Jack set for 'traffic light' pact

Published on Sunday 4 May 2003 01:00

JACK McConnell is to make an audacious deal with the Scottish Green Party to stop political opponents and coalition rebels wrecking his legislative programme.

The First Minister and Scottish Green leader Robin Harper are considering the unprecedented pact after the loss of six Labour seats left another Lib/Lab administration with a wafer-thin majority of two.

McConnell is deeply worried that a handful of Labour and Lib Dem backbenchers could ruin flagship reforms he plans for education, health and law and order after MSPs return to parliament on Wednesday.

The move towards a German-style ‘traffic light’ pact - named after the political colours of the three parties involved - was dismissed by opponents as a panic move.

But it could lead to one of Scotland’s smallest parties, with seven MSPs, sitting down annually with McConnell to discuss his legislative programme for the year ahead.

The First Minister would give the Greens a sympathetic ear and consider their views when framing legislation.

But there would be no formal coalition, no Green MSPs would become ministers, and McConnell is not yet prepared to ditch Labour policies opposed by environmental groups.

A source close to McConnell told Scotland on Sunday he was concerned by threats by the Scottish Socialists to bring "madness" and "craziness" to the parliament. "Jack will be asking to meet the Greens.

"He shares their concern for the environment and has a 25-year interest in the environmental agenda.

"It is very important that they make a positive contribution to the parliament and don’t end up as part of a destructive fringe.

"He wants to make it clear to them that there is a role for them in parliament, if not in government, and that they should not consign themselves to that fringe. He hopes this will be an important factor in creating a different style of government."

Harper, who is still stunned after finding himself at the head of a parliamentary party of seven, is confident Labour will sign up to a greener agenda.

Harper says the support of his party could be conditional on Labour agreeing to Green policies including the ending of GM crop trials north of the Border, cutting pollution by giving Scotland the highest standards of home energy-efficiency in Europe, and developing public transport alternatives to road construction and congestion.

Details of the plan emerged as Labour and Lib Dem MSPs met separately to discuss coalition terms ahead of horse-trading in a series of face-to-face talks scheduled to begin on Tuesday and run into next week.

Informed sources say the Lib Dems can expect to gain both an extra cabinet seat and a commitment to deliver proportional representation for local council elections by 2007. Sweeping changes in ministerial personnel are also in prospect.

But it is the pact with the Scottish Greens, whose stunning election performance has transformed them from a one man band to a party of influence, which will cause most surprise.

The practice is already common in other European countries, where the Greens have long been wooed by the larger parties. Several German states have been ruled by coalitions involving Labour’s sister party, the SPD, the German Liberals and the Greens.

Despite the fact that the Scottish Greens back an independent Scotland and want to scale back road projects McConnell considers vital to the country’s economic growth, both sides believe there is considerable common ground between the parties.

In February 2002, McConnell launched his policy of ‘environmental justice’, promising that all ministerial proposals would be subject to a ‘green audit’ and that each government department would have to review its record on waste and pollution.

Last August, Harper travelled to the UN environment summit in Johannesburg to unofficially shadow the First Minister. In a direct pitch to the Greens, yesterday McConnell pledged a national programme of environmental improvements to clear up land, cut waste, and improve green space.

Harper confirmed to Scotland on Sunday that he would personally favour sitting down with the coalition partners each year to thrash out areas where the Greens could add a green tinge to the Executive’s legislative plans.

He added: "We have ruled out coalition but we do want to have stable and constructive government and work with people. We have no intention of going down the line of defeating government and calling for resignations. We have a responsibility to the country and the people who elected us."

But political opponents criticised the pact. A Scottish Tory spokesman said: "Despite their environmental credentials the Greens are a socialist and a nationalist party very closely aligned with the Scottish Socialists in much of their policy. If this is a signal by McConnell that these are the politics and policies he wishes to pursue it proves he’s very much Old Labour."

Labour intends to talk tough with its junior coalition partners. Andy Kerr, one of McConnell’s closest allies who will take part in the negotiations, has told Labour colleagues that the Lib Dems will have to choose between proportional representation for local elections and an extra cabinet post likely to see junior education minister Nicol Stephen join the top table at Bute House.

But sources have told Scotland on Sunday that McConnell will accede to both demands to ensure another power-sharing partnership is possible. The party is also prepared to drop its demands for hardline crime initiatives. Jim Wallace, the Lib Dem leader, will be invited to move from justice to make way for a Labour colleague because the party regards law and order as its top priority. Junior justice minister Hugh Henry was being tipped for the post.

Cabinet jobs may also beckon for the junior finance minister Peter Peacock while McConnell’s controversial Labour colleagues Mike Watson and Malcolm Chisholm could be moved from culture and health.