Humza Yousaf became one of Nicola Sturgeon’s most trusted allies during his rise to the upper echelons of the SNP – but is he the ideal candidate to replace her?
The Dundee-based health secretary, 37, has established himself as one of the party’s most recognisable names.
He is also the betting frontrunner to take over from Ms Sturgeon after leadership rival Kate Forbes’ campaign was derailed by her comments about equal marriage legislation, remarks made in a bruising round of TV and radio interviews.
Elected to Holyrood aged just 26, Mr Yousaf enjoyed a rapid rise to the top, but his handling of the NHS has left him open for criticism.
As one of Scotland’s first Muslim MSPs, he has also been outspoken about the torrents of hatred and racial abuse directed his way.
Background and entry to politics
Mr Yousaf’s father, Muzaffar, was born in Pakistan and moved to Glasgow with his family in the 1960s.
The SNP MSP attended private school Hutchesons’ Grammar in the southside of his home city and went on to study politics at Glasgow University.
Mr Yousaf’s pathway into office began in 2007 when he started working for Bashir Ahmad, Scotland’s first Muslim MSP.
Before long he was making waves with the party leadership, securing a job as former First Minister Alex Salmond’s parliamentary assistant.
In 2011, Mr Yousaf became the youngest ever MSP when he was elected to Holyrood.
Rise within the SNP
Barely a year passed before he made history again as he became the SNP’s minister for Europe, making him the first ever Scottish Asian and Muslim to hold a government post.
Four years later he was given the transport brief by Ms Sturgeon, and in 2018 took on his biggest job yet as justice chief.
He was responsible for passing controversial new hate crime laws, which were criticised over claims they would dilute freedom of speech.
As one of the SNP’s most prominent ministers, Mr Yousaf has regularly been on the receiving end of death threats and racist abuse.
He has confronted bigotry on social media and in 2020 in Holyrood read out the final words of African-American man George Floyd, whose murder by disgraced police officer Derek Chauvin prompted demonstrations across the globe.
Pressure as health secretary
After the SNP’s secured a record fourth straight election victory in 2021, Mr Yousaf was given the unenviable task of managing a health service reeling from the Covid pandemic.
Under his watch the NHS has been in a constant state of crisis as A&E times hit their worst levels ever and patients face horrendously long waits for an ambulance.
Mr Yousaf has faced repeated demands from Labour to resign.
Last week Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie called him “without a doubt the worst minister I have ever had the misfortune of shadowing”.
She said: “Having been the worst health secretary on record, his condition has deteriorated further.
“He now aspires to be the worst first minister on record. The lack of self-awareness might be considered by clinicians to be delusional.”
Yet Mr Yousaf has maintained the outgoing first minister’s constant support and remains one of her key lieutenants in the Holyrood chamber.
As health secretary, Mr Yousaf has been forced to answer questions over the breast cancer scandal which rocked NHS Tayside.
He has also denied regular calls for a public inquiry from victims of disgraced ex-Dundee doctor Professor Sam Eljamel.
Links to Dundee and nursery row
In 2019, Mr Yousaf married Nadia El-Nakla, who became a Dundee SNP councillor in last year’s local elections.
He currently stays in the City of Discovery along with his family.
In 2021, Mr Yousaf’s wife sued a nursery in Broughty Ferry over claims their daughter had been discriminated against while applying.
A complaint to the Care Inspectorate was upheld, but earlier this month the couple ended legal action.
Ambition and controversy
Mr Yousaf’s quick ascension through the ranks demonstrates he has plenty of ambition and has never shied away from the spotlight.
But his mixed performance in government and fondness for winding up rival politicians has sometimes resulted in him being a magnet for controversy.
Angus Robertson was seen as more likely to replace Ms Sturgeon before he ruled himself out of the leadership race, citing family commitments for his decision not to run.
Kate Forbes has lost key backers after the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP said she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland.
On Tuesday morning, Mr Yousaf tweeted: “Equality and the protection of rights are at the very core of my being.
“I have lived my entire life in Scotland as a minority, often having to fight for my rights.
“I want there to be no doubt in anyone’s mind, whoever you are, that I will fight to protect all of our rights.”
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