LET'S POLL TOGETHER

Labour call for big votes north and south of Border this year 

- CHRIS MCCALL

First Minister scrambles for support to save job and government

SCOTS could be facing TWO elections this year as Labour called for votes at Holyrood AND Westminster as the Tories and SNP flounder.

Labour and the Lib Dems both demanded a Scottish election yesterday claiming First Minister Humza Yousaf no longer has authority in the Scottish Parliament to govern.

At the same time, UK Labour leader Keir Starmer insisted the Tories must call a UK-wide general election - as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak failed to rule out a public vote in the summer.

It would mean Scots voting in a Holyrood and Westminster poll in the same year for the first time.

Embattled SNP leader Yousaf last week wrote to each party represented at Holyrood in a desperate bid to win support and prevent his administration from collapsing after the collapse of his pact with the Greens.

But with the Greens, Labour, Tories and the Lib Dems all refusing to back him, Yousaf is trying to win support from Ash Regan, the sole MSP representing Alex Salmond's breakaway Alba party.

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour deputy leader, ramped up the pressure last night, SNP saying: "This Government is collapsing before our eyes and no dodgy deals with Alex Salmond can save Humza Yousaf's job.

"It's clearly a matter of when, not if, Humza Yousaf goes - but that is not enough. This chaotic and divided SNP Government has lost its way and cannot deliver for the people of Scotland.