Flynn hits back at those trying to blame him for move to jettison Greens

The hunt for a figure to blame for the downfall of Humza Yousaf is already under way inside the SNP.

Mr Yousaf’s decision to rip up his party’s powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens last Thursday backfired spectacularly, and forced him to resign as first minister.

But, as the contest for a new leader got under way, some were keen to point the finger at Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn for being behind the first minister’s decision to dump the Greens.

One senior source said: “Stephen Flynn pushed the first minister to pull out of the Bute House Agreement with no idea of the impact it would have. It didn’t need a master strategist to know how weak this would leave us.

“Humza Yousaf will bitterly regret allowing Stephen Flynn to have the influence he had and members won’t forget his role in this mess.”

Mr Flynn insists that, while he supported the first minister’s decision to end the agreement with the Scottish Greens, his influence is being overestimated.

He said: “This comes from sources who overstate my influence as much as they overestimate their own abilities.”

Mr Flynn met Mr Yousaf last Wednesday and the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and Greens was discussed.

Several people with knowledge of Mr Yousaf’s decision have said it was later in the evening the first minister decided to kick the Greens out of government.

However, one source said there had been “serious strains” even before the climate targets were ditched.

Kevin Pringle, the first minister’s powerful communications and strategy chief, is understood to have been another voice arguing in favour of ending the deal.

In an opinion column for our sister paper The Courier prior to his appointment as a special adviser, Mr Pringle argued Mr Yousaf “didn’t need the Greens in government”.

Crucially, the handling of the situation is said to have been coordinated by Mr Yousaf and his inner circle of advisors.

One source said: “They forgot to take into account how this would feel for the Greens after three years of working together.”

SNP Commons leader Stephen Flynn and Humza Yousaf.