Scotland’s new First Minister, Humza Yousaf has a difficult task ahead of him: he must bring his party together, win back public support for the country’s independence movement, and solve the country’s economic difficulties.

There is no denying the irony of the colonial project’s completion in a remote region of Western Europe. However, it is true that Mr. Yousaf, the son of Pakistani immigrants and the first Muslim and person of Asian descent to hold the position of chief executive in the Scottish government, as well as the youngest leader in that position faces a difficult road ahead to deliver on his campaign promises, such as delivering an independent Scotland.

The grandson of immigrants who arrived in Scotland from Punjab in the 1960s, Mr. Yousaf was born in Glasgow in 1985. The origin of his mother’s family was in Kenya, whilst his father’s family is from Pakistan.

Mr. Yousaf was up in Glasgow and received a private education at Hutchesons’ Grammar School. He developed an early interest in politics and later pursued it at the University of Glasgow, where he earned an MA in 2007.

He joined the SNP and rose to the position of president of the Muslim Students Association while a student, and he was also active in the Students’ Representation Council.

A Secretary headed the SNP administration. He served in several different roles over the years, including those of Transport Minister, Justice Secretary, and Health Secretary, making his career-long and profitable.

He has, however, received criticism for overseeing government sectors that underperformed in terms of service delivery to the public. For instance, he received criticism for Scotland’s National Health Service’s lengthy wait times and for advising the public to hold off before dialing 999 in late 2021.

The SNP’s fictionalized status is the biggest problem Mr. Yousaf has to deal with, not any of these predicted criticisms from his opponents in Scottish politics. Mr. Yousaf has positioned himself as the continuity candidate who will fill Nicola Sturgeon’s shoes and carry out his program for Scottish independence.