His margin of victory in the final round (52% against Kate Forbes’ 48%) was, however, narrower than many had anticipated, with the election taking place under the transferrable vote system.

The results were as follows:

First round
• Humza Yousaf: 24,336 (48.2%)
• Kate Forbes: 20,559 (40.7%)
• Ash Regan: 5,599 (11.1%) ELIMINATED

Second round
• Humza Yousaf: 26,032 (52.1%)
• Kate Forbes: 23,890 (47.9%)

Acceptance speech

Yousaf’s acceptance speech was conciliatory, both to the SNP and to the whole of Scotland. He quoted former Labour leader John Smith: “The opportunity to serve our country is all we ask”. Yousaf promised to be a “first minister for all of Scotland”, calling for “respect” for all with “no empty promises or easy soundbites”. Instead, he promised to “earn your trust” by governing well and by working with the UK and other devolved governments “constructively, where I can”.

On reaching out to his party, he said that independence would be delivered “together, as a team” and promised to step the campaign “into fifth gear”. He did not, however, set out a plan to bring forward a referendum. Also absent from the speech was any reference to the widely debated Gender Recognition Act: the controversy over which marred Nicola Sturgeon’s final days in office.

Background

Having entered Holyrood at the age of 26 in 2011, Yousaf – whose seat, Glasgow Pollok, neighbours that of his predecessor – is the first Muslim and the first person from an ethnic minority background to be elected as Scotland’s First Minister. Yousaf has taken the justice and health portfolios in Sturgeon’s cabinet. Yousaf is recognised among the SNP and the independence movement as a hands-on campaigner. Among the public, however, he may struggle to shake his association with poor outcomes in Scotland’s health service.

Yousaf’s role as the continuity candidate came about almost by accident. At the beginning of the race, most observers viewed Kate Forbes – a reliable ally of Sturgeon – as the frontrunner. Yet controversy over Forbes’ social conservatism and her criticisms of the outgoing government saw Yousaf gain favour from the party establishment.

During the campaign, Yousaf suggested he would bring back the gender recognition legislation if he felt the UK government’s legal block to it could be removed. He also emphasised the clearest route to independence was to broaden electoral support. His predecessor struggled to do this. With ‘No’ now polling on average 48% against 41% for ‘Yes’, this could prove a tough undertaking.

Yousaf’s first weeks in office will be crucial, he may seek to heal divisions by offering Forbes a position in his new cabinet. He will also have to restore order in the party after its management of the leadership election.

What this means

The PPA will monitor for new appointments across the Scottish government and look to engage new Ministers on relevant issues.