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Greens debate possible coalition Greens 'keeping all options open'
(about 4 hours later)
The Scottish Green Party is considering its options over a power-sharing deal after next May's Holyrood elections. The Scottish Green Party has voted to keep all options open if it finds itself calling the shots after next May's Holyrood election.
Delegates are to discuss the issue at their annual conference in Edinburgh. Members agreed the move after activists had heard that other parties have already begun making informal approaches to the party.
Co-convener Robin Harper said they have not ruled anything in or out if they find themselves in a position to form a possible coalition. Its annual conference in Edinburgh endorsed plans to study a scheme used by some minor parties overseas.
He said he would be "disappointed" if they had fewer than 10 MSPs returned. The party currently holds seven seats in the Scottish Parliament. It would involve a role for the Greens, but only in return for concessions.
'Nuclear power' They would back the other party in the appointment of a first minister, andwould not vote against the first minister's administration in a "noconfidence" vote.
While the Greens are not ruling out a coalition, the party is studying a plan used by other minority parties.
Under this scheme, the Greens would support another party in return for concessions to some of their policies.
They would back that party in appointing a first minister and would not vote against the first minister's administration in a "no confidence" vote.
We want serious action on issues like climate change, not just warm words before an election Robin HarperScottish Green Party
They would also support the annual budget, while trying to negotiate spending commitments.They would also support the annual budget, while trying to negotiate spending commitments.
The party's sole pre-condition, without which talks with other parties would not even begin, would be a veto on any new nuclear power stations. If we have a massive Green vote, then after the next election coalition may well be a possibility Mark Ruskell MSP
Mr Harper said: "Nothing is ruled in and nothing is ruled out, and we have not entered into any deal with any other party. The sole pre-condition at present, without which talks with other partiescould not even begin, is a veto on any new nuclear power stations.
"We will stand on our own merit and we are confident our party will continue to attract increased support. The talks would then include the Greens trying to push their policypriorities.
"We want serious action on issues like climate change, not just warm words before an election." Delegates backed the plan at the conference, but also ordered partychiefs to investigate ways in which the Greens could keep a check on the day-to-day operations of an agreement by creating a "reference group" drawn from the wider party.
Radical overhaul Mark Ruskell, MSP for Lothians region and the party's campaign director for next year's Holyrood election, told the conference the election offered the party the opportunity of real influence in tackling problems like climatechange.
On Saturday, the conference backed a 10-page motion setting out the Greens' economic policy. Scrap M74 plan
The motion passed by activists proposed a radical overhaul of taxation at both local and national level. He said: "What I'm interested in is the Green Party making the maximum impact in government."
Among its provisions, council tax would be replaced by a land valuation tax, there would be reforms of income tax, inheritance tax, and capital gains tax, a "Citizen's Income" would be introduced, and National Insurance would be merged with income tax. Arguing for the Greens' favoured scheme, Mr Ruskell said this had workedsuccessfully in New Zealand where it had created stable minority government.
The party currently has seven MSPs at Holyrood He explained: "Although we are not excluding other models, we are saying this represents a real opportunity to drive the key demands of the Green Party into the heart of government."
Under a "city tax", Greens would back local taxes of up to 10% on hotel, bar and restaurant bills to compensate cities for the cost of tourism. The Greens could demand action on climate change, action to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour, and other policy priorities, he said.
"Basic public services" in health, education, law and order, road and rail networks, would be brought under public control. They could also demand the scrapping of plans for the M74 motorway extension and the Aberdeen western approach road.
"Greens would end any administration of such crucial public services by private companies for profit," said the resolution. "If we have a massive Green vote, then after the next election coalition maywell be a possibility," he said.
Distribution networks in water, gas, and electricity - considered to be monopolies - would also be brought under public control. "But given the political landscape, this model of stable minority government looks to be one of the best models we have right now to influence power and influence the agenda at the heart of government."