Summary

  • The Scottish Greens will not back First Minister Humza Yousaf in a no confidence vote which is expected to take place next week

  • Earlier today the SNP-led government scrapped its power-sharing deal with the Greens.

  • In a statement Yousaf said his party had returned to minority rule with "immediate effect"

  • Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said that the agreement's sudden end showed the Scottish government's failure to prioritise environmental issues

  • The collapse of the deal led Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross to lodge a vote of no confidence in Yousaf

  • Last week the Scottish government scrapped key climate targets and announced a pause on the prescription of puberty blockers for under-18s

  • The power-sharing deal involving the SNP and the Greens - which are both Scottish independence supporting parties - was established in August 2021 when Nicola Sturgeon was first minister

  1. Yousaf says he was not pushed into this decisionpublished at 10:35 25 April

    A question now from ITV's Hannah Brown, who asks: "Do you feel like you're succumbing to pressure from the Greens here? Were you pushed before you jumped?"

    "I've not been pushed, I'm still the first minister of Scotland," he says. It's his judgement call, Yousaf adds.

  2. Humza asked why he changed his mind so quickly?published at 10:33 25 April

    Next up to ask a question to the first minister is the BBC's Lynsey Bews.

    She reminds him that he said publicly on Tuesday how much he valued the Green party and the power-sharing deal. She asks what changed his mind so quickly?

    He says he has been thinking about this decision "for quite some time" but he has been taking counsel in private and "reflecting very hard".

    He says he is proud of what the agreement has achieved, but it has "served its purpose".

    Humza Yousaf
  3. Yousaf says he will continue to work with Greenspublished at 10:31 25 April

    humza yousafrImage source, bbc

    The first minister is taking questions from journalists now. First up is STV.

    The FM is asked: "If you can't hold together a majority government, how are you going to manage a minority?"

    Yousaf says emotions are raw, and that he wants to thank Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater for their "substantial contribution" to Scotland.

    But, he says, the greater benefit of a stable government from the Bute House agreement had come to an end.

    "By the way, governing as a minority will be hard, it will be difficult... but we're prepared to step up to the challenges."

    Quote Message

    While emotions are undoubtedly raw, what I would say to our Green colleagues is we look forward to continuing to co-operate with you on an issue by issue basis."

    Humza Yousaf, Scotland's First Minister

  4. FM 'fighting to change Scotland for the better'published at 10:30 25 April

    Yousaf confirms he will lead a minority government, accepting it will be "tough".

    The first minister concludes his statement with a direct message to the people of Scotland.

    He says he is "fighting to change Scotland for the better".

    "As your first minister I will always put Scotland first."

  5. 'New beginning' for SNP governmentpublished at 10:30 25 April

    The first minister tells the media how the SNP needs the freedom and flexibility to “move Scotland forward”, adding: “We need to speak to the country with one voice - our voice".

    He says today marks a "new beginning" for the SNP government, which includes plans to tackle child poverty, stand up for minorities, help the country during the cost of living crisis, and tackle the climate crisis.

    “During my first year of leadership, I hope I have demonstrated to you that I am fighting to change Scotland for the better,” he says.

    “I am working tirelessly to build a strong, sustainable economy that works for everyone, to strengthen our NHS and other public services, to build a country in which everyone feels accepted and able to reach their potential, and to do what I can in my own way to create a more peaceful world.”

  6. 'I am terminating the Bute House agreement with immediate effect'published at 10:23 25 April

    "I have formally notified Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater that I am terminating the Bute House agreement with immediate effect," says the first minister.

  7. 'It is now my judgement that the balance has shifted'published at 10:20 25 April

    The first minister outlines what he says his achievements have been in government as first minister.

    Humza Yousaf explains the co-operation with the Scottish Greens lasted for nearly three years and the Bute House agreement has "undoubtedly brought a number of successes".

    "I believe the benefits have outweighed the compromises."

    The first minister says when he said the agreement was "worth its weight in gold" he meant it.

    "However it is now my judgement that the balance has shifted."

