Climate targets, tax and trans rights: Why Humza Yousaf tore up the SNP-Greens deal

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Nicola Sturgeon claimed in August 2021 that her party's "groundbreaking" deal with the Scottish Greens would usher in a new era of cooperation in Scottish politics.

However, the coalition agreement has proven highly controversial and unravelled spectacularly on Thursday morning, when it was terminated by Humza Yousaf.

When he stood to succeed Ms Sturgeon as SNP leader and First Minister, Mr Yousaf vowed to protect the deal and insisted it was "worth its weight in gold".

In recent days he has spoken out in defence of it, even as Green members prepared to vote on ending the agreement in the coming weeks.

However, in a dramatic about-turn, he insisted on Thursday that the pact had "run its natural course", and tore it up.

Climate targets

The immediate reason for the collapse of the deal was the Scottish Government abandoning climate targets, a source of major humiliation for the Greens.

Ministers have been committed to reducing greenhouse gases by 75 per cent by 2030. However, the target was scrapped last week after ministers accepted it was no longer achievable.

While the move was defended by the two Green ministers, grassroots members were outraged and secured a vote on the deal, which had been due to take place over the coming weeks.

Several prominent Green members said they would vote to end to the agreement, leaving Mr Yousaf with a dilemma over whether to end it on his own terms.

Trans rights

The publication of the Cass Review into transgender healthcare in England has caused considerable tension between the parties.

The Scottish Greens have refused to accept the review as a legitimate piece of scientific work and were deeply unhappy when its recommendations led to the suspension of the prescription of puberty blockers for under 18s at the Sandyford gender clinic in Glasgow.

SNP ministers have been more conciliatory, insisting the Cass Review is a serious piece of work worthy of consideration in Scotland. The SNP Health Secretary, Neil Gray, has said the clinical decision to suspend the use of puberty blockers was the correct one.

More widely, SNP sources were unhappy at the prospect of controversial legislation on conversion therapy, which the Greens had secured a commitment to as part of the deal with Ms Sturgeon but which risked opening up another front in the culture wars.

Council tax

When Humza Yousaf announced a surprise council tax freeze at the SNP conference last year, after previously promising to raise rates on the most expensive properties, many in the Greens were outraged.

The party's MSPs voted for the budget but appeared uncomfortable defending the policy.

On Thursday, sources within the Greens pinpointed the policy, announced last October, as the moment they began to question to future of the agreement.

Oil and gas

The Greens are unapologetically against continued fossil fuel exploration. Nicola Sturgeon appeared to share their stance but the SNP's view has shifted since she left office.

Humza Yousaf came out against Labour's plan to increase and extend the windfall tax on the sector.

SNP MPs in the northeast of Scotland, including Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, had feared the party's perceived hostility to the oil and gas sector could put seats at risk in the general election.