Humza Yousaf asks to meet SNP defector as he scrambles for no-confidence vote support

Mr Yousaf is fighting for his political future – JEFF J MITCHELL/GETTY

Humza Yousaf has asked to meet SNP defector Ash Regan this week as he battles to cling to power.

The First Minister has written to his former party colleague in a bid to establish “common ground” ahead of this week’s upcoming no-confidence vote, which could see him forced to resign.

Ms Regan, the MSP who defected to Alex Salmond’s rival nationalist party, Alba, months after Mr Yousaf beat her to the SNP leadership in March last year, could hold the deciding vote if all other parties vote against the First Minister.

Mr Yousaf is desperately attempting to save himself after his decision on Thursday to scrap the coalition with the Scottish Greens spectacularly backfired.

He wrote to Alba, the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens on Friday night, asking for separate meetings at his official residence.

On Saturday, the First Minister said he would “look forward” to speaking to Ms Regan.

“So of course I have written to Ash Regan, as well,” he told Sky News I look forward to speaking to her too.”

Ms Regan left the SNP last year – ANDREW MILLIGAN/PA

In the letters, Mr Yousaf claimed “Scotland’s people” want to see the parties find “common ground” and work together.

“I recognise the strong feelings in relation to the confidence debate our parliament is set to have next week,” he said.

“Notwithstanding that, I am writing to all Holyrood party groups to ask them to meet me next week, in separate meetings, to discuss their concerns and, indeed, priorities, in a hopefully constructive spirit.”

Sources close to Mr Yousaf have suggested that nothing will be off the table in the talks.

But other SNP sources believe he is a “dead man walking” and will have to resign even if he wins the vote.

Wide-ranging conditions

Ms Regan, who Mr Yousaf described as “no great loss” when she quit the party, has outlined wide-ranging conditions for supporting him.

These include SNP politicians signing a “declaration of Scottish sovereignty”, implementing the findings of the Cass Review into child gender services and attempting to save the Grangemouth oil refinery.

She told the BBC on Saturday that it would be the first time Mr Yousaf had spoken to her since the leadership contest last year.

“I think that potentially some of the things he said about me when I left to go to a different political party last year probably shows that it’s always wise to have that level of professional courtesy to people that you work with,” Ms Regan said.

Government on the brink

The vote on the no-confidence motion in Mr Yousaf’s leadership, brought by the Scottish Tories, which the Scottish Greens have said they will support, is expected to take place on Wednesday or Thursday.

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, raised the stakes further on Friday by lodging a motion of no confidence in the entire Scottish Government. If that is successful, Mr Yousaf and all of his ministers would be legally obliged to quit.

Kate Forbes, Mr Yousaf’s former leadership rival, has urged her fellow SNP MSPs to back their leader.

Douglas Ross, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, appeared to pour cold water on the prospect of any agreement between his party and Mr Yousaf, saying: “The only letter Humza Yousaf should be writing is one offering his resignation.

“He says it’s important for the Scottish people, communities and businesses to have effective government, as if he’s just discovered it, when he is the one who has ignored their priorities and failed to listen to concerns.

“But, given how much his views have changed in the last week, perhaps I’ll go along to Bute House, if there’s a possibility I can convince him to support my [no confidence] motion.”

Speaking on Friday, Mr Sarwar said: “I am more than happy to engage with people of all parties, but it is clear that Humza Yousaf is out of time.”

Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, has said it is “pretty clear” Mr Yousaf will not be able to unite Holyrood and urged the SNP to consider finding a replacement for him.

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