Achi news desk-
However, he argued that scrapping the power-sharing deal with the SNP would be a “mistake”, insisting that the Greens should not be a party that gives up when “the going gets tough”.
Discussing whether he will stay if the Greens return to opposition, he said: “I really don’t see how it would be realistic for me to continue in that way under those circumstances.”
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His comments for his future leadership confirmed a suggestion he made on Sunday when he was asked on the Sunday Show on BBC Scotland, if his leadership was “on the line” if the vote did not go the way he wanted.
Mr Harvie then replied: “I mean, I think that’s a very obvious question, but it’s probably the least important question.. ‘what is the future of Patrick Harvie?’
“This is about what the future of climate policy is, and the Greens have a decision to make.”
The Scottish Greens will decide towards the end of next month whether they will continue to support the Bute House deal. Any decision made by the 7,000 members of Scottish Green will bind its leaders, meaning that if the members vote against it, they will leave the government.
Mr Harvie and Lorna Slater, co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party, joined the government as deputy ministers in August 2021 after the Bute House Agreement was signed.
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister at the time, appointed Mr Harvie as minister for carbon-free buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights, while Ms Slater became minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity.
The arrangement ensures that the government has a majority in parliament to pass legislation and to pass its budget. This is the first time that the Greens have been part of any devolved administration in the UK.
It comes as the SNP’s coalition with the Scottish Greens comes under increasing pressure from SNP backbenchers after Green ministers said they did not accept the full findings of the Cass review.
Dr Hilary Cass, former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said in her report on services in England that sexual medicine was “built on shaky foundations”. Its findings are expected to inform the future of transgender care in the rest of the UK but Scottish ministers have not yet committed to implementing its findings.
The Scottish Green Party is soon expected to confirm the date of its extraordinary general meeting, where members will vote on whether they should remain in the Bute House Agreement.
If the Greens were to leave government many would believe they are “just a party that walks away when the going gets tough”, claimed Mr Harvie.
Mr Harvie said on Sunday he did not know how members would vote in what he described as “the most important decision” his party had faced.
Grassroots activists were furious last week after the Cabinet Secretary for net zero, Mairi McAllan, announced she was scrapping the administration’s goal of reducing emissions by 75% by 2030.
Scottish Greens activists were also angered last week by the announcement, also revealed last Thursday, that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was to delay the use of puberty blockers for new patients under the age of 18 with gender dysphoria at the Sandyford clinic in Glasgow .
Supporters say that the treatment – which is only given to a very small number of patients – is potentially life saving for some young people who are facing changes to their body and they point out that the medicine will still available privately.
Mr Harvie and co-leader of the party Lorna Slater will argue at the SPG for members to support remaining in the Scottish Government under the arrangement made in the Bute House Agreement in August 2021 arguing that doing so is the most effective way of ensure bold action to tackle climate change.
