Humza Yousaf could be on the verge of being forced to make a humiliating decision to bring back his deadliest rival into the Scottish Government even when he knows she is plotting to have him ousted.
After being blindsided this morning by the resignation of his disgraced Health Secretary Michael Matheson, who left as a result of trying to bill the taxpayer for his £11,000 in roaming charges for his iPad, Yousaf has been left with few options.
Scottish Opposition parties have noted that the “SNP have run out of any talent” and Mr Yousaf is now desperately looking for a formidable replacement for a key portfolio.
Now there is speculation that the Scottish nationalist First Minister will be forced to turn to former Finance secretary Kate Forbes who he narrowly defeated in the party’s leadership contest last year.
Forbes was immediately sidelined by Yousaf after what turned out to be a bitter contest with his allies attacking her Christian values.
Mr Yousaf has been tarnished by the legal inquiries surrounding his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon, who was a previous Scottish Health secretary herself and handpicked Yousaf to be her successor.
With SNP support collapsing in the polls and his government in Edinburgh struggling, Yousaf’s position has come under question.
Supporters of Ms Forbes are understood to be planning a coup to oust him if the general election results are bad later this year. Now, according to the Scottish Daily Express, there is speculation that Forbes could be lined up for the Health Secretary job.
The speculation has come after a shamed Matheson quit today following months of pressure. At one point the former Health secretary had tried to blame his sons for the roaming charges which he billed to the taxpayer.
Matheson said: “I am conscious that this process will conclude in the coming weeks.
“I have still not received the findings of their review, however, it is in the best interest of myself and the Government for me to now step down to ensure this does not become a distraction to taking forward the Government’s agenda.”
