Tag: Politics

‘Operation Warm Welcome’ underway to support Afghan arrivals in the UK

Arrivals under Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy will be given immediate indefinite leave to remain, alongside funding for school places and healthcare

A significant cross-government effort, dubbed ‘Operation Warm Welcome’, is underway to ensure Afghans arriving in the UK receive the vital support they need to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education and integrate into their local communities.

As part of the New Plan for Immigration, the government announced that those coming to the UK through resettlement routes would receive immediate indefinite leave to remain, and today (September 1) the Home Secretary has announced that this will apply to Afghans who worked closely with the British military and UK Government in Afghanistan, and risked their lives in doing so, meaning they can now stay in the UK without any time restrictions.

People already relocated to the UK under the Afghanistan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) will be able to apply free of charge to convert their temporary leave into indefinite leave. This will give Afghans the certainty and stability to rebuild their lives with unrestricted rights to work and the option to apply for British citizenship in the future.

To give children and young adults the best start in life the government is making at least £12 million available to prioritise additional school places so children can be enrolled as soon as possible, and to provide school transport, specialist teachers and English language support to assist with learning.

Further funding will be provided for up to 300 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for Afghans at UK universities and adults will also be able to access English language courses free of charge. While many will speak English through their work with the UK Government and British Forces, and as translators, language classes will ensure all their family members can fully integrate into their local communities.

Families who need support navigating the system will also have access to liaison officers who can work with local authorities to help them get set up with a GP, National Insurance number, school place, accommodation and more tailored support, as required.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We owe an immense debt to those who worked with the Armed Forces in Afghanistan and I am determined that we give them and their families the support they need to rebuild their lives here in the UK.

“I know this will be an incredibly daunting time, but I hope they will take heart from the wave of support and generosity already expressed by the British public.”

The support for Afghan arrivals follows the largest and most complex evacuation in living memory. It includes:

  • £3 million of additional NHS funding so that Afghans arriving under the Afghanistan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme can access healthcare and register with a GP once they leave quarantine;
  • all are being offered the COVID-19 vaccine and so far more than 700 arrivals under the ARAP scheme have left quarantine and received their first vaccination, with more leaving and receiving a jab each day;
  • £5 million funding for councils in England, Wales and Scotland to support Afghans coming to the UK via the ARAP scheme and provide a top up to help meet the costs of renting properties;
  • the government is already working with more than 100 councils across the UK to meet the demand for housing, with over 2,000 places already confirmed;
  • the Communities Secretary will convene a roundtable with council leaders from across the country in the coming days;
  • to harness the generosity of the British public and make sure those who want to help know where to turn we will launch an online portal to allow people to submit offers of support for people arriving from Afghanistan;
  • this portal is already available to submit offers of housing and work is now underway to expand this to further offers, such as job opportunities, professional skills training or donations of items like clothes or toys; and
  • £200 million has been committed to meet the cost of the first year of the Afghanistan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme, which aims to welcome up to 20,000 Afghans.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “We owe a great deal to the brave Afghans who worked alongside us and we want to make sure they have certainty and stability to be able to thrive in the UK.

“As part of the New Plan for Immigration, I committed to providing refugees who make their home here the ability to rebuild their lives in the UK with essential support to integrate into the community, learn English, and become self-sufficient.

“By providing immediate indefinite leave to remain we are ensuring that those who have fled their homes have every opportunity to look to the future with stability and security and make a success of their new life in the UK.

Afghan Resettlement Minister Victoria Atkins said: Operation Warm Welcome is a huge effort across government to make sure that those fleeing Afghanistan are able to make a success of a new life in the UK.

“The stability of indefinite leave, the security of access to healthcare and the opportunity of education are the foundation upon which those resettled to the UK can build.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “This support package will help Afghan evacuees start a new life in the UK and I’m proud we are providing £3 million to ensure they receive the healthcare they need.

“This includes access to prescriptions, wound care and dressings, maternity care, mental health support and screening for infectious diseases. We will also offer the protection of a COVID-19 vaccination as they settle and rebuild.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will face Westminister’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee today to answer questions over the evacuation programme.

