First Minister Humza Yousaf Confirms SNP Support Growing Despite Turmoil

Key Highlights :

1. The SNP has had a difficult few weeks, but support for the party is still strong.

2. The first minister said he will never be complacent about the party's support, and that he is focused on the Government's priorities.

3. The SNP has not yet spoken to Ms Sturgeon, but he is sure he will speak to her in due course.

     Despite the turmoil the Scottish National Party (SNP) has faced in recent weeks, First Minister Humza Yousaf has said that support for the party is “going from strength to strength”. Mr Yousaf, who was elected to the top job in March following Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation as first minister, has had a tumultuous start to his time in charge. The party’s former chief executive, Peter Murrell, and its then treasurer, Colin Beattie, were arrested earlier this month by police investigating how more than £600,000 of donations earmarked for independence campaigning were spent. Both men were released without charge pending further investigation.

     Despite this, Mr Yousaf has said that support for the SNP remains strong. Visiting the Just Bee Productions charity in Dundee, Mr Yousaf told the PA news agency that support for the SNP is “incredible” and “strong”. He said: “I’ve just been on the doorsteps in Douglas here in Dundee and support for the SNP is incredible and support for independence strong as well.” He added that the SNP has had a “challenging” few weeks, but that “support for the SNP is not just holding up but going from strength to strength.”

     Mr Yousaf was campaigning alongside local SNP council leader John Alexander, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison and MSP Joe FitzPatrick. He said that the government’s priorities are the cost-of-living crisis, investing in public services, and growing the economy, and that these are the same priorities that people are talking about on the doorsteps. He added that he will never be complacent, and that the only way to know support is to make sure that the people’s priorities are the Government’s priorities.

     The First Minister has not yet been in touch with Ms Sturgeon since taking office, but said he is certain he will speak to her “in due course”. With a general election likely next year, it remains to be seen whether the SNP can maintain its current level of support. However, with Mr Yousaf leading the party’s national campaigning day to mark one month of his leadership, it appears that support for the SNP is still strong.

Continue Reading at Source : scotsman