Humza Yousaf has announced he is to quit as First Minister.

Less than a week after he ended the cooperation agreement with the Scottish Greens he has said he will step down.

Yousaf was facing a vote of no confidence in Holyrood this week, brought by the Tories and Labour, LibDems and Greens all stating they would support it.

Labour also proposed a separate no confidence motion in the whole Scottish government which is passed would have forced him to resign.

In a statement today at Bute House, Yousaf said he “clearly underestimated the hurt” he caused the Greens in ending the agreement with them and sacking Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater as ministers.

He said “trust” was “clearly fundamental” in working with other parties when in government.

Yousaf said he believed there was a way through the looming no confidence motions but admitted politics can be a "brutal business".

However, he said: “I’m not willing to trade my values and principles simply to retain power.”

Yousaf said: “After spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for the government and country I lead, I have concluded that repairing our relationships across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm.

“I intend to stand down as Party Leader. I will continue as First Minister until my successor has been elected, particularly as the Parliament will be debating some incredibly important legislation in the coming days and weeks.

“I cannot tell you what an honour it is being the First Minister of the country I love, the country I am raising my family in, and the only country I will ever call home. I have had the honour of serving in Government for almost 12 years in a variety of roles.

“Although I am sad that my time as First Minister is ending, I am so grateful and blessed for having the opportunity so few are afforded – to lead my country, and who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland.”

He said he had informed the SNP national secretary of his decision to step down as leader and would stay on until a successor is found.

Speculation over who could take over had already begun even before he made his announcement.

Kate Forbes, former finance secretary, and who narrowly lost out to Yousaf in the SNP leadership contest last year has been tipped as a candidate.

She is seen to represent the right of the party backing more socially conservative views.

She is expected to face a challenge from the centre-left, from someone currently in Yousaf’s government team.

Names include Mairi McAllan, Wellbeing economy Secretary, Jenny Gilruth, Education Secretary and Neil Gray, who was Humza Yousaf’s campaign manager during the previous leadership contest and who he promoted to Health Secretary after Michael Matheson resigned.

Speculation also surrounds John Swinney, former deputy first minister, who has also been mentioned as a possible candidate seen as being able to unite rival groups within the SNP.