The Alba Party MSP whose vote could be crucial to Humza Yousaf’s political future has written to the First Minister with a list of demands to ensure her support.
Ash Regan, a former SNP minister who defected to Alex Salmond’s party, said she wanted to see progress on Scottish independence and defending “the rights of women and children”.
Yousaf is battling to save his position as First Minister after his former allies in the Scottish Greens vowed to vote against him in a motion of no confidence.
The SNP leader dramatically brought the powersharing deal with the Greens to an end but now faces a backlash which could cost him his job.
A tight vote is expected at Holyrood next week, and since the SNP have 63 out of the 128 MSPs, Regan’s vote would appear to be crucial in getting Mr Yousaf over the line in a confidence vote.
Speaking to the BBC’s World Tonight, the Alba Party MSP said: “I have written to the First Minister today with a number of issues that I’ve raised with him on progress made towards independence, on how he will defend the rights of women and children and a return to competent governance.
“My vote will depend on really what Humza comes back with in response to my letter.”
She continued: “I’m not setting out specific demands as such, I’m putting the ball into Humza’s court for him to come back to me and explain to me how he will make progress in a couple of these areas, particularly around the return to a competent government.”
The Alba Party said Regan’s letter would be sent out on Friday.
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