Achi news desk-
Members contacted the Herald during the briefing session, which was led by party co-leader Patrick Harvie, to express their anger.
One campaigner said Scottish Green MP Ross Greer had quit after he “avoided” questions about the future of the Bute House Agreement (BHA).
“It’s a sh** show,” said one member of the party during the session.
“Ross Greer left after dodging questions and Patrick having to suppress anger. Dozens of activists suggesting we should leave the BHA. One called Patrick an embarrassment.”
The party said this morning that Mr Greer had briefly stepped out of the meeting to conduct a pre-arranged live television interview.
After the call Scottish Greens Edinburgh Councilor Chas Booth wrote to his party’s executive committee asking for talks to discuss ending the BHA.
He wrote on X, Twitter earlier last night: “The mood of colleagues on the call of party members today was one of anger that the Scottish Greens are part of a government that abandons climate targets, I felt.
“We have been told that we need to change from ‘targets instead of action’, to action itself. Agreed. I have therefore written to the chairman of the SGP party Executive Committee to ask them to call CCA as soon as reasonably possible to consider removing back from the Bute House Agreement.
“I would encourage other members of the party who are upset and angry with today’s announcement to do the same.”
Glasgow councilor Anthony Carroll also took X to demand negotiations.
“Ultimately, Scottish Green members decide whether MSPs are in Government.
“With council tax frozen, climate targets scrapped and MSPs running rampant with transphobia, the SNP have shown a lot of contempt in the last year. I think it’s time for members to have their say again on the BHA.”
Separately, the Rainbow Greens, who represent the LGBT members of the party, are calling for the end of the BHA over the decision by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to delay puberty blockers for new patients under 18 with gender dysphoria. This follows the findings of the Cass Review in England.
Mr Harvie and Lorna Slater, co-leaders of the Scottish Greens, have ministerial roles as part of the Bute House Agreement and will be expected to vote to scrap the 2030 target when the government introduces legislation to do so.
In her statement to Holyrood yesterday, net zero cabinet secretary Mairi McAllan announced a package of measures to speed up action on climate change including the establishment of a climate assembly and more charging points for electric vehicles. But some members do not believe that the measures announced are sufficient.
One campaigner said there were major concerns with the leaders’ performances and whether they should remain in place in the run-up to the 2026 Holyrood election.
“The main takeaway from tonight’s session was a real sense of frustration – with the climate news, understandably, but also a very personal frustration in Patrick and Lorna,” they said.
“Many people see them as either disinterested or incapable of quality meaningful communication and engagement internally with members. They do not tell an inspiring story about their impact in government, which is why people are understandably unable to see or appreciate that effect.
“A number of people I spoke to…questioned whether our current leaders were the right ones to lead us into the next Holyrood election.
“I also don’t think we have our strongest performers in our most important portfolios – I think a reorganization in the MSP group could help focus minds and inject some energy.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns, Imogen Dow, said yesterday that dropping the 2030 target was “the worst environmental decision in the history of the Scottish Parliament.”
The deadline for Scotland to be net zero by 2045 remains an ambition for the government.
A Scottish Green spokesman said: “Ross Greer, Gillian Mackay and Patrick Harvie attended one of our regular member update sessions covering a range of topics including how we are accelerating action on the climate crisis within government.
“Mr Greer stepped out briefly to fulfill a live interview commitment with Sky News who were interested in learning more about how Scotland is leading the UK on climate action.
“The partnership agreement which saw Green politicians come into government for the first time anywhere in the UK, which has been repeatedly endorsed by members of both parties, has been a catalyst for driving change environmentally progressive over the last two and a half years. including moving from targets to accelerating climate action with an evidence-based roadmap to 2045.
“As a democratic party we encourage members to engage and participate, and there are a number of ways open to people to do that.”
