Achi news desk-
Mr Yousaf is fighting to save his job as First Minister after his former allies in the Scottish Greens vowed to vote against him in a motion of no confidence.
The SNP leader dramatically ended the power-sharing deal with the Greens but now faces a backlash that could cost him his job.
A tight vote is expected in Holyrood next week, and as the SNP has 63 out of the 128 MLAs, Ms Regan’s vote would seem crucial to get Mr Yousaf over the line in a vote of confidence.
Humza Yousaf faces a vote of no confidence (Image: (Jeff J Mitchell))Speaking to the BBC’s World Tonight, Plaid MLA Alba said: “I have written to the Prime Minister today with a number of issues that I have raised with him on the progress made towards independence, on how he will protect rights women and children and return to competent governance.
“My vote will really depend on what Humza comes back with in response to my letter.”
He continued: “I’m not making specific demands as such, I’m putting the ball in Humza’s court for him to come back to me and explain to me how he’s going to make progress in a couple of these areas, especially from around the return to competent government.”
Alba’s Party said Ms Regan’s letter would be sent on Friday.
Mr Yousaf’s allies insisted he was “coming out to fight” in the face of a concerted effort by opponents to oust him.
On Thursday night, a source close to the Prime Minister said that Mr Yousaf was “not at all” considering his position following Thursday’s chaotic events.
His decision to end the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens was branded an act of “political cowardice” by the smaller pro-independence party.
The Greens will back a motion of no confidence proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, leaving Mr Yousaf facing a fringe vote at Holyrood next week.
Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, told the PA news agency: “We no longer have confidence in a progressive government in Scotland doing the right thing for climate and nature.”
The Bute House Agreement gave the SNP-led government a majority at Holyrood but has come under strain in recent days after the Greens said they would put the future of the agreement to a vote by their members.
Some in the Greens were unhappy with the recent collapse by the Scottish Government of 2030 climate targets and the decision to delay prescribing new puberty blockers at Scotland’s only sex clinic.
Co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party, Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie, said their MPs would vote against Humza Yousaf (Image: (Lesley Martin/PA))With the Greens voting in favor of the motion of no confidence, there would be 64 out of 128 MLAs who do not support the First Minister.
The SNP has 63 Members of Parliament in Holyrood while Ms Regan is also from Alba’s Party, who has not yet confirmed which way she will vote.
READ MORE: ‘Humza Yousaf panicked about ending the deal as the Greens would have supported him in the CCA’
Alba leader and former prime minister Alex Salmond said Ms Regan was now “the most powerful MLA in the Scottish Parliament” and told Times Radio she would write to Mr Yousaf setting out her demands on independence and women’s rights .
President Alison Johnstone can cast a tie but would be expected to vote for the status quo.
Any vote is likely to take place next week, with the timings to be confirmed by parliamentary authorities.
The Scottish Government’s collaboration agreement with the Scottish Green Party has come to an end.
The First Minister formally notified Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater of the end of the Bute House Agreement, and their time as Ministers, with immediate effect.
️ https://t.co/3mfDQWKegw pic.twitter.com/rZXyQ46q3O
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) April 25, 2024
The decision to end the Bute House Agreement means Scottish Green co-leaders Ms Slater and Patrick Harvie have lost their ministerial roles.
Their MSP group met on Thursday afternoon to discuss their approach to the confidence vote.
Ms Slater said: “Today, the First Minister decided to tear up that agreement, in order to end the Bute House Agreement.
“And so we no longer have confidence in a progressive government in Scotland that is doing the right thing for climate and nature.
“Therefore the Scottish Green MLAs will not support Humza Yousaf in a vote of no confidence.”
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf’s grip on power goes to the end of the game
She confirmed rather than abstaining “we will vote in favor of a vote of no confidence” and claimed that the Prime Minister had “put in the conservative, right-wing wing” of the SNP.
A spokesman for Mr Yousaf declined to say whether he would stand down if he lost the confidence vote, describing the question as “hypothetical”.
The SNP leader accused the Tories of playing a game, insisting the power-sharing deal with the Greens had “served its purpose” and lasted 19 times longer than Liz Truss’ premiership.
