In this sizzling issue, Grazia International’s Beauty Editor, Kaniz Ali speaks to the former First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf.
Humza Yousaf was first elected as an MSP for Glasgow region in May 2011 aged only 26 at the time and then became the youngest minister to be appointed to the Scottish Government.
In this issue Humza opens up exclusively to Kaniz talking about work, life-balance and all things behind the scenes.
CEO: Zahraa Saifullah
Managing Editor: Kaniz Ali
Creatively Directed By Kaniz Ali
Photography By Danny Singh
Creatively Styling For Humza Yousaf By Kaniz Ali
Assisted By Iman Chana
Wardrobe By Ahsans Menswaer
Location/ Shot In : The Wellesley Hotel, Knightsbridge, Uk
Interview: Kaniz Ali
KANIZ ALI – Talk to us about your background
HUMZA YOUSAF: I am the son and grandson of immigrants who travelled to Scotland from Pakistan in the 1960s. My paternal grandparents were from Mian Channu, and maternal grandparents from Faisalabad and also a small village near Jauharabad. I am a proud Punjabi!
I grew up in the Southside of Glasgow and came from a family who were certainly interested in politics, with my mother being a Labour Party supporter at the time, and my father being an SNP supporter, however neither of them were involved in party politics. My mother then left the Labour Party after their disastrous decision to get involved in the Iraq War.
Although I was in some respects obviously different to my peers, I was a person of colourand I was a Muslim, in many ways I was a normal teenage boy who talked to his friends about all the things that teenage boys do. However, the atrocious terror attacks of 9/11 changed my life. That may sound like a strange thing to see for somebody who was thousands of miles away from New York at the time, however for me 9/11 and the aftermath became the day so many people in my own country viewed me as different, some even viewed Muslims as a threat.
I remember going to my registration class, at the age of 16, the day after 9/11 and being bombarded with questions from my friends who I had known for many years asking me if I knew who had flown the planes into the twin towers, did I know why Muslims hated America, asking me who was responsible for such a heinous attack. I, of course, knew none of the answers to these questions but I knew that from that moment I would have to become much more educated about the world around me and the world which I lived in.
KANIZ: What inspired you to head into the world of politics ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: In the aftermath of 9/11 I began watching the news and read newspapers, something I had never done as a young 16 year old before. I became fascinated with the world around me with politics, both domestic and international. And it is fair to say I became quite angry at the injustices that I was witnessing on a daily basis. It was my father who encouraged me to get involved in politics saying to me that we need people like us,people of colour and Muslims, who are an integral part of this nation, and who represent the broad diversity of this country, to get involved in the political system. So instead of shouting at the television or moaning about the state of affairs the world was in, it was much better for us to get involved.
Taking his advice, I decided to study politics at Glasgow University and during my time at university I got involved in the anti-war movement as the invasion of Iraq began in 2003.
It was during a protest in London against the Iraq war that I became a convert to the cause of Scottish independence. I questioned why on earth politicians in London should decide whether our sons and daughters in Scotland should have to fight a war we simply did not agree with as a nation.
From there, I decided to join the SNP, and never would I have dreamt that I would one day lead the Party I joined twenty years prior.
KANIZ: What inspired you to become the First Minister of Scotland ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: Upon the death of my dear mentor, the late Bashir Ahmad, another Pakistani of note, I made the decision to stand for election in 2011. I was duly elected and was appointed to the Scottish Government in 2012, becoming the first ethnic minority to be appointed to Government in the history of the Scottish Parliament.
I worked hard with the aim of serving the public who had put their faith in me. I was re-elected in 2016 and 2021, serving in a range of Ministerial positions, including Transport Minister, Justice Secretary, and Health Secretary, which was a particularly challenging role as it was undertaken during the time of the global pandemic.
When my predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, announced her decision to stand down as First Minister, I had doubts about whether to go for the position of First Minister or not. However, I had put in the groundwork as a Minister, had a number of people within the Party asking me to step forward, but most importantly, I believed I was the best person to lead my party and our country at that time. My intention has always and only been to serve my country and serve the public, and I believe having the right intention has always been a prerequisite of leadership.
With encouragement from family, friends and many members of my Party, I threw my hat in the ring and was delighted to be elected as Leader of my Party, and First Minister on 28thMarch 2023.
