Humza Yousaf says the SNP will 'never stop campaigning for independence' (Image: Getty)
Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf has been branded "obsessed" after a bonkers speech in the face of election defeat in 2024.
Addressing comments made by one of his own MPs, Tommy Sheppard, who said the independence debate would be "over" if his party loses the 2024 General Election, Yousaf told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland the SNP would "never stop campaigning for independence" ahead of his party's election campaign launch today.
During the launch, Yousaf claimed his party was "best-placed" to defeat the Conservative Party in Scotland despite polls suggesting a collapse in support for the SNP.
He said: "The first step we take towards a brighter future must be to kick the Tories out. The SNP is by far the best-placed party to do that.
Powered By
00:00/00:38
10
10
Eddie Howe reflects on painful defeat against Man City in the Premier League
Share
Next
Stay
“In every Tory-held seat in Scotland, we are the party in second place.
READ MORE SNP MP admits independence is 'over' if they lose as Yousaf pleads for voters
MP Tommy Sheppard who said Scottish independence would be 'over' if his party lost the election (Image: Getty)
“Today I am setting an ambition for the SNP to wipe the Tories from Scotland’s electoral map by winning all six of those Tory seats.
“That is a big ask, but I don’t believe you go into elections unless you are willing to be ambitious.”
In response to his speech, Scottish unionist group, Scotland In Union, branded Yousaf "obsessed" with the independence cause.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of the group, said: "Humza Yousaf said today that he would continue to push for independence irrespective of the General Election result.
“This is further confirmation that the SNP plans to speak about independence and little else as we come into this General Election year.
Don't miss...
Humza Yousaf makes 'significant' Scottish independence admission [REVEALED]
Andrew Neil rips into Humza Yousaf for 'most absurd speech' [LATEST]
Humza Yousaf accused of having 'no bearing on reality' with fresh Brexit swipe [REPORT]
Trending
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial
“There are a range of challenges facing Scotland right now, most of which have been worsened by the SNP’s lamentable 16 years in power.
“People want politicians to debate the things that really matter.
“Instead, Humza Yousaf intends to drive up grievance and spend the foreseeable future obsessing publicly about his desire to break up Britain.”
During his appearance on BBC Radio Scotland, Yousaf admitted that the independence cause would take a step "backwards" if the SNP was to lose its majority in the 2024 General Election.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Hapless Humza Yousaf forced into humiliating U-turn on XL Bully ban after weeks of delay
63 Comments
Humza Yousaf accused of having 'no bearing on reality' with fresh Brexit swipe
374 Comments
Humza Yousaf ruthlessly mocked over claim independence could make Scots ￡10k better off
141 Comments
Humza Yousaf begs bus tycoon for help with SNP donations dwindling
517 Comments
Rishi Sunak's nightmare start to election year with first poll confirming Tory wipeout
151 Comments
Tories mock Chris Skidmore's 'claptrap' resignation attack
469 Comments
Pollster pinpoints where Nigel Farage's Reform UK will do 'most damage' to Rishi Sunak
278 Comments
POLL: When should Rishi Sunak call a general election? Vote here
317 Comments
Humza Yousaf's brother-in-law charged with drug offences in Scotland
Comments
Ruth Davidson regrets voting against assisted dying legislation in 2015
41 Comments
Labour MP issues damning verdict on Sir Keir Starmer's readiness to be PM
234 Comments
Rishi Sunak has taken decisive action - he has 10 months to convince voters he should stay
45 Comments
Top pollster pinpoints major clue Rishi Sunak has given away exact general election date
45 Comments
Post Office scandal proves only Nigel Farage can save 'broken Britain', says Arron Banks
63 Comments
Deluded Humza Yousaf dreams of creating a 'Tory-free Scotland' as SNP plummets in polls
101 Comments
Humza Yousaf makes 'significant' Scottish independence admission in live TV interview
43 Comments
SNP MP admits independence is 'over' if they lose election as Yousaf pleads for voters
52 Comments
Andrew Neil rips into Humza Yousaf for 'most absurd speech by politician of recent memory'
323 Comments
Humza Yousaf nightmare as devastating new poll shows SNP faces losing 24 MPs
312 Comments
Tories face 'worst election defeat since 1997' with Keir Starmer set for huge win
288 Comments
Hapless Humza Yousaf forced into humiliating U-turn on XL Bully ban after weeks of delay
63 Comments
Humza Yousaf accused of having 'no bearing on reality' with fresh Brexit swipe
374 Comments
Humza Yousaf ruthlessly mocked over claim independence could make Scots ￡10k better off
141 Comments
Humza Yousaf begs bus tycoon for help with SNP donations dwindling
517 Comments
Rishi Sunak's nightmare start to election year with first poll confirming Tory wipeout
151 Comments
Tories mock Chris Skidmore's 'claptrap' resignation attack
469 Comments
Pollster pinpoints where Nigel Farage's Reform UK will do 'most damage' to Rishi Sunak
278 Comments
POLL: When should Rishi Sunak call a general election? Vote here
317 Comments
Humza Yousaf's brother-in-law charged with drug offences in Scotland
Comments
Ruth Davidson regrets voting against assisted dying legislation in 2015
41 Comments
Labour MP issues damning verdict on Sir Keir Starmer's readiness to be PM
234 Comments
Rishi Sunak has taken decisive action - he has 10 months to convince voters he should stay
45 Comments
Top pollster pinpoints major clue Rishi Sunak has given away exact general election date
45 Comments
Post Office scandal proves only Nigel Farage can save 'broken Britain', says Arron Banks
63 Comments
Deluded Humza Yousaf dreams of creating a 'Tory-free Scotland' as SNP plummets in polls
101 Comments
Humza Yousaf makes 'significant' Scottish independence admission in live TV interview
43 Comments
SNP MP admits independence is 'over' if they lose election as Yousaf pleads for voters
52 Comments
Andrew Neil rips into Humza Yousaf for 'most absurd speech by politician of recent memory'
323 Comments
Humza Yousaf nightmare as devastating new poll shows SNP faces losing 24 MPs
312 Comments
Tories face 'worst election defeat since 1997' with Keir Starmer set for huge win
288 Comments
Hapless Humza Yousaf forced into humiliating U-turn on XL Bully ban after weeks of delay
63 Comments
Humza Yousaf accused of having 'no bearing on reality' with fresh Brexit swipe
374 Comments
Humza Yousaf ruthlessly mocked over claim independence could make Scots ￡10k better off
141 Comments
Humza Yousaf begs bus tycoon for help with SNP donations dwindling
517 Comments
Rishi Sunak's nightmare start to election year with first poll confirming Tory wipeout
151 Comments
Tories mock Chris Skidmore's 'claptrap' resignation attack
469 Comments
Pollster pinpoints where Nigel Farage's Reform UK will do 'most damage' to Rishi Sunak
278 Comments
He said: "Tommy Sheppard is not wrong in saying, of course, that if the message in Scotland is that Scotland votes for Labour MPs, and if that is the message that Keir Starmer sees, then of course that will take our independence backwards."
Related articles Humiliation for Sturgeon as former ally slams 'cult' as SNP plummet in polls The SNP's legal humiliation is about time, says Azeem Ibrahim Humza Yousaf ruthlessly mocked over new Scottish independence claim Ruth Davidson regrets voting against assisted dying legislation in 2015 Deluded Humza Yousaf dreams of creating a 'Tory-free Scotland' as SNP plummets