SNP-Green ‘coalition of chaos’ to take shape this week

A DEAL to put the Scottish Greens at the heart of government, despite them never winning a constituency, will be outlined this week.

The ‘coalition of chaos’ could see ministerial jobs handed to the party’s co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater.

An agreement between the parties moved a step closer yesterday, with Scottish Greens members agreeing to continue talks. They voted to hold another meeting on August 28, when the terms of the deal could be rubber-stamped.

Both parties want a second independence referendum, and the Greens have backed a succession of SNP budgets. However, while the SNP has historically based its independence bid on the riches of North Sea energy, the Greens’ manifesto called for an end to oil and gas drilling.

Last week, Ms Sturgeon bowed to pressure from environmentalists and wrote to Boris Johnson, asking him to ‘reassess’ allowing drilling at the new Cambo oil field.

However, the UK Government is determined to press ahead.

The Greens also want cash for new roads diverted to public transport, and a tax hike for middle to high earners.

Scots Tories claim the deal would usher in a new ‘coalition of chaos’ and see independence put ahead of the country’s economic recovery.

Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative transport spokesman, said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon’s readiness to throw Scotland’s oil and gas workers under the bus may just be the thin end of the wedge. Much-needed roads and infrastructure projects on the A9 and A96 are hanging by a thread.

‘Who knows what else will be sacrificed to the Greens for independence?’

The Scottish Greens refused to say what they have demanded in talks over a deal with the SNP. A spokesman said: ‘We aren’t providing commentary on what is or isn’t in it. It’ll be published next week.’