KANIZ ALI: What aspects did you enjoy the most ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: I enjoyed every moment of being First Minister, as it is the greatest honour to lead the country you love.
That said, of course there was challenges, both domestically and internationally.
The best aspect of the job was being able to represent my country, whether that was at home or on the global stage.
Being First Minister, also meant I was the ultimate decision maker in the Government. And while that often-meant difficult decisions had to be made, it was also a privilege to be able to make change that helped to transform people’s lives for the better.
KANIZ ALI – You were the first european minister to speak up about the current war taking place in Palestine. Did that have an impact on your role as First Minister ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: The four weeks following October 7th were the most difficult for my wife Nadia and I. My in-laws were trapped in Gaza, and we were effectively powerless to get them out. All the while, we were witnessing the most devastation destruction being carried out by the Israeli government upon the innocent men, women, and children of Gaza.
For me, there was no hesitation in becoming the first European Leader to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. It was not only the right thing to do by the innocent people of Gaza, who were suffering for a crime they did not commit, but also crucial in order to see the release of Israeli hostages.
There was, inevitably, a backlash from some quarters, and continues to be to this day, but that reaction was predictable. It was never going to deter me from doing what I believed to be the right thing.
KANIZ ALI: What role do you think you play the best ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: Ultimately, that is for other people to judge. In every role you have there will be successes and challenges from which you must learn lessons. I have done my best to try, for the most part, to work across the political divide and find common ground where possible.
KANIZ ALI: Coming from a background of colour did you face many obstacles in your role during your time as first minister ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: I suspect every single Person of Colour, in any profession has faced institutional discrimination and barriers to their progression – being in politics is no different.
Unfortunately, when I became FM the slew of racism and hatred, including Islamophobia increased exponentially. People were arrested and charged for shouting racist abuse at me in the street, and death threats were made against me, my wife, and children.
I also faced more subtle institutional barriers and obstacles being a Person of Colour in politics, with sections of the right-wing media deliberately targeting me due to my background or faith. Something that continues to this day. But throughout all the dirty tricks they deploy, they will not silence me.
KANIZ ALI: What have been your favourite moments as a politican ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: I have too many to list and have been lucky to have been involved in seismic political events in Scotland and the UK, such as the SNP winning an outright majority in Parliament in 2011, the referendum on Scottish independence in 2014, the Brexit referendum in 2016.
Becoming First Minister of Scotland was the greatest honour of my professional life. Being sworn in as First Minister with my family watching me was a special moment that will live with me forever.
KANIZ ALI: Which has been your most challenging aspects of being the first minister of Scotland?
HUMZA YOUSAF: Being First Minister is incredibly intense. The job comes with daily stress, at a heightened level. While I became accustomed to the stress (which is not a healthy trait), it meant I was more and more distracted from my personal life, and those closest to me.
Being First Minister meant time away from my young children and my wife Nadia. Even when I was present, my wife would often say to me “but you’re not actually present” as my mind was usually wandering to work-related matters.
In addition, while I accept that politicians must be held to account by the public, the level of media intrusion into your family and personal life was an aspect of the job I disliked severely. If we are to have a better political culture then attacks on politician’s families should be off limits.
KANIZ ALI: Who is your role model ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: Malcolm X was an inspiration to me growing up. His life story was the first autobiography I ever read as a child. I was full of admiration for a minority who would stand his ground despite repeated attacks, and eventually sacrificed his life for his principles. While I did not agree with his ideology during his Nation of Islam days, I admired his strength of character, and the ability of Malcolm to accept where he was wrong in the face of the truth – for example, when he embraced orthodox Sunni Islam.
I have looked to many political figures for inspiration over the years, one of those includes the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-E-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Upon reading about his life there is no doubting that he was a man well ahead of his time, who believed in the equality of all people, regardless of faith, or indeed gender. It remains a sad fact indeed that Pakistan has not yet lived up to the ideals of Jinnah.
KANIZ: How do you handle disagreements with fellow colleagues ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: Some disagreements have been handled well, others not so well!
Disagreements are natural, and occur regularly in politics. I have always tried to avoid any personal attacks be they in relation to colleagues or even opponents. You know you are losing the argument when you play the man not the ball, as they saying goes.
