Snp-green deal a risk but also a ‘huge opportunity’
JOINT government with the SNP involves “risk” for the Scottish Greens, the party’s co-leader has admitted, as members prepare to vote on the “historic step” today.
Patrick Harvie said activists understandably had questions they wanted answered before deciding whether to ratify the five-year powersharing arrangement at an extraordinary general meeting.
Junior coalition parties have often suffered at the ballot box after compromising in power.
However, the Glasgow MSP, who has been in opposition for 18 years, said the prospect of finally entering government was also “incredibly exciting” and a “huge opportunity”.
Mr Harvie and his fellow co-leader Lorna Slater unveiled the draft 51-page deal alongside Nicola Sturgeon at Bute House a week ago.
The First Minister said it would “cement the pro-independence majority” at Holyrood, as well as make Scotland fairer and greener over the parliamentary term.
With 64 of 129 MSPS, the SNP, who have already twice governed as a minority, could easily govern without the seven Green MSPS.
However, a formal pact, despite being short of a full coalition, would end votes of confidence in ministers, a problem that dogged Ms Sturgeon in the last Parliament.
Mr Harvie and Ms Slater, who only became a Lothians MSP in May, will become the first Green ministers in the UK if their party agrees, raising their salaries from £64,470 to £94,821 a year.
Visiting a new solar farm at the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush campus, Mr Harvie said: “Our members will decide whether we’re going to take this historic step.
“Humanity has just been given a code red warning on the climate emergency and it’s a couple of months before the [COP26] climate conference comes to Glasgow, so there couldn’t be a more urgent and important moment to take that step.
“From renewable energy, to tenants’ rights, to restoring nature, there’s a huge job of work Greens are keen to do in government.”
He said most of the reaction from party members had been positive.
“There are understandably some questions that members want answered, and this is the biggest step that we’ve ever taken, a huge opportunity and – let’s be honest – taking a step like this probably involves some risk as well.
“I think it involves risk for both sides. Neither the SNP nor the Greens need to do this, but we both believe that Scottish Government will be better if we work together.”
Ms Slater said she was confident the
Let’s be honest – taking a step like this probably involves some risk as well
deal was “the right thing for Scotland”, and urged members to consider “how influential the Greens can be” as a result.
She said: “Our colleagues in New Zealand have a long experience of co-operation agreements like this and they have been able to deliver significant things to tackle the climate crisis and improve the quality of life of people there, and I know we can do similar things here.
“We need ... grown-up politics where we know we will disagree on some areas but focus on working together where we do agree.”
The Scottish Conservatives have claimed the Snp-green deal would be a “coalition of chaos” and inflict “extremist” policies on people.
Alba Party leader Alex Salmond also claimed this week that Green hostility to North Sea oil risked jobs.
He said: “The economic advantage to Scotland merits much more serious consideration than what currently looks like student politics masquerading as coalition building.”