(MENAFN) Scotland's health secretary, Humza Yousaf, has been elected as the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), becoming the first Muslim to lead a major UK party. He is set to be confirmed as the first ethnic minority leader of a devolved government in the UK.
Yousaf won the election with 52.1% of the vote in the second round, while Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes received 47.9% of votes. He replaces Nicola Sturgeon, who resigned last month from the country’s top political post, as well as from the helm of the SNP.
Yousaf, who joined the SNP in 2005, was also the first South Asian and first Muslim cabinet secretary to serve in the Scottish Government. In May 2011, Yousaf was elected to the Scottish Parliament as an additional member for the Glasgow region at the age of 26 years, becoming the youngest MSP to be elected to the Scottish Parliament.
The election of Yousaf as the new leader of the SNP is a significant step forward for diversity and representation in UK politics. It highlights the growing importance of ethnic minority voices in shaping the political discourse and policies in the country.
The SNP has been a major political force in Scotland and has been pushing for Scottish independence. Yousaf's election as the new leader of the party could have significant implications for the future of Scottish politics, particularly in terms of the ongoing debate over independence.
Overall, Yousaf's election as the new leader of the SNP is a positive development for UK politics, and it should be celebrated as a milestone in the country's efforts towards achieving greater diversity and representation in its leadership.
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