DID CARPING COST GREENS THEIR DEAL?
Flynn hits out at former partners He mocks their 1pc polling figure
STEPHEN Flynn yesterday hit out at the Greens for criticising the SNP while sharing power in the Scottish Government. The Nationalists’ Westminster leader attacked his party’s former coalition partners after Humza Yousaf ditched the Bute House Agreement (BHA).
Mr Flynn, who is widely thought to have instigated ending the BHA, condemned Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater for carping on the sidelines at major policy announcements.
He said the SNP had to ‘deal with criticism’ from the party despite implementing policies he claimed were supported by the majority of the public.
The MP for Aberdeen South went on to ridicule the size of the Greens’ tiny vote share at the last election during an interview with broadcaster Andrew Marr yesterday, saying he was surprised they had as much as 1 per cent.
Mr Flynn has denied any involvement in trying to unseat Greens co-leaders Mr Harvie and Ms Slater, but he is
‘Having to deal with Greens’ criticism’
known to have met Mr Yousaf prior to the BHA being torn up.
The First Minister’s special adviser admitted Mr Flynn had sat down with Mr Yousaf, but said it was only to give him ‘counsel’ ahead of last week’s announcement.
The collapse of the coalition ultimately cost Mr Yousaf his job after he was forced to resign as First Minister on Monday.
Mr Flynn told Marr’s LBC show: ‘The Scottish Government decided to freeze council tax, 70 per cent of the population backed that, yet we’re having to deal with criticism from the Greens about the decision that we’ve made when people don’t have money in their pockets. That’s a pretty bitter pill to swallow.’
He added: ‘There’s obviously been some strong relationships built up and the reality is that moving forward people are going to have to act in a grown-up manner in a parliament with a minority government, they’re going to have to come forward with proposals, costed proposals, to take things forward.
‘We all know that. Humza knew that when he took the decision that he did. As I say, I think it was the right decision in the interests of the public who want their government to be acting on the economy, on jobs, on the
NHS and the cost of living.’ Mr Marr then said that the Scottish Greens were polling on ‘about 1 per cent, to which Mr Flynn replied: ‘Are they that high? I wasn’t aware of that.’
On his possible involvement in a bid to oust the Greens from power, Mr Flynn told the Press and Journal: ‘This is not true and comes from sources who overstate my influence as much as they overestimate their own abilities.
‘Whilst I was supporting the decision of the party leader these anonymous sources were drifting down the Tay – that’s what party members and the public will remember.’
Meanwhile, Mr Harvie also appeared on LBC last night where he refused to say whether his party would work with Kate Forbes if she stands and wins the SNP leadership contest.
Ms Forbes’s views on abortion, same sex marriage and gender reforms led to widespread concern that the Scottish Greens may have left the BHA in 2023, if Mr Yousaf had not defeated her.
Mr Harvie told the Marr show: ‘I’m not here to start endorsing or condemning any individual names.’
He added: ‘Last year during the SNP’s leadership election, we had this same line to walk, but saying very clearly what our values were without naming or condemning or endorsing individual candidates. But some of the things that were said in that leadership election shocked even a lot of members of the SNP in terms of social policy and economic policy.
‘It’s going to be really interesting to hear what the candidates, assuming they declare their candidacy, what they’re going to start saying over the coming weeks, persuading SNP members who should lead pro-independence minority government.
‘Will it be a progressive government committed to accelerating climate action, committed to social justice and economic equality? Or will it be one that rolls back on that successful agenda?’