Greens’ powersharing revolt over Nats’ climate climbdown
THE Scottish Green leadership is facing a revolt over its deal with the SNP after key climate change targets were ditched.
Leaked messages showed a senior figure saying the U-turn left them “demoralised” and a councillor blasted the decision as “devastating”.
Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan had conceded the goal of reducing emissions by 75 per cent by 2030, is “out of reach”.
Co-leader Patrick Harvie was part of a Zoom meeting and took written questions from members.
Some of the exchanges have been leaked to the Record and show huge dissatisfaction.
Edinburgh councillor Chas Booth wrote: “Why was the 2030 target scrapped altogether, rather than revised to a more achievable target?”
Fellow Scottish Green Kate Joester echoed the criticism: “How much are we going to lower our aspirations? A dead planet is a dead planet.”
Another Edinburgh councillor, Susan Rae, wrote: “This cannot be viewed as anything other than a failure. Who’ll take responsibility for yet Critics want an extraordinary general meeting to discuss the deal with the SNP.
On the same Zoom, Booth asked if an EGM would take place on the deal: “If not, why not?”
Another Green, Anna Cowan, wrote: “I can’t help but feel really demoralised and depressed about the news today.”
A third Edinburgh councillor, Alys Mumford, hit out: “Do we truly believe the announcements today are worth the price of being associated with the scrapping of these targets?”
The Rainbow Greens, a grouping inside the party, is trying to gather the 100 signatures required for an EGM.
A source said: “Tying not only your own popularity, but our party’s electoral fortunes to a failing deal with the SNP, is reckless and can only be explained by self-preservation.
“Those behind the Bute House agreement – MSPs Patrick Harvie, Lorna Slater, and Ross Greer – should listen to their membership and back an EGM.”
A Scottish Green spokesperson said: “Ross Greer, Gillian Mackay and Patrick Harvie attended one of our regular member update sessions covering a range of topics, including how we are accelerating action on the climate crisis within government.
“The cooperation agreement that saw Green politicians enter government for the first time anywhere in the UK, which has been repeatedly endorsed and voted for by members of both parties, has been the catalyst for driving progressive environmental change over the last two-and-a-half years including moving from targets to an acceleration of climate action with an evidence-based route map to 2045.
“As a democratic party we encourage members to engage and participate, and there are a number of ways open for people to do that.”