Why did Humza Yousaf miss the vote on gay marriage?

With all the focus on Kate Forbes’ social views, it’s perhaps worth another look at Humza Yousaf’s own record on gay marriage. Back in November 2013, the now-favourite to succeed Nicola Sturgeon was a junior minister for External Affairs. He voted that month in favour of the general principles of the Marriage and Civil Partnerships (Scotland) Bill; however he subsequently missed the key final vote on 4 February 2014. Nine years on, he is now facing questions about why he did so.

Yousaf claimed at the time that he had a prior meeting he couldn’t avoid. He wrote on Twitter: ‘Had ministerial engagement arranged beforehand but signed pledge, voted for stage one and v public about my (continued) support!’ Pressed on whether his absence had been ‘unavoidable’, Yousaf replied: ‘Meeting Pakistan Consul discussing Scot on death row accused under Blasphemy Law not one could/want avoid.’ Some investigative snooping by the Herald suggests that this appears