Save the planet? They’d ‘sooner break up Britain’

Greens are accused of putting Scexit before climate as they vote to join coalition of chaos

THE Scottish Greens yesterday sealed a historic deal to enter government for the first time in the UK – and immediately began agitating for independence.

Co-leader Lorna Slater, who with Patrick Harvie is in line for a Ministerial post and £30,000 pay rise, said the party will set out fresh proposals for breaking up Britain.

Opponents warned that the deal put another divisive referendum ahead of the nation’s recovery from Covid and efforts to tackle the climate emergency.

Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said: ‘It’s no surprise that the Greens are taking the chance to impose their extreme policies on Scotland. This nationalist coalition will be devastating for workers and our economic recovery.

‘The SNP and Greens will put their obsession with a divisive referendum ahead of what is best for Scotland.

‘Nicola Sturgeon failed to win a majority in May’s election and now has had to cut a deal with a radical anti-jobs party, solely to ramp up her campaign for independence.’

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, added: ‘This coalition of cuts is formalising a long-standing agreement where Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP hammer our public services and the Greens nod along. This deal is all about the parties’ constitutional

‘Grossly irresponsible to hold another divisive referendum’

obsession and nothing to do with the climate emergency we should be focused on.

‘The SNP is desperate to avoid scrutiny and this coalition with their Green branch office is simply designed to make it harder for parliament to hold the First Minister to account.’

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Lib Dem leader, said the Greens had gone into government ‘in exchange for thin gruel’ as the SNP had ‘hardly budged’.

He added: ‘Our planet is on the brink of being irreparably damaged. This is no moment for distraction. People will be scratching their heads about why they want to completely consume the precious little time left by returning to the divisive constitutional arguments of the past.’

Pamela Nash, chief executive of the Scotland in Union campaign, said: ‘This coalition is all about prioritising division over what really matters to people – Covid recovery and climate recovery.

‘It would be grossly irresponsible if the two parties seek to hold another divisive referendum against the wishes of the majority of people in Scotland and at a time when the focus should be on recovery.’

Yesterday morning, members of the Scottish Greens and SNP overwhelmingly backed the ‘co-operation agreement’, which opposition politicians are branding a ‘coalition of chaos’.

Speaking afterwards, in Glasgow, Mr Harvie said: ‘Today has been a day like no other I can remember.

‘To everyone in Scotland, I want to give you a promise. We will work as hard as we can to ensure a transition to a sustainable Scotland, but one that works for everyone in Scotland.’ He promised improved public transport, greener homes and a focus on tackling poverty and inequality, as he ‘takes Green politics to the next level in Scotland’.

The Scottish Greens enter government despite never having won a constituency seat. In May’s election, they won 8.1 per cent of votes in the regions, and just 1.3 per cent in constituencies.

But when Nicola Sturgeon failed to win a majority, she immediately started talks with her ‘Green branch office’, and a deal was signed just days before Holyrood returns from its summer break.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted the focus of governments north and south of the Border should be on the economic recovery from Covid, not referendums.

However, yesterday Mr Harvie claimed that position was ‘wobbling’. He said: ‘I think the pressure will clearly grow on the UK Government to say what they’re going to do.

‘The democratic mandate is there and already the UK position is clearly wobbling.’

Ms Slater said the Greens would waste no time in making a new case for independence to try to boost support, which has flagged in recent months. She said: ‘We will start developing our proposals for what independence will look like.’

A series of polls have shown the public continue to back staying part of the UK.

But despite the economic devastation caused by Covid, the loss of lives and looming climate crisis, Ms Sturgeon said yesterday she would ‘work collaboratively’ with the Greens to ‘give the people of Scotland a vote on independence’.