SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said he will be lodging a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Government.
This goes further than the Scottish Tories' vote of no confidence in the First Minister that they announced they would lodge on Thursday and could, ultimately, result in early Holyrood election.
Sarwar told LBC: "I think it's now a matter of when, not if, Humza Yousaf resigns as First Minister.
"I think it would be completely untenable for the SNP to impose another unelected first minister on Scotland, and that's why Scottish Labour has said already we don't have confidence in Humza Yousaf, but today we will also be laying a motion before Parliament saying that this Scottish Parliament does not have confidence in this Scottish Government."
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves backed Sarwar's motion and said the SNP were "terribly divided".
“If Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour are successful with that amendment, the Government will fall and there’ll be fresh elections,” Reeves said.
"We now have two broken governments: the SNP in Scotland and the Conservatives in Westminster. It is time for fresh elections in Scotland and across the UK.
“The SNP are terribly divided and that is having a real impact on the lives and communities across Scotland. We don’t just want another leader of the SNP – we’ve already had two during this parliament so far.”
READ MORE: Ash Regan says 'door is open' in letter to Humza Yousaf ahead of confidence vote
The Scottish Greens could back Labour’s motion, The National understands, with a party source this morning stressing the party had not specifically committed to voting with the Conservatives.
But it appears unlikely Labour’s confidence motion will win the support of Alba MSP Ash Regan, who holds the First Minister’s fate in her hands.
A spokesperson for the party said: “Anas Sarwar’s grandstanding is just an attempt to remain relevant.
EXCLUSIVE: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to lay motion of no confidence in the Scottish government this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/puMmD3aOzT
— Rebecca Brady (@Rebecca_Brady_) April 26, 2024
“However, Unionist parties should beware in their glee. As much as Humza Yousaf and the SNP find themselves in a tricky predicament, independence supporters will not turn back to the yoke of Tory and Labour mediocrity.
“Alba Party are now ensuring that independence supporters have a party they can turn to.”
READ MORE: Inside the room as Humza Yousaf sacked the Scottish Greens from government
She is likely to have the deciding vote in a confidence push against Yousaf and has written to him with an ultimatum to guarantee her support.
These include backing her Referendum Bill, which would see the Scottish Government hold a referendum on whether Scots believed the Parliament should have the power to hold indyref2.
And she has sought assurances on the “safety and rights of women and children”.
The Scottish Government has been asked whether Yousaf will accede to Regan’s demands.
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