The Scottish government has survived a motion of no confidence brought by Scottish Labour.

The motion was defeated by 70 votes to 58.

Despite having the backing of the Scottish Tories and Liberal Democrats, the motion did not have the support of the Scottish Greens.

Scottish Labour pressed ahead with its motion despite Humza Yousaf announcing his resignation as SNP leader and first minister earlier this week. 

Douglas Ross, the leader of the Scottish Tories, just caused a ruckus in Holyrood after launching an attack on could-be SNP leaders John Swinney and Kate Forbes.

He begins by pointing to Ms Forbes' claim that she would want to hold an independence referendum within three months of a general election.

Mr Ross says she is "an even more radical nationalist" than Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.

Turning to Mr Swinney, Mr Ross refers to him as "honest John".

This doesn't impress the presiding officer, who tells him: "We do not use nicknames in the chamber."

Mr Ross quips: "I thought it was on accuracy because it would be not-so honest John with some of the things we've heard recently."

He is told to apologise as an uproar sounds in the chamber, but he refuses twice.

Asked a third time, he says he is "very sorry" for any upset caused.

Responding, outgoing first minister Humza Yousaf is on his feet in Holyrood.

Mr Yousaf resigned from the role this week after just a year in the top job, kicking off a leadership election for the Scottish National Party.

He criticises Anas Sarwar for launching an "attack" on potential candidates John Swinney and Kate Forbes, joking it was the "fastest Labour U-turn" after claiming the no confidence motion was not personal.

Mr Yousaf says: "Every single member of this Scottish Parliament… they are all elected, let's not cast any doubt on that.

"When it comes to attacking my colleagues… let me remind Anas Sarwar that when they put themselves up for the vote, up to the people's verdict… they won.

"Unlike Anas Sarwar. So let's not talk about unelected vs elected."

Mr Yousaf says he is sure the motion of no confidence will be "defeated".

He adds that, as a government, he is "exceptionally proud of our choices".

At the Scottish Parliament, MSPs are debating a motion of no confidence.

Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, begins by thanking Humza Yousaf for his public service, after news he has resigned as leader of the Scottish National Party.

But Mr Sarwar says: "For me and Labour this has never been about just one person."

Instead, he says this is about the "future", with Scotland in need of "competent" leadership "to take on the twin crises facing our nation.

"An economic crisis and an NHS crisis. And I have no confidence in the SNP's ability to deliver that."

Mr Sarwar puts forward two arguments - that the SNP are "chaotic" and "divided", and that it "can't deliver competent government".

"I don't believe that changes if you merely change the face at the top."

He points to the two most likely candidates to replace Mr Yousaf, John Swinney and Kate Forbes, saying there are reports members would actively try to stop the latter from forming a government.

This would cause "more chaos", the Scottish Labour leader says.

He goes on to say that "it should be for the people to decide who leads our country, not a backroom deal, not a staged coronation by a group of SNP members".

The debate on the motion of no confidence in the Scottish government is getting started in Holyrood. 

Scottish Labour is pressing ahead with its motion despite Humza Yousaf announcing his resignation as SNP leader and first minister earlier this week. 

The debate is expected to last about half an hour and will be followed immediately by a vote.

If the motion passes, all ministers in the minority SNP government will be forced to quit.

The Scottish parliament will then have 28 days to appoint a new first minister, failing which, a snap election would be called.

Despite having the backing of the Scottish Tories and Liberal Democrats, it is not expected to pass as it does not have the support of the Scottish Greens.

The Greens were unceremoniously dumped out of the coalition by Mr Yousaf, prompting a fallout which led to his resignation.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has brought the motion, and we're expecting the result of the vote at around 3.30pm.

By Faye Brown, political reporter

The fact a failed asylum seeker volunteered to go to Rwanda demonstrates that claims the country is not safe are "untrue", Kemi Badenoch has said.

The business secretary also declared there is no "cost-free option" on border security, as she defended the "minimal" price tag of sending migrants there.

An unnamed man was sent on a commercial flight to Rwanda on Monday after being offered up to £3,000 in financial aid to help with relocation costs.