Scottish Parliament launches Emerging Leaders programme

The Scottish Parliament has launched its ‘Emerging Leaders’ programme to improve minority ethnic diversity and seniority amongst Holyrood staff.

In a dual approach, the initiative aims to develop existing minority ethnic talent within the organisation and seeks to attract future employees from a wider range of backgrounds.

While the diversity of MSPs increased at the 2021 Scottish Election, diversity monitoring within the Parliament found minority ethnic staff were under-represented in its staff group compared to the national population, along with an ethnicity pay gap.

The new scheme will help develop the leadership skills of existing staff, while a paid internship programme for 18 to 29 year olds aims to promote the Parliament’s profile as an employer for people from black and minority ethnic communities.

Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP said: “We now have a Parliament of MSPs that better reflects the diversity of Scotland.  It’s fundamentally important however that the talented staff who make the Scottish Parliament function also reflect the diversity of our country, and further progress must be made on that front.

“I wholeheartedly welcome the Emerging Leaders programme and the steps being taken to improve ethnic diversity at all levels of seniority within the Scottish Parliament.” 

Record high number of patients waiting for an outpatient appointment in NHS Lothian

Lothian Tory MSP, Miles Briggs, has warned that NHS Lothian needs a record level of financial support to match a record number of patients waiting for treatments.

The number of patients waiting for an outpatient appointment in NHS Lothian has risen to almost 75,000 people, 74,546. This is an increase of 19,873 patients from 54,673 at the end of June 2020, an increase of 36%. The number of patients waiting for an appointment has increased from 65,855 at the end of June 2019, pre the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the last ten years, the number of patients waiting for an outpatient appointment in NHS Lothian has almost doubled, from 38,880 at the end of June 2011.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has repeatedly called for NHS Lothian to receive fairer funding from the Scottish Government with the health board receiving a lower percentage of funding than other health boards due to the formula used to work out allocations.

The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Spice) found the gap between the amount NHS Lothian should receive and its actual allocation added up to a total of £365.7m, over the last 10 years.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “Under this SNP Government the number of patients waiting for an outpatient appointment has almost doubled.

“Over the last decade NHS Lothian has been underfunded by SNP Ministers and it is patients in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s who are suffering.

“NHS Lothian staff have made an incredible effort over the last year and a half and patients waiting numbers are still growing.

“Significant investment will be needed to return services to even where they were five years ago and this SNP/ Green government -who is independence first and recovery second – isn’t up to the job.”

Lothian MSP supports Bill to tackle Fly Tipping

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs is supporting Scottish Conservative colleague Murdo Fraser MSPs plans to introduce a Members’ Bill to tackle fly-tipping.

Mr Briggs has highlighted the increase in fly tipping across Edinburgh and the Lothians over the last five years.

Incidents of fly tipping have become worse in Edinburgh and West Lothian in particular, with the number of fly tipping incidents in Edinburgh increasing from 7,439 in 2016 to 10,358 in 2020. In West Lothian the number of fly tipping incidents rose to from 1,404 in 2016 to 2,367 in 2020.

So far this year Edinburgh has had 7,599 incidents of fly tipping and West Lothian has had 1,795 incidents. [Figures from SPICe, see below]

Work has begun with the Scottish Parliament Non-Government Bills Unit on the new law, which would crack down on those caught fly-tipping by increasing fines and making offenders liable.

Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) have welcomed the intention to introduce a Bill to tackle the “scourge of fly-tipping”.

NFU Scotland also called for action on fly-tipping, branding it a “permanent scar on our natural environment”.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The level of fly-tipping in Edinburgh and the Lothians has got out of control, with the number of incidents on the rise, especially in Edinburgh and West Lothian.

“It is clear that something needs to be done and the low number of penalties for fly tipping shows that the current sanctions are not working.

“I fully support my colleague Murdo Fraser’s bill to crack down on fly-tipping and change the liability of cleaning up fly-tipping, to those who have committed the crime, rather than the landowner.

