Humza Yousaf humiliated at his own party conference as SNP leader delivers speech to half-empty hall
Humza Yousaf has been humiliated at his own party conference, as he was forced to deliver his main stage speech to a half-empty hall
PA
Humza Yousaf has been humiliated at his own party conference, as he was forced to deliver his main stage speech to a half-empty hall.
Despite moving to a venue with a smaller capacity than last year, the event was still significantly undersubscribed.
The capacity of the main conference hall is understood to be around 1,300 seats - but many of them have been left empty, despite Yousaf delivering the keynote speech of the event.
Conference Halls at both Conservative and Labour conferences were packed out for the leaders' speech, with both seeing queues outside the doors.
WATCH NOW: Humza Yousaf addresses the SNP Conference
Yousaf used part of his speech to thank his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon.
He became party leader and Scotland’s First Minister in February after Sturgeon’s surprise decision to step down.
The First Minister told the party conference, taking place in Aberdeen: “Nicola Sturgeon transformed Scotland.
“She reformed Scotland’s public services. She improved the life chances of thousands of Scotland’s young people.
“And we will never forget that in the toughest of times our country faced, Nicola was the calmest of voices and the coolest of heads.
“So for all of this and more, we say thank you Nicola.”
Yousaf also used his speech to take aim at Suella Braverman, accusing her of "dog-whistle language".
He said: “At the Tory conference, the UK Home Secretary warned about what she described as a ‘hurricane’ of migrants coming to the UK, and other western, countries.
“When I hear that dog-whistle language it makes me shudder."
Yousaf continued: “It makes me resolve to work even harder for independence – so that Scotland’s immigration policies are decided here in Scotland.
“And our immigration policies can never ever be decided by extremist Westminster politicians.”
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Yousaf also used his speech to take aim at Suella Braverman, accusing her of 'dog-whistle language'
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Mr Yousaf continued: “It says something about the modern-day Tory Party that such rhetoric from the Home Secretary is seen as a pitch for the leadership.
“Suella Braverman’s most compassionate moment came when she stood on the tail of a guide dog, conference.
“But to be serious – the Tories making the culture wars their election strategy – it says the Tories know they are defeated. They’re done.”