SNP coming off ‘worse’ in deal with Greens, veteran MSP warns

Kenneth Gibson claimed his party was being damaged by policies agreed with the Scottish Greens.

The SNP is coming off “worse” from the Bute House Agreement than the Scottish Greens, an SNP backbencher has claimed.

Kenneth Gibson, the Cunninghame North MSP who is also convener of the Finance Committee, called for the powersharing deal between the two pro-independence parties to be reviewed.

Echoing the criticism of other SNP backbenchers, Mr Gibson warned his own party is suffering as a result of policies which came about due to the deal with the Greens.

Kenneth Gibson MSP criticised the Bute House Agreement.

However First Minister Humza Yousaf has stressed the importance of the agreement in securing a pro-independence majority for the Government at Holyrood. This included recently signalling it will continue even if the SNP loses seats at the upcoming general election.

Mr Gibson shared his thoughts in an interview with Holyrood magazine, but stopped short of saying the agreement with the Greens should be halted.

He said: “I certainly think it should be reviewed.

“I think many of the things that the SNP Government has been blamed for have been because of the Bute House Agreement: the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, the deposit return scheme, and even the reduction in grants. The SNP gets the blame.

“There was an announcement that we’re going to look at the abolition of council tax, why was that made by a junior Green minister? Why was it not made by a member of the Cabinet or even the First Minister?

“I think usually in a coalition the smaller parties tend to suffer, for example the Lib Dems when they were in with Labour, whereas in this instance, which isn’t even a full coalition, it’s the SNP that has come out of it worse.”

Mr Gibson said a “big chunk” of the SNP shares his view that the agreement should be reviewed, though some feel so “quietly”.

The backbench MSP, who was first elected in 1999, said he has not yet formed a view on the Government’s proposals for a ban on conversion therapy but he is “not convinced it is a priority”.

Last year former SNP minister Fergus Ewing branded the party's coalition partners "fringe extremists" and urged the First Minister to scrap the Bute House Agreement."

In the interview, Mr Gibson also discussed the death of his son last year, describing it as “very difficult, stressful and upsetting”.

A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: “Our co-operation agreement is protecting people and planet from the ravages of the Westminster-driven cost-of-living crisis while working to create a more progressive, inclusive and environmentally friendly society in an independent Scotland.”

A spokesperson for the SNP said: “SNP members voted overwhelmingly to support the Bute House Agreement in 2021, and less than a year ago they voted to elect First Minister Humza Yousaf as party leader, who stood on a platform endorsing the arrangement with the Greens, which reinforces the pro-independence majority at Holyrood.

“Support for the Bute House Agreement has delivered results such as securing a better deal for tenants, accelerating Scotland’s progress to Net Zero, and launching free bus travel for under 22-year-olds.”