Editing Scottish Greens (section)

==== Supporters of the first SNP government. ====
[[File:Alison Johnstone MSP and Robin Harper MSP.png|thumb|220x220px|Johnstone (left) and Harper (right), were co-convenors of the party between 2007–2008]]

Despite the loss of MSPs, the party gained influence with the new [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] government. On 11 May, the Greens signed an agreement with the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP), which meant that the Greens voted for Alex Salmond as First Minister and supported his initial Ministerial appointments.<ref name=":7">{{cite news |date=11 May 2007 |title=SNP and Greens sign working deal |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6646227.stm |url-status=live |access-date=6 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009115429/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6646227.stm |archive-date=9 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Text of ''Scottish National Party and Scottish Green Party Cooperation Agreement'' (60Kb pdf), accessed 6 January 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_05_07_agreement.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923014432/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_05_07_agreement.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2021 |access-date=12 August 2008}}</ref> In return, the SNP backed a [[climate change]] bill as an early measure and promised to legislate against ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth. The SNP also agreed to nominate [[Patrick Harvie]], one of the Green MSPs, to convene the Scottish Parliament Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change.

Differences, primarily over transport policy, were cited for the limited nature of the agreement.<ref name=":7" /> But they left open the door to further negotiations should the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] join the [[First Salmond government]].
{{Blockquote|text=Given the present situation that (the SNP) are going to be forming a minority government, it really didn't seem to make sense for us to tie ourselves closely into confidence and supply or into coalition, because we have serious reservations about many SNP policies, particularly their transport policies|author=then [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]] [[Robin Harper]]|source=speaking to [[BBC Scotland]].<ref name=":7" />}}During the election, co-convenor Shiona Baird lost her seat, and did not re-stand for election as co-convenor. She was replaced by then Edinburgh councillor [[Alison Johnstone]] in November 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-09-24 |title=New co-leader for Scottish Greens |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7009486.stm |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref>
[[File:Scottish_Green_Leadership_2011.jpg|left|thumb|267x267px|Harvie (left) with Eleanor Scott (right), co-convenors of the party between 2008 and 2011]]
Robin Harper and Johnstone did not seek re-election in 2008 as co-convenor. While Harvie was the sole nominee for the male co-convenor, there was 3 candidates for female co-convenor: former MSP [[Eleanor Scott]], Glasgow councillor Nina Baker and Edinburgh councillor [[Maggie Chapman]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-09-22 |title=Harvie to become Green co-leader |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7613833.stm |access-date=2023-12-31}}</ref> The role of female co-convenor was won by Scott.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 November 2008 |title=GREEN CO-CONVENORS |url=http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/news/green-co-convenors/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140923230925/http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/news/green-co-convenors/ |archive-date=23 September 2014 |access-date=31 December 2023 |website=Scottish Greens}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 November 2008 |title=Patrick Harvie to lead Scottish Greens |work=[[The Scotsman]] |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/patrick-harvie-to-lead-scottish-greens-1-1148119 |url-status=dead |access-date=31 December 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160510081430/http://www.scotsman.com/news/patrick-harvie-to-lead-scottish-greens-1-1148119 |archive-date=10 May 2016}}</ref>

During the 2009 Scottish budget process, the Scottish Greens demanded an £1 billion home insulation programme over 10 years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=2009-01-28 |title=Alex Salmond threatens to call election after Scottish parliament rejects SNP's budget |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jan/28/scotland-snp |access-date=2023-12-31 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The SNP Scottish Government offered £22 million for a 'pilot' project. The party decided this compromise was not acceptable.

On 28 January 2009, the two Green MSPs were instrumental in the defeat of the Government's budget.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7854417.stm |title=Scottish budget rejected by MSPs |work=BBC News |date=28 January 2009 |access-date=5 February 2009 |archive-date=31 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131134644/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7854417.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> The move surprised some commentators, whose leadership had until this point been marked with increased cooperation with the SNP government.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Dinwoodie |first=Robbie |date=29 January 2009 |title=Why Patrick Harvie felt he could not back the bill THE GREENS |work=The Herald |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=UKNB&req_dat=A1194290412D455C8584EB4D9AE76D7B&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F12649DFBA1380740 |access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref>

A slightly amended version of the budget was passed easily the following week with the support of other parties.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-01-23 |title=Scots budget clears first hurdle |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7203100.stm |access-date=2023-12-31}}</ref>