What's happened
The Scottish government coalition between the SNP and Scottish Greens collapsed after First Minister Humza Yousaf ended the Bute House Agreement due to disagreements over climate targets. Yousaf's decision to scrap the power-sharing deal led to the SNP governing as a minority administration.
Why it matters
The collapse of the coalition has significant implications for the Scottish government's ability to pass key legislation and address policy issues. The move to a minority administration could impact the political landscape in Scotland and influence future elections.
What the papers say
The Guardian reported that tensions had been building between Yousaf and the Greens over various policy issues, leading to the end of the agreement. The Mirror highlighted that the collapse of the deal makes governing more challenging for the SNP. The Independent noted that the Greens were angered by the Scottish government's decision to abandon a key climate change target, prompting the vote on the future of the powersharing deal.
How we got here
The Bute House Agreement, signed in 2021, brought the Scottish Greens into government for the first time in the UK. Disagreements over climate strategy, gender recognition, and other policy areas strained the relationship between the SNP and the Greens, ultimately leading to the collapse of the coalition.
Common question
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The Scottish National Party is a Scottish nationalist and social-democratic political party in Scotland. The SNP supports and campaigns for Scottish independence within the European Union, with a platform based on civic nationalism.
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Humza Haroon Yousaf MSP is a Scottish National Party politician who has been Cabinet Secretary for Justice since 26 June 2018 and the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Pollok since 2016.
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The Scottish National Party–Scottish Greens agreement, also referred to as the Bute House Agreement, is a power-sharing agreement between the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Greens which was agreed in August 2021 to support the Third Sturgeon g
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Patrick Harvie is a Scottish politician who has served as co-leader of the Scottish Greens since 2008. He has been Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region since 2003.