HUMZA YOUSAF insisted he will not step down as Scotland’s First Minister today, vowing to fight a tight vote of no confidence next week.

The Scottish Conservatives have lodged the motion against his leadership while Labour have said they have no confidence in the Scottish government.

During a hastily arranged visit to Dundee after he pulled out of a speech in Glasgow, Mr Yousaf accused the opposition parties of “political game playing.”

He said: “I fully intend to not just win that vote but I intend to fight to make sure that the government continues to deliver on the priorities of the people. Like, for example, investing in affordable housing.

“We’ll be getting on with the job, and when the vote comes I fully intend to win.”

Asked if he would work with Alba Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan — whose vote could potentially be critical to his survival — the First Minister said he will be writing to all leaders, inviting them to a meeting in an attempt to “make minority government work.”

Former SNP minister Ms Regan has written to Mr Yousaf, making clear that her support is subject to seeing progress on Scottish independence and defending “the rights of women and children.”

His battle for political survival comes after terminating the power-sharing deal the SNP had with the Scottish Greens at Holyrood for almost three years.

The Bute House Agreement gave the SNP-led government a majority at Holyrood but it came under strain in recent days after the Greens said they would put the future of the deal to a vote by their members.

Some in the Greens — who have vowed to vote against him — were unhappy after the government dropped a 2030 climate target, and over the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers at Scotland’s only gender clinic for young people in line with recommendations in the Cass Review conducted for NHS England.

Scottish Labour’s no confidence motion in the entire Scottish government, rather than just Mr Yousaf, could lead to a Scottish Parliament election if passed.

Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “It’s a matter now of when, not if, Humza Yousaf will step down as First Minister.

“It would be untenable for the SNP to assume it can impose another unelected first minister on Scotland.”

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross confirmed he will back the Labour motion.