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First minister Humza Yousaf has declared a “new beginning for the SNP” after sensationally kicking the Scottish Greens out of his government this morning. The move has brought to an end the Bute House agreement, the Green-SNP coalition’s foundational deal negotiated by former FM Nicola Sturgeon in 2021.
Read our full story here.
One observation, espoused by the first minister’s many critics, is that Yousaf has pushed the Greens out of government before they jumped. The SNP’s former coalition partners were enraged by the government’s decision to scrap its commitment to cut carbon emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 last week — and had duly forced a vote of its membership on whether to continue participating in government.
The optics for Yousaf’s government, had the Green membership opted to leave the coalition of their own accord in their vote next month, would have been dire indeed. Still, at a press conference this morning, the first minister insisted that the move to call time on coalition government was “my decision”.
Yousaf, of course, has not had the easiest run in government since seizing the top job last year. Just last week, the SNP’s former chief executive Peter Murrell was re-arrested as part of Operation Branchform, Police Scotland’s major investigation into SNP finances.
‘Political cowardice’
The first minister’s decision today, then, can be interpreted as an attempt to grip the news agenda after months of rolling difficulties. But at first minister’s questions (FMQs) this afternoon, opposition MSPs were quick to point out that Yousaf has long been a stalwart defender of the Bute House agreement. In an interview with The National last year, the first minister described the coalition pact as “worth its weight in gold”. Compare that sentiment to the position of Kate Forbes, Yousaf’s chief rival in the leadership race that preceded his elevation as FM, who was a prominent critic of the Bute House accord.
In the end though, the big outcome of the FM’s decision is that his government no longer has a majority in the Scottish parliament. The SNP has 63 MSPs at Holyrood, leaving them two short of overall control in the 129-strong chamber. Speaking this morning, Yousaf told reporters he will seek to “work not just with the Scottish Greens, but with MSPs from across the chamber” on legislation.
Not sure how open Green MSPs will be to that suggestion, though. Reacting to the FM’s decision today, Green co-leader Lorna Slater accused the SNP of “political cowardice”.
The coming vote of no confidence
And at FMQs this afternoon, the Greens’ other co-leader Patrick Harvie asked: “Who does the first minister think he has pleased most today? Is it [Scottish Conservative leader] Douglas Ross, [suspended SNP MSP] Fergus Ewing or [former FM and Alba Party leader] Alex Salmond? And more to the point, which of them does he think he can rely on for a majority in parliament now?”
Douglas Ross also announced at FMQs that he intends to table a vote of no confidence in the first minister. With Labour and the Liberal Democrats expected to support it, all eyes are on what the Greens do — but any remaining goodwill between the former coalition partners seems to have extinguished.
In short, the period of the SNP being buffeted by events would seem far from over.
But my featured article today asks what’s at stake in the upcoming local elections — the answer: Rishi Sunak could be in for a bitter reckoning.
A bitter reckoning for Rishi Sunak: what’s at stake in the May 2 local elections?
Lunchtime briefing
Humza Yousaf scraps coalition with Scottish Greens in ‘new beginning for SNP’
Labour vows rail nationalisation plans will save taxpayer ‘billions’
Lunchtime soundbite
‘The [Bute House] agreement was intended to provide stability to Scottish government, and it has made possible a number of achievements, but it has served its purpose’
— Announcing the end of the SNP-Green coalition, FM Humza Yousaf said the agreement with the Greens “had served its purpose”.
Now try this…
‘Inside the battle to oust Sunak: hardcore anti-Sunak plotters haven’t given up yet’
For the i, Katy Balls notes that Downing Street has long been aware that May marks a danger point. (Paywall)
‘UK polling guru expects new Brexit referendum by 2040’
Politico reports on the comments of top political scientist John Curtice.
‘Labour’s rail plans show Keir Starmer’s cautious populism’
The New Statesman’s Freddie Hayward writes that the commitment to take the industry back into public ownership is a victory for Labour’s soft left. (Paywall)
On this day in 2022:
No 10 insist PM and Macron enjoy ‘good working relationship’
