Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has cancelled a planned speech as he battles for his political life.
The event at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, where the SNP leader was also due to take part in a question and answer session and be quizzed by the press, was scratched with just a few hours’ notice.
The move will fuel speculation over his future, particularly as colleagues insisted Mr Yousaf would “come out fighting” after former allies in government, the Scottish Greens, said they would join the other opposition parties in a vote of no confidence in his leadership next week.
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Sources close to the first minister have said he will not resign and would later make a “major announcement on housing”.
Ramping up the pressure at Holyrood, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is separately to lay motion of no confidence in the Scottish government, which carries more far-reaching implications, including the threat of an election.
However, it is unlikely to get enough support.
The crisis was sparked after Mr Yousaf dramatically brought the powersharing deal with the Greens to an end on Thursday, following tensions over the SNP’s climbdown on climate targets and the decision to pause the prescription of puberty blockers for under-18s at Scotland’s only gender clinic.
The ditching of the deal means the SNP will now operate as a minority administration at Holyrood.
The Greens joining forces with the other opposition parties means Mr Yousaf faces a knife-edge vote that ranges 64 out of 128 MSPs against him.
The SNP have 63 MSPs at Holyrood while there is also Ash Regan, a former SNP minister who defected to Alex Salmond’s Alba Party, who has not yet confirmed which way she will vote.
Her support could prove crucial in getting the embattled first minister over the line.
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Presiding officer Alison Johnstone can cast tie-breaking votes but would be expected to back the status quo.
In the light of her pivotal role, Ms Regan has written to Mr Yousaf to argue that Scotland “deserves and demands a reset”.
She said her priorities were Scottish independence, “the dignity, safety and rights of women and children” and providing competent government.
She also said her “door is open” to discuss proposed legislation on holding a referendum on whether the Scottish parliament should have the powers to hold another independence vote.
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Any no-confidence vote in Mr Yousaf is likely to take place next week, with timings to be confirmed by parliamentary authorities.
Although non-binding, losing the ballot could make his position untenable.
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Of greater significance would be a vote of no-confidence in the government, which would force both the first minister and his ministers to resign.
In that case, parliament would have 28 days to choose a new first minister by a simple majority, but if it failed to do so would be dissolved.
However, Alba has said it would not support the Labour move.
A party spokesperson said: “Anas Sarwar’s grandstanding is just an attempt to remain relevant.
“However, unionist parties should beware in their glee.
“As much as Humza Yousaf and the SNP find themselves in a tricky predicament, independence supporters will not turn back to the yoke of Tory and Labour mediocrity.
“Alba Party are now ensuring that independence supporters have a party they can turn to.”