He is the first person to have moved to the east African country under a voluntary returns scheme for those who have gone through the asylum process and had permission to stay in the UK rejected.

This voluntary scheme, which was widened to include Rwanda earlier this year, is separate from the government's controversial plan to forcibly deport those arriving via small boats in the English Channel to the African country - a policy that came into law last weekfollowing two years of setbacks.

Critics have branded the voluntary removal an "extortionate pre-election gimmick" and a "con" that "won't stop the boats".

However, speaking on Sky News, Ms Badenoch sought to paint it as a victory for the government's wider migration policy, saying: "I'm pleased that we've finally seen one person going to Rwanda.

"Yes, this is under the voluntary scheme, but this also shows the point about Rwanda not being safe to be untrue because people are volunteering to go."

Read more here:

Boris Johnson is "welcome" to campaign for Conservative candidates, the prime minister's spokesperson has said, as Sky News reveals the Tory mayor of the West Midlands is sending voters an endorsement from the former prime minister. 

Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates says Andy Street's campaign team is sending out literature with pictures of him and Mr Johnson, which openly admits problems with the Conservatives' reputation (see post at 11am).

Meanwhile, his campaign website makes no mention of Rishi Sunak on its homepage and is coloured in green rather than Conservative blue. 

West Midlands race 'very important'

Sam says it suggests the mayor is trying to run on his credentials as an independent campaigner rather than under the unpopular Tory brand.

Asked how the prime minister feels about northern mayors appearing to distance themselves from him, while highlighting an alliance with Mr Johnson, the spokesperson said "of course we would welcome" Mr Johnson's involvement in any campaigns.

"When you look at the absolute mess that Labour have made of Birmingham City Council, pretty much driven it to bankruptcy, it's no surprise that Conservatives think this race is, absolutely, very important." 

The other candidates in the West Midlands are:

• Siobhan Harper-Nunes, Greens;
• Richard Parker, Labour;
• Sunny Virk, Lib Dems;
• Elaine Ruth Williams, Reform;
• Akhmed Yakoob, independent.

By Tim Baker, political reporter

Officers have raided the homes of the first people to be deported to Rwanda.

It comes following the recent passing of the Safety of Rwanda Act, which declared the central African nation safe following concerns raised by the Supreme Court last year.

A video released by the Home Office showed officers entering homes and bringing out people detained in handcuffs, before putting them in the back of secure vans.

According to the government, "operational teams within the Home Office have been working at pace to safely and swiftly detain individuals in scope for relocation to Rwanda, with more activity due to be carried out in the coming weeks".

It comes after a failed asylum seeker voluntarily chose to go to Kigali once their application to stay in the UK failed.

The Rwanda plan has been a major policy for the Conservative government since April 2022, but has faced repeated legal challenges.

The government has previously said it has 2,200 "detention spaces", alongside 200 new caseworkers and 500 "highly trained escorts" ready.

It added that planes have been booked, with flights set to take off in nine to 11 weeks' time.

Read more here:

Outgoing first minster Humza Yousaf has told Sky News the SNP and independence movement would be harmed by a leadership contest becoming toxic.

The departing leader said he has "reflected" on his role in last year’s bruising campaign and urged any future candidate to "talk up" the other rather than "talk down".

Mr Yousaf, who is refusing to get drawn into the future direction of the SNP, said any suggestions of him being forced out of office to make way for John Swinney were "complete and utter rubbish".

Speaking to Sky News, the outgoing leader refuted suggestions independence was further away than ever before but admitted the "road to independence is more challenging…there's no getting away from that".

Mr Yousaf said the party still had “around 70,000” members but admitted he hadn't checked the numbers in recent months.

The week has kicked off with a huge political story - the resignation of Humza Yousaf - and will end with another, as voters across England and Wales turn out for the local elections.

Sky's political reporter Alexandra Rogers has looked ahead to a potentially defining night for Rishi Sunak's premiership, when hundreds of council seats, police and crime commissioner jobs, and mayoral posts will be up for grabs.

Read her full explainer below: