Humza Yousaf writes to Alba Party's Ash Regan asking her to talks in last desperate bid to save his job as Scotland's First Minister
Humza Yousaf has written to the Scottish Parliament's sole Alba Party MSP asking her to talks in a desperate bid to save his political future.
Ash Regan is seen a crucial figure who could save the Scottish First Minister's position when a no confidence vote takes place within days.
The SNP leader dramatically brought the SNP-led Scottish Government's powersharing deal with the Greens to an end on Thursday but now faces a backlash which could cost him his job.
The Greens will back a motion proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, leaving Mr Yousaf facing a knife-edge vote at Holyrood next week.
But Mr Yousaf hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at Bute House in Edinburgh to discuss how they can 'contribute constructively', while acknowledging that there are 'strong feelings' about the upcoming vote.
Humza Yousaf scrapped the Bute House Agreement despite previously being its biggest cheerleader within the SNP (Pictured in Dundee)
Alba MSP Ash Regan (pictured at Holyrood) is yet to decide how she will vote in the confidence vote next week
It is understood that letters were sent to Alba Party, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens on Friday night.
The Bute House Agreement gave the SNP-led government a majority at Holyrood but it came under strain in recent days after the Greens said they would put the future of the deal to a vote by their members.
Some in the Greens were unhappy at the Scottish Government's recent dropping of 2030 climate targets and the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers at Scotland's only gender clinic.
With the Greens voting in favour of the no-confidence motion, there would be 64 out of 128 MSPs who do not back the First Minister.
Ms Regan has not yet decided how she will vote but if she backed the SNP leader then it would mean a tiebreak amongst MSP's in Holyrood.
If a majority of MSPs back the vote, which is likely to take place next week, Mr Yousaf would be under intense pressure to resign
Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie (left) and Lorna Slater (right) arrive for First Minister's Questions on Thursday. The Greens have said they will support a vote of no confidence in the First Minister
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has a lodged a motion of No Confidence in the Scottish First Minister
In the event of a tiebreak, presiding officer Alison Johnstone, who traditionally does not vote, would be expected to support the status quo and back Mr Yousaf.
Ms Regan had been a fierce critic of some Scottish Government policies, including gender reform, previously quitting her ministerial post over legislative proposals.
She later defected to Alba, led by former SNP first minister Alex Salmond, and is the party's Holyrood leader.
In a letter to Alba members, Ms Regan said she is 'carefully considering' her position ahead of the vote.
She has also written to Mr Yousaf to offer him an 'early opportunity' to discuss three clear priorities - Scottish independence, women's rights and the future of the Grangemouth oil refinery.
Ms Regan suggested in her letter to Alba members that investment in the refinery, which could shut as early as next year and shift to an import and export terminal, could be the price for her support.
The Alba Party has already launched a campaign to protect jobs at the Grangemouth refinery.
She will also urge Mr Yousaf to back proposals for an independence convention on Scottish sovereignty.
Ash Regan defected to the Alba party which is led by former First Minister Alex Salmond (pictured)
Grangemouth oil refinery is to cease operations as soon as 2025 under plans announced by its owner, Petroineos, last year
In a BBC interview on Friday, Ms Regan said she had not spoken to Mr Yousaf since the leadership contest last year. She said she is still considering how to cast her vote.
She said: 'I think that potentially some of the things he said about me when I left to go to a different political party last year probably shows that it's always wise to have that level of professional courtesy to people that you work with.'
In October last year, Mr Yousaf said Ms Regan's defection to Alba was 'no great loss'.
In his letters, Mr Yousaf emphasised that the Scottish Parliament has previous experience of minority administrations which had delivered benefits for 'people, communities and businesses'.
He said: 'Each group within the parliament must contribute constructively, and I believe Scotland's people want to see their political parties work together where and when they can, building consensus for the common good.
'I recognise the strong feelings in relation to the confidence debate our parliament is set to have next week.
Mr Yousaf speaking in parliament after the deal collapsed over what the Greens had seen as a gradual side-lining of their policies by the SNP
'Notwithstanding that, I am writing to all Holyrood party groups to ask them to meet me next week, in separate meetings, to discuss their concerns and indeed priorities, in a hopefully constructive spirit.'
The meetings at Bute House would 'discuss matters and establish the scope for common ground', he said.
Speaking today, Mr Yousaf said he hoped to hear from the other Holyrood leaders soon.
It was put to Mr Yousaf that given the lack of support from the Greens, Ms Regan could be crucial to his political survival.
He told Sky News: 'That would be really disappointing if that is the Greens' position.
'As I say, I've reached out to them, they are saying publicly that they're going to support a Conservative motion against - a First Minister, an independence government.
'I think that would be, I think, a poor choice to make. So of course I have written to Ash Regan, as well. I look forward to speaking to her too.'
Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the greens celebrate the signing of the agreement in August 2021. The deal has now been scrapped by Humza Yousaf
Humza Yousaf's former leadership rival Kate Forbes has urged colleagues to back him in the upcoming votes of no confidence
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who lodged a motion of no confidence in Mr Yousaf, suggested he is in little mood for compromise.
Mr Ross said: 'The only letter Humza Yousaf should be writing is one offering his resignation.
'He says it's important for the Scottish people, communities and businesses to have effective government as if he's just discovered it, when he is the one who has ignored their priorities and failed to listen to concerns.
'But given how much his views have changed in the last week perhaps I'll go along to Bute House, if there's a possibility I can convince him to support my motion.'
Leaders of the other parties have not yet issued responses to the letters.
Speaking on Friday, Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar said: 'I am more than happy to engage with people of all parties, but it is clear that Humza Yousaf is out of time.
'He is leading a chaotic and divided political party and an incompetent government that is failing the people of Scotland every single day, and one conversation isn't going to change that.'
Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has said it is 'pretty clear' Mr Yousaf will not be able to unite Holyrood - urging the SNP to consider finding a replacement for him.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during First Minster's Questions (FMQ's) at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday
On Saturday, Mr Yousaf's former leadership rival Kate Forbes urged colleagues to back him in the upcoming votes of no confidence.
Ms Forbes, who came second in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon last year, said recent events had been 'an embarrassment for every parliamentarian in every party'.
While the result of the confidence ballot could not compel the First Minister to quit, realistically it would prove almost impossible for him to stay in post if he did not have the confidence of the majority of MSPs.
However the resignation of the First Minister would not automatically trigger a Holyrood election.
Under Scottish Parliament rules, if a first minister steps down MSPs have 28 days in which to elect a replacement.
This means that if Mr Yousaf was to quit, the SNP may seek to have a replacement leader installed in the post - assuming they could win enough support to be voted into the post at Holyrood.
Labour have also lodged a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole.
If passed, that would force the entire Scottish Cabinet to resign - with MSPs then having 28 days to try to elect an alternative first minister, with the prospect of a snap Holyrood election if no candidate can gain sufficient support.