“SNP Ministers have let fly-tipping in Scotland get out of control, so the Scottish Conservatives are introducing legislation to make a positive difference and crack down on fly-tipping.”

This data was provided by Zero Waste Scotland on behalf of the Local Authorities.

Table 1: The number of annual flytipping incidents in City of Edinburgh, West Lothian, East Lothian and Midlothian council, 2016 to 31 July 2021

YearCity of EdinburghWest LothianEast LothianMidlothian
20167,4391,404779505
20175,7011,590654651
20188,1451,999500502
20199,3222,089487*352
202010,3582,367415558
2021 (to 31 July)75991795275293

*Note: In 2019, there were 2 months with limited data available in Midlothian.

MPs to grill Foreign Secretary over Afghanistan evacuation

Westminster’s Foreign Affairs Committee is to hold an evidence session on the UK’s evacuation of people from Afghanistan, following the Taliban’s seizure of power. MPs will have the opportunity to question Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at the session which takes place on Wednesday (1 September) at 2.00pm.

The Taliban took control of Kabul on 15 August.

The Foreign Secretary has said that: “Afghanistan must never again be used as a base for terrorist attacks against the West or any other country.

“We will have to address the looming humanitarian crisis in the country, which would also threaten regional stability, and strive to secure a more inclusive Afghan government that can maintain stability and avoid the kind of human rights abuses that the Taliban have committed before, particularly against women.

“We will use all of the levers at our disposal, including sanctions, aid and access to the international finance system, and we are rallying our international partners around these shared priorities.”

Members of the Committee are likely to question the Foreign Secretary on issues such as:

  • Progress on the effort to evacuate UK nationals and others eligible for relocation;
  • The security, humanitarian and human rights impacts of the Taliban takeover;
  • The use of levers such as sanctions and aid to pressure the Taliban.

Announcing the evidence session, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat MP, said: “The last two weeks have been tough for so many of us: anger, shame, even incredulity.

“We never thought we would see the day NATO forces, led by the US, would turn their backs on the people of Afghanistan. It is the biggest foreign policy failure since Suez and highlights once again the importance of building up networks of allies, not having a single partner.

“Many of those raw emotions have now turned to questions on the future of UK foreign policy. How will we deal with the Taliban? How will Afghanistan shape our regional strategy? How will the Government hold the Taliban to account for reverses in human rights?

“These questions, and so many others, will be put to the Foreign Secretary this week.”

UK Government launches Operation Warm Welcome

Work is underway across the whole of Government to ensure the Afghans who stood side by side with us in conflict, their families and those at highest risk who have been evacuated, are supported as they now rebuild their lives in the UK.

The plans, dubbed ‘Operation Warm Welcome’, will be overseen by Victoria Atkins (pictured below) as the new Minister for Afghan Resettlement.

The support provided will be similar to the commitments in the Syrian Resettlement Programme and ensure that those who worked closely with the British military and UK Government in Afghanistan, and risked their lives in doing so, get the vital health, education, support into employment and accommodation they need to fully integrate into society.

The UK has a proud history of providing safe haven to those in need and the plans to be set out next week will also harness that generosity of spirit and the offers of support which have already flooded in from charities, businesses and the British public.

This includes the creation of a central portal where people, organisations and businesses can register their offer of support, be it volunteering, a job opportunity, professional skills to help with integration and deal with trauma or donations of items like clothes and toys. Free English language courses will also be provided in recognition that many of the dependents of former staff and Afghan translators may need this.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “For those who have left their homes with no more than a small bag of belongings, and in fear for their lives, coming to the UK will no doubt have been a daunting experience, but also one of hope for the future.

“I am determined that we welcome them with open arms and that my Government puts in place the support they need to rebuild their lives.

“We will never forget the brave sacrifice made by Afghans who chose to work with us, at great risk to themselves. We owe them, and their families, a huge debt.”

Full details will be set out this week and build on the commitments already made.

These include £5 million for local councils to provide housing support, an offer of a vaccine for everyone on arrival and access to rapid mental well-being and trauma support.

