HUMZA Yousaf has been left clinging on to power after he sensationally scrapped the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Greens.
The latest twist comes after the First Minister summoned his ministers to a meeting at Bute House at 8.30am this morning.
Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were called to Bute House early this morning and left before the cabinet meeting.
Mr Yousaf then held a press conference after the cabinet meeting and confirmed that the Bute House Agreement had been scrapped, axing the power-sharing deal with the Greens.
The sensational decision follows mounting pressure on the First Minister to end the deal between the parties, which was agreed by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021.
The First Minister said: "It is no longer guaranteeing a stable arrangement in Parliament, the events of recent days have made that clear, and therefore, after careful consideration, I believe that going forward it is in the best interest of the people of Scotland to pursue a different arrangement.
"That is why, following a discussion with my Cabinet this morning, I have formally notified Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater that I am terminating the Bute House Agreement with immediate effect."
Mr Yousaf said the day marks a "new beginning for this SNP Government".
But Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater MSP accused the SNP of "selling out future generations" after then Greens were axed from power sharing and branded Humza Yousaf a coward.
She said: “This is an act of political cowardice by the SNP, who are selling out future generations to appease the most reactionary forces in the country.
“Voters deserve better, Scotland deserves better. Scottish Green voters certainly deserve better.
"They have broken the bonds of trust with members of both parties who have twice chosen the co-operation agreement and climate action over chaos, culture wars and division. They have betrayed the electorate.
"And by ending the agreement in such a weak and thoroughly hopeless way, Humza Yousaf has signalled that when it comes to political cooperation, he can no longer be trusted.
Just hours after the announcement, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross branded him a "lame duck" and confirmed he will now lodge a motion of no confidence in the First Minister in a bid to have him removed.
He added: "He claims it's now a new beginning, but really, it's the beginning of the end. Isn't Humza Yousaf a lame duck First Minister?"
A Scottish Greens source said: "Everyone in that chamber is now more concerned with messing with the SNP than passing good law.
"The idea that they can just pivot back to how they governed as a minority gov is just nonsense and will become clear as day immediately."
By Chris Musson, Associate Editor (Politics), The Scottish Sun
THE power deal the SNP sealed in 2021 is now toast.
That agreement was made after Nicola Sturgeon failed to secure a Holyrood majority in the Scottish Parliament elections.
She wanted the pro-indy Greens on board - formally - to ensure she could govern without doing deals on every key policy issue or parly vote, as she had in the previous term.
To her, it was also a good look at the time, giving her some eco-friendly window dressing in the run-up to the COP26 UN climate summit.
But the anti-capitalist Greens were seen by many top SNP figures as a drag, not least due to their abrasive and uncompromising manner - as shown with botched policies like the deposit-return scheme.
In recent weeks, the Greens threw their toys out of the pram over diluted Scottish Government climate targets.
There was also fury in the party over the suspension of prescribing puberty blockers to child safety concerns. What a hill to die on.
Humza Yousaf hasn't been minded to end the deal - he was worried it would sour things. And it certainly has, given their furious response from the scorned partners today.
But there were enough influential voices in the SNP to persuade him to end it. The Greens had called a vote on the power deal but it wasn't due for another month. This was going to drag on, and on.
Mr Yousaf now governs as a minority - and can at least be master of his own destiny.
But it's going to be a tough old slog.
Greens councillor Anthony Carroll wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "This reactive and impulsive response by Humza Yousaf is exactly what was making me wary of continuing the Bute House Agreement recently.
"This shows great weakness, not leadership, in how feart he is of a healthy party democracy like in the Greens."
A Scottish Green MSP told The Scottish Sun: "Humza's basically a hostage in Bute House now.
"He's being forced to read a confession written for him by the conservative wing of his party, people who want him out at the first opportunity. Can't govern when you're that weak."
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie blasted: “This chaotic and incompetent government is falling apart before our eyes while Scots pay the price.
“Humza Yousaf is too weak to hold his own government together and he is too weak to deliver for Scotland.
“Three years into the Bute House Agreement the promises the SNP and Greens made have been torn to shreds."
Mr Yousaf yesterday rejected the idea of ending the SNP-Green coalition - and rubbished the idea of giving Nats members a say on the power-sharing deal.
The First Minister faced increasing internal pressure to scrap the co-operation agreement after critics labelled him "weak" for sticking with it.
During a visit to the opening of the new JP Morgan building in Glasgow, Mr Yousaf said the Scottish Government had "achieved a lot" as part of the coalition.
He said: "I've made it very clear that I value the partnership with the Greens, and I can see the benefit.
"I think the people of Scotland can feel the benefit of what we've been able to achieve together, so I hope Green members can also see that."
Despite his coalition partners giving their membership an opportunity to vote on the deal, Mr Yousaf rejected the possibility of following suit.
He said: "We've already had a vote. I stood on an election platform myself just over a year ago about maintaining the Green co-operation deal.
"But I don't think a vote is what SNP members necessarily want or indeed need at this time."
