Scottish Greens to vote against Humza Yousaf in motion of no confidence in First Minister

The Scottish Greens will vote against Humza Yousaf when the First Minister faces a vote of no confidence at the Scottish Parliament next week.

Patrick Harvie said his party could no longer support the SNP leader after he chose to suddenly end the Bute House Agreement this morning.

He said: "I don't think it's reasonable or realistic for him (Yousaf) to imagine that he can now rely on Green votes in the Chamber.

"When we discussed the issue of confidence in Humza Yousaf, our group was of one mind."

The dramatic intervention means there is a realistic possibility a motion of no confidence against Yousaf by the Tories could pass - which would be a humiliating blow for the FM.

The SNP currently has 63 MSPs after Ash Regan defected to Alba late last year.

If the Greens, Lib Dems, Labour and the Tories all vote against Humza it will put them on 64 votes - one short of a majority, meaning they would need to rely on Regan supporting the motion, or SNP MSPs choosing to abstain.

Under Holyrood rules, the First Minister does not automatically have to resign if he loses a confidence vote.

Harvie insisted tonight that Yousaf had decided to “burn his bridges”.

He added: "It’s for the Presiding Officer to chose a motion if one is presented.

"The only one I’ve seen in draft is a motion of no confidence in the First Minister. If that’s selected, we would have to vote for that.

"It’s very clear that Humza Yousaf has decided to burn his bridges with the progressive, pro-independence majority that was established in the Bute House Agreement."

Lorna Slater said her party had “no confidence in a progressive Government” in Scotland and would back the Tory motion to unseat Humza Yousaf.

The Greens co-leader said: “We supported Humza Yousaf to be First Minister last year on the basis of a pro-independence majority Government, where we would be working together to deliver rent controls, to deliver real change on climate, nature, new protections for tenants.

“Today the First Minister decided to tear up that agreement, to end the Bute House Agreement, and so we no longer have confidence in a progressive Government in Scotland doing the right thing for climate and nature.

“So, the Scottish Green MSPs will not be supporting Humza Yousaf in a vote of no confidence.”

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