There is nothing ‘bold and ambitious’ about Humza Yousaf’s plan for Scotland

Humza Yousaf’s programme for government was the new First Minister’s chance to separate himself, once and for all, from the legacy of his predecessor. Nicola Sturgeon said herself when resigning that ‘any party that doesn’t change after two decades in power is daft’ – but do Yousaf’s proposals promise the reset the country needs?

‘We are unashamedly anti-poverty and pro-growth,’ the First Minister announced at the start of his speech, sounding eerily like his leadership race rival Kate Forbes. Drawing on the experience of his own family, Yousaf made a show of the Scottish government’s pro-business approach — despite having come under fire from opposition politicians and business owners alike for being out of touch with the industry. In fact, a recent survey found that of 400 companies, only 8 per cent believed the government understood the business environment. There are concerns both within and outside the SNP about the Green influence over government attitudes towards business.