Humza Yousaf

“One of my strengths is reaching across the divide to bring people together.”

“I've never paid much attention to those who have written me off.”

“You can't say that you agree with a two-state solution but only choose to recognize one state.”

“I had the great honour and privilege of being the first Muslim leader of any western democracy, and yet it is increasingly difficult to persuade fellow Muslims that Europe does not have a problem with our very existence.”

“Scotland is the country I love.”

“What people will judge any potential candidate on are their policies, what they stand for, what they will advocate, what they might end up moving away from in terms of policy. That is the right discussion to have - not whether somebody of faith can be first minister.”

“You want to be able to get your budget through, you want to be able to get your legislative agenda through, you don't want frustrated at every single corner and every single turn.”

“It's inevitable that you make mistakes.”

“If you want a first minister that only answers to Scotland, not to his boss in London, then you're going to have to vote for John Swinney.”

“I am, proudly, a western Muslim.”

“First and foremost, can I say that I stand in full solidarity with Diane Abbott - she has been a trailblazer for many years. We may have our differences on particular issues, but I stand full square behind and alongside Diane Abbott.”

“I could give you example after example, of where the language of the far Right, driven by Islamophobia, has now become institutionalised in our politics.”

“It doesn't matter where you come from, what matters is where we're going as a nation. You can be Pakistani-Scottish, Polish-Scottish, even English-Scottish.”

“When one chapter begins to close, you often spend time reflecting on your achievements, mistakes and even regrets - I have all three.”

“I don't know anyone that suggests Israel doesn't have the right to protect itself from terror.”

“I would hope I have got a track record of unifying people, reaching across the divide, bringing people together.”

“The truth is that the Scottish Labour party within an independent Scotland will be allowed to flourish; no longer constrained by having to walk on eggshells in fear of causing embarrassment to London colleagues or the party leadership by way of contradiction.”

“The only way to guarantee we get true self-government is through independence.”

“As first minister, I want Scotland also to lead on tackling one of the root causes of gender-based abuse - toxic masculinity - to build a healthier, safer and more equal society.”

“If we can demonstrate that independence has a consistent majority - not 52% one day, 48% the other day - then it'll be impossible for the U.K. government to continue and continue and continue to deny.”