Green coalition at risk if SNP takes donations from controversial bus tycoon Brian Souter

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The SNP and Green coalition government could be at risk of collapse if Humza Yousaf accepted donations from controversial businessman Brian Souter.

Patrick Harvie said the First Minister taking money for his cash-strapped party from the Stagecoach bus tycoon would be damaging to their Scottish Government relationship.

The co-leader of the Scottish Greens said he would also oppose any move to bring him in as a government advisor.It comes after it emerged that Yousaf had courted Souter to help arrange a lavish dinner at a top Edinburgh hotel last summer in order to reset relations between the government and business leaders.The decision has left Green party members in shock, with government ministers Harvie and Lorna Slater apparently unaware of the event until details were revealed by the media.Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Harvie said: “There have been examples where somebody with money has very clear problems with their attitudes or values being ignored because they’ve got money.

That shouldn’t happen.”Souter is one of Scotland’s wealthiest businessmen and was an SNP donor until Nicola Sturgeon took over leadership in 2014.In 2000, he led the unsuccessful campaign to keep anti-gay legislation in Scotland which banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools and has also opposed gay marriage.His renewed contact with Yousaf has led to speculation that the SNP leader is looking to him for financial support ahead of the upcoming General Election.Asked if the Greens would reconsider working with the SNP if the party accepted financial donations from Souter, Harvie said: “If anyone has that in mind I would ask them honestly to reflect on how they would feel if I was to go out and solicit the financial support of someone