High noon for Humza Yousaf: SNP leader tees up statement at midday 'to quit after conceding he cannot win confidence vote' - capping extraordinary meltdown triggered by sacking Green coalition partner

Humza Yousaf is on the brink of quitting today amid the extraordinary meltdown triggered by sacking his Green coalition partners. Humza Yousaf arriving at Bute House this morning, having decided over the weekend that there is no way for him to survive as SNP leader Alba defector Ash Regan holds the key vote needed to save Mr Yousaf's job Former SNP leader and long-time Nicola Sturgeon ally John Swinney has been touted as an interim first minister Veteran Sturgeon ally John Swinney is said to have been approached by senior party figures to become an interim first minister if Mr Yousaf is forced from office. Mr Swinney was Deputy First Minister of Scotland under Nicola Sturgeon from 2017 to 2023 Kate Forbes is seen as among the runners and riders to take over from Mr Yousaf Mr Yousaf announced the end of the agreement, accompanied by a sign language interpreter, on Thursday Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater responded by declaring they would support a vote of no confidence in the First Minister Mr Yousaf's future ended up being reliant on whether he could persuade Alba MSP Ash Regan to back him Mr Yousaf previously described her departure from the SNP in October last year as 'no great loss'. Speaking on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, effectively laid out his demands, saying a 'top line' of any discussion with Mr Yousaf would be the idea of reviving the Scotland United strategy JK Rowling even waded into the row, saying it is 'karma' that the First Minister is now reliant on Ms Regan, who defected to Alba in protest at the SNP's gender ID stance If Mr Yousaf was to resign immediately, then the Scottish Parliament would have 28 days to elect a first minister by a simple majority. First Minister at the time Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Green Party co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater announce the signing of their coalition deal, which became known as the Bute House agreement, in Edinburgh on August 20, 2021 Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'This is a humiliating and embarrassing letter, in which Humza Yousaf is begging to be allowed to keep his job' Labour leader Anas Sarwar replied that Mr Yousaf was 'out of time' However opposition parties appeared to be unmoved by Mr Yousaf's impassioned plea for support, with the dumped Greens, the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems yet to confirm if they will meet with the SNP leader.