    He says it has served its purpose and after "careful consideration I believe it is in the best interests of the people of Scotland to pursue a different arrangement".

  8. Yousaf's pride at first year in officepublished at 10:13 25 April

    Humza Yousaf begins by outlining what his intentions were at the start of his time as first minister.

    Yousaf says he is proud of the last year as FM.

    He was of course sworn into office as Scotland's sixth - and youngest - first minister at the Court of Session just over 12 months ago.

  9. Humza Yousaf speakspublished at 10:07 25 April

    First Minister Humza Yousaf is making statement on collapse of power-sharing deal.

    You can watch it by clicking on the play icon at the top of this page.

  10. Greens lost control of the climate targets messagepublished at 10:04 25 April

    Kevin Keane
    BBC Scotland environment correspondent

    Where did it all go wrong for the Greens?

    Clearly there have been growing tensions for some time on both sides about the power-sharing agreement between the SNP and the Greens, but both parties have soldiered on regardless.

    But last week the Greens lost control of the narrative around an important climate change goal being ditched.

    They had clearly not wanted the 2030 target for reducing emissions by 75% to go but a lack of progress towards it left ministers with a diminishing number of options.

    It had been hoped that a package of more than a dozen policies being wrapped around the announcement would be enough to take the sting out of such an unpalatable decision for party members.

    But when news of that decision over the targets was broken a day earlier than planned by BBC Scotland News, they entirely lost control of that message.

    Compound that with a decision - on the same day - to pause the prescribing of puberty blockers for children referred to a specialist NHS gender clinic and the unpalatable tipped into the unacceptable for many members.

    From that point, the race was then on to see who would collapse the agreement first.

  11. How many MSPs make a majority?published at 10:00 25 April

    Pie chart showing the breakdown of MSPs in the Scottish parliament

    There are a total of 129 seats in the Scottish parliament.

    Currently, there are 63 SNP MSPs - two short of an overall majority of 65.

    The Scottish Greens, led by Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, have seven MSPs.

    The Greens co-leaders were given ministerial roles in 2021 by the then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, in a "groundbreaking" agreement which saw Green politicians enter government for the first time anywhere in the UK.

  12. Yousaf's future 'depends on minority government's success'published at 09:57 25 April

    More from our Scotland political correspondent Lynsey Bews now.

    She's been speaking on the BBC News Channel about the breakdown of the SNP and Greens agreement.

    On Humza Yousaf's leadership, she says "he was saying only a few days ago he valued the Greens in government".

    This U-turn "does raise questions about the kind of influences and pressure that Humza Yousaf is under."

    His "future is going to depend on how successfully he can run a minority government at Holyrood," Bews explains.

  13. 'Total U-turn from recent days' - Greenspublished at 09:54 25 April

    Scottish Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater have confirmed the end of the Bute House agreement in a media huddle at the Scottish Parliament.

    Harvie told journalists the decision was a "total U-turn from recent days".

    "The first minister has decided to capitulate to the most reactionary forces in the SNP," he said.

    "He now looks set to give his party what they rejected. We expect to see a raft of progressive policies watered down or ditched altogether."

    Lorna Slater says she is "deeply proud of what we delivered in government" over the past two-and-a-half years.

    She says the Scottish Greens had plans for a new national park, rent controls and a ban on conversion therapy.

  14. Minority government 'going to be tricky for the SNP'published at 09:51 25 April

    Lynsey Bews talking headshot
    Image caption,

    Lynsey Bews outside Bute House

    As the power-sharing agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens ends, BBC Scotland political correspondent Lynsey Bews is at Bute House in Edinburgh.

    Speaking on the BBC News channel, she says we now know it was Humza Yousaf who brought the deal to "an abrupt end".

    The first minister, she says, was under "some pressure... from figures within his own party to bring the agreement to an end" and felt the Greens had demands the government felt they could not meet.

    Bews says going forward as a minority government "is going to be tricky for the SNP", as they were relying on the Greens' votes in parliament to allow their government run smoothly.

    "This has been an acrimonious split, so the Greens may not feel able to support the government... so that would leave the SNP looking to the other parties at Holyrood."

