Humza Yousaf has been married before: Who is his first wife, Gail Lythgoe?

Humza Yousaf took over the role of Scotland’s First Minister after Nicola Sturgeon resigned in March this year citing ‘no fuel in the tank’ and her desire to spend more time with her loved ones as reasons for her departure.

Although some people believe that Sturgeon left to avoid further involvement in the scandal surrounding the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the financial probe into its use of donated funds, one thing is clear: Humza Yousaf, who is widely seen s 'continuity' FM and has always been Sturgeon’s close ally, faces a difficult task to unite the party and earn back voters’ credibility.

It has been recently revealed how much Humza Yousaf is paid for his stressful job. His private life has also come into the media focus.

People were surprised to find out that fellow politician Nadia El-Nakla is not his first wife. Here is what know about his ex partner of six years Gail Lythgoe. It turns out, she’s no stranger to politics either.

When did Humza Yousaf first marry?

As 38-year-old Humza Yousaf has been involved in politics almost his entire adult life, it’s not surprising that his love interests were no strangers to the matter either.

He was married to university sweetheart and fellow SNP worker Gail Lythgoe from 2010 to 2016.

Lythgoe finished her PhD in Territoriality International Law and Global Governance at the University of Glasgow, with the couple having decided to tie the knot while still students.

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Although she was an SNP worker during their life together, Lythgoe made a stir by defecting to the Scottish Greens for a council election in 2017.

She posted a picture of herself on Twitter with a Green campaign leaflet, saying:

Well, my #1 vote went to the only party to give me a leaflet. Glasgow needs diversity, not cult-like voting habits #votegreen.

Lythgoe was convener of the SNP’s student wing from 2010 to 2012 and later on, a parliamentary assistant to an MSP.

Just like Humza Yousaf, she actively participated in the Yes Scotland campaign in the 2014 independence referendum.

According to Lythgoe's Twitter bio, she is currently working in ‘global law & governance’ and is a director of the Manchester International Law Centre.

Humza Yousaf reportedly blamed his driving fines on the emotional toll caused by his divorce while in the role of Scotland's transport minister in November 2016.

The now-First Minister and Lythgoe never publicly talked about the reasons behind their split and they remain unclear.

Who is Humza Yousaf currently married to?

Humza Yousaf is currently married to Nadia El-Nakla. A trained psychotherapist, she was elected as an SNP councillor for Dundee in 2022.

The couple who tied the knot in 2019 live in upmarket Broughty Ferry in Dundee, although he is the MSP for Glasgow Pollok, and she represents the City West ward.

They raise two daughters, with one being from El-Nakla's previous relationship.

Before becoming an SNP councillor, she was an assistant to ex-Health Minister Shona Robison. Her divorce from IT specialist Fariad Umar was disclosed during a legal proceeding in 2018.

She has also previously admitted to having an extramarital affair with a fellow SNP member who was later accused of sending her racist messages.

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Sources used:

- Scottish Daily Express: 'Who is Humza Yousaf's wife and how many times has he been married?'

- Grazia: 'Humza Yousaf Is The New SNP Leader – Here’s What We Know About Him'