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SNP and Greens agree to co-operate |
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Friday, 11 May 2007 |
The Scottish National Party and the Greens have agreed
to cooperate in the Parliament with the Greens guaranteeing to back the
Nationalists on votes for First Minister and Ministerial appointments.
In return the SNP has agreed to enact early legislation
to reduce climate-change pollution and to oppose the building of new nuclear
power stations in Scotland.
The Greens will not take any Ministerial roles in an SNP
administration but a Green MSP will be nominated as Convener of a subject
committee in which the SNP is nominating party.
SNP leader Alex Salmond welcomed the agreement, saying
the Greens small representation in the Parliament was not reflective of the
support they have in Scotland.
“This is a serious and important co-operation Agreement
that will set the tone for the four years of this Parliament. The Scottish
Greens represent a substantial body of opinion in Scotland,
regardless of MSP numbers. Their formula for cooperation across parties short of
formal coalition is an excellent example of the consensus we are seeking to
build in the Parliament, and sets a positive tone for the incoming
government.
“If elected as First Minister, I look forward to working
with the Scottish Green Party, and indeed other parties, to build a more
successful Scotland by putting vital issues such as tackling climate change at
the heart of our agenda to take Scotland forward,” he
said.
Green co-convener and MSP Robin Harper said the
Agreement would help usher in a new era of progressive politics in
Scotland.
“I am proud to have signed this agreement today. We have
between us laid the foundations for a progressive new politics for
Scotland. These constructive
discussions have identified many shared objectives, including blocking nuclear
power, tackling climate change, and extending the powers of the Scottish
Parliament.
“This is the beginning of a process, and we will work
positively with the SNP administration on issues of broad agreement. There
remain significant policy differences between the two parties, however, and on
those issues the Greens will continue to promote our distinctive policies,” he
said.
No one has commented on this article.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 May 2007 )
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