LABOUR has warned of impending cuts from Holyrood as the Scottish Greens agreed to enter government with the SNP this weekend despite the junior party’s co-leaders promising to deliver a transformative agenda. 

On Saturday afternoon, members of the Scottish Greens ratified a co-operation agreement with the SNP government following a two-hour debate and a meeting of the party’s national council.

The agreement will see the Scottish Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater become government ministers, the first time any Green representative has held political office in a government in Britain.

The two parties’ joint policy agenda includes an agreement to pursue another vote on Scottish independence before the end of 2023 if the threat of coronavirus has subsided, as well as a raft of environmental policies and a commitment to implement rent controls.

The deal stipulates that public disagreement between the parties would only be allowed on set topics, such as green ports, field sports and in relation to the concepts of sustainable growth and inclusive growth.

West Scotland Green MSP Ross Greer insisted that the list of subjects could be changed if further agreements or disagreements emerge.

The deal would also see multibillion-pound funding provided for Scotland’s railways and stronger stipulations on companies receiving public funding in relation to the treatment of workers. 

Mr Harvie promised positive change for the people of Scotland, while his co-leader, Ms Slater, said that the move was a historic step. 

She said: “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.”

Despite the policy promises, Scottish Labour has warned that the deal could spell disaster for Scotland and would make it harder to hold ministers to account.  

Party leader Anas Sarwar said: “This coalition of cuts is formalising a long-standing agreement where Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP hammer our public services and the Greens nod along.

“This deal is all about the parties’ constitutional obsession and nothing to do with the climate emergency we should be focused on.”

Right-wing figures in Scotland have raised their own concerns, with the Scottish Conservatives warning that it would not be supporting the Greens’ “extreme” left-wing views and planned to reject ministerial appointments this week.