THE SNP and Scottish Greens have published the details of their co-operation agreement, which will see two of the Greens’ seven MSPs become ministers in the Scottish Government.
Although the deal is yet to be voted on by members of the Green party – a vote which may go to the wire – the two documents outlining it are already being pored over.
The first of these is the 10-page “draft co-operation agreement”, and the second is the 51-page “draft shared policy programme”.
READ MORE: Indyref2 listed as first priority in SNP-Scottish Greens co-operation deal
For many in the Yes movement though, the question will be how this solidified pro-independence majority at Holyrood will further the goal of winning a second referendum.
Here’s every relevant part of the two key documents the SNP and Greens have released this afternoon:
From the draft co-operation agreement:
The word “independence” is mentioned just twice in this document. The first comes in the second paragraph, which outlines the areas in which the two parties agree, including on the need to accelerate “Scotland’s journey towards democratic renewal and independence in Europe”.
The second comes in one of the document’s final paragraphs, where the areas of government which are excluded from the co-operation agreement are outlined. Here it says that “membership of Nato following independence is excluded” from the agreement.
It also says that international relations are excluded from the agreement. Confusingly however, the shared policy document says that the two parties will work to establish offices in “Copenhagen and Warsaw to promote Scotland’s interests and reputation in the Nordic and Central European regions”.
From the draft shared policy programme:
This document, titled “Working together to build a greener, fairer, independent Scotland”, offers more clues about how independence ranks on the two parties’ agendas.
On page 3 of the document, it states that the agreement “reaffirms our shared commitment to independence and to ensuring that the people of Scotland are given a say on the country’s constitutional future, underlining the clear democratic mandate secured in the recent election”.
Page 5 of the document then outlines the parties’ shared belief that “independence within the EU would provide the best conditions for Scotland” and commits to holding indyref2 within this parliamentary session.
It lists reasons for wanting independence, including the need for full economic powers in order to drive the recovery from Covid, and the need to safeguard Scotland’s autonomy from the UK Government’s “undermining and erosion of the devolution settlement”.
It says that the two parties are “committed to the fullest possible democratic participation in Scotland” and recognises that some groups are less likely to register or vote, including 16 and 17 year-olds and foreign nationals.
A focus on mobilising these groups, which are historically less likely to vote but also much more likely to support independence, may hint at a tactic to tilt the balance ahead of the second independence referendum.
After outlining these reasons for independence, page 6 tells us:
Therefore, we will:
● secure a referendum on Scottish independence after the Covid crisis. This would be within the current parliamentary session on a specific date to be determined by the Scottish Parliament. If the Covid crisis has passed, our intention is for the referendum to be within the first half of the five-year parliamentary session.
● work together to make the case that Scotland should be an independent country within the European Union, recognising each party’s right and duty to set out its own arguments for, and visions of, independence.
● protect and enhance the powers and responsibilities of the Scottish Government and Parliament, securing their ability to make decisions in the best interests of Scotland.
● promote legislation on electoral reform that enables more people to stand as candidates at Scottish Parliament and local government elections and to improve the accessibility of elections, with a particular focus on people with sight loss.
● strengthen participation, by all sections of our society, in Scotland’s democratic processes. We will use strategies and initiatives that promote a dialogue with people in Scotland, including forums such as citizens assemblies to help explore complex policy issues.
● work to increase voter registration and active participation in elections by under-represented groups, including non-UK citizens and young people.
Independence is not mentioned again in the document in relation to the referendum.
Instead it outlines other shared policy goals, such as a National Care Service, reform of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, and to pass gender recognition reform legislation in the first year of this current parliamentary term.
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