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Harvie to warn SNP over 'big business' at Green conference Harvie tells Scottish Greens to prepare for indyref2
(about 17 hours later)
Patrick Harvie is to warn the SNP not to "cave in to pressure from big business" and "side with the Tories" in his Scottish Greens conference speech. Patrick Harvie has called on Green party members and supporters to prepare for the next independence campaign.
The Green co-convenor is to offer his support to Nicola Sturgeon's minority government only where it commits to "meaningful, progressive change". He told the party conference in Perth that they have a vital role to play in any future referendum.
The party, which became Holyrood's fourth-largest in May, is holding a three-day conference in Perth. The co-convener also said local government elections are a chance to "bring power back to people".
Mr Harvie's fellow co-convenor Maggie Chapman will also make a speech. The Greens won their second-best ever Holyrood result in May's elections, leapfrogging the Lib Dems into fourth place.
The Greens won their second-best ever Holyrood result in May's elections, leapfrogging the Lib Dems into fourth place with six seats. The MSP claimed a second independence referendum is the only way to secure Scotland's place in Europe following the Brexit vote.
He said: "We find ourselves with the results of two referendums which can't fit together. We have a two year old 55% mandate and this year's 62% mandate.
"Even if Better Together and the Leave campaign hadn't lied, the UK which people voted for in 2014 no longer exists."
He issued a rallying cry to party members, saying the Greens have a vital role to play in the campaign. He said: "We must prepare for the next independence campaign, not just to win a Yes vote, but to win a better Scotland.
"Greens will continue to strengthen the case on issues such as currency and industrial strategy."
The party could have a decisive role given the SNP's position as a minority government, particularly given the Greens' support for Scottish independence.The party could have a decisive role given the SNP's position as a minority government, particularly given the Greens' support for Scottish independence.
However, they have already lined up with other opposition parties against the government in a number of votes on issues like the council tax and fracking.However, they have already lined up with other opposition parties against the government in a number of votes on issues like the council tax and fracking.
'Constructive engagement' He also told delegates in Perth that the local government elections are a chance to "make breakthroughs that help bring power back to people".
Mr Harvie is expected to use his speech to send a message to the SNP, while telling members that Greens are "helping set the agenda" at Holyrood. He said: "We're also moving into a year in which Scotland will decide how our local communities are run for the next five years; when Holyrood will decide whether councillors will have the freedom to renew and revitalise local democracy, or just hand on more cuts to public services.
He is to say: "We recognise that a minority government must work toward some degree of consensus across parliament and I promise that our engagement with the SNP will always be constructive. "And we're moving into a year in which we'll have the chance to build a fairer economy by sharing the wealth that all of us generate but which has been hoarded by so few for so long."
"There will be many more tests to come, including on aviation policy, where it's unthinkable that the first minister could set a credible green agenda while backing Heathrow expansion and cutting Air Passenger Duty.
"So to the SNP, we will offer our support if they commit to meaningful, progressive change in Scotland, using the limited powers of the parliament; if they don't take that opportunity, they risk being remembered as a timid government that caved in to pressure from big business and sided with the Tories."
Mr Harvie is also to issue a rallying cry to party activists ahead of council elections in 2017.
He is to tell delegates in Perth that the local government elections are a chance to "make breakthroughs that help bring power back to people".
The conference will also feature various policy motions and fringe meetings on subjects ranging from fairer education and the living wage to Brexit and Scottish independence.