Scotland’s Chief Minister, Humza Yousaf, recently made a contentious decision to unilaterally break the government coalition with the Green Party. The coalition had been established after the 2021 regional elections to strengthen a solidarity pact aimed at launching a new sovereignty project that would seek independence from the UK.
Yousaf’s move came after tensions emerged within the SNP over compromises made with the Green Party, particularly concerning environmental policies and support for the Gender Self-Determination Act. Additionally, Yousaf recognized that if Labor regained leadership in Scotland, it could jeopardize the SNP’s independence agenda.
Following the dissolution of the coalition, the Scottish Conservative Party announced a motion of no confidence against Yousaf, which will be debated in upcoming weeks. The Green Party supported this motion following an urgent meeting, putting Yousaf’s position in doubt if other opposition parties also join in. Despite his confidence in remaining in power as a minority leader, Yousaf understands that his fate may ultimately depend on a casting vote by the president of the autonomous Parliament.
Yousaf’s decision to break away from the coalition reflects his efforts to maintain internal unity within SNP and ensure stability in government while pursuing his independence agenda despite uncertainty about his leadership future.
