Andrew Neil declared the Scottish independence cause is “now dead for a generation” following Humza Yousaf’s resignation.
The veteran broadcaster said Mr Yousaf’s departure as Scottish First Minister marks the end of the SNP as Scotland’s dominant political force and means the Union is “safe for the foreseeable future”.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: “The resignation of Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf is more than just the demise of a hapless nonentity who was never up to the job anyway.
“It is a milestone marking the end, at last, of the SNP’s arrogant domination of Scottish politics for almost two decades.
“The nationalists now face defeat in Westminster and Holyrood elections.
“But most significantly of all, it symbolises the demise of the SNP’s defining goal of Scottish independence.
“That is now dead for a generation, if not longer. The Union is safe for the foreseeable future.”
Mr Yousaf yesterday announced he would stand down as First Minister just days after tearing up the powersharing agreement the SNP had with the Scottish Greens.
The collapse of that deal had seen him facing two votes of no confidence in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Yousaf admitted “politics can be a brutal business” as he announced his resignation.
It is the latest turbulence to rock the SNP folllowing Nicola Sturgeon’s shock exit last year and a police probe into its finances.
