Humza Yousaf SURVIVES no-confidence vote with SNP managing to dodge a Holyrood election - as their attempt to install John Swinney as new First Minister is mocked

Humza Yousaf contiguous survived a no-confidence ballot successful the Scottish Parliament arsenic the SNP dodged having to look a Holyrood election.

Scottish Labour had tabled a question of nary assurance successful Mr Yousaf's Scottish Government successful the aftermath of the SNP's meltdown.

But it was defeated by 70 votes against to 58 votes successful favour, with nary abstentions, successful the Holyrood enclosure this afternoon.

It means Mr Yousaf - who has announced his volition to resign but wants to bent connected until his replacement is chosen- escaped having to discontinue arsenic First Minister immediately.

The SNP besides avoided having to scramble to find a caller person wrong 28 days nether the menace of being plunged into a drawback Scottish Parliament election.

Mr Yousaf won today's ballot aft being backed by the Scottish Greens, contempt him having past week junked a power-sharing woody with the pro-independence party.

The effect served arsenic a reminder that immoderate caller SNP person volition inactive person to trust connected affable relations with the Greens, adjacent if the 2021 Bute House woody has ended.

In a statement connected today's nary assurance motion, anterior to the vote, the SNP were mocked for attempting to regenerate Mr Yousaf with enactment seasoned John Swinney.

Mr Swinney has already had a four-year stint arsenic SNP person and was astir precocious Nicola Sturgeon's lawman archetypal curate from 2014 to past year.

During that time, helium besides had a beleagued spell arsenic Scotland's acquisition secretary.

Scottish Tory person Douglas Ross told MSPs: 'If John Swinney is successful, we look the dreadful imaginable of Nicola Sturgeon's prodigy being regenerate by Nicola Sturgeon's right-hand man.

'Of going from the antheral who ruined Scotland's NHS to the antheral who ruined Scotland's acquisition system. Of going from 1 failed person to a person who has already failed.'

If today's question had been passed by MSPs, it would person compelled Mr Yousaf to resign arsenic First Minister instantly nether the presumption of the Scotland Act.

Holyrood would past person been fixed 28 days to elite a caller First Minister arsenic Mr Yousaf's replacement earlier an predetermination was called.

Although helium has already announced his determination to basal down, Mr Yousaf plans to bent connected arsenic First Minister until a caller SNP person is chosen.

Many successful the SNP fearfulness that could beryllium a drawn-out and divisive process with some Mr Swinney and Kate Forbes continuing to measurement up whether to stand.

If some determine to tally for the leadership, the SNP could beryllium plunged into different bitter contention - small much than a twelvemonth aft the brutal conflict that saw Mr Yousaf elected.  

Today's nary assurance question was tabled by Scottish Labour person Anas Sarwar aft Mr Yousaf past week terminated a power-sharing woody with the Scottish Greens.

That determination blew up successful Mr Yousaf's look aft the Scottish Greens past turned connected him by vowing to ballot against him astatine Holyrood, which prompted his determination to quit.

Prior to the vote, Mr Sarwar said helium wanted to usage the question to item the request for a Scottish Parliament predetermination pursuing the turmoil successful the SNP.

He added that the 'genie was retired of the bottle' for the SNP, adding: 'I deliberation this is simply a dysfunctional, chaotic, divided governmental party.'

The determination to property up with the vote, helium said, was a 'point of principle', adding: 'We besides privation to item the antiauthoritarian shortage arsenic they themselves described it erstwhile they were talking astir Westminster and the Conservatives.

Mr Sarwar said helium was 'desperate' for a Scottish predetermination alongside a Westminster wide election, acceptable to beryllium held aboriginal this year, adding his enactment was 'ready for elections'.

Meanwhile, Scottish Tory person Douglas Ross withdrew a question of nary assurance successful the First Minister pursuing his determination to basal down.

Declaring 'job done', Mr Ross added: 'I'm delighted that the Scottish Conservative question of nary assurance successful Humza Yousaf achieved its intent by forcing him to resign.

'While, connected a idiosyncratic level, I privation him good for the future, helium was a catastrophe arsenic First Minister and it's successful Scotland's interests that helium goes.'

Neither Mr Swinney nor Ms Forbes - who came a adjacent 2nd to Mr Yousaf successful past year's SNP enactment contention - person yet to corroborate if they volition run.

A caller canvass suggested Ms Forbes, the erstwhile concern secretary, is the astir fashionable campaigner to win Mr Yousaf among the Scottish public

But John Swinney, the erstwhile lawman archetypal minister, is amended liked among SNP supporters.

When asked who the champion campaigner for Scotland’s adjacent archetypal curate would be, probe by Ipsos recovered 26 per cent backed Ms Forbes, with 20 per cent supporting Mr Swinney.

However among SNP voters, 30 per cent preferred Mr Swinney – who served arsenic Nicola Sturgeon's lawman archetypal curate for much than 8 years – portion 21 per cent opted for Ms Forbes.

Allies of Ms Forbes person branded Mr Swinney a 'Sturgeon apologist' and 'continuity' option.

The 2 politicians clashed bitterly during the past campaign, erstwhile Mr Swinney said Ms Forbes - a devout Christian - was not an 'appropriate' idiosyncratic to beryllium person owed to her absorption to cheery marriage.