Humza Yousaf

Humza Yousaf
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Name	Humza Yousaf
Office	First Minister of Scotland
Term start	28 March 2023
Term end	7 May 2024
Predecessor	Nicola Sturgeon
Successor	John Swinney
Office1	Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Term start1	20 May 2021
Term end1	28 March 2023
Firstminister1	Nicola Sturgeon
Predecessor1	Jeane Freeman
Successor1	Michael Matheson
Office2	Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Term start2	27 June 2018
Term end2	20 May 2021
Firstminister2	Nicola Sturgeon
Predecessor2	Michael Matheson
Successor2	Keith Brown
Office3	Minister for Transport and the Islands
Term start3	18 May 2016
Term end3	27 June 2018
Firstminister3	Nicola Sturgeon
Predecessor3	Derek Mackay
Successor3	Paul Wheelhouse
Party	Scottish National Party
Birth date	7 April 1985
Birth place	Glasgow, Scotland
Alma mater	University of Glasgow
Spouse	Nadia El-Nakla

Humza Yousaf is a Scottish politician who served as the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party from March 2023 until May 2024. He was the first person from a minority ethnic background and the first Muslim to hold the office of First Minister. Yousaf's premiership was marked by the continuation of the Scottish independence campaign and significant challenges, including internal party strife and a governing agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Early life and education

Humza Yousaf was born in the Govan area of Glasgow to parents who immigrated to Scotland from Pakistan. His father was a businessman and his mother worked as a school interpreter. He attended Hutchesons' Grammar School, an independent school in Glasgow, before studying for a degree in Politics at the University of Glasgow. During his university years, he became actively involved in student politics and the campaign for Scottish independence.

Political career

Yousaf began his political career as a parliamentary assistant to Bashir Ahmad, the first Member of the Scottish Parliament of Asian descent. He later worked as an aide to Alex Salmond and then Nicola Sturgeon. He was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011 as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region. He was appointed as Minister for Europe and International Development in 2012, becoming the youngest-ever minister in the Scottish Government and the first from a minority ethnic background to serve in the Cabinet of Scotland. He subsequently held the roles of Minister for Transport and the Islands and Cabinet Secretary for Justice, where he oversaw the implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

Premiership

Following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon in February 2023, Yousaf stood in the ensuing 2023 Scottish National Party leadership election. He defeated rivals Kate Forbes and Ash Regan to become leader of the Scottish National Party and was formally appointed First Minister of Scotland by King Charles III on 28 March 2023. His tenure was defined by the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens, which provided a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament. His government faced significant pressure over its performance on public services, including the National Health Service and ferry services. His premiership ended abruptly in April 2024 after he terminated the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens, leading to the collapse of his parliamentary majority, a failed motion of no confidence, and his subsequent resignation.

Political positions

Yousaf is a staunch advocate for Scottish independence and supports holding a second independence referendum. On social policy, he has championed progressive causes, including the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 and reforms to the Gender Recognition Act 2004. His economic stance has generally aligned with the Scottish National Party's platform of social democracy, emphasizing investment in public services and a just transition to a net zero economy. In foreign policy, he has been a vocal critic of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and expressed support for the recognition of a State of Palestine.

Personal life

Yousaf is married to Nadia El-Nakla, a former Scottish National Party councillor for the City of Dundee and a mental health worker. The couple have two children. He is a practicing Muslim and has spoken publicly about experiencing Islamophobia and racism during his life and political career. His family was personally affected by the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, with his wife's parents trapped in Gaza during the initial conflict. Yousaf is a supporter of the Celtic F.C. football club.

Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:First Ministers of Scotland Category:Scottish National Party politicians Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow Category:Politicians from Glasgow