2024 Scottish government crisis
In April 2024, Humza Yousaf, first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), faced a confidence challenge following his termination of the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, which meant that Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, co-leaders of the Greens and their only government ministers, were removed from government. This was following changes to landmark climate policy by Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy MÃ iri McAllan, after which a planned Greens vote on the continuation of the agreement was announced. Facing a motion of confidence in him Yousaf announced his intention to resign as first minister and party leader on 29 April.
Humza Yousaf announcing his intention to resign as SNP leader on 29 April 2024
Left to right: Patrick Harvie, Nicola Sturgeon, Lorna Slater
Ash Regan, the party's sole MSP
Alex Salmond, party leader
The Bute House Agreement, officially the Cooperation Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group was a power-sharing agreement between the Scottish National Party (SNP) government and the Scottish Greens which was agreed in August 2021 to support the Third Sturgeon government and then was reaffirmed to support the First Yousaf government.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the co-leaders of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, outside Bute House on 30 August 2021
Green minister and co-leader Lorna Slater (second left) attends a meeting of the Scottish cabinet, 2023.
Nicola Sturgeon with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater announcing the Bute House Agreement on 20 August 2021
Green co-leaders Lorna Slater (left) and Patrick Harvie (right) were appointed as ministers under the agreement