Kate Forbes backs SNP 'discussion' on deal with Scottish Greens

Kate Forbes believes SNP members should be able to vote on key policy commitments

Former SNP leadership challenger Kate Forbes has backed a "discussion" with party members on the government's deal with the Greens.

The parties have clashed on key issues like gender reform as well as policies in the Bute House Agreement, such as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).

Ms Forbes said SNP members should be able to vote on key commitments.

Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer defended the deal and said it was "making people's lives better".

The Bute House Agreement, which was signed in 2021, is used as the framework for government between the two parties.

• Scottish government scraps marine conservation plan

• Yousaf defends coalition after MSP attacks Greens deal

• SNP-Greens deal pledges indyref2 within five years

But ex-cabinet secretary Fergus Ewing recently called for the SNP's membership to hold a new vote on it and branded the party's coalition partners "fringe extremists".

Ms Forbes said members had voted on the original deal and debated it as a key issue during the leadership campaign, which followed first minister Nicola Sturgeon's resignation.

But the former finance secretary told BBC Scotland News: "I do believe quite strongly in the fact that our members ultimately should dictate the policy of the SNP in government and that we should not limit or restrict what members may want to discuss at the upcoming conference.

"So I certainly wouldn't be averse to the Bute House Agreement being discussed as part of, let's say, a check-in with the members now that the Bute House Agreement has been operational for over two years."

The government was warned the Highly Protected Marine Areas scheme could have a "devastating" impact on fishing communities

Asked if members should vote on the deal, Ms Forbes said the matter was "a little bit more complicated than that" and added the agreement was not "set in stone".

She highlighted high-profile issues such as HPMAs and the controversial deposit return scheme (DRS) - which pre-dated the agreement - had been amended or changed.

Ms Forbes said: "This is clearly an agreement that has evolved as it has been delivered.

"I am a democrat. I am answerable to my constituents and it is, I think, a mark of strength for a government to be able to pivot, to be able to deliver.

"So I think it is actually a discussion about how the government is delivering the people's priorities which should characterise that debate at conference."

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP added members should be able to specifically vote on, for example, environmental and infrastructure investment commitments.

The Bute House Agreement also includes reform of gender legislation.

Changes to the gender recognition act were in the SNP's 2021 manifesto, and have been championed by the Scottish Greens.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said the agreement ensured a "pro-independence majority" at Holyrood.

He told BBC Scotland News: "It has just been over 130 days since members had the opportunity to decide to pick their party leader and they chose me.

"I stood on a very strong platform, unequivocal platform in fact, of continuing that partnership with the Greens."

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn also backed the deal as he campaigned ahead of the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.

Mr Flynn said it offered stability in a "very challenging political landscape".

He added: "Peoples' lives are very uncertain. The last thing they would want is for politicians to be navel-gazing at a time they should be focused on the cost of living crisis."

Meanwhile, Mr Greer, Green MSP for the West of Scotland, highlighted policies delivered under the agreement.

He said these included free bus travel for under-22s, the end of peak-time rail fares from October and protection from evictions.

Mr Greer told BBC Radio's Drivetime programme: "We are in government every day making people's lives better and protecting the planet.

"I think that is what people expect from their politicians."