Achi news desk-
Pushed by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and announced during a heated First Minister’s Questions, the proposal has the support of Scottish Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens – giving the final vote to Ash Regan party Alba.
Ms Regan, described by former First Minister Alex Salmond as “now Scotland’s most important MEP”, was dismissed as unimportant by Humza Yousaf when she initially crossed the floor in favor of Alba.
READ MORE: Lorna Slater claims Humza Yousaf ‘bowed to pressure from the right’ from the SNP
READ MORE: Ash Regan now ‘most powerful’ MSP at Holyrood
Ms Regan said: “I think it’s about time, and I hope this is a sign of a return to competent government but I’m very pleased to see that this will be the end of the extremism of the Green Party.
“I am happy to listen to what the SNP have to say, my door is open and I will support them issue by issue.
“My priorities are completely unchanged and that is: independence, women’s rights, protecting children, protecting our key industries.”
Earlier in the day, Mr Yousaf held a surprise cabinet meeting to tell colleagues of his decision to end the deal established by his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon in 2021.
An insider at the meeting said support for the move had been “unanimous” and that ASA had thumped the table to show their approval.
Mr Yousaf said the immediate end of the deal was a “new start” for his SNP minority Government.
Retaliation from the Greens was swift, however, with Ms Slater issuing a scathing statement accusing the Prime Minister of cowardice, lack of courage and saying he could not be trusted.
The end of the deal comes amid rising tensions between the two pro-independence parties – with the Greens left furious after the Scottish Government last week abandoned a key climate change target.
The Greens were also unhappy with the decision to delay the prescription of puberty blockers to new patients at Scotland’s only youth gender services clinic in Glasgow – a decision taken in the wake of the Cass Review in England and Wales.
But it was Mr Yousaf who called time on the deal, saying that it had “achieved its purpose”.
During a press conference at Bute House, his official home in Edinburgh, the First Minister said: “It no longer guarantees a stable arrangement in Parliament, the events of the last few days have made that clear, and therefore, after careful consideration, I believe going forward it would be in the best interests of the people of Scotland to pursue a different arrangement.
“That is why, following a discussion with my Cabinet this morning, I have formally informed Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater that I am terminating the Bute House Agreement with immediate effect.”
He said the day marked “a new beginning for this SNP Government”.
But Ms Slater condemned the move, saying: “This is an act of political cowardice by the SNP, who are selling out to future generations in order to appease the most reactionary forces in the country.
“By ending the agreement in such a weak and completely hopeless way, Humza Yousaf has indicated that when it comes to political cooperation, he can no longer be trusted.”
Ms Slater accused the SNP of having “broken the bonds of trust with members of both parties” and said it had “betrayed the electorate”.
The Greens had planned to hold a vote on the future of the Bute House Agreement – which was signed when Nicola Sturgeon was first minister.
But before that could be carried out, the SNP acted to call time on the arrangement.
Ms Slater insisted that fellow Green leaders had been “confident” that their members would have supported remaining in Government in the vote, and “continuing our work for Scotland”.
But some high-profile members of the SNP, including former leadership candidate Kate Forbes and party stalwart Fergus Ewing, have previously questioned the arrangement – prompting Ms Slater to claim that the “powers that be most reactionary and backward within the Prime Minister’s party has been forced. doing the opposite of what he himself had said was in the best interests of Scotland”.
He insisted: “On the contrary, we as co-leaders of the Scottish Greens were prepared to put our own political careers on the right track with our members, to defend our achievements in government, despite continuing everything that the benches threw the back of the SNP and others against us. ”
Continuing her attack on the Prime Minister, Ms Slater added: “What a shame he didn’t have the guts or courage to do the same.”
Speaking about the SNP, he said: “If they can’t stand up to members of their own party, how can anyone expect them to stand up to the UK Government in Westminster and protect Scotland’s interests?”
In response to the end of the power sharing agreement, the deputy leader of Scottish Labour, Dame Jackie Baillie, said: “This disorganized and incompetent Government is collapsing before our eyes.
“Humza Yousaf is too weak to hold his own Government together and he is too weak to deliver for Scotland.”
Mr Yousaf would not confirm whether he will resign if a motion of no confidence in his leadership is successful.
When asked if Mr Yousaf would resign if he lost the motion of no confidence, a spokesman said the issue was “hypothetical” and “next week’s business”.
If he stayed on if a vote of no confidence was successful it would be against the will of the Scottish Parliament.
Ms Slater revealed details of the meeting at Bute House at 8am, saying she understood the Prime Minister had decided to end the BHA – having previously staunchly defended the deal – because of “pressure from the conservative wing of the government “.
He said: “It was clear to me that pressure from the conservative wing of his own party, from the right wing and vested interests has been putting pressure on our progressive cooperation agreement.”
Asked for more details, Mr Harvie added: “To be honest, I don’t think it would be appropriate to reveal the specifics of a private conversation,” but added that the conversation had been “robust”.
The ASA added that he had received “a number of very warm comments from SNP members who also feel dissatisfied with this shock decision.”
