Scottish Politics LIVE: Bute House Agreement scrapped as Humza Yousaf faces vote of no confidence
We follow live as the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens ends.
Scottish Politics Live: Bute House Agreement has collapsed | Humza Yousaf holds press conference
The Conservatives are certainly enjoying this morning’s antics.
Craig Hoy MSP, the party’s chairman, has just released a statement which says: “The collapse of this toxic coalition is an utter humiliation for Humza Yousaf, who hailed it as ‘worth its weight in gold’ and continued to back it to the hilt right until the end.
“The First Minister’s judgement is so poor that he couldn’t see what a malign influence the anti-growth Greens have been in government and his authority so weak that he was bounced into this U-turn by his own MSPs.
“It beggars belief that the Greens were invited into government in the first place - but even more astonishing that Humza Yousaf allowed them to call the shots on issues like abandoning oil and gas, further delays to dualling the A9 and A96, devastating fishing curbs and gender ideology.
“Humza Yousaf’s year as SNP leader has been a disastrous mix of scandals, infighting and policy U-turns.
“The collapse of the power sharing pact he staked his reputation on is not just humiliating, it highlights once again how inept and out of his depth he is.”
Ouch.
The sacked Green ministers have just released a scathing statement criticising the SNP, saying they are “selling out future generations”.
Lorna Slater, the party’s co-leader, says: “This is an act of political cowardice by the SNP, who are selling out future generations to appease the most reactionary forces in the country.
“Voters deserve better, Scotland deserves better. Scottish Green voters certainly deserve better.
“They have broken the bonds of trust with members of both parties who have twice chosen the co-operation agreement and climate action over chaos, culture wars and division.
“They have betrayed the electorate.
“And by ending the agreement in such a weak and thoroughly hopeless way, Humza Yousaf has signalled that when it comes to political cooperation, he can no longer be trusted.
“In just a few weeks’ time our own members were to have a democratic say on endorsing the co-operation agreement.
“We are confident they would have supported us in continuing our work for Scotland, as they have done at every turn.
“Neither they nor SNP members will have that opportunity.
“Instead, the most reactionary and backwards-looking forces within the First Minister’s party have forced him to do the opposite of what he himself had said was in Scotland’s best interests.
“By contrast we as co-leaders of the Scottish Greens were prepared to put our own political careers on the line with our members, to defend our achievements in government, despite enduring all that SNP backbenchers and others throw against us.
“What a pity he didn’t have the fortitude or the bravery to do the same.
“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 the interests of Scotland?
“We want, we demand, a fairer, greener Scotland.
“We believed the Bute House Agreement would speed up that process, only to be let down by the SNP time and time again - on council tax, on oil and gas, on 2030, and most obviously, again today.
“I appeal to those SNP members who do care about climate, trans rights, independence and our country to reconsider if they are in the right party for their values, or if their home should be with us as we prepare to step up our defence of the planet in opposition.
“Finally, to all those who will feel hurt and betrayed today, know this - our resolve is absolute, we will not abandon you as the SNP have, we will fight for your future with every breath we take.”
The decision to scrap the Bute House Agreement has gone down well with Holyrood’s only Alba MSP Ash Regan.
Earlier this week she lodged a motion of no confidence in Green co-leader Patrick Harvie.
The Scottish Greens are expected to hold a press conference later this morning in the Scottish Parliament after being thrown out of government - our Deputy Political Editor David Bol will head along to that to bring you the latest.
Humza Yousaf is due to hold a press conference later this morning after scrapping the Bute House Agreement - our Political Editor Alistair Grant is there to bring you all the latest.
Bute House Agreement with Scottish Greens ended after Humza Yousaf calls emergency Cabinet meeting
The Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens has officially been ended, The Scotsman has been told.
Humza Yousaf is understood to have taken the decision after calling an emergency Cabinet meeting this morning.
Ministers gathered at 8.30am at Bute House amid mounting pressure for the partnership arrangement with the Greens, known as the Bute House Agreement, to be scrapped. This was the second Cabinet meeting in just three days – Cabinet is normally held on a Tuesday morning.
Read more here.
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