Aged 38, Humza Yousaf was elected Monday at the head of the Scottish independence party, after an internal ballot triggered by the surprise resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, after eight years in office. Portrait.
Humza Yousaf is a rather atypical profile. First, he is “only” 38 years old, which makes him one of the youngest prime ministers currently in office around the world. Anchored on the left, very progressive on social issues, he notably supports a (controversial) law which wants to facilitate gender change for the youngest, from the age of 16 and without medical advice.
He is also a Muslim, the grandson of Pakistani immigrants who arrived in Scotland in the 1960s. Again, in his position, this is a first. And then we know him for this speech he gave in the precincts of parliament. It was in 2020, when he was Minister of Justice.
Breaking: The Scottish National Party has elected Humza Yousaf to lead, making him the first Muslim & person of south Asian background to head the Scottish government. In his speech, he said migrants should be celebrated. In 2020, he delivered a tirade in parliament complaining… pic.twitter.com/NoPnwosEgC
— Andy Ngo ️ (@MrAndyNgo) March 27, 2023
Humza Yousaf explains that in Scotland the highest positions are held almost exclusively by whites. And in a long litany, he recites the list of positions in his own ministry…
With his wife, he also sued the managers of a crèche where their daughter had not been able to have a place, accusing her of discrimination. The charges were eventually dropped.
“The people need independence”
Humza Yousaf, who has been in government since 2012, was also Minister … for Europe, Transport and Health. Without demerit, but without necessarily shining. His detractors say he has no major accomplishments to his credit. However, his ambition today is to lead Scotland towards independence. He promises to be part of “lhe generation that will achieve independence for Scotland“, Because “the people, he said, needs independence now, more than ever”.
These are the words he had when he was elected head of the SNP on March 27, the Scottish independence party which has dominated the political landscape for fifteen years. In this, he is perfectly in the footsteps of his mentor, Nicola Sturgeon, the historic leader of the SNP, who resigned by surprise in February after 8 years in office.
Humza Yousaf has already promised to launch a popular movement in favor of self-determination. The problem is that everything is blocked since the British Supreme Court has forbidden the Scots to organize a referendum without London’s agreement.
Welcomed by London ‘like water in a leaky boat’
Achieving his goal will not be easy, and first with Downing Street… to use a Scottish proverb, Humza Yousaf is as “welcome as water in a leaky boat”. The British government has no desire to see divisions deepen between its constituent nations. He has already asked to tackle the real problems: inflation, the cost of living and waiting lists in the health system. The tone of their relationship is pretty much clear.
But it won’t be easy with the Scots either: in 2014, it was the “no” that won the referendum on independence. Since Brexit, it is true that many more voters want to break with London to return to the European Union. Many but not the majority: according to polls, the proportion is around 45%.