Humza Yousaf has quit as Scotland's First Minister triggering a scramble to replace him.
The SNP leader admitted politics can be a "brutal business" as he came close to tears in his emotional resignation statement. The 39-year-old, who had only been doing the job for a year, decided to throw in the towel rather than fight the looming confidence votes in his leadership and the Scottish Government.
He was forced out after his decision to collapse the SNP’s coalition with the Scottish Greens dramatically backfired. Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr Yousaf said: "Although, as you can tell, I am sad my time as First Minister is ending, I am so grateful and so blessed for having the opportunity afforded to so few, to lead my country."
His departure fires the starting gun on another SNP leadership race. Senior figures rowed in behind party veteran John Swinney, who is believed to be Mr Yousaf's preferred successor. Mr Swinney, who led the party in opposition from 2000-2004, said he was giving "very active consideration" to running for the top job.
"It is likely I will have more to say about that in the days to come," he said. "I've got lots of things to think about, there's the whole question of my family, and I have make sure I do the right thing by family, they are precious to me." But he also said: "I have to do the right thing by my party and my country. So there is lots to be thought about."
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth - both tipped as possible leadership contenders - gave their backing to Mr Swinney. But his time as Deputy First Minister under Nicola Sturgeon was littered with controversies.
As Education Secretary in 2020 he faced a no confidence vote over the exam results row which saw pupils marked down by an algorithm. He faced a second no confidence vote the following year after refusing to publish legal advice over the Scottish Government's botched handling of complaints made against former leader Alex Salmond.
SNP MP Joanna Cherry said Mr Swinney was hugely respected but the party "must go forward not backwards" and offered support for former Finance Secretary Kate Forbes. Ms Forbes, who ran against Mr Yousaf in the race to succeed Ms Sturgeon, could have another tilt at the top job.
But the Scottish Greens, who propped up the SNP's minority administration until last week, have previously said they won't work with her due to her opposition to same-sex marriage.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the SNP must call an election rather than imposing a third First Minister since Scots last went to the polls in 2021. He said: "The SNP are a divided party which is out of ideas and incapable of rising to the challenges Scotland faces.
"They cannot impose another unelected First Minister on Scotland in a backroom deal, the people of Scotland should decide who leads our country. There must be an election - it's time for change and Scottish Labour is ready to deliver it."
Mr Yousaf's grip on power had been hanging by a thread since he collapsed his party’s coalition deal with the Scottish Greens last week. On Friday the First Minister said he would fight on, insisting: "I've got every intention of winning that vote of no confidence".
He required the support of at least one member of the opposition at Holyrood to win the no confidence vote, but had failed to either get an agreement with Alex Salmond’s Alba party or patch things up with the Greens over the weekend.
Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie said Mr Yousaf was "right to resign". He added: " His position was no longer tenable after he broke the bonds of trust with the Scottish Greens and with everyone who wanted a stable, progressive, pro-independence government. It is regrettable that it has ended this way, it didn’t need to."
He suggested the Scottish Greens could help prop up a new SNP First Minister. Mr Harvie said: “The SNP is still the largest party in Parliament by some distance, and has the right to form a minority government. The Scottish Greens have a long track record of working constructively from opposition and will do so with any First Minister who shares our progressive values and who can secure our confidence."
Mr Yousaf became the first British Asian and Muslim to hold the post of First Minister when he secured 52.1% of votes from party members, beating rival Kate Forbes in a second round of voting in March 2023.