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

Published

9 months 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

Tulip Siddiq faces new corruption investigation in Bangladesh

Published

4 hours ago

January 14, 2025

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Tulip Siddiq faces new corruption investigation in Bangladesh

Anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq has been named by investigators in Bangladesh who allege she was involved in the illegal allocation of land to members of her family while serving as an MP.

Sky News has obtained an affidavit – or legal written statement – filed by the anti-corruption commission in Bangladesh that accuses Ms Siddiq and others of being involved in fraudulently obtaining plots in the diplomatic zone of a development near to the country’s capital Dhaka.

The document states: “While serving as a Member of the British parliament, it is known that [Ms Siddiq] exerted pressure and influence on her aunt, the former prime minister, to take measures for the allotment of plots in the same project in the names of her mother, Mrs Rehana Siddiq, her sister Ms Azmina Siddiq, and her brother Mr Radwan Mujib Siddiq.”

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The director general of the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission Akhtar Hossain told Sky News: “Tulip Siddiq and former prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina misused… power to take the plot from the Purbachal New Town Project.”

Investigators allege that planning officials were bribed and pressured into fraudulently allocating land.

A Labour source said Tulip Siddiq totally refutes the claims and had not been contacted by anyone on the matter.

The source also said no evidence had been presented for the allegations.

Tulip Siddiq had already been named in Bangladeshi court documents, also seen by Sky News, relating to alleged embezzlement from a nuclear power project in the country.

Labour sources suggested the accusations were not genuine.

That court claim was made by Bobby Hajjaj, a political opponent of Ms Siddiq’s aunt – the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Ms Hasina fled Bangladesh in August and resigned her post amid weeks of deadly protests.

The new government has since accused the previous Awami League administration of crimes and corruption while in office.

Tulip Siddiq has come under increasing pressure over her links to her aunt’s political party, with Sky News revealing she boasted about her connections to the Awami League in blog posts from 2008 and 2009.

The anti-corruption minister has also been found to have lived in several London properties with links to alleged allies of her aunt’s regime.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has since called for her to be suspended as a minister.

The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition has also said Ms Siddiq should step aside from the money laundering and economic crime brief she currently holds.

“The clear conflict of interest surrounding Tulip Siddiq presents a key test for the new government… as anti-corruption experts, it is clear to us that she should not hold responsibility for these sensitive areas in her portfolio”, said Peter Munro, senior coordinator at the anti-corruption coalition.