Humza Yousaf says he 'paid price' for upsetting Greens
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Outgoing First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he "paid the price" for the way he ended the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens.
Speaking for the first time since announcing his resignation, Mr Yousaf told BBC News ending the Bute House Agreement was the "right decision".
"But I have to acknowledge the manner in which I did it caused great upset and that's on me," he said.
Mr Yousaf announced on Monday that he would resign as first minister.
He intends to remain in office until a new SNP leader is named.
The first minister had been facing two no-confidence motions after he tore up the Bute House Agreement - a deal signed by his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon that brought two Green ministers into government - and vowed to lead a minority SNP administration.
He told BBC News he believed the power-sharing deal was going to come to an end in a matter of days or weeks but said the way he dealt with the Greens "clearly caused upset and therefore I've paid the price of that".
Former Deputy First Minister John Swinney and ex-Finance Secretary Kate Forbes have emerged as the frontrunners in the process to succeed Mr Yousaf, although neither has yet to declare they are standing.
Mr Yousaf said he would not endorse either potential candidate.
