Robert Leslie, who will be contesting the Orkney and Shetland Constituency for the SNP in the UK General Election, has responded to the ending of the SNP /Scottish Greens Bute House Agreement yesterday.
Robert Leslie said that it changes nothing in terms of the core aims of the SNP in creating a fairer, greener and more equal Scotland. He said independence would continue to be front and centre of his campaign to be the next MP for the Northern Isles.
“My campaign in Orkney and Shetland will have winning independence at its core, with public ownership of energy, a route back into the EU, and more powers for the islands at the heart of that case.”
Yesterday, 25th April, the power sharing agreement came to an end with conciliarity words from Scotland’s FM Humza Yousaf but a bitter exchange from the Scottish Green Co- Leaders. The Scottish Greens were already reconsidering the co operation agreement so that this decision by the cabinet of the Scottish Government should not have been a surprise to anyone.
Co-leader of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie accused Humza Yousaf of capitulating “to the most reactionary backwards looking forces within the SNP, and is the opposite of what is in Scotland’s best interests. ”
There was a rowdy First Minster’s question time in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday with Tory leader, Douglas Ross, leading the charge. He declared that he will be putting forward a motion of no-confidence in the SNP minority Scottish Government led by Humza Yousaf. All opposition parties joined in the attacks with Patrick Harvie wasting his opportunity with a woeful grievous question which went nowhere.
The Scottish Greens have said they will back the Tories in a vote of no confidence in the Scottish Government. The Bute House Agreement and the role of the Scottish Greens in it was ridiculed by the Tories, Labour, and the LibDems with Alex Cole Hamilton being reprimanded by the Speaker, Alison Johnstone, for his language. Only Humza Yousaf had words of praise for the work of the Scottish Green Ministers.
“A no confidence motion is a motion that says some MSPs do not have confidence in a government minister, the First Minister, or all Scottish ministers. If the motion gets support from 25 MSPs the Parliamentary Bureau schedules it for debate. MSPs will discuss the motion in a debate and vote. If MSPs vote to pass a no confidence motion about all Scottish ministers, it could lead to a Scottish Parliament election.” – Scottish Parliament
Humza Yousaf spent FMQs defending the policies the SNP/Scottish Green Government had brought forward. Speaking in Parliament he said:
“Scotland has been the only part of the United Kingdom to avoid pay-related strike action in the national health service. We have delivered a council tax freeze in every single local authority in Scotland, despite the best efforts of the Conservative Party. We have removed peak fares from our railways and invested record amounts in our NHS, and it is estimated that our actions will lift 100,000 children out of poverty this year.
And he continued that he was proud of the achievements of his Government and the role the Scottish Greens had in making that happen, including committing £75 million of the 10-year transition fund for the north-east and Moray and Scotland’s free bus travel for under 22 year olds.
Fiona Grahame
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