Bad news for Scots as Lorna Slater has hinted at the return of the coalition deal between the Scottish Greens and the SNP if it helps the Nats cling onto power in 2026. The Bute House Agreement became one of the most unpopular alliances when it was in place between 2021 and 2024.
It led to failures such as the deposit return scheme and attempts to ban the use of wood-burning stoves, as well as fines for those with gas boilers in their homes after 2035. It was blown up by Humza Yousaf last year and led to his demise as First Minister as he humiliatingly sacked Ms Slater and Patrick Harvie as Ministers.
Despite this treatment, the Scottish Greens would be up for a similar deal in 2026 if there is no majority for John Swinney. Polls have been varied, predicting that there will be no nationalist majority as well as a Unionist coalition but there has been no clear outcome, meaning it’s all to play for.
Speaking to the Herald, Ms Slater was asked whether she could see her party supporting the SNP in government again, despite this move being unpopular in both camps. She said: “2026 is a long way off and we’ve already seen some dramatic shifts in election outcomes this year, so it’s much too soon to say what the electorate outcome might be.
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“The Scottish Greens would always seek to have as much influence to deliver policies like we have delivered free bus travel for under 22s, getting bills through like the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act. We are here to get things done. We want to be as effective as possible. The parliamentary arithmetic in 2026 is certainly going to be interesting to see.”
But Ms Slater did admit that any agreement would need to be approved by party members which could prove to be a sticking point. Many grassroots members became disillusioned with the coalition deal after voters began to see them as members of the government and not a strong opposition.
Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater signed the Bute House Agreement in 2021
(Image: PA)
She called the Bute House deal a “unique arrangement” and added that “our party members might demand “different things next time and we might approach it differently”. She also appeared to close the door on working with Scottish Labour in Scotland due to decisions being made by the Prime Minister, like cuts to the winter fuel payment and the decision not to award compensation to Waspi women.
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Ms Slater said: “It is very difficult to imagine working with a Labour party that is still in favour of nuclear weapons, the House of Lords, the way they have treated the Waspi women, the Winter Fuel Payments. The co-operation agreement was based on a shared vision and at this point I don’t see much shared vision and values between Labour and the Scottish Greens.”
Responding to her comments, a spokesperson for the SNP said: “In 2026 the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to vote for a party that puts their interests first and delivers on their priorities. That party is the SNP and in government we are continuing constructive discussions with all parties to deliver on those priorities in the Scottish Budget. That is the message we’ll be taking to voters across the country in the year ahead.”
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