The SNP in disarray

The collapse of the Scottish coalition government was inevitable from the moment the Greens threatened to withdraw in protest at a watering down of net-zero targets. The SNP First Minister Humza Yousaf pulled the plug on the pact ahead of an expected vote by his partners to do the same. He now proposes to run Scotland with a minority government but might not even be able to do that. The Conservatives have tabled a motion of no confidence in Mr Yousaf and he will need to rely on his opponents – including, crucially, Alex Salmond’s Alba Party – to stay in office.

While it has said that it will back the Tory motion, Labour may be disappointed to see his departure, since disarray in the SNP is its best chance of picking up seats at the general election. A revival in Scotland will be critical to the size of Sir Keir Starmer’s overall Commons majority and his party may not wish to see Mr Yousaf replaced by a more effective leader like Kate Forbes. The Conservatives, on the other hand, want to stop Labour winning Westminster seats, so it suits them for the SNP to be the main bulwark against an improvement of the party’s fortunes in Scotland.

They would like to see Mr Yousaf replaced before the election by a more capable SNP leader able to counter Labour. 
The SNP has long experience running minority governments, both under Mr Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. But they were infinitely more sure-footed than the current leader. Beyond the political machinations are serious policy issues that have led to the breach with the Greens. It should be remembered that, when it comes to choosing a new government both in Scotland and the UK, Labour is also wedded to many similar Left-wing ideas.