HUMZA AT THE READY

Health Secretary poised to stand for top job  | Swinney rules himself out of running for FM

- PAUL HUTCHEON & ANDREW QUINN

HEALTH Secretary Humza Yousaf is expected to enter the race to become the next SNP leader after Nicola Sturgeon's resignation.

It is understood Yousaf wants to become First Minister and is poised to declare his candidacy.

But last night Deputy First Minister John Swinney ruled himself out of the race.

A friend of Yousaf said: "Humza is veering that way. He has a lot of support from MPs and MSPs. Some big names."

The pal said of his pitch: "Part of it will be about experience. He has been in Government for 10 years. He would also be a unifying force. Just as he has managed to get health unions round the table, he would bring the party together."

Yousaf has been Health Secretary through a challenging period for the NHS in Scotland, with record waiting times at A&E departments and massive backlogs for non-emergency treatments.

He has faced almost daily calls for his resignation over the crisis in the NHS.

Before taking up his current role, he was Justice Secretary for nearly three years.

The 37-year-old was first elected as a list MSP for Glasgow in 2011 before becoming the Glasgow Pollok MSP in 2016.