What does the election of Scotland’s new Muslim First Minister mean for the Church in Scotland?

Mar 28, 2023 by Jill

by David Robertson, Christian Today:

Humza Yousaf will be the new first minister of Scotland. The 37-year-old Muslim was narrowly elected leader of the SNP and will be confirmed as first minister by the Scottish Parliament. Much will be made of him being the first Muslim leader of a government in the UK. But what does his election mean for Scotland – and for the church in Scotland? Are there lessons for the wider Church to learn?

In terms of politics, the election was surprisingly close. The SNP establishment, 80 per cent of the payroll politicians, most of those on what Scottish journalist Kevin McKenna calls ‘the gravy train’, were all behind Yousaf. His main rival, Kate Forbes, was outed as an evangelical Christian early in the campaign, the press smelled blood, and the Twitterati went for her. But she stuck to her guns, and if the campaign had gone on longer (it was shortened by the party machine) would probably have won. As it is she got 47.9 per cent of the final vote, with Yousaf getting 52.1 per cent.

What have we learned about Scotland?

Read here

Read also: Humza Yousaf and the rottenness of the SNP by Fraser Myers, spiked