LORNA Slater’s comments that independence isn’t a “red line” preventing the Scottish Greens from doing a future deal with Labour has prompted a mixed reaction.
Some commentators suggested the junior minister’s comments were taken out of context as she stated during the interview on the BBC Sunday Show that any power sharing would require points in common, which the parties currently don’t have.
Elsewhere, others criticised Slater’s remarks and said they were “damaging” to the pro-independence party.
On the second day of her party’s conference in Dunfermline, Slater was asked if the Scottish Greens would consider governing with another party, such as Anas Sarwar’s Labour, or if independence is “the red line”.
“The Greens are open to conversation wherever we have points in common,” she told the broadcaster.
“I think the challenge for Labour is: What do they have in common with us? Because it’s hard to know what they stand for at the moment.”
Geissler probed a second time: “So, independence isn’t a red line?”
To which Slater said: “Absolutely not”.
The Bute House Agreement, which gives the Scottish Parliament a pro-independence majority, has a number of areas specifically excluded where the parties can disagree, and is not a formal coalition.
Slater’s comments split opinion amongst independence supporters.
Former SNP councillor Mhairi Hunter suggested there had been “mischief making” around what had been reported and discussed from the interview.
She said: “The only circumstances where Labour might need Green votes is if there is not an indy majority in parliament.
“In those circumstances why wouldn't the Greens try and advance their policies? The real issue - and LS [Lorna Slater] suggests this later in the interview - would be actually identifying areas of common interest.
“Because Scottish Labour has opposed green policies all down the line. And of course supporting independence would also be a red line for them.”
She added that if voters expect the Greens or SNP to “sulk” if there’s a Unionist majority in Holyrood, “that won’t happen”.
However, SNP backbencher Fergus Ewing (above) took a dig at Slater while criticising remarks made by First Minister Humza Yousaf on Alba defector Ash Regan.
He wrote: “... Our FM still supports as his government minister the Green co-leader who said she would readily ditch independence for continued ministerial office - under Labour!”
National columnist Ruth Wishart said: “Supporting a Unionist party may not be a red line for Lorna Slater. It will be for every Yes voter however.”
Other independence-supporting social media users were split on the issue.
One wrote: “Plenty of genuine independence supporting greens. Lorna clearly not one of them.”
But another user suggested that the comments had been “twisted” out of context.
They added: “That’s not true, you like many others haven’t listened to the interview properly. I was at the Edinburgh march and Lorna Slater was at the front with her banner, leading the Greens.”
Another user said: “Big call for @HumzaYousaf now. If the case for independence is to survive, he must now bin these toxic Greens and win the trust back of those, like me, who have defected in part due to this mad coalition.”
Meanwhile, one Greens supporter said: “There’s no scenario where there’s potential for any kind of Labour-Green deal where there’s also a majority of pro-independence MSPs, so of course independence wouldn’t be a red line.”
