Humza Yousaf vows to continue as SNP leader if party suffers losses at general election

Humza Yousaf insisted Scots could not have faith in Westminster delivering meaningful change

Humza Yousaf has insisted he will continue as SNP leader even if his party suffers big losses at the general election later this year.

Polls suggest the Nationalists could lose multiple seats to Labour but still emerge as the largest party north of the border.

Yousaf said last night that would be enough for the party to claim victory at another general election.

The SNP won 48 out of 59 Scottish constituencies at the last UK-wide poll in 2019.

With the number of seats being reduced to 57 this year, the SNP has argued it only needs to win a majority – 29 or more – to begin “immediate negotiations with the UK Government to give democratic effect to Scotland becoming an independent country”.

But critics of that strategy have argued it would reward the Nationalists for losing almost a third of its MPs.

Alex Neil, a former SNP minister, claimed such a plan “lacks constitutional credibility and is politically naive”.

Asked if he would continue as leader following such a loss of seats, Yousaf told STV: “Yes, because we would have just won a general election in Scotland.

“I don’t know any other political leader who would win a general election and people would question whether they would be leader.

“My intention is to win that general election and the way we do that is with a really simple message – if you want Scotland’s voice to be heard by the Westminster establishment you have to vote for the SNP.”

Yousaf formally started his party’s general election campaign last month despite continuing uncertainty on when the vote will take place.

The First Minister has argued the result in the rest of the UK is a foregone conclusion with Keir Starmer set to become the next prime minister.

Speaking last month, he said: “Keir Starmer doesn’t need Scotland to win the election, he does need Scotland and SNP MPs to keep him honest. but Scotland does need SNP MPs to make sure we aren’t ignored.”

He added: “So if you believe decisions about Scotland should be taken in Scotland – if you believe in independence – I ask you to vote SNP.

“If you want to see an independent Scotland, you have to get out and vote for it.”

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