That’s more than THREE TIMES the population of Scotland

Joint International Statement on Afghanistan safe passage

We are all committed to ensuring that our citizens, nationals and residents, employees, Afghans who have worked with us and those who are at risk can continue to travel freely to destinations outside Afghanistan.

We have received assurances from the Taliban that all foreign nationals and any Afghan citizen with travel authorization from our countries will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly manner to points of departure and travel outside the country.

We will continue issuing travel documentation to designated Afghans, and we have the clear expectation of and commitment from the Taliban that they can travel to our respective countries. We note the public statements of the Taliban confirming this understanding.

The statement was released initially by the governments of the United States of America, Albania, Australia, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Canada, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Korea, Republic of Kosovo, Romania, Rwanda, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland , The Bahamas, The Gambia, The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Union of the Comoros, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Yemen, and Zambia.

Deal sealed: Green Party members approve cooperation agreement

Scottish Green Party members have approved the party’s cooperation agreement, clearing the way for co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater to become Scotland’s (and the UK’s) first Green ministers.

The agreement was approved overwhelmingly by members at a meeting yesterday and ratified by the party’s national council afterward.

Patrick Harvie MSP said: “I am delighted that our party members have given their support to this historic cooperation agreement that will see Greens enter government for the first time in Scotland, or indeed anywhere in the UK.

“With Greens in government we will be able to deliver positive change for the people of Scotland.”

Lorna Slater MSP said: “Scottish Green Party members are thoughtful and considerate, and I am pleased that having discussed and debated this agreement in great detail they have decided to take this historic step into government.

“The time has come for Scotland to step up efforts to decarbonise our economy and invest in a fairer, greener future. There’s no time to waste and I’m looking forward to start work on our transformative agenda in the coming days.”

Welcoming the agreement reached with the Scottish Green Party, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am delighted that members of both the Scottish Green Party and the SNP have agreed that we should work together in the Scottish Government to build a greener, fairer, independent Scotland.

“This historic agreement will provide a strong platform for the transformative programme we want to deliver. We will work collaboratively to support a fair recovery from Covid, address with urgency the impacts of the climate emergency, and give the people of Scotland a vote on independence.

“The agreement recognises that co-operation and consensus are essential to finding the practical solutions to the big challenges we face, and it echoes the founding principles of our Parliament.

“While our parties do not agree on everything, we have much common ground. We also have a determination – and indeed a responsibility – to look beyond our differences to build a better country.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with the Scottish Greens in government, and with all parties in parliament, to achieve this.”

The Scottish Conservatives, the main opposition party at Holyrood, reckon the deal creates a nationalist ‘Coalition of Chaos’.

“The SNP-Green coalition of chaos will hammer drivers. The Greens want to see essential road upgrades scrapped and most cars forced off the road within just a few years.”

Afghanistan update: Ministers write to Westminster MPs

A letter has been sent to all MPs regarding the Afghanistan evacuation and next steps:

Dear Colleagues,

The developments in Afghanistan over the last few weeks have been extremely difficult to witness. We know many of you, like thousands of people around the country, have been closely involved in working to make Afghanistan a better place over the last two decades and have a deep connection with the country and its people.

Yesterday’s callous attacks on innocent people outside Kabul airport brought into stark relief the fragility of the situation in Afghanistan. It was also a terrible reminder of the challenges we face both in getting people to safety now and supporting the country in the long-term.

Our thoughts are with the families of all those who lost their lives, including several US service personnel and many Afghan civilians.

As you know, in line with US military deadlines and our operational objectives, the UK evacuation effort at Kabul airport, Operation Pitting, is concluding. We wanted to update you on the end of our current process and what follows next, including the return of nearly 1,000 HMG personnel over the coming days.

We have worked at unprecedented pace to facilitate the largest and most complex evacuation in living memory. The Armed Forces, MoD, FCDO and Home Office staff have worked incredibly hard in very difficult circumstances to bring out over 13,000 people over the last two weeks.

This number includes British nationals and their dependants, Afghans who worked for the UK government and military and their dependants, and other Afghans who are at particularly high risk. We have also supported our allies and partners to help their nationals to safety wherever possible.

