“We will be the generation that achieves independence.” This is how the current Scottish Minister of Health, Humza Yousaf, pronounced himself this Monday after being elected as the new leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP)so he will succeed Nicola Sturgeon as head of the Scottish Executive once it is ratified by the Scottish Parliament in a vote that will take place on Tuesday.
Yousaf has obtained the support of 48% of the votes (24,336 votes) in the first round and 52% (26,032 ballots) in the second round, in a close dispute with Kate Forbes, who won 48% of the support ( 23,890).
The 37-year-old Scotsman has become the first Muslim to take office, and is expected to maintain Sturgeon’s progressive line. Yousaf is committed to pursue its social policy that has reaped so many successes for training, with, for example, financial aid to recent parents to facilitate their return to the labor market.
Humza Yousaf with Nicola Sturgeon last week
Reuters
Yousaf is described by his campaign manager as a “strong and experienced leader”, capable of “providing stability and continuing justice, respect and equality at the heart of the government, as well as uniting the party”.
His talent for it lies in his “Gift of people” to involve everyone in a cooperative leadership, where in the regional assemblies “every member has his say on the future of the formation and how to achieve independence” Middleton explained.
Self-determination needs “someone to build bridges” and to maintain “the pro-independence parliamentary majority” to build a “consistent majority” in the face of London’s refusal, he says.
Religious leader and progressive
Like his greatest rival, Kate Forbes -follower of an evangelical church-, Yousaf is marked by his deep religious convictions and in these last days of the campaign began his fast for Ramadan.
“The difference between them is that for him (faith) is not a barrier to creating that progressive Scotland,” Middleton said.
[Escocia desafía a Liz Truss con un nuevo intento de referéndum de independencia para 2023]
“Humza doesn’t care about sexual orientation, gender recognition, skin color… your rights will not only be tolerated, or increased, (but) will be celebrated“, he added.
These convictions “reflect the progressive values of Scotland in the 21st century”, in the opinion of the regional Constitution Minister, Angus Robertson, a relevant leader of the SNP, who considers him “a team player”. Robertson is one of many heavyweights from the nationalist formation who support him and who could have a place in the new Executive.
A criticized health management
Despite the incessant work at the head of Health in the midst of the post-pandemic, “at every moment he can, he puts his family first, his two daughters and wife”, because “he is a family man”, he told EFE its communication director, Jack Middleton.
Her daughters are politically motivated as she “wants to give every child in Scotland the same opportunities” they have, Middleton said.
Despite everything, her management at the head of the Health portfolio has been widely criticized by her opponents and the opposition, who can make her the center of their attacks.
62% disapprove of his management of the emergency medical service and 40% of the population does not see him as “competent”, according to a YouGov house survey.
