HUMZA Yousaf has confirmed that he will take paternity leave to be a “supportive husband” when his wife gives birth later this year.
The First Minister announced last week that he and his wife Nadia El-Nakla were expecting a baby in July.
Yousaf – who will be the first sitting First Minister to welcome a child while in office – said he felt it was important to set an example that there was no “contradiction” in being a parent and holding key leadership roles.
The couple already have two children – their daughter Amal is four and Yousaf is stepfather to 14-year-old Maya.
Speaking to journalists in Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, the First Minister thanked the public for their well wishes, adding he and his wife were “excited and a little bit terrified” for the baby’s arrival.
READ MORE: Nadia El-Nakla calls out Rishi Sunak over Islamophobia from Tory MPs
He said: “I absolutely will take paternity leave. For me, I intend, as I always have been with my two daughters currently, to be absolutely hands-on as a father and to be as supportive a husband as I possibly can be.”
Energy Secretary Mairi McAllan has also announced she is expecting her first child with husband Iain in the summer.
Yousaf said the Scottish Government was “setting an example” on the importance of family and work balance.
“I think it is important, whether it’s the wonderful news that Mairi McAllan had in terms of a new arrival, or whether it’s my own news, regardless of what position you’re in and how busy your job may be, that it’s really important to set an example that you can, of course, have a family while still [having] important leadership responsibilities.
“I don’t see a contradiction between the two. My first job and first priority is not just being First Minister, but also making sure that I am a hands-on father to my kids too.”
Yousaf will be able to take up to two weeks’ paternity leave once his child is born.
He has said he is already prepared for the sleepless nights which could be coming after balancing the top job’s responsibilities with his current family balance.
He said his four-year-old Amal has been a “dreadful sleeper” since birth, adding: “You have to be able to work as a team with your partner, as I’m lucky to be able to do with Nadia.
“There’ll be some very sleepless nights, I’m sure, but I’m grateful for all the love and support that I get from my family in order to help with some of those family commitments.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel