Yousaf government

On 15 February 2023, Nicola Sturgeon announced her intention to resign the leadership of the SNP and as First Minister.[2] Yousaf declared his candidacy for the 2023 leadership election. He won the internal party contest to become leader on 27 March 2023.

On 28 March, Yousaf was nominated by the Scottish Parliament to become the next first minister and on the same day he announced Shona Robison as his deputy first minister.[3] Yousaf offered Kate Forbes, who he beaten in the leadership race, a demotion as rural affairs secretary, but she turned down this offer and left government.[4][5] Forbes' campaign manager in the election race and who served as the business minister under Sturgeon, Ivan McKee, also announced he would leave government.[6]

Yousaf was formally sworn into office as first minister on 29 March 2023 and announced the formation of a new government.[7] There was speculation Robison, who he announced the previous day as his deputy, was to take over the finance portfolio from Forbes, which was later confirmed as true.[8][9] Neil Gray, who was Yousaf's campaign manager, was appointed the wellbeing economy secretary, with responsibility for energy.[10] Michael Matheson succeeded Yousaf as health secretary, with Shirley-Anne Somerville succeeding Robison as the social justice secretary.[11]

Angus Robertson and Mairi Gourgeon remained in their respective roles as the constitution secretary and rural affairs secretary.[12][13]

Jenny Gilruth was promoted to cabinet as education secretary, along with Màiri McAllan as the net zero secretary.[14] Angela Constance, who previously served in the cabinets of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, returned to cabinet as the justice secretary.[15] She succeeded Keith Brown, the SNP's depute leader, who was removed from government.[16]

Yousaf appointed Jamie Hepburn the minister for independence, something the Scottish Conservatives criticised for being a “taxpayer-funded nationalist campaigner”.[17][18][19]

In early April 2023, in response to Operation Branchform and the arrest of former SNP CEO Peter Murrell, Johnston Carmichael, the auditor for the SNP, publicly announced they had resigned.[20] Yousaf later confirmed that Johnston Carmichael had resigned around October 2022 but he was unaware of this until after winning the leadership campaign.[21]

SNP President Michael Russell claimed in April 2023 that the SNP was facing its biggest challenge in 50 years.[22] On 11th April 2023, Yousaf stated that Peter Murrell would not be suspended because he is "innocent until proven guilty".[23]