 | It has been suggested that 2024 Scottish government crisis be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2024. |
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The Bute House Agreement, officially the Cooperation Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group was a power-sharing agreement between the Scottish National Party (SNP) government and the Scottish Greens which was agreed in August 2021 to support the Third Sturgeon government and then was reaffirmed to support the First Yousaf government.
The Agreement detailed the way in which the Scottish Government and the Green Group in Parliament worked together, the appointment of Green ministers, excluded policy areas from the Agreement, confidence and supply and dispute resolution.[1] The agreement was accompanied by a shared policy programme, which sets out in detail where the two decided to collaborate.[2]
On 31 August 2021, the SNP and Greens entered a power-sharing arrangement which resulted in the appointment of two Green MSPs as junior ministers in the government, delivery of a shared policy platform, and Green support for the government on votes of confidence and supply.[3][4] There was no agreement on oil and gas exploration, but the government now argued that it had a stronger case for a national independence referendum.[5]
The agreement was a key part of the 2023 SNP leadership election, with candidates Kate Forbes and Ash Regan critical of it, while Humza Yousaf was supportive.[6] Following Yousaf's victory, he initially maintained the agreement during his first ministry. On 25 April 2024, following a meeting at Bute House, it was decided by First Minister Yousaf that the power sharing agreement would come to an end with immediate effect.[7] The resulting government crisis led to Yousaf's resignation.
- ^ "Cooperation Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party - Shared Policy Programme". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "SNP and Greens agree new power-sharing deal". BBC News. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "DRAFT COOPERATION AGREEMENT between THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT and THE SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP" (PDF). gov.scot. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2021.
- ^ Brooks, Libby (20 August 2021). "SNP and Scottish Greens confirm power-sharing deal in historic moment for Greens". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Brooks, Libby (25 March 2023). "Greens indicate deal will end if new SNP leader rejects 'progressive values'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "SNP breaks off power-share agreement with Scottish Greens". 25 April 2024. "Scottish Greens to vote on SNP power-sharing agreement after climate target ditched". BBC News. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.