The SNP will need to make “uncomfortable commitments” to gain the support of the Scottish Greens for the Budget, Lorna Slater has said.
The Greens’ co-leader said her party will require the Scottish Government to make promises similar to those made in the Bute House Agreement (BHA).
The BHA was struck between the two parties after the 2021 Holyrood election by then first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Slater and her fellow Green co-leader Patrick Harvie.
The deal saw Slater and Harvie join the government as ministers after an agreement was reached across a raft of progressive policies.
Those included commitments on rent controls and reforming the Gender Recognition Act to make it easier for trans people to change their legally recognised sex.
Speaking to the PA news agency on Friday ahead of the Scottish Greens’ conference in Greenock at the weekend, Slater said her party is willing to work with the Government on its Budget.
“We’re willing to go into negotiations on the Budget with an open mind,” she said.
“But we need to be clear about what we need to see in that Budget, and it’s going to be the same kind of commitments that we saw under the Bute House Agreement.”
Slater said she wants to see a “clear focus” on the climate emergency and poverty.
“Things like putting in place some taxes to support local authorities, things like the cruise ship levy.”
The BHA ended earlier this year and then first minister Humza Yousaf sacked Slater and Harvie from his government in a move which ultimately led to his own resignation.
The SNP did not manage to return a majority of MSPs in 2021 and relied on the Greens to form a majority.
Since the BHA collapsed, the SNP has governed as a minority and it means each vote requires support from one of the opposition parties.
Also speaking on Friday, Harvie said the Government must use “every lever possible” to protect public services in the upcoming Budget, “including improvements to the tax system”.
The Greens have proposed a number of taxes targeting the wealthy, including on private jets and mansions.
Income tax is already higher in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK, for higher earners. Anyone who earns more than around £28,000 will begin to pay more tax than those south of the Border.
Harvie said: “We’ve made good progress on having a fairer tax system in terms of income so that the wealthiest, the highest earners, are paying their fair share, and people on low and middle incomes are protected.
“But we need to broaden that approach and make sure that we’re doing everything possible to protect public services.”
Finance Secretary Shona Robison will unveil her Budget on December 4.
She has warned finances are tight, having already announced up to £500 million worth of cuts to public services in the summer.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver the UK Budget on October 30.
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