This has only been possible thanks to the extraordinary efforts of UK troops and government officials on the ground, who put themselves in harm’s way and worked around the clock to evacuate as many people as possible.

We are grateful to you for all your efforts to direct those in need of support towards assistance. Our consular teams have been able to reach many in need thanks to your help.

A whole government effort will support and integrate our Afghan friends into UK society through this traumatic period.

What follows next – safe passage

We have always cautioned that the nature of the security situation in Afghanistan and our responsibility to keep our people safe meant that we would not be able to evacuate everyone we wanted to. We know that every single one of you will have been contacted about heart-breaking stories of those left behind in unimaginable circumstances.

That is why once we have finished the immediate evacuation our efforts will turn to doing all we can to help any remaining British nationals and Afghans who have supported us and who we were not able to evacuate over the last fortnight.

We continue to offer support to all those in that situation or who have left Afghanistan and are now in a third country. Please continue to direct anyone who gets in contact with you to the FCDO consular or MoD Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) helplines. Our ARAP scheme is not time limited.

We are clear that the Taliban must ensure safe passage for these people out of Afghanistan and any engagement with them will emphasise this first and foremost.

The Home Office is working quickly across government and with international partners to establish the details of the new Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). This scheme will provide protection for Afghan citizens identified as most at risk, such as women and girls. The government has committed to take around 5,000 refugees in the first year and 20,000 over the coming years.

This is one of the most comprehensive resettlement schemes the UK has ever established. We know how important it is to get the most vulnerable people to safety quickly. That is why during this period of acute crisis, while we had the ability to bring people out on military aircraft, we made the decision to evacuate as many of these people as possible.

Where we have managed to evacuate people to the UK who are not covered by ARAP or otherwise entitled to remain in the UK, they will fall under the new Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme. Those that were called forward by FCDO, but who we are sadly unable to evacuate before ceasing operations in Afghanistan, will also be guaranteed a place under ACRS.

Now that we are moving into a new phase for resettlement, we are looking at options to ensure that ACRS provides a safe route for those who are most vulnerable and at risk. Much will depend on the ability of individuals to receive safe passage from Afghanistan, and it is vital that the scheme dovetails with similar efforts being taken by our international partners. We will also work alongside Local Authorities to identify accommodation for those that arrive.

Our future commitment to the Afghan people

While the current phase of our engagement in Afghanistan is coming to an end, our commitment to the country will endure.

We are supporting the Afghan people in the long-term through a renewed humanitarian effort and by ensuring the Taliban are held accountable for the pledges they have made to respect human rights.

The UK has already doubled the amount of humanitarian aid to the region, committing up to £286 million with immediate effect, and we will continue to urge international partners to match our commitment.

Across government, ministers and officials are engaged in intensive international diplomacy, including at the UN Security Council and bilaterally. As President of the G7, the Prime Minister chaired an urgent meeting of G7 leaders on 24 August to discuss Afghanistan.

At this time, it is more important than ever that we stand united with our allies. The G7 agreed to produce a roadmap for engagement with the Taliban and agree standards they must be held to, including protecting women’s rights and ensuring humanitarian access. All agreed on the need for unity of message and purpose amongst the international community, and the UK will continue to lead this effort.

Let us reassure you that we will continue to use every lever at our disposal to secure the safe passage of those who wish to leave Afghanistan and to hold the Taliban to account. We will also do all we can to support the people who remain, including through our increased commitment of humanitarian assistance.

We thank you again for your continued support.

The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP Foreign Secretary

The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP Home Secretary

The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP Defence Secretary

“An investment in the people of Scotland”

Scottish Government’s £5.2 billion for social security support

Social security expenditure in Scotland will total £5.2 billion in 2026-27, according to the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s latest forecast report published today/yesterday.

The amount spent is projected to increase by £1.5 billion over the five years due to a variety of reasons including an increase in benefits provided, inflationary rises to payments, Scotland’s ageing population increasing caseloads for payments to support the pension age group and more children and working-age people receiving disability benefits.

