Humza Yousaf will refuse to enter an electoral pact with Alex Salmond’s party that could have seen the SNP step aside in some Scottish seats, Sky News understands.
The Alba party, headed by Mr Salmond, is likely to have the deciding vote in a key vote of no confidence in the SNP first minister at Holyrood this week. It is on a knife-edge.
Its only MSP, Ash Regan, is to make a set of demands to Mr Yousaf and one of those demands included her rivals step aside in some seats to allow Alba to be elected.
Ms Regan defected from the SNP in the wake of her defeat in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon last year.
But a senior source close to Scotland’s first minister has said that will not happen. It is an idea that will be point blank refused.
Alba members are to meet online on Sunday to thrash out their plans.
It comes after the Greens were sacked from their SNP powersharing government arrangement on Thursday.
They have reacted with fury saying they will not back Yousaf in the looming vote that could bring down the current Scottish government.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News on Saturday, the first minister said a Scottish election “can’t be ruled out” amid the chaos.
He has written to the leaders of all Scottish political parties to seek talks on making a minority government work.
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Humza Yousaf is battling for survival – how did we get here?
Humza Yousaf vows to stay in power as pressure builds
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The Conservatives have rejected any suggestion they will support the first minister.
The leader of Scottish Labour, Anas Sarwar, said it was “now a case of when, not if” the first minister stands down.
A tight vote is expected at Holyrood this week, where 64 out of 128 MSPs are poised to oppose Mr Yousaf continuing as first minister.
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The SNP have 63 MSPs at Holyrood.
Alba has told Sky News it could be demanding a pact which would see Yousaf having to agree to only one pro-independence candidate standing in each constituency.
Asked if that would happen, a source close to the first minister said: “No.”
