The SNP has terminated its power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens after a bitter row over its reduction in climate targets.
It comes after Prime Minister Humza Yousaf called a meeting of his cabinet – usually held on a Tuesday – this morning following speculation about the future of the Holyrood deal initially hit by his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Yousaf said the benefits of her party’s deal with the Greens had so far “outweighed the commitments” and delivered a “series of successes” – but that the balance had now “shifted”.
“The agreement was intended to provide stability to the Scottish government and enabled a number of achievements, but it served its purpose,” he said.
“This no longer guarantees a stable agreement in parliament.”
Latest policy updates – Greens and SNP to hold press conferences
The Prime Minister said he hoped to reach a “less formal” agreement with his former partners, but announced what he called a “new beginning” for the SNP and said his decision showed “leadership”.
His warm words about the Bute House deal – which he previously described as “worth waiting for in gold” – set a different tone to those of Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, who accused the SNP of “political cowardice”.
The power-sharing agreement, reached in 2021, was designed to facilitate government between the two pro-independence parties at Holyrood.
But signs that it was facing difficulties came after the Scottish government scrapped its commitment to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030.
The climate announcement also came on the same day as the prescription of puberty blockers for new patients under 18 in a Glasgow gender identity service would be paused.
It means Yousaf’s administration will now run a minority government at Holyrood.
SNP ‘selling out our future generations’
Lorna Slater, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens, accused the SNP of an “act of political cowardice” and of “betraying future generations to appease the most reactionary forces in the country”.
“They have broken the bonds of trust with members of both parties who have twice chosen cooperation agreement and climate action over chaos, culture wars and division,” she said. “They betrayed the electorate.
“And by ending the agreement in such a weak and completely hopeless way, Humza Yousaf has signaled that when it comes to political cooperation, he can no longer be trusted.”
The power-sharing agreement with the Greens, also known as the Bute House agreement, brought the party into government for the first time anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Named after the Prime Minister’s official residence in Edinburgh, it gave the SNP a majority in the Scottish parliament when their votes were combined with those of seven Green MSPs.
It created ministerial roles for Scottish Green Party co-leaders Mrs Slater and Patrick Harvie.
As well as the watering down of climate targets, the Greens were also dismayed by the pausing of puberty blockers following the historic Cass review in Cass historical review of gender services for under-18s in England and Wales.
Last week the Greens said this would hold a vote for its members about the future of the Bute House deal and Mr Harvie urged members to support it so the party could “put green values into practice” in government.
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But in the statement released today, Slater said Greens members will now not have a “democratic say”, adding: “The most reactionary and backward-looking forces within the Prime Minister’s party have forced him to do the opposite of what he himself said which was in Scotland’s best interests.”
“If they can’t stand up to members of their own party, how can anyone expect them to stand up to the UK government at Westminster and defend Scotland’s interests?”
‘A total humiliation’
Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, said the collapse of this “toxic coalition is a total humiliation for Humza Yousaf”.
“Humza Yousaf’s year as leader of the SNP was a disastrous mix of scandals, infighting and political upheavals,” he added.
“The collapse of the power-sharing pact on which he staked his reputation is not only humiliating, but shows once again how inept and out of his depth he is.”
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
