SNP split from Greens boosts Keir Starmer’s election chances, say Labour insiders

An increasingly bitter split between the SNP and the Greens has brought even more Scottish parliamentary seats into play for Keir Starmer, Labour figures believe, amid a desperate fight by the first minister, Humza Yousaf, to stay in power.

On Saturday he wrote to the leaders of Scotland’s political parties in an attempt to find “common ground” following his decision to axe a coalition with the Scottish Greens that had propped up his government.

However, hopes are growing among Labour insiders that the fallout between the SNP and the Greens could have serious consequences for the forthcoming Westminster general election.

“There was always a risk that, in the UK general election, there were some constituencies where the Greens might not stand in order to help the SNP hold on.

The ruling body of the pro-independence Alba party, led by the former first minister Alex Salmond, is holding meetings this weekend to discuss its next moves and how Regan will vote.

Alba’s Westminster leader, Neale Hanvey, said on Saturday that the party is “not saying we are going to save Humza Yousaf” but is willing to listen to what he has to say.