Humza Yousaf: The First Minister of Scotland: “I am not considering a unilateral path. The independence referendum must be legal”

Humza Yousaf (Rutherglen, Scotland, 38 years old) is the First Minister of Scotland. He was the first Muslim to hold the position. He also presides over the Scottish National Party (SNP), replacing Nicola Sturgeon, who left behind a divided party, mired in a scandal of alleged corruption and with the independence project headed towards unilateralism. and towards a train wreck with London.

On October 7, when Hamas carried out atrocious terrorist acts in Israel, Yousaf immediately went to a synagogue to hug the rabbi and calm tensions. The Scottish politician, of Pakistani origin and whose father-in-law is Palestinian, later saw how his wife’s parents were trapped for several days under the bombs in Gaza, where they had gone to visit relatives.

Ask. Brexit has disappeared from the political debate in the United Kingdom, but it remains alive in the Scottish debate.

Answer. I think the evidence is now indisputable: Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster. There are already very numerous economists and experts of all stripes who claim that the United Kingdom is worse than other countries around it. That is why we need independence more than ever, because Scotland is today tied to a United Kingdom in economic decline due to its departure from the EU.

P. Unlike your predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, you believe there is only one route to independence.

R. There are no shortcuts or magic wands. There is no secret way to independence. The British Government must listen to us and respect the democratic vote. And we will only achieve that if we increase at home [en Escocia] support for independence.

P. Therefore, no one-sidedness. Sturgeon even proposed that the next general election [sin fecha aún, pero previsiblemente en noviembre] were a referendum in fact…

R. I am not considering any unilateral path. It must be a legal and binding referendum. There is no other way to achieve independence. That is why we must create the necessary political pressure so that the United Kingdom Government has no other option than to comply with the will of the citizens.

P. The Labor Party is on a roll, the polls predict its victory. If he recovers votes in Scotland, the independence cause would deflate.

R. I will tell you clearly: only when the SNP wins elections does the independence cause advance. That is why our message must be that: if you believe in independence, you have to vote for us.

P. The SNP’s relations with the Catalan independence movement have always been very good. Do you believe that the amnesty agreed with the Spanish Government is a means of reconciliation?

R. The issue of Scottish independence is an internal matter between the Scottish and British governments. The same can be said of Catalonia. We are not going to interfere in an internal matter. Only the Spanish and Catalan governments are responsible for discussing the issue of amnesty. We hope to continue having good relations with both of them.

P. The tragedy of October 7 and that of Gaza. As a Muslim and British leader, has it been difficult for you to find balance?

R. It is not a matter of seeking balance. The question is: are we willing to demand humanity, compassion and the whole truth? Because that’s what we need. I see no conflict in expressing our pain and sorrow for the Israeli families whose loved ones remain kidnapped by Hamas, and at the same time expressing our pain, sorrow and compassion for the people of Gaza, who are suffering an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe.

P. The United Kingdom suspended its financial contribution to the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The Scottish Government has already contributed almost 900,000 euros.

R. There are several European countries that have never suspended their funding to UNRWA, including Spain. I have never believed in collective punishment. Allegations that some of its personnel colluded in terrorist attacks must, of course, be investigated and the culprits punished, if any. But withdrawing funding means punishing 2.2 million innocent people living in Gaza.

P. What is the solution to this conflict?

P. We will only achieve long-term stability if there are two states, and one way to achieve that is through recognition of the Palestinian state. That is why I am happy to observe the movement carried out by some countries, such as Spain, whose Government has committed to recognizing this Palestinian State at the end of its current parliamentary mandate.

P. Rishi Sunak’s Government assures that British democracy is in danger due to the threat of extremism and wants to expand its legal definition. Do you agree?

R. It will depend on the final definition. But what I can say, for now, is that the British Conservative Government’s approach to episodes of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism or street protests has been rather to inflame the divisions and tensions that already existed.

P. Is there Islamophobia in the Conservative Party?

R. They have dedicated themselves to stigmatizing the Muslim community. We have seen terrible examples of Islamophobia coming from the Conservative Party. I would suggest that the Government not face the next general elections by launching a cultural war that will cause greater division, but rather try to unite people.

P. Words must be measured in this climate of tension. Would you talk about genocide in Gaza?

R. My position on genocide is very clear, it is something that is up to international courts to decide. But I have also unequivocally expressed my conviction that some statements by members of the Israeli Government, such as those of the Minister of National Security or those of the Economy, represent a textbook defense of what would be ethnic cleansing.

P. Do you fear that Islamophobia or racism will be a bargaining chip in the general elections?

R. I think that in the Westminster environment [sede del Parlamento del Reino Unido], in the last 14 years, both with Labor and the Conservatives, a very negative discourse has been created regarding immigration, contrary to day-to-day evidence, which shows that immigrants contribute more than they receive. The conservatives can no longer provide economic credibility or any other proposal. They are going to create division and squeeze voters with issues such as migration, Islamophobia or multiculturalism. As a consequence, the most vulnerable in our society will end up being the target to kill.

Follow all the international information on Facebook y Xor our weekly newsletter.