Topic summary

First Yousaf government

First Yousaf government

Secretary for Justice (2018–2021)

Health Secretary (2021–2023)

Leader of the SNP (2023–2024)




Humza Yousaf formed the first Yousaf government on 29 March 2023 following his appointment as First Minister of Scotland at the Court of Session. It followed the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on 15 February, triggering a leadership contest that Yousaf won.

The Scottish Green Party voted to remain in government with the SNP, which saw Yousaf's administration continue with the Bute House agreement, a pro-independence majority government. His cabinet consists of seven women and three men, the first majority women cabinet.

Yousaf dissolved the power-sharing agreement with the Greens on 25 April 2024. On 29 April 2024, Humza Yousaf announced that he was resigning, after dissolving the power-sharing agreement with the Greens and after two votes of no confidence were put forward - one by the Scottish Conservatives against him, the other by Scottish Labour against the whole SNP government.