We bring you Renfrewshire reaction to the resignation of Humza Yousaf as he resigns as Scotland’s first minister.
Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “I want to thank Humza for his service as First Minister and leader of our party and country.
“Whatever your views on party’s politics, it is a 24-7 job, with huge responsibility and huge consequences from the decisions you take – as he acknowledged in his resignation speech today – and it’s a tribute to him as a human being that he made his announcement with such grace, dignity and humanity; a complete contrast to those who tout themselves as potential allies of our party and to the insincere claptrap from Labour and the Lib Dems.
“To be fair to Douglas Ross, he remained Douglas Ross.”
Mr Newlands, added: “Humza has also shown the kind of leadership and moral clarity on both the October 7th atrocity and the Israeli slaughter that has followed in Gaza that has been completely lacking from the leaderships of both main UK parties.
“Whoever becomes our party’s new leader and next First Minister, I want to see – and I know this will be the case – independence at the top of their agenda and the determination to win this year’s UK election in Scotland. Of course, we have almost unprecedented challenges, but we have overcome and smashed similar hurdles in the past.
“The only way to achieve independence is through the ballot box. Only the SNP can deliver that. The Unionist parties want to undermine the Scottish Government and the SNP because they want to kill independence stone dead. We can’t allow that to happen.”
Neil Bibby, Scottish Labour West of Scotland MSP, said: “People in the local area want a government focused on their priorities in particular the cost-of-living crisis and public services.
“They haven’t been getting that from Humza Yousaf and that is unlikely to change whoever takes over as SNP Leader.
“It’s not right the SNP can choose a new First Minister again without there being an election.
“People want a plan positive change and Scottish Labour stand ready to offer it, whenever the next election is.”
Responding to First Minister Humza Yousaf’s resignation on Monday, Linda Jardine, director of children and family services at Children 1st, said: “We would like to give Humza Yousaf, the outgoing First Minister, our best wishes following his resignation today.
“However, we are deeply concerned that yet another change in leadership will distract from the immense challenges currently being faced by children and families across Scotland.
“We have already raised the alarm about the intolerable levels of poverty children across Scotland face. Scotland’s care, protection and justice systems are all in desperate need of resource and reform and children cannot go on waiting.
“We call on all political leaders and parties, at this critical point to focus on the policies to put the real and urgent needs of Scotland’s children first.”
Colin Wilkinson, SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) managing director, said: “We wish Humza Yousaf all the very best for the future and what comes next in his political career, and we look forward to working with his successor and indeed Mr Yousaf until that successor is in post.
“We initially welcomed Mr Yousaf’s pledge to ‘reset’ the Scottish Government’s relationship with business in the wake of turmoil caused by the Covid pandemic, Brexit and misplaced legislation when he was named as Scotland’s new First Minister just over a year ago, in March 2023.
“However, that early enthusiasm clearly waned as hospitality businesses and the licensed trade have continued to struggle since his arrival in Bute House and there appears to have been no real understanding – or willingness to understand – the myriad problems and challenges facing what is one of the biggest employers in Scotland.
“One of the key asks of the new regime at Holyrood is to work with us to find a meaningful solution to change the current non-domestic rates system which is hugely outdated and in need of reform.
“And while we accept that VAT is not a devolved issue, a reduction in VAT would be a welcome move for everyone involved in hospitality and the licensed trade – we hope that Holyrood and Westminster can discuss this as an urgent measure to help businesses in this important sector given our major contribution to Scotland’s economy and its important tourism industry.
“We urge Mr Yousaf’s successor to pick up on his pledge to work with the business community and implement an urgent reset in the relationship between the Scottish Government and businesses.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the SNP should not “impose another unelected first minister on Scotland”.
Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative leader, said Humza Yousaf had “let the people of Scotland down”.
Humza Yousaf will stay on as first minister until SNP members choose his replacement.