    This will be done on a case by case basis, Bews adds.

  15. SNP's deal with Scottish Greens collapses: The headlines so farpublished at 09:48 25 April

    If you're just joining us, it's been a dramatic morning at Bute House and in Holyrood. Here's what we know so far:

    • The SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Green Party has been scrapped after an emergency cabinet meeting
    • Scottish Greens co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie were seen walking out of Bute House - the first minister's official residence - before the meeting officially began at 08:30.
    • It follows criticism of the government's decision to scrap key climate targets and its response to a review into gender services
    • The BBC understands that the SNP will now form a minority government.
    • The Scottish Greens co-leader, Lorna Slater, has accused the SNP of selling out future generations by walking away from the Bute House agreement
    • Confirming the end of the co-operation deal Slater called it “an act of political cowardice by the SNP”
    • She said the SNP had "broken the bonds of trust with members of both parties”
    • Last week the Scottish Greens confirmed that members would vote on whether the party should remain in power with the SNP

    Read more here.

  16. 'We've been let down by SNP time and time again'published at 09:45 25 April

    lorna slaterImage source, Getty Images

    In a lengthy statement marking the end of the power-sharing agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens, Lorna Slater goes on to say that the Scottish Greens were due to vote on the co-operation agreement in the coming weeks.

    However, she says they will no longer have the opportunity because of "the most reactionary and backwards-looking forces within the First Minister’s party" which "forced him to do the opposite of what he himself had said was in Scotland’s best interests".

    She adds: "If they can’t stand up to members of their own party, how can anyone expect them to stand up to the UK government at Westminster and defend the interests of Scotland?"

    Slater says the Scottish Greens were "let down by the SNP time and time again" on a variety of issues including oil and gas targets and council tax.

    She ends the statement by urging SNP members who cared about the climate, trans rights and independence to consider whether they were in the right party.

  17. SNP 'sold out' future generations - Greenspublished at 09:37 25 April

    Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater has just confirmed the end of the Bute House agreement and accused the SNP of "selling out future generations".

    She said: “This is an act of political cowardice by the SNP, who are selling out future generations to appease the most reactionary forces in the country.

    "They have broken the bonds of trust with members of both parties who have twice chosen the co-operation agreement and climate action over chaos, culture wars and division. They have betrayed the electorate."

    She said that the first minister ended the agreement in "such a weak and thoroughly hopeless way" which "signalled that when it comes to political co-operation, he can no longer be trusted."

  18. Why now?published at 09:34 25 April

    Andrew Kerr
    Scottish political correspondent live at Holyrood

    We're expecting to hear from the Scottish Green Party shortly in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament.

    The first minister will be speaking in the next hour - probably at around 10am - in a press conference.

    So we'll hear those two opposing sides on a morning, which has been dramatic to say the least.

    I think it's interesting that Humza Yousaf chose today for scrapping the Bute House agreement - it's the biggest parliamentary day of the week with First Minister's Questions at noon.

    He's able to have the full command of the chamber then and announce what he's done.

  19. Who dumped who?published at 09:28 25 April

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    The Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament resembles a school playground this morning, with MSPs gossiping about the break-up of a relationship.

    There’s speculation about whether the SNP decided to dump the Greens, because it didn’t want to be dumped by the Greens.

    One MSP commented the tail that wags the dog has been docked.

    Another ruefully acknowledged that the partnership had run its course.

  20. 'Dark period for Scottish climate policy'published at 09:27 25 April

    As we've been reporting, today's developments follow last week's announcement that the SNP government was scrapping its immediate targets for approaching net zero emissions by 2030.

    Reacting to the latest news, the outgoing chief executive of the Climate Change Committee Chris Stark told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme it doesn't matter what sort of government is in place as long as climate change policies are implemented.

    “What I would note is that the period that we’re in now is the first time in any part of the UK that we’ve had to see a piece of climate legislation with targets removed," he said.

    “So the recent period is, I’m afraid, a pretty dark one for Scottish climate policy.”