The Scottish Greens could give the SNP a route back to power at Holyrood in return for the introduction of free buses for all and an expansion in childcare, the party’s co-leader has signalled.
Gillian Mackay suggested she was open to working with a minority SNP government at Holyrood.
But she ruled out lending any support to Scottish Labour because it had “demonised” migrants.
The Greens have been crucial in the SNP retaining control at Holyrood, with the party going into government with then-first minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2021.
The relationship between the two parties broke down after Humza Yousaf, who succeeded Ms Sturgeon as first minister, abruptly broke the powersharing agreement apart.
But with polls suggesting the SNP could return to Holyrood as the biggest party, but one short of a majority, Ms Mackay signalled that she would be keen to work with SNP leader and current First Minister John Swinney.
Asked what her red lines for an SNP deal would be, she told the Press Association in Dundee: “Our two big manifesto priorities that we’ve been talking about on the campaign trail are around free buses for everyone, making sure that people can get around their communities and make public transport their first option.
“And free childcare, the biggest expansion of free childcare in a generation, making sure that particularly women can get back into the workplace, and that families aren’t having to spend the majority of their income on childcare.”
Speaking during the STUC annual conference in Dundee, Ms Mackay said the Greens did “not really talk in the language of red lines” but if negotiations with the SNP arose “we would put forward our priorities”.
She ruled out working with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar though, saying: “I don’t see how we could work with Labour at the moment, given how they have demonised migrants, gone after disabled people, cut the winter fuel payment and then U-turned on that.
“They’ve implemented all the worst of Tory policies in recent years and seem to be chasing down that more rightward side of their party and of politics, so I can’t see us doing any deal with Labour.”
Asked if she thought Mr Sarwar had personally demonised migrants, Ms Mackay said: “I think he has supported a party that has.”
She later told reporters: “I don’t know if Anas himself holds those views.”
During their manifesto launch earlier this month, the Greens pledged improvements in funded childcare, including extending the offer of 1,140 hours per year to all two-year-olds in Scotland and 570 hours from six months to two years old.
They also committed to bringing all of Scotland’s buses back into public ownership and making their use free.
We shouldn't have to cut our working hours or cut back on essentials to make ends meet.
— Scottish Greens (@scottishgreens) April 17, 2026
By expanding childcare we can save families £10,000 per child.
We're pledging:
🟢570 hours of funded childcare for every child from 6 months to 2 years
🟢1140 hours for all 2 year olds pic.twitter.com/pBZ0Nb5X0j
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “The truth behind the Greens’ spin is that they can only deliver more of the same”.
“For the last five years, the Greens have operated as a branch office of the SNP, helping them raid council budgets and push our public services to breaking point,” she said.
“A vote for the Scottish Greens is a vote for the same broken status quo failing Scots right now.
“If you want change and a better future for Scotland, only Scottish Labour can deliver it.”
David Linden, SNP candidate for Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston, said: “A re-elected SNP government will build on the best cost-of-living support package available anywhere on these isles by putting in place a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland, taking action to lower the price of essential foods in supermarkets and expanding childcare support for all children from nine months to the end of primary school for 52 weeks of the year.
“The SNP is seeking the historic majority we need to unlock the fresh start of independence – and lock Nigel Farage out of power in Scotland.”
