Humza: I'm not wedded to Nic's indyref strategy

BATTLE FOR BUTE HOUSE

- CHRIS MCCALL

SNP leadership hopeful Humza Yousaf has hit out at Nicola Sturgeon's plan to use the next UK general election as a "de facto" indyref.

Yousaf said yesterday he was "not wedded to the idea" and he had "concerns" about Sturgeon's independence strategy.

The MSP used a speech at Clydebank Town Hall to set out his pitch to become First Minister.

Yousaf faces competition from Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, who announced she would join the race just moments before his campaign event was due to start, and former minister Ash Regan.

All three candidates will have to convince SNP members they have a plan to advance the case for independence after Sturgeon's bid to hold a second referendum was scuppered by the UK Supreme Court.

The outgoing SNP leader had previously claimed that if her party secured more than 50 per cent of the vote at the next general election it would be a mandate to begin negotiations with the UK Government to end the Union.

Yousaf said: "I've got some concerns. I'm not wedded to the idea of using a general election as a de facto referendum.