BREAKING NEWS: Humza Yousaf wins SNP leadership race
Humza Yousaf has won the SNP leadership contest after an intense five week election following the shock resignation of Nicola Sturgeon in mid-February.
In the second round of the ballot, the final tally saw Mr Yousaf, who was the bookies favourite, get 26,052 votes (52.1 per cent).
Finance secretary and Skye, Badenoch and Lochaber MSP Kate Forbes got 23,890 votes (47.9 per cent)
Ash Regan was eliminated in the first round.
Tomorrow, Holyrood will meet to elect the First Minister where it is expected that other parties will put forward rival candidates though none are expected to win, barring a major upset.
Mr Yousaf was the most experienced of the three leadership contenders having served in government since 2012 in roles including justice secretary and transport minister and more recently as health secretary.
His supporters say he is best placed to unite the party and maintain the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.
But he faces a tough challenge as the leadership campaign proved deeply divisive for the party and he also faces the NHS and cost of living crises, significant issues regarding education and local government funding to name but a few.
