SNP elects Humza Yousaf to be Scotland’s 1st Muslim First Minister

The Scottish National Party announces electing the current Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Humza Yousaf to be its leader, making him the First Muslim to act as First Minister of Scotland.

The 37-year-old son of Asian immigrants is now set to become the first person of colour to serve as Scotland’s first minister, less than six months after Rishi Sunak became the first British prime minister of Indian heritage.

Yousaf will lead the Scottish National Party (SNP) as a successor to Nicola Sturgeon, who unexpectedly stepped down last month after eight years as leader of the party and of Scotland’s semi-autonomous government.

The SNP leadership race concluded on Monday after a bruising five-week contest that exposed deep fractures within the pro-independence movement.

“From the Punjab to our parliament, this is a journey for our generations,” Yousaf said in an impassioned victory speech in Edinburgh, referencing his South Asian origins.

Yousaf, recently the health secretary in charge of the crisis-hit National Health Service (NHS) during the pandemic, has been criticised for his record in government, including his handling of the health service’s troubles, and takes the reins of the party at a challenging time.