London, Feb. 19 (BNA): Scottish Health Minister Hamza Yusuf said today, Saturday, that he will contest the leadership to replace Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the Scottish National Party and first minister.
Yusuf became the first to publicly announce his intention to stand in the race after Sturgeon’s abrupt resignation earlier in the week saying she had become too divisive and tired to continue.
“I have decided to put myself forward as a candidate for the next first minister of Scotland, and leader of the Scottish National Party,” the 37-year-old, who has been a member of the Scottish Parliament since 2011 and has also held various ministerial posts, said on Twitter.
John Sweeney, the 58-year-old deputy first minister, ruled himself out Thursday, saying his decision not to run was to create space for a “new perspective” on the ruling party’s goals, including independence.
The SNP said it would choose a new leader within six weeks via a ballot of its members, which closes on March 27. Sturgeon, 52, said she would not leave politics and would stay until a successor was chosen.
MI