Humza Yousaf’s power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens was sensationally scrapped today, sparking a furious backlash and claims he is now a “lame duck” leader.
The first minister met Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater at Bute House, his official residence, on Thursday morning to tell them the deal was over.
He called an emergency cabinet meeting to update senior ministers soon after.
Addressing media at a hastily arranged press conference, Mr Yousaf said he is “terminating” the so-called Bute House Agreement with immediate effect.
The first minister intervened days after the Greens announced they would ballot their own members on the future of the deal after fury over ditched climate targets.
‘Balance has shifted’
He said the deal, which was signed by the SNP and the Scottish Greens in 2021, had “undoubtedly brought a number of successes”.
But said his judgment was the “balance has shifted” and is “no longer guaranteeing a stable arrangement at parliament”.
Within two hours, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross told Holyrood he has no confidence in the first minister and will ask parliament to put it to a vote.
As recently as Tuesday, Mr Yousaf resisted calls from within his party and said he hoped it would continue.
Ms Slater blasted the SNP leader saying he ended the agreement in a “weak and thoroughly hopeless way” and on political co-operation can “no longer be trusted”.
Speaking at Holyrood, Mr Harvie also questioned whether the SNP government would still be in place by the time of the next budget.
Green party members, unhappy with climate U-turns, were also annoyed about the pause of puberty blockers for new patients attending the only Scottish gender clinic for children in Glasgow.
Ms Slater said: “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 has said was in Scotland’s best interests.”
It is now uncertain whether Mr Yousaf can rely on any other party to get tough legislation through parliament.
Mr Harvie was scathing during first minister’s questions two hours after the deal was ditched.
“Who does he think he can rely on for a majority now?” he asked, prompting suggestions his party may well help bring the government down.
What was the Bute House Agreement?
First agreed by Nicola Sturgeon after the last Holyrood election, the deal sets out a number of areas where the two parties are aligned.
In return for two junior ministerial posts, it guarantees Scottish Green support the SNP government in major votes.
The agreement had a number of vocal critics inside the SNP, including Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes, and Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing.
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