Labour to lodge motion of no confidence in Scottish Government

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said his party will lodge a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government.

First Minister Humza Yousaf is already facing a vote of no confidence but Sarwar said it would be “completely untenable” for the SNP to replace him with “another unelected first minister”.

Speaking to LBC, he said: “It’s now a matter of when not if Humza Yousaf resigns as first minister. But I think it would be completely untenable for the SNP to presume they can impose another unelected first minister on Scotland.

“Today we will also be laying a motion before parliament, saying that the Scottish Parliament does not have confidence in this Scottish Government. Ultimately I think it's the people of Scotland who decide who leads this country not just a small group of SNP members.”

Yesterday, Tory leader Douglas Ross used First Minister’s Questions to announce he would be lodging a motion of no confidence in Yousaf. It followed the collapse of the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Greens, which left the large party in control of a minority government.

Last night the Greens confirmed they would support the motion alongside the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems, meaning Yousaf could rely on the support of former SNP leadership contender Ash Regan – now an Alba MSP – for his survival.

Should Yousaf lose the vote, which is expected to be held next week, he would likely stand down and be replaced by someone from within the SNP. However, a vote of no confidence in the government would mean parliament would get 28 days to elect a new first minister. In the event one could not be agreed on, it would mean parliament would be dissolved and an election called.

Sarwar said: “Scottish Labour has no confidence in Humza Yousaf or this SNP Government – that is why we are laying a motion today to this effect to say that the parliament has no confidence in the Scottish Government.

“Removing Humza Yousaf alone will not deliver the change we need – we need to get rid of the entire SNP government which has left almost 1 in 6 Scots on an NHS waiting list, public finances in chaos and public services at breaking point. 

“The people of Scotland deserve a fresh start – this can only come with a Scottish election.

“Scottish Labour is ready and willing to deliver the change we need – from restoring our NHS, to creating jobs and making Scotland a global leader in clean energy.

“The time for change has come.”