Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has ended a power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party, sparking a potential fight for his political survival. The termination of the Bute House Agreement, which backed Scotland’s independence from the U.K., has led to the Scottish Conservatives threatening a vote of no confidence against Yousaf. If all opposition legislators vote against him, he could be forced to resign, potentially leading to an early election, before the scheduled one in 2026. The SNP currently holds just 63 out of 129 seats in Parliament, two short of a majority.
The announcement by the Greens that they will be voting against Yousaf has added to the pressure on him. The Greens, along with the Conservatives and Labour, have expressed a lack of confidence in the government’s ability to pursue progressive climate and nature policies. Yousaf may need the vote of a former SNP lawmaker, Ash Regan, to survive the no-confidence vote, which would result in a tie-breaking vote by Scotland’s presiding officer. The tension between the SNP and the Greens escalated when Yousaf abandoned a key climate change target, leading to the breakdown of the power-sharing agreement.
Yousaf defended his decision to end the agreement, citing the need for a stable arrangement in Parliament. Without a majority, the SNP will have to rely on the support of other parties to pass legislation and the budget. The announcement also came amid controversy surrounding Sturgeon’s husband, who has been charged with embezzlement in a party finance investigation. The SNP is facing stiff competition from the Labour Party as the U.K. general election approaches, with opinion polls indicating a potential challenge to their dominance in Scottish politics.
The outcome of the vote of no confidence will determine Yousaf’s political future and could potentially lead to an early election. The decision to end the power-sharing agreement reflects the fragility of the SNP’s position in Parliament and the challenges they face in governing as a minority administration. The tension between the SNP and the Greens over climate change policies has highlighted the internal divisions within the independence movement in Scotland. Yousaf’s leadership and the future direction of the SNP will be closely watched in the coming weeks as the political landscape in Scotland continues to evolve.
