HUMZA Yousaf's decision to end the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens has left him facing two confidence votes in the Scottish Parliament.
All opposition parties except Alba have said they intend to vote in favour of a no-confidence motion in the First Minister being brought by the Scottish Tories.
While Labour's motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government is yet to gain such widespread support, with the Scottish Greens still refusing to announce how they intend to vote.
The motions will pass if they receive a majority of votes in the Scottish Parliament.
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As such, Yousaf would need at least 64 of the 129 MSPs to vote against the motion.
SNP MSPs currently take up 63 seats in Holyrood.
As Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone traditionally does not cast a vote.
That means that Alba MSP Ash Regan's vote could very well be decisive.
On Friday morning she sent a letter to Humza Yousaf saying her "door was open" to discussions.
But she also published a much longer to letter to Alba Party members detailing what it might take to gain her support.
Read the full text of the letter below:
The Bute House Agreement is over.
As we approach the crucial vote of no confidence in First Minister Humza Yousaf next week, I am carefully considering our position, always with the best interests of Scotland at heart.
I have written to the First Minister, providing him with an early opportunity to meet with me to discuss the three clear priorities I have set out.
Scotland demands serious, defined, and honourable commitments. However, a Nationalist First Minister should be enthusiastic about delivering what should be our shared priorities for Scotland.
The ALBA Party's overriding priority is the urgent pursuit of Scottish independence, and we have suggested various ways in which Scotland's electorate can have the opportunity to revive independence progress.
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My proposed bill on an extension of the powers of the Scottish Parliament, which includes legislating for and negotiating Scottish independence, is a testament to our shared commitment to democracy.
I envision Scotland's parliamentary elected members joining an Independence Convention to issue a Declaration of Scottish Sovereignty.
This decisive step, coupled with our plan to use every election as an opportunity for the people of Scotland to demonstrate their popular mandate to negotiate independence, underscores our collective dedication to the cause.
I eagerly anticipate the First Minister's collaboration on the independence strategy for the people of Scotland.
I have made no secret that I am passionate about protecting the dignity, safety, and rights of women and girls. That is why I am so pleased to have the opportunity to work with Alba Women across our party on a renewed Woman's Pledge for the annual conference.
Recent legislation has fallen short on many fronts, but, most seriously, it needs to embed safeguarding.
The rights of women, children, and vulnerable adults must not be sacrificed or jeopardised. Scotland must commit to evidence-based science and rationality replacing ideology in underpinning legislative proposals.
Clinicians across Scotland are supporting the Cass Review recommendations. As parliamentarians in Scotland, we need to debate how our clinicians, educators, and legislators will implement the holistic set of Dr Cass's recommendations.
Public trust is imperative to all we do, and we must restore confidence in the competence of the Scottish Government for our people. We must align the Government's priorities with those of the people - health, education, housing, and the economy- and steer clear of divisive identity-based politics.
A sign of good faith would be a significant Government investment, reinforcing the campaign to save the Grangemouth refinery from closure. I am requesting the undertaking to produce such an initiative in the early course. I am hopeful that the First Minister will commit to such an initiative in the near future as a sign of our shared dedication to Scotland's welfare.
I look forward to Humza Yousaf's reply to these points in the same constructive tone as I will approach any discussions with him.
Yours for ALBA,
Ash Regan MSP
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