Green MSP signals he won’t back Labour efforts to oust the Government
in the Greens that I’ve heard their anger and upset and I understand it.
“I didn’t intend to make them as angry as they are.
“What I would say to the Greens is we so have shared priorities and independence is one of them, commitment to social justice is another, the fact we want to race to net zero by 2045.
“These are priorities we share and that’s why I’d ask them to reconsider supporting a Conservative motion against an independence party, an independence government.
“I will be writing to them – as I will be writing to all party leaders represented in the Scottish Parliament – to say let’s meet, let speak about those priorities, let’s see how we can move on to each and every one of us can make minority government work for the people of Scotland.”
Asked if independence was not a priority anymore, he said: “No, it is [a priority], and I’ll be talking plenty about independence as well but when I made the decision to end the Bute House Agreement – the right decision I believe for the party and the country – I did say at the time it would give us the ability as a minority government to refocus some of our priorities to ensure they continue to align with the Scottish people’s.
“One of the major priorities for the people of Scotland is housing, hence why I’m here today to announce £80m for affordable housing.”
Yousaf told the media repeatedly he had not considered his position and would not be resigning.
The Greens have not yet confirmed whether they will back the Labour motion.
Yousaf accused the opposition parties of “political game playing”, and added: “We’ll be getting on with the job, and when the vote comes I fully intend to win.”
A SCOTTISH Greens MSP signalled yesterday that he will not back Labour’s efforts attempts to topple Humza Yousaf’s government.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell responded to Anas Sarwar’s announcement that Scottish Labour would table a confidence motion against the Scottish Government.
It came after the Tories tabled a motion against the First Minister himself.
Ruskell said: “Labour clearly don’t want this motion to pass. It was the poor judgement of Humza [Yousaf] in ending the Bute House Agreement that is in question, not the record of the SNP/Green [government].”
It is the strongest signal so far the Greens may not back Scottish Labour’s motion, which Sarwar had been hoping may have proved more palatable to them than siding with the Tories.
Labour’s business manager Martin Whitfield was understood to be meeting with Green MSPs yesterday to persuade them to side with his party.
While the Tory amendment focuses more narrowly on the point of tension between the Greens and the SNP –Yousaf’s decision to bin the Bute House Agreement – there is pressure from grassroots members not to side with the Conservatives.
But Labour’s motion is viewed as more likely to precipitate an early Scottish Parliament election because it would trigger the resignation of the First Minister in a way not guaranteed by the Tory motion.
If the Parliament was unable to agree on a successor first minister, the country would go to the polls after 28 days.
STEPHEN Flynn yesterday suggested that he would not stand to be the SNP leader if Humza Yousaf were to resign.
During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Flynn was asked if he had plans to challenge for the leadership of the SNP if Yousaf were to step down.
He said: “I have been asked this question previously the last time there was a leadership contest in the Scottish National Party, and I was very clear in my view that I believe that the party leader should have the ability to be the First Minister of Scotland.
“I have not been dissuaded from that view since I made those comments well over a year ago, but the most important thing for me here is to get on with the job of supporting the First Minister over the coming days as he fights back and he wins this vote of no confidence next week.”
Pressed about whether he would stand, the SNP Westminster group leader added: “Of course, implicit in my answer is the fact that I believe that the party leader should have the ability to be First Minister of Scotland.
“As you and all your listeners know I am a Member of Parliament in Westminster, I do not have the ability to be the First Minister of Scotland, so I am sure people can read between the lines in that regard.”
It came after Yousaf terminated the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens on Thursday.
Following the announcement the Scottish Conservatives said that they would be raising a vote of no confidence in the First Minister, which is expected to take place next week.
The situation leaves Yousaf fighting for his political life after the Scottish Greens said they would be backing the Tory motion.