Humza Yousaf quits as Scotland’s first minister – as it happened

Swinney, who quit government after Nicola Sturgeon stood down in February 2023, confirmed he was “giving very careful consideration” to standing as a unity candidate, after coming under intense pressure from senior figures inside the SNP.

Kate Forbes, the former Scottish government finance secretary who was narrowly defeated in last year’s SNP leadership contest, is “actively considering” whether to run again, Connor Gillies from Sky News reports.

The polling, which was carried out before Humza Yousaf resigned, also found that by a margin of more than two to one, Scottish voters wanted MSPs to vote to remove him in the no confidence debate being planned.

He moved to assure them that the legislation would deal with the repercussions of a decision by Ireland’s high court, which found that the basis for designating the UK a “safe country” for asylum purposes was contrary to EU law.

Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, is making a Commons statement now on the green paper on changes to the personal independence payment (Pip) disability benefit being published today.

Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Wesminster, has told the News Agents podcast that John Swinney is the only candidate to replace Humz Yousaf “with the experience to do the job and unite the party”.