A "NEW Zealand-style" co-operation deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens is being mulled by civil servants, leaked emails reveal.
The agreement would see the pro-independence majority in Holyrood formalised with the two parties working together on key issues.
Both parties have ruled out a full coalition but have left the door open to some Green MSPs potentially being appointed as ministers in the Scottish Government.
An email that was seen by the PA News agency reveals that the deal is currently being examined by civil servants and government lawyers while discussions about it within the Scottish Greens have been delayed.
READ MORE: SNP and Greens ‘close to deal’ on co-operation – and details could come out this week
The message, sent to members of the Scottish Greens on Friday, announces the postponement of a vote on the final deal until August 28 and pledges to provide the wording of an agreement to members by August 20.
The email emphasises the prospect of a "New Zealand model", where Green Party MPs have taken on ministerial portfolios while not being in an official coalition. This is being considered by civil servants and Scottish Government lawyers as it has no precedent in the UK, the email said.
The email read: “We need to postpone the question and answer sessions planned for this week, as well as the decision-making EGM [emergency general meeting].
“This is not due to any problem – the Political Co-operation Working Group (PCWG) is very pleased with the progress of the talks so far.
“Both sides are enthusiastic about what’s being developed, and for exactly those reasons we need to take more time to ensure the small-print works for us.
“In particular, the New Zealand model is something which has never been tried in the UK before and the civil servants and Government lawyers need more time to finalise the technical aspects of how it will work in a Scottish Parliament context.
“We can say that both sides are expressly clear that we are not talking about a coalition, but we are looking at a deal which is broad in its scope.”
The EGM, where members were to discuss the deal, was planned for Saturday, August 14 but that discussion has now been shelved.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon ‘optimistic’ on co-operation deal with Scottish Greens
Earlier this week, it emerged that the SNP and Greens were close to a deal on co-operation with a source telling the Daily Record that it was "95%" done.
The parties have been negotiating the agreement since May, after the SNP secured 64 seats in Holyrood – just one short of an overall majority.
The Scottish Greens achieved a record eight seats in the Scottish Parliament at that election, bringing the total number of pro-independence MSPs in Holyrood to 72 out of a total of 129 members.
Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said in May the deal could allow for long-term budgeting to be done, rather than the usual annual negotiations the SNP are forced to go through to secure budget deals when ruling as a minority administration.
Late last year, Jacinda Ardern (below) signed a cooperation agreement with the Green Party in New Zealand.
The deal saw Green politicians gain two ministries outside of the Cabinet.
Unlike the SNP, Ardern’s Labour Party won an outright majority.
But the New Zealand prime minister said that the deal provided more stability for her government. At the time she said: “This agreement is unlike any other.
“It does not require consensus to be formed.
“It allows the parties to take their own positions on issues where that is important, but offers to work together in other areas too.
“This cooperation agreement represents the relationship that the Labour party and the Green party have formed over the last three years and the continuation of that.
“Importantly for the government (the deal) brings stability.”
Green Party co-leaders now hold two ministerial positions with Marama Davidson as minister for the prevention of family and sexual violence, and James Shaw as minister of climate change.
Although the Greens pledged support for Ardern during the election, the deal still allows them to speak out when they disagree with the New Zealand Labour Party.
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