

That is almost certainly not true. China is commonly understood to run a highly sophisticated espionage operation.

But, in a way, the truth or untruth might be immaterial to the impact on the bilateral relationship.

While the UK government may seek to send strong signals amidst criticism that it’s being too soft, China really does not appreciate this type of laundry being aired in public.

It may well signal a thorny period ahead.

In a message seen by Sky News about parliamentary staff, MPs and peers were warned that the MI5 alert “highlights how the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) is actively reaching out to individuals in our community”.

The message continued: “Their aim is to collect information and lay the groundwork for long-term relationships, using professional networking sites, recruitment agents and consultants acting on their behalf.”

Security minister Dan Jarvis later said in a statement to parliament that “China has a low threshold for what information is considered to be of value, and will gather individual pieces of information to build a wider picture”.

He added: “Let me speak plainly. This activity involves a covert and calculated attempt by a foreign power to interfere with our sovereign affairs in favour of its own interests, and this government will not tolerate it.”

The government made a statement in the House of Commons following the revelations, saying it would take all “necessary measures” to protect the UK.

Westminster employees were warned that two individuals were both known to be reaching out on LinkedIn to “conduct outreach at scale on behalf of MSS”.

This latest warning comes after the collapse of a prosecution of two people suspected of spying on behalf of China.

The previous spying allegations led to controversy over how the government under Labour responded to the Crown Prosecution Service’s requests for evidence.

Sir Keir Starmer sought to blame the previous Conservative government for the issues, which centred on whether China could be designated an “enemy” under First World War-era legislation.

Sir Keir has sought to keep relationships with Beijing somewhat warm, highlighting the value of China as a trading partner.

Politics

New Hampshire approves first-of-its-kind $100M Bitcoin-backed municipal bond

Published

8 hours ago

November 19, 2025

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New Hampshire approves first-of-its-kind 0M Bitcoin-backed municipal bond

New Hampshire has approved the issuance of a $100 million municipal bond backed by Bitcoin, in what appears to be the first structure of its kind at the US state level.

Minutes from a Nov. 17 meeting of the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority (BFA), the state’s business financing agency, show the board planned “to consider approving a resolution authorizing up to $100,000,000 bonds for a project to acquire and hold digital currency.”

Minutes from the following day record that directors voted to “approve the preliminary official intent, with no reservation, to issue a taxable conduit revenue bond for WaveRose Depositor, LLC of up to $100,000,000.”

According to a Wednesday Crypto in America report, the bond is backed by Bitcoin (BTC) and would let companies borrow against overcollateralized BTC held by a private custodian. The state or taxpayers do not back the bond; instead, BFA approves and oversees a private deal, while Bitcoin — reportedly held in custody by BitGo — covers investors.

According to the report, asset manager Wave Digital Assets and bond specialist Rosemawr Management designed the bond to utilize Bitcoin as collateral under the same rules that govern municipal and corporate bonds. Wave co-founder Les Borsai said the goal is to “bridge traditional fixed income with digital assets” for institutional investors.

New Hampshire, United States — *The New Hampshire State House in Concord. Source:* *Wikimedia*

“We believe this structure shows how public and private sectors can collaborate to responsibly unlock the value of digital assets and digital asset reserves,” he added.

The borrower is expected to post approximately 160% of the bond’s value in Bitcoin as collateral, and if the price of BTC drops below roughly 130%, a liquidation would ensure that bondholders stay whole. According to BFA Executive Director James Key-Wallace, fees from the transaction will fund the local innovation and entrepreneurship program, the Bitcoin Economic Development Fund.

New Hampshire dives headfirst into crypto

The news follows New Hampshire becoming the first US state to allow its government to invest in cryptocurrencies in May after Governor Kelly Ayotte signed a bill allowing the municipality to “invest in cryptocurrency and precious metals.”

New Hampshire is also working on a bill to deregulate local cryptocurrency mining operations. In late October, a committee voted 4–2 to send the measure for further review in an interim study after it had been deadlocked in the State Senate twice.

The local administration is viewed as particularly welcoming to the cryptocurrency industry. In early February, Brendan Cochrane, an Anti-Money Laundering specialist at YK Law in New York City, argued that it could become an alternative for crypto companies relocating to the Bahamas.

The latest moves build on a longer history of crypto engagement. Back in 2015, New Hampshire was already working on a bill that would have allowed the state government to accept tax and fee payments in Bitcoin.

The bill ultimately failed in 2016, but it shows how early the local administration began to show interest in this asset class. Additionally, as early as 2016, some advocates were already arguing that New Hampshire was among the world’s most Bitcoin-friendly communities.