Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Yousaf breaks Ramadan fast in Bute House as climate protests mar debut FMQs session

In the customary ceremony, Yousaf pledged his allegiance to the King, and to fulfill his duties as the first minister and keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland

Yousaf breaks Ramadan fast in Bute House as climate protests mar debut FMQs session

Humza Yousaf was sworn in as the first minister of Scotland at the Court of Session following his first night in his official residence, during which he led Ramadan prayers with his family.

In the customary ceremony, Yousaf pledged his allegiance to the King, and to fulfill his duties as the first minister and keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.


His family observed from the public gallery while he was flanked by Dorothy Bain KC, the lord advocate. The oath was administered by Lord Carloway, the lord president of the Court of Session, who heads the judiciary in Scotland.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Lord Carloway emphasised to Yousaf the importance of the rule of law in maintaining a successful democratic system.

He also emphasised that the government must protect the judiciary from any unjustified attacks.

The night before the ceremony, Yousaf had shared a photo on Twitter of himself, his wife, stepdaughter, daughter, and parents at Bute House, the official residence of the first minister in Edinburgh.

Following the parliamentary vote, Yousaf shared on Twitter two pictures, one of him and his family in Bute House - the official residence of Scotland's First Minister - and another of him leading prayers after the iftar meal during Ramadan.

Yousaf described the moment as "special" and a customary tradition for Muslims to pray together after breaking their fast.

However, there was chaos at Yousaf’s very first appearance at First Minister’s Questions. The debut FMQ session was disrupted by climate protesters, leading to the public being removed from the chamber due to severe interruptions.

The disruptions by activists, who stood up to shout at MSPs, resulted in the session being suspended five times within the first 15 minutes. This is the latest in a series of regular interruptions during the weekly question time.

Yesterday afternoon (30) parliamentary authorities held a meeting to come up with strategies to prevent the disturbances caused by climate protesters during the first minister's questions.

But the ban on mobile phones didn't seem to work as the demonstrations escalated, prompting the need for a new approach.

Following a ban on mobile phones, the protests escalated, with mobile devices being used to film the disruptions and share them on social media.

Suspending broadcasts of the proceedings when disruptions occur has been ineffective. Therefore, it was considered that requiring individuals in the public gallery to lock away their phones may be an effective measure.

After the fifth protest, Alison Johnstone, the presiding officer, requested the police and court officials to remove the spectators who were present in the chamber. “I am very, very sorry,” she said. “We require to clear the gallery at this point.”

The suspension was extended when SNP MSP Stuart McMillan requested that another school group from his constituency be allowed to return to the gallery, following the permission granted to one group of schoolchildren to stay.

Johnstone expressed regret at having to take such action and acknowledged the frequent disruptions, stating that measures were being considered to protect parliamentary business from such incidents.

Johnstone also spoke about her hope for a prompt resolution to the disruption that affected the first minister's questions. She emphasised the need to prioritise the safety and well-being of the public attending the parliament.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservatives leader, did not have a chance to ask his initial question to Yousaf due to the frequent interruptions.

Yousaf concurred with the presiding officer's decision to clear the gallery and expressed his pleasure that the schoolchildren were allowed to stay.

“Can I commend the young people for behaving much better than some of the adults that were in the public gallery,” he said.

More For You

black-smoke-getty

Black smoke is seen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel as Catholic cardinals gather for a second day to elect a new pope on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City. (Photo: Getty Images)

Cardinals to vote again after second black smoke signals no pope yet

CARDINALS will cast more votes on Thursday afternoon to choose the next pope, after a second round of black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signalling that no candidate has yet secured the required majority.

The 133 cardinals began the conclave on Wednesday afternoon in the 15th-century chapel to elect a successor to Pope Francis. So far, two rounds of voting have ended without agreement. Black smoke appeared again at lunchtime on Thursday, showing no one had received the two-thirds majority needed.

Keep ReadingShow less
king-charles-ve-day-reuters

King Charles lays a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior during a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

King Charles leads VE Day service marking 80 years since WWII ended

KING CHARLES joined veterans and members of the royal family at Westminster Abbey on Thursday to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe. The service was the main event in the UK's four-day commemorations of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945.

Charles and his son Prince William laid wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. The King’s message read: "We will never forget", signed "Charles R". William's wreath message read: "For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them", signed "William" and "Catherine".

Keep ReadingShow less
NHS worker Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a legendary villain of the 'Star Wars' series, and being aligned with his personality is insulting

Getty

NHS worker compared to Darth Vader awarded £29,000 in tribunal case

An NHS worker has been awarded nearly £29,000 in compensation after a colleague compared her to Darth Vader, the villain from Star Wars, during a personality test exercise in the workplace.

Lorna Rooke, who worked as a training and practice supervisor at NHS Blood and Transplant, was the subject of a Star Wars-themed Myers-Briggs personality assessment in which she was assigned the character of Darth Vader. The test was completed on her behalf by another colleague while she was out of the room.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sunak-Getty

Sunak had earlier condemned the attack in Pahalgam which killed 26 people. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Sunak says India justified in striking terror infrastructure

FORMER prime minister Rishi Sunak said India was justified in striking terrorist infrastructure following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor in Pakistan. His statement came hours after India launched strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

“No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from a land controlled by another country. India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists,” Sunak posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Keep ReadingShow less
india pakistan conflict  British parliament appeals

A family looks at the remains of their destroyed house following cross-border shelling between Pakistani and Indian forces in Salamabad uri village at the Line of Control (LoC).

BASIT ZARGAR/Middle east images/AFP via Getty Images

India-Pakistan conflict: British parliament appeals for de-escalation

THE rising tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistani Kashmir were debated at length in the British Parliament. Members across parties appealed for UK efforts to aid de-escalation in the region.

India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday (7), hitting nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan's Punjab province in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Keep ReadingShow less