"I have sent a clear message to every young person"
Former Scotland First Minister Humza Yousaf is to step down as an MSP at the 2026 Holyrood election.
The ex-SNP leader has been a backbencher since resigning as First Minister in April 2024.
In a letter to his successor John Swinney, Mr Yousaf said the next election would be the “right time” to move on from parliament.
Mr Yousaf, who replaced Nicola Sturgeon in March 2023, was the UK’s first ethnic minority leader of a devolved government and the first Muslim to lead a major UK party.
He resigned as First Minister and SNP leader in April 2024 after the collapse of the SNP’s power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens.
In his letter, Humza Yousaf noted that he will have been an MSP for 15 years by the time of the next scheduled election in 2026.
He said stepping down would “provide an opportunity for the next generation of MSPs to step forward, and to explore where I can best make a contribution in the future, in helping to tackle some of the most pressing challenges our world faces”.
Mr Yousaf added: “I hope by becoming the first First Minister of colour, and first Muslim leader of a Western democratic nation, I have sent a clear message to every young person, of any background, who aspires to get involved in public service that you do belong and are just as deserving of opportunity as anyone else.”
He admitted making a “miscalculation” by not considering the human element when he sacked the Green co-leaders from the Scottish Government.
Mr Yousaf said: “My successor is no longer encumbered with that deal, (he) can make decisions in policy that he wants to take forward in our country’s interest without having to negotiate and compromise with the Greens.
“They can do that on an issue-by-issue basis, which I think is the best way to do it.”
Come 2026, I will have served 15 years as an MSP. The time will be right for me to move on.
As the son of immigrants, I could never have imagined the incredible political journey I have been on. I feel blessed.
Thank you to all of those who have supported me over the years. pic.twitter.com/m1WmuG09X7
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) December 17, 2024
During his time in Bute House, the former SNP leader took a significant early stand on the conflict in Gaza by calling for an immediate ceasefire.
His in-laws were trapped in Gaza for four weeks following Israel’s invasion.
Mr Yousaf described the period as the most difficult of his life.
In his letter, Yousaf said he hoped he “was able to demonstrate leadership during what I view as the moral question of our time”.
He vowed to continue working hard for his constituents until 2026 and to be a committed campaigner for Scottish independence and the SNP after leaving parliament.
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