Deputy First Minister John Swinney is the most senior party figure to endorse the health secretary.
The Perthshire North MSP added: "Humza is an experienced minister who's done all the tough stuff that you have to do day in day out within government.
Mr Yousaf said he was honoured to have the backing of a "true giant of the SNP and independence movement"."John's backing is a massive boost to my progressive grassroots campaign to stand up for Scottish democracy, protect and advance rights, unite our Yes movement and secure independence for Scotland."Many waited to see what John Swinney was going to do before deciding on their own leadership campaigns, such is his popularity within the SNP.
It does underline his position as the "continuity candidate", given much of the present regime is now backing him. There is a slight danger for him in appearing too much of an establishment figure, in a movement with a distinctly anti-establishment ethos.
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