It is expected that more people will access financial support in the coming years as the Scottish Government continues the roll out of devolved benefits. This includes Adult Disability Payment which will replace Personal Independence Payment for disabled people of working age in Scotland in 2022.

The Scottish Child Payment will also be extended to children up to the age of 16 from the end of 2022 if data relating to this benefit is received from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said: “Social security is an investment in the people of Scotland and is a fundamental human right. With the devolved social security powers and limited resources that we have, we are committed to making sure everyone can access the financial support they are entitled to.

“By understanding people’s experiences of accessing UK Government social security support, we have sought to ensure that our new Scottish Government service is easily accessible and that people have a good experience when interacting with the Scottish social security system. If someone is eligible for support then it is our responsibility to make sure that they know about available payments, and help them get the money they need and that they are due.

“As well as the introduction of our new disability benefits in 2021 and 2022, in the coming years, we will also introduce Scottish Carer’s Assistance, which will replace the UK Government’s Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

“In 2023-24 it is forecast that nearly 300,000 children will benefit from the Scottish Child Payment. This will be the first full year of the planned rollout of Scottish Child Payment to 6 to 15 year olds. We also plan to significantly increase the value of Scottish Child Payment, doubling it to £20 per week within the lifetime of the Parliament and lifting more children out of poverty.

“It is vital that the UK Government matches our efforts. We need UK Ministers to take decisive action in the areas where they have power and responsibility and to reverse their welfare cuts which are hitting households harder than ever.

“I call again on the UK Government to end their benefit cap, bedroom tax and two-child limit, and to maintain the £20 Universal Credit uplift.”

“The World is on Fire”

Climate action central to Greens and SNP cooperation deal, says Green’s Lorna Slater

Action on tackling the climate emergency is central to the draft cooperation deal agreed between the Scottish Greens and Scottish Government, according to Lorna Slater the co-leader of the Scottish Greens and an MSP for Lothian.

The draft policy programme, published last week, would see two Scottish Green MSPs taking ministerial posts, marking the first time Green politicians have taken a role in government anywhere in any of the UK nations.

They would work to deliver a shared broad policy agenda that will tackle the climate crisis, create thousands of quality jobs, including many in Lothian, and make Scotland fairer.

If the deal is ratified by party members, Greens in government would decarbonise the transport network and the way buildings are heated, as well as creating thousands of jobs expanding Scotland’s renewable energy capacity.

Under the proposals, the parties would work together on legislation to grow onshore wind, invest in active travel, public transport and a green industrial fund, and bring in new protections for nature, including the establishment of at least one new national park. There would be a decisive shift away from spending on major road projects.

Scottish Greens would also lead on a new deal for tenants, including a national rent control system and better rights for tenants in the private rented sector. This would be particularly welcome in Lothian.

The parties would collaborate to bring forward overdue equalities and land reform legislation, as well as a joint bill on a new referendum on independence for Scotland. The Scottish Greens will also work in cooperation to deliver a National Care Service and on Education reforms.

Lorna Slater, the Scottish Greens MSP for Lothian said: “The world is on fire, and we have to act now. This deal would put Greens at the heart of decision-making at a crucial time for Scotland, particularly in areas like transport and heating where emissions are high. Scotland can step up efforts to decarbonise homes and transport and accelerate investment in renewable energy.

“This is a cooperation agreement, rather than a coalition. The Greens and SNP are very different parties, and we would maintain those different policy agendas, but, if approved by our members, this deal would see Green MSPs taking the lead on a broad legislative programme for Scotland.

“With Greens in government we would be able to deliver the kind of investment and legislation that people in Lothian want to see. This will allow us to tackle Scotland’s emissions, protect nature, advance tenant’s rights, bring forward overdue equalities legislation and deliver a referendum on independence.”

The deal would see two Scottish Green MSPs appointed as Ministers, with further details on portfolios and individuals due to be published later this week.

The leaders and MSPs are engaging with members on the deal before the Scottish Green Party holds an EGM on Saturday (28 August) to decide whether to proceed.