Yousaf signals bid to break from union

sive, socially liberal and multiethnic Scotland that the SNP has promoted.

During the campaign, Mr Yousaf appeared more relaxed than Ms Forbes – a member of the Free Church of Scotland –in balancing his religious views with the party’s socially progressive policies.

While Ms Forbes faced criticism when she announced her opposition to same-sex marriage, Mr Yousaf said he supports it.

In 2016, Mr Yousaf took his oath of allegiance in the Scottish parliament in Urdu while wearing a kilt. He has referred to himself as coming from a “bhangra and bagpipes” heritage.

Scotland voted against independence by 55pc to 45pc in 2014. e UK vote to leave the EU two years later when most Scots wanted to stay, and Scotland’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, brought new support for independence.

However, an opinion poll this month showed the backing for independence dropped to 39%, or 46% when “don’t knows” are excluded. at compares with a record 58% in 2020.

Asked if the British government would grant permission for Mr Yousaf to hold an independence referendum, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson said its position had not changed - that people’s priorities were healthcare and the economy rather than a new vote on secession.

ries-long union with England. His predecessor stepped down after the British government repeatedly blocked a route to a new vote on independence. While about four in 10 Scots support independence, according to a poll this month, the departure of Ms Sturgeon – a charismatic and commanding leader – may initially slow some of the momentum behind a break-up of the UK.

Mr Yousaf won 52% of the vote of SNP members in the second round of counting, beating Kate Forbes, thenance secretary, who got 48%.

Ash Regan, who had quit the government because of her opposition to proposed changes to gender recognition, was eliminated in the rst round.

Coree Brown Swan, a lecturer in politics at Queen’s University Belfast, said it would be dif- cult for the party to unite after a divisive leadership contest.

“It’s a broad church of a party, which incorporates lots of different ideologies and opinions on things beyond independence,” she said.

Mr Yousaf has stressed continuity with Ms Sturgeon’s record, including her push to make it easier for transgender people to gain o cial recognition to change their gender.

He has spoken of the need to focus on building the case for independence and achieving consistent support for the movement, adding that he was open-minded on which process to pursue once that level of support was achieved.

He pointed to his own background – born in Glasgow, with a father from Pakistan and mother from Kenya – and views as examples of the inclu-

In the nal analysis, the closeness of the race means that Yousaf faces a di cult task healing divisions in the proindependence SNP that were exposed after Sturgeon’s shock resignation last month. e vote should be a formality after the Scottish Greens rea rmed their support for a cooperation agreement they have with the SNP, which ensures a pro-independence government in Edinburgh.

In the SNP leadership race, Yousaf presented himself as the defender of Sturgeon’s progressive policies on social issues.