SHOW US THE MONEY

Humza Yousaf is right to make child poverty a priority but he’ll need one thing he doesn’t have... cash. If that means raising taxes while cutting services then his political opponents will be ready to pounce

- PAUL HUTCHEON

HUMZA Yousaf's Programme for Government was an opportunity to step out of the shadow of Nicola Sturgeon.

Sturgeon quit in February but the stink she left behind remains potent and has been a constant drag anchor for her successor.

He has been looking over his shoulder when he should have been fixed on the future.

Hours before Yousaf made his first policy speech in April, ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested as part of the police probe into party finances.

It completely undermined his attempt at gaining momentum and threw the spotlight back on Operation Branchform. Much of Yousaf's focus in his first six months has been dumping unpopular policies pursued by Sturgeon, such as the shambolic deposit return scheme.

The legislative statement was Yousaf's chance to explain to voters his vision for the future and how it would be different from the Sturgeon era.

His political repositioning, in PR terms, should be seen as a success.

Whereas Sturgeon said education was her top priority, Yousaf has cited cutting child poverty levels as his mission in government.

His focus on expanding childcare and boosting benefit payments should be welcomed by any progressive politician at Holyrood.