Warring SNP and Greens will tear the Yes movement to bits

So the Yes movement needs to prepare for a rather brutal psychological blow. Its political wing is about to be dealt a knockout punch from Labour while simultaneously kicking itself in the face.

When it comes to political immaturity, you couldn’t make it up, but then this is Scottish politics in 2024 so nothing should surprise us anymore.

The runes are there to be read. Humza Yousaf has made clear that backing the Greens at the next General Election is a “wasted vote”.

He sugared the pill saying he’d a “great amount of time” for the Greens but then twisted the knife by adding that they’re “not going to win a single seat”.

The Greens have reciprocally urged voters not to back the SNP. Ross Greer says there isn’t “time to waste on voting for parties who are unwilling to take bold climate action”.

The Greens are standing a record number of candidates at the election - 32 so far. Patrick Harvie says Greens aren’t interested in any electoral pact with the SNP. Lorna Slater says the Greens are “open to conversation” on supporting Labour at Holyrood, and independence wouldn’t be a “red line”.

Fergus Ewing - a self-styled Thomas à Becket when it comes to the SNP leadership - inevitably got out his long spoon and stirred a pot.

He’s calling on Yousaf to end the Bute House deal - referred to with a flourish worthy of Christopher Marlowe as a “Faustian pact” - ahead of the General Election.

Ewing talked of “blistering attacks” by Greens, saying “trust has broken down”. The Greens will “cost several of our MPs their seats”, he said, accusing the party of “cosying up to Labour”.

Then he sent what he called a “message to Humza”. It read: “Sorry mate: failing to terminate this dreadful deal is political insanity and electoral suicide.”

Ewing is far from alone within the SNP when it comes to detestation of the Greens, but he is the most vocal. Rest assured, the detestation is mutual. Greens loathe Ewing and his like.

Ross Greer accused Ewing of “constant whining” and said he should “find a hobby less harmful to his blood pressure”.

So happy families all round, eh?

Let’s be clear: government partners always become rivals at elections. But the SNP and Greens owe a duty of care to the Yes movement. This kind of behaviour only wounds independence.

There’s been a taste of Covid-era hysteria within Scottish politics of late. Well, more than of late; for quite some time, actually. Everything political becomes lightning-rodded to the clouds of culture war.

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For those who read the Holyrood auguries, there have been interesting signs and omens from Kate Forbes. On Tuesday, the erstwhile leadership candidate got stuck into the weird debate about wood-burning stoves.

Suddenly, everyone Scottish on social media had an opinion on matters most of us know nothing about.

On one side, it was accusations of more illiberal government, more control, more authoritarian environmentalism; on the other side, any opposition was an assault on the planet by climate deniers.

For pity’s sake, let’s debate, not burn witches.

Forbes spotted a social media post saying wood-burning stoves had been “outlawed” by the Scottish Government. She said this matter had “just been brought to my attention” and she was “seeking urgent clarification”.

The problem is, though, wood-burning stoves haven’t been banned. Only new-build properties applied for after April 2024 are prohibited from installing wood-burning stoves. If anyone already has a wood-burning stove, the ban doesn’t apply.

But surely any politician would know this? Maybe Forbes missed the memo? Anyway, the issue certainly allowed her to signal once again that she’s not in the Yousaf camp. Watch this space.

As an aside, when a nation finds wood-burning stoves getting culture-warred, there’s something gone seriously amiss politically, and all parties must share the blame.

With polls predicting Labour taking 28 seats at the General Election to the SNP’s 19, this is no way for a party, or government partners, to behave. If you’re going to get gubbed, at least hit the canvas with some dignity.

Labour will take power on a massive majority. Keir Starmer could land 403 MPs, wiping the Tories out. Any thoughts of Indyref2 under such circumstances are absurd.

A big defeat for the SNP at the General Election will signal the end for Yousaf. He might be allowed to cling on until the next Holyrood election, though it’s unlikely.

The SNP will panic and most probably replace him. Such loss of nerve will only compound defeat at the next Scottish election.

But let’s be honest, defeat is inevitable. The SNP/Green Government has run its course.

Clearly politicians never admit the game is up. But when defeat seems assured it’s probably best handled with some composure.

The real cruelty here is that political failure means collateral damage. The Yes movement will be left high and dry. It will be rudderless and lost - and all because of pro-independence politicians.

Fergus Ewing has been scathing of the Greens (Image: Newsquest)

It’s said order comes from chaos. Well, welcome to chaos. The fag-end of the SNP’s days of power is quite simply bedlam. Nothing works, everything seems broken and dysfunctional. That’s political entropy, for you.

The true killer for the Scottish Government is that it now represents a sort of softer version of the chaos the Tories offer in London. It’s not cruel and mean, but it’s daft and incapable.

Infighting between the Greens and SNP only deepens the sense of disarray, and any sign of nationalist civil war will hasten oblivion.

The best course of action would have been a quiet sense of competitive respect between the Bute House partners, and strategic silence from SNP’s backbench rebels.

But this is Scottish politics in 2024, so why would you expect logic from anyone at Holyrood?