I also did my best to meet colleagues face-to-face when disagreements were brewing. Too much mischief is made over text or voice notes, where different interpretations can be taken.
KANIZ: How do you maintain your physical and emotional health while working on demanding projects ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: I am afraid, the really truthful answer is that for far too long, I neglected both my physical and mental health, and to my detriment.
For someone who enjoys physical activity, particularly playing football and badminton, I lament how little I did physically during my twelve years as a Government Minister.
In regards to my mental health, in the early years as a Minister, I worked constantly, without a break, pushing myself further and harder than was healthy. I have spoken honestly about how this caused me to have a mental health breakdown in 2016, and out of it came one of the best decisions I ever made, to seek counselling. I still continue with counselling when and where I feel it is required, regularly checking in on my mental health and not waiting until crisis point.
I am beyond lucky to have an incredible wife, Nadia, who is an immeasurable support to me. I hope I can speak for her when I say we make a good couple! Always checking in with each other and realising when the other needs that extra support.
KANIZ: What do you think of the media’s role in the current situation of the war ?
I have never witnessed such dreadful, biased and inaccurate reporting from some media outlets, particular Western-based media outlets, in all my life.
We see the evidence of mass killings and slaughter on our smartphones, it is being live-streamed into our living rooms, and yet we get headlines that tell us children in Gaza are being killed, but failing to mention that it was an Israeli airstrike that killed them. The difference in reporting in Ukraine in comparison to what is happening in Gaza is a blatant demonstration of not just the bias that exists, but also the racism. It is a sad fact, that for far too many institutions, government and media, Arab and Muslim lives simply do not matter.
The hypocrisy of some Western media outlets and of many Western governments is leading to an increased anger amongst those who are pro-humanity and want to see an end to the atrocities we are witnessing.
It is undoubtedly one of the reasons, other alternative media sources are gaining in popularity.
KANIZ: Name your favourite memorable moments in your career ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: First being elected, in 2011, aged 26 was a special moment for me and my family. My mentor, Bashir Ahmad, had passed away a couple of years earlier, while still in office. It was a moment of great pride to have his family with me as I was able to continue, and build upon, the important representation and service he had provided during his life.
Being involved in the referendum on Scottish Independence was also an exceptionally important moment for me. I joined the SNP in 2004, believing that Scotland should be in an independent country. Although the referendum result did not go the way I had wanted, it was still an incredible honour to be part of the campaign that energised our politics, and to this day engages so many people, particularly our youth.
One of the most special and memorable moments of my career was also visiting Malawi where the Scottish had funded a humanitarian project using renewable technology to help provide electricity in a remote village hospital. I got to meet the first baby to be born underneath the lights of the new technology we had funded. It was an emotional trip where I got to witness the difference the kindness of fellow Scots was making.
KANIZ ALI: How do you handle criticism in the world of politics and from the public ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: I am a great believer in the saying “There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.”
I do not mind constructive criticism, we should always be looking to grow and to learn. However, much of the criticism I get verges on abuse, and is in no way intended to be constructive, in fact it is designed to be destructive, and comes from bad faith actors.
I believe it is important for those in high-profile positions to take measures to protect themselves from the daily abuse they often receive. For example, I don’t look at notifications on X (formerly Twitter) other than from people I follow. If you don’t take such measures, you end up potentially spiralling down a cesspit of hatred.
KANIZ ALI: How do you manage being a father, husband and working life ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: You will have to ask my wife and kids whether I manage it!
One of the silver linings of no longer being FM is having more time to with my family and friends, and remember who Humza actually is. I know that sounds corny and clichéd, but like most clichés it is true.
I have tried, even at my busiest as First Minister, to draw boundaries around my family life. For example, as FM, I would tell me Private Office, to block of a Monday between 6pm – 8pm so I could give my daughter Amal a bath and get her ready for bed. It didn’t always work out that way, but for the most part it did as I had started with set boundaries in place.
KANIZ ALI: If Humza was not in politics what would he be ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: If I had not gone into politics I would have studied law. I have a significant interest in International Law, and the fact, that regrettably, it is breached so often and without appropriate accountability. I could see myself in another life as a Prosecutor in the International Criminal Court.
