Humza Yousaf has quit his post as first minister of Scotland, avoiding having to face a no confidence vote in his leadership.
He said he will continue in his post until a successor is elected.
Giving a press conference this afternoon, he said it has been an "honour" to serve as First Minister.
Yousaf had been battling for his political survival after ending the powersharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens last week.
Humza Yousaf has quit his post as first minister of Scotland, avoiding having to face a no confidence vote in his leadership
PA
He was facing a vote of no confidence, tabled by the Scottish Conservatives, while Scottish Labour had tabled one of no confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole, with both expected to take place this week.
He admitted to having “underestimated” the level of hurt ending the power-sharing deal with the Greens would have.
While he said it was “the right decision”, he continued: “Unfortunately in ending the Bute House Agreement in the matter I did I clearly underestimate the level of hurt and upset that caused Green colleagues.
“For a minority government to be able to govern effectively trust when working with the opposition is clearly fundamental.”
He said a route through the no-confidence vote was “absolutely possible”.
But he added: “I am not willing to trade in my values or principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power.”
The outgoing First Minister said he made the decision in order to “repair our relationship across the political divide” in Scotland.
During a press conference at Bute House in Edinburgh, he told reporters: “After spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for my party, for the government and for the country I lead, I have concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm.
“I have therefore informed the SNP’s national secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader and ask that she commences a leadership contest for my replacement as soon as possible.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Giving a press conference this afternoon, he said it has been an "honour" to serve as First Minister
PA
Yousaf became emotional as he paid tribute to his family. Appearing to fight back tears, he said: “I am in absolute debt to my wonderful wife, my beautiful children and my wider family for putting up with me over the years.
"I’m afraid you will be seeing a lot more of me from now. You are truly everything to me.”
The Scottish Greens said his resignation as First Minister was the “right” decision.
The party’s co-leader Patrick Harvie said the development was “regrettable” but welcomed the “personal responsibility” Yousaf has taken.
He said: “Humza Yousaf is right to resign. His position was no longer tenable after he broke the bonds of trust with the Scottish Greens and with everyone who wanted a stable, progressive, pro-independence government. It is regrettable that it has ended this way, it didn’t need to. We draw no satisfaction or pleasure from this.
“But the Scottish Greens could no longer have confidence in Humza Yousaf after he chose to unilaterally end the Bute House Agreement. In doing so he let down the large majority of Scottish Green and SNP members who approved the agreement who wanted it to work.
“He chose to end a stable majority government and jeopardised the progressive policy programme that both parties had committed to and were working to deliver.
“It is to his credit that he has taken personal responsibility. Now though is the time to return to some stability.”
