SNP boss Humza Yousaf admits he will 'p*** some people off'

SNP boss Humza Yousaf admits he will ‘p*** some people off’ with leadership – as he insists Scottish independence has ‘never been closer’ despite chaos within his party

SNP leader Humza Yousaf has admitted his new leadership programme will ‘p*** some people off’ as he insisted Scottish independence ‘is closer than ever’.

Mr Yousaf showed he is not afraid to ruffle a few feathers within the SNP as he called for ‘bold and radical’ policies which would allow Scotland to achieve the prosperity of Norway and Austria.

Speaking to the SNP South Scotland Regional Assembly in Dumfries, Mr Yousaf pledged to pursue ‘humane migration’ and ‘the climate emergency’ – part of a bid to repopulate rural areas of Scotland.

When asked if the Scottish Government supported the development of the Rosebank oilfield, Mr Yousaf said he wasn’t convinced and the focus should be on renewables. 

Mr Yousaf said: ‘My programme for government is probably going to p*** off some people. The SNP is best when it’s radical and when it’s bold. There are people with a vested interest in the status quo.’

SNP leader Humza Yousaf showed he is not afraid to ruffle a few feathers within the SNP as he called for ‘bold and radical’ policies which would allow Scotland to achieve the prosperity of Norway and Austria

He defended the appointment of new SNP chief executive Murray Foote, pictured, who stepped down from his previous comms role for misleading the press over membership figures, praising his ‘transparency and openness’

Scotland’s first minister also said the support for independence had never been stronger despite ‘some of the most difficult weeks and months’ in their party’s history. 

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He defended the appointment of new SNP chief executive Murray Foote, who stepped down from his previous comms role for misleading the press over membership figures, praising his ‘transparency and openness’.

Mr Yousaf said: ‘Independence is now closer than it ever has been. It is closer than ever.’

He dismissed the prospect of dissent from rebel SNP MSPs over the Bute House Agreement and insisted he would be achieve Scottish independence. Mr Yousaf said: ‘We want a legally binding referendum. ‘That’s my job to lead the party to independence.’

Mr Yousaf admitted there were divisions within SNP but insisted independence ‘is closer now than it ever has been’ with nearly 75,000 SNP members.

He said: ‘It’s so important first of all, that even in the face of let’s be frank, some of the most difficult weeks and months in our party’s history, support for independence remains rock solid.’

This comes just weeks after Mr Yousaf admitted he was among those who wondered if a police probe into the SNP’s finances influenced predecessor Nicola Sturgeon’s surprise decision to quit.

He said his first thought when her husband Peter Murrell – the party’s former chief executive – was arrested in April was that the investigation may have been a factor.

But he insisted he does not believe his predecessor ‘knew what people are accusing her of’ when she announced she was standing down as First Minister.

Mr Yousaf admitted he was among those who wondered if a police probe into the SNP’s finances influenced predecessor Nicola Sturgeon’s surprise decision to quit

He made the unguarded remarks in an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival. Asked by comedian Matt Forde whether the first arrests and revelations about a motorhome being seized led him to believe it was the reason for Ms Sturgeon’s resignation, Mr Yousaf said: ‘I think everybody had that thought.

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‘But I genuinely believe Nicola when she says – you know, we’ve not talked about the police investigation but going by her public commentary – that she said ‘Look, I did not know what was going on’.’

It came as a senior SNP MP said that Ms Sturgeon’s arrest in June – later released – had upset her honeymoon.

Westminster deputy leader Mhairi Black said her original honeymoon was interrupted by Boris Johnson resigning last year, and a second trip away as compensation this year was disrupted as ‘the second day in there’s a tent put up outside Nicola Sturgeon home’.

Ms Sturgeon was arrested as part of the police investigation into using £600,000 of donations earmarked for an independence campaign, and quizzed for seven hours before being released. She has denied any wrongdoing.

The 52-year-old stood down as both SNP leader and first minister in March, since when there have been several dramatic developments in the probe.

Mr Murrell was arrested and there was a two-day police search of the couple’s Glasgow home in April.

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