KANIZ ALI: What do you like doing in your spare time ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: I am trying to get rid of the dad bod! I have recently taken up the challenge of Couch to 5K and started back up playing badminton. I am a great believer that your mental and physical health are completely interlinked, so I’m trying to make sure I take better care of both.
I am an avid listener of podcasts, with my current favourite being Empire hosted by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple.
I am also a huge foodie, hence the dad bod!
KANIZ: What is the best advice you would give to someone entering the world of politics ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: Really ask yourself why you want to enter politics. Do so with a clean intention to serve the public who elect you. Accept the fact that you will make mistakes, they don’t define you. Learn the lessons and move on. So long as you have a good motivation and intention then you will always be successful.
Also, do better than me at ensuring you have a work-life balance. Being a workaholic is not a good trait, if you are working non-stop then you sacrifice the very relationships that are important to you and keep you grounded.
KANIZ: What is the most important aspects of governing ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: Honesty.
Governing is full of difficult decisions to make. If it was easy, if there were not difficult choices to make, it would be a walk in the park, but it isn’t. And the best thing we can try and do is to take the public along with us. That can only be done if politicians are honest about the challenges the country faces, and the difficult choices that have to be made. That doesn’t always mean they will agree, but people appreciate being treated like grown-ups, and those in government being honest with them.
KANIZ: You were on the first people to speak about the war …… What made you take that step ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: How can anyone watch children being torn apart, tens of thousands of innocent people being slaughtered, starved and maimed, and remain silent?
To watch such atrocities and to remain silent, or worse to be complicit by either justifying such barbarity or be a government that supplies arms to those committing war crimes, is unconscionable, it is a sickness of the human condition.
I knew, even in the early days after the dreadful attacks on October 7th, that the retaliation from Israel would go far beyond a legitimate response. I had to speak out, regardless of the backlash I knew I would receive, because quite simply it was the right thing to do.
What we are witnessing in Gaza and Lebanon is worse than anything I ever thought possible. That such devastation can occur, and so many people and governments are facilitating it is a stain our collective conscience.
When our children ask how we let them happen, I can, at the very least, say I was on the right side of history.
KANIZ: What are your plans for the next 5 years ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: With a three month old baby you can barely plan 5 hours ahead let alone 5 years ahead!
I haven’t made a decision on whether I will stand at the next Scottish Parliamentary elections due in 2026. However, whatever I do there are a few issues I am passionate about. There is far too much conflict in the world, and the innocent are the ones who pay the heaviest price, I want to contribute my efforts to conflict resolution and mediation where I can.
I also worry about what I see happening in the UK, Europe and across the West with the rise of the far-right driven by the hatred of Muslims. I am exploring potential ways to work with others to combat the rise of far-right extremism across the world. How do we make sure those who are seeking to bring communities together, not drive them apart, are properly resourced and have the appropriate skills, particularly in digital content creation?
I have rarely planned my life ahead, but taken opportunities where they have been presented. I suspect whatever I do in the next 5 years will come as an opportunity that is too good to resist!
KANIZ ALI: How do you switch off and relax ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: The only way I truly switch off is when playing with my kids. When you are running around after a five year old there is no headspace to think about anything else.
I also enjoy listening to podcasts, as well as trying to get back into better shape after too many years of being sedentary.
As someone who is proudly Muslim I am also trying to better myself spiritually. Faith can ebb and flow throughout life, I want to ensure I am doing right by my family, friends and by God.
KANIZ ALI: What are the pressures one faces whilst governing ?
HUMZA YOUSAF: There are many pressures in government, and as you gain a more senior position the pressures increase. One of the difficulties you have to guard against is making sure you don’t get sucked into the day-to-day challenges that being in government inevitably brings, you need to be able to look across the horizon at the next 6 months, year and next few years in order to make truly transformative change for the people you are serving.
When governing you are not only facing pressure from your opponents, you are also contending with internal pressure from within your own group, that was particularly true in my case on the back of a quite divisive leadership contest.
One of the other significant pressures I faced was budgetary. Scotland’s budget, unfortunately, is still largely decided by the UK Government. Fourteen years of austerity had a significantly detrimental impact on Scotland’s budget, severely limiting the ability to introduce truly transformative policies.
