Humza Yousaf's First Minister's Questions debut at Scottish Parliament disrupted by climate protesters
The new first minister was in the middle of questioning by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross when demonstrators repeatedly interrupted proceedings.
Thursday 30 March 2023 15:07, UK
Humza Yousaf's very first First Minister's Questions saw the public gallery cleared during repeated disruption from climate protesters.
Presiding officer Alison Johnstone was forced to take action following a number of interruptions during questioning from Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross.
School pupils visiting the Scottish Parliament were allowed to remain, with regret voiced for those who had travelled to Edinburgh to watch their elected representatives at work.
The new first minister, who was sworn in on Wednesday, told Ms Johnstone: "I do agree with the action you have taken. I'm delighted the young people were allowed to stay and can I commend the young people for behaving much better than some of the adults that were in the public gallery."
Protests have interrupted FMQs at Holyrood repeatedly in recent months, with action now reportedly under way to address the issue.
Mr Yousaf, who also replaced Ms Sturgeon as SNP leader, was questioned by Mr Ross on his full ministerial team, which he revealed on Wednesday.
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Mr Ross, who said the new first minister was more "divisive" than Nicola Sturgeon, said: "Less than 48 hours ago, Humza Yousaf stood in this chamber and promised to be the first minister for all of Scotland.
"And yesterday he had an opportunity to prove that with the new ministerial team he appointed, but he failed in his first big test.
"This is the largest government since devolution with more ministers than ever before, but key ministerial posts relating to social security and tourism were abolished.
"Yet a new minister for independence was created. Does the first minister really believe that appointing a taypayer-funded nationalist campaigner is governing for all of Scotland?"
In response, Mr Yousaf said he was "delighted" to have appointed a cabinet which has the most number of women in the history of devolution.
He explained that social security is the responsibility of the cabinet secretary for social justice, and tourism will come under the remit of the minister for small business, innovation and trade.
The first minister also highlighted his earlier announcement of a £30m boost to the Fuel Insecurity Fund in 2023-24 to help Scots in need.
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Speaking about the new ministerial post for independence, Mr Yousaf stated: "Yes, I make no apology whatsoever for having a minister for independence because my goodness we need independence now more than ever before.
"We need it now. We need it now more than ever before because in energy-rich Scotland we have Scots that are fuel poor because of the UK government's policies.
"We need independence now more than ever before because we have more food banks in this country at any other time than ever before because of over a decade of austerity.
"So I would say to Douglas Ross, to the UK government, we will continue to advocate and to advance independence because we need it now more than ever before."