SCOTTISH Green members will quiz the party’s co-leaders on the Bute House agreement this weekend ahead of the new SNP leader being announced.
The party will hold a question and answer session for members, chaired by Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie, about the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Government at its spring conference in Clydebank on Saturday.
While a similar discussion has previously been held at conference, this one takes place at a critical time ahead of the announcement of Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf or Ash Regan becoming the new leader of the SNP on Monday.
The SNP contest has triggered speculation around the future of the co-operation deal with the Greens.
Gender reforms were a key red line in the agreement and Scottish Green sources have claimed they could pull out if Nicola Sturgeon’s successor is someone who doesn’t agree with the legislation.
Yousaf has insisted he is the only candidate who can ensure it continues and said losing the support of the Scottish Greens would result in “significant challenges” for the SNP in getting its legislation through Holyrood.
Forbes said she is committed to the agreement amid suggestions the Greens could pull out of the deal if she becomes first minister.
“You look at the coalition agreement and you see there were areas where there was agreement and areas which were excluded. I think it’s possible to continue that discussion and that relationship,” she said.
Meanwhile Regan has said the SNP were being "held hostage" by their coalition partners the Greens, indicating she would be relaxed about the prospect of running a minority government.
Asked if she had concerns if her refusal to challenge the blocking of gender reform legislation could lead to the Scottish Greens leaving the Bute House Agreement she said: “I have worked in a minority government before, I think you have to work harder to get things done, but I think it's definitely achievable. So no, I'm not afraid of that.”
The one-day Scottish Greens spring conference is being run as a hybrid event and unlike the bigger autumn conference there will be no motions or votes on policy issues.
There will be speeches from the party’s co-leaders and discussions will take place on a range of other issues including organic food and farming, the circular economy bill and education sector.
