HUMZA Yousaf has said he will not resign as Scotland’s First Minister after the Tories lodged a motion of no confidence in him.
Speaking to the media at a housing development in Dundee, Yousaf said he will not stand down and intends to fight the vote of no confidence in him lodged by Douglas Ross.
It comes after the First Minister cancelled a speech he was due to give on independence at the University of Strathclyde.
READ MORE: Ash Regan says 'door is open' in letter to Humza Yousaf
As well as addressing rumours of his resignation, Yousaf (below) said he intends to lead the SNP into the 2026 Holyrood elections.
Speaking to broadcasters, he said: "I intend absolutely to fight that vote of no confidence, I've got every intention of winning that vote of no confidence.
"And let me say to the opposition – for minority government to work in the interests of the people of Scotland also requires the opposition to act in good faith.
"And to the Greens, I've obviously heard their anger, their upset."
He added that he would be writing to all party leaders, including Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, asking them to meet "to say how do we make a minority government work".
READ MORE: What happens when you lose a no confidence vote in the Scottish Parliament?
"It's in the best interests of the people of Scotland that all of us act in good faith and make it work."
Elsewhere, Harvie has said it is "pretty clear" that Yousaf is unable to unite the Scottish Parliament following the collapse of the Bute House Agreement.
"Very clearly, he (Yousaf) doesn't have the confidence of parliament. I think that's going to be clear," Harvie said.
"We said very clearly the responsibility of the decision is on him. He needs to bear the consequences of that reckless and damaging decision."
"I think it's pretty clear he's not the person who is going to be able to bring together a majority of parliament."
Asked if there was any way back for Yousaf in terms of working with the Greens, Harvie said the SNP leader had "broken trust".
He added: "He still hasn't really given any clarity on why he made such a dramatic U-turn and broken a promise on which he was elected as First Minister.
"So it's very difficult to see how you can have a conversation that leads to a constructive outcome on the basis of that lack of trust."
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