Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf is spending the weekend in a desperate bid to save his premiership, as he faces potential no-confidence votes in both himself and his government next week.
The crisis erupted after Yousaf's decision to end the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens, known as the Bute House agreement, sparking fury from the pro-independence allies.
In an attempt to regain control of the spiraling situation, Yousaf is expected to make a series of policy announcements in the coming days, outlining plans to create jobs, tackle climate change, and improve public services – areas he says are "the priorities of the people."
However, his immediate focus is on shoring up support from opposition parties to survive the looming no-confidence votes in the Scottish Parliament. With 63 SNP MSPs and 65 opposition members, Yousaf could lose if every opposition politician votes against him.
To avoid this, the embattled leader is writing to opposition party leaders, offering meetings to discuss "how to make minority government work." He is also seeking to woo the Scottish Greens, whose seven MSPs could prove crucial in tipping the balance.
Additionally, Yousaf may find an unlikely ally in his former SNP leadership rival Ash Regan, who defected to Alex Salmond's Alba Party last year. Regan has outlined her demands, including a renewed focus on independence, action on women's rights, and support for the Grangemouth refinery – revealing she has not spoken to Yousaf since their bitter contest.
Meanwhile, the Greens have expressed deep hurt over the abrupt end of their power-sharing deal, with MSP Gillian Mackay becoming emotional, saying: "We don't want to be in this position, but it's the first minister that's put us here."
Yousaf admitted he had not "meant to upset them," hinting at potential regret over his handling of the situation.
As backroom deals and negotiations intensify, questions arise over Yousaf's long-term prospects, even if he narrowly survives the no-confidence votes. A senior SNP source bluntly stated: "He can't [survive for long]," highlighting the challenges of uniting a deeply divided party.
With his premiership hanging by a thread, Yousaf's fight to cling to power underscores the turmoil engulfing the Scottish National Party and the high stakes for the future of Scotland's government.