<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Humza Yousaf has resigned as the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader and Scotland’s first minister.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The move comes soon after Yousaf ended the SNP’s alliance with the Scottish Greens, which triggered two no-confidence votes put forward by opposition parties that Yousaf looked likely to lose.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I am not willing to trade my values and principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power,” Yousaf said during a televised announcement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pro-independence SNP’s fortunes have faltered amid a funding scandal and the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as party leader last year. An internal struggle has followed over how progressive the party should pitch its policies as it seeks to woo back voters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier this month, Yousaf said he was “quite confident” that he could win a no-confidence vote. However, by Monday, his offer of talks with other parties to bolster his minority government was uncertain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Muslim head of a major political party and Scotland’s youngest elected leader, Yousaf said he had “underestimated” the level of hurt after ending a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens last week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I have concluded that repairing the relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yousaf’s resignation as SNP leader triggers a search for his successor and consequently new first minister. The Scottish Parliament would need to back any replacement in the post within 28 days. An election would be held if no majority is reached.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During his resignation speech, Yousaf called for the leadership contest to find his replacement to start as soon as possible. He will remain in place as first minister until then. According to Al Jazeera reports&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>