The Scottish Green leadership is facing a revolt over the party’s deal with the SNP after key climate change targets were ditched.

Leaked messages showed a senior figure saying the u-turn left them “demoralised” and a councillor blasting the decision as “devastating”.

The SNP and Greens are in partnership in the Scottish Government, but the Bute House Agreement is showing signs of strains.

Party members are furious that on Thursday the Government confirmed it will scrap its annual and interim targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Later that evening co-leader Patrick Harvie was part of a Zoom meeting and took written questions from members.

Some of the exchanges have been leaked to the Record and show huge dissatisfaction with the decision on climate targets.

Edinburgh councillor Chas Booth wrote: “Why was the 2030 target scrapped altogether, rather than revised to a more achieveable [sic] target.”

A member called “Lennie” responded: “This would have been disappointing but would not have been politically devastating like scrapping them.”

Fellow Scottish Green Kate Joester echoed the criticism: “How much are we going to lower our aspirations? A dead planet is a dead planet.”

Another Edinburgh councillor, Susan Rae, wrote: “This cannot be viewed as anything other than a failure. Our members feel incredibly let down and not for the first time. Who will take responsibility for yet another breach of the Bute House Agreement?"

Critics want an extraordinary general meeting called to discuss the deal with the SNP.

At the same Zoom, Booth asked whether an EGM would take place on the agreement: “If not, why not?”

Another Scottish Green at the meeting, Anna Cowan wrote: “I can’t help but feel really demoralised and depressed about the news today.

"How can party members be reassured that not every climate commitment will be scrapped?"

Joester added: “I am fed up to my back teeth of hearing “we can influence from within government” and then….not seeing actual influence.”

A third Edinburgh councillor, Alys Mumford, hit out: “Do we truly believe that the announcements today are worth the price of being associated with the scrapping of these targets?”

Ruth Elliott from the Edinburgh branch wrote: “The lines we are hearing from the Scottish Government are very similar to the exact things we criticise in Labour and the Tories (inherited problems, not enough money, difficult decisions etc). Can you explain how this is different and not just empty words.”

Sophie from the Glasgow branch added: “Many members agree with observations from across the political spectrum that our lack of reaction to such breaches make us look like we’re happy to trade off our principles to be in the room, but the way that things are being announced makes it look like we’re standing in the corner instead of sitting round the table.”

The Rainbow Greens, a grouping inside the party, is trying to gather the 100 signatures required to force an EGM.

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A source said: “The longer the leadership deny that there is a problem with the BHA, the further their own credibility will drop. Tying, not only your own popularity, but our party’s electoral fortunes to a failing deal with the SNP, is reckless and can only be explained by self-preservation.

“Those behind the Bute House Agreement - MSPs Patrick Harvie, Lorna Slater, and Ross Greer - should listen to their membership, back an EGM, and put their record in government to the test.”

A Scottish Green spokesperson said: “Ross Greer, Gillian Mackay and Patrick Harvie attended one of our regular member update sessions covering a range of topics including how we are accelerating action on the climate crisis within government.

"The cooperation agreement that saw green politicians enter government for the first time anywhere in the UK, which has been repeatedly endorsed and voted for by members of both parties, has been the catalyst for driving progressive environmental change over the last two and a half years including moving from targets to an acceleration of climate action with an evidence based route map to 2045.

"As a democratic party we encourage members to engage and participate, and there are a number of ways open for people to do that.”

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