Humza Yousaf will not resign as Scotland's first minister
Humza Yousaf has said he will not resign as Scotland's first minister and intends to carry on in the role.
Mr Yousaf was speaking at an event in Dundee as he fights for his political future ahead of a no-confidence vote next week.
He said he was confident he will win the vote.
The first minister also said he would "absolutely" be leading the SNP into the general election and the 2026 Holyrood election.
And he denied claims by his opponents that he is now a "lame duck" first minister following the collapse of the SNP's power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.
The two pro-independence parties had formed the Scottish government since 2021, with Mr Yousaf now planning to run a minority government in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Yousaf will write to opposition party leaders - including the Greens - later on Friday to ask them to meet with him in an attempt to "make minority government work".
He said he hoped to work with them "issue by issue and vote by vote" in order to "deliver for the people of Scotland".
The Conservatives have said they will hold a vote of no confidence in the first minister next week that he is not guaranteed to win.
He would not be obliged to stand down if he loses the vote - but would be expected to do so.
Labour has also announced that they intend to hold a vote of no confidence in the Scottish government as a whole, which could lead to an election if it succeeds.
Mr Yousaf is battling to save his position as first minister after his former allies in the Scottish Greens vowed to oppose him in the Conservative no confidence vote, as have Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
It means he could need the support of Ash Regan, a former SNP MSP who was defeated by Mr Yousaf in last year's party leadership contest before later defecting to Alex Salmond's Alba Party.
