Green Ministers have been dismissed as “SNP lapdogs” over their non-attendance at Cabinet meetings.
Junior SNP Ministers sat round the Scottish Government top table in the same period, but Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were not present.
Labour MSP Neil Bibby said: “It seems now they’ve even given up on pretending they are influencing decisions - not even attending cabinet meetings.”
The SNP and Greens signed a historic power-sharing deal that led to the environmental party entering the government in Scotland for the first time.
Harvie became the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, while Slater took responsibility for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.
The cooperation agreement made clear the Green co-leaders would be invited to attend Cabinet twice a year, as well as when “appropriate”.
However, the Government has confirmed that neither Slater nor Harvie attended any of the four Cabinet meetings between late August and September 27th.
The SNP minister for parliamentary business attended three of the meetings, while his colleague at Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work was present at one of the summits.
Also there for one meeting each was Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson, Mental Wellbeing and Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart, and Environment and Land Reform Minister Mairi McAllan.
So far, the Green Ministers have been criticised for backing the Government on dropping plans for a public energy company.
But they have also taken credit for a new policy requiring companies bidding for Government contracts to pay the real Living Wage.
Bibby said: “The SNP deal with Harvie and Slater will be remembered as a greenwashing stunt ahead of COP26 that was built on broken promises.”
“From the screeching U-turn on a public energy company, to failing to oppose attacks on rail services and workers, the Scottish Greens have sold-out and are now just SNP lapdogs.”
Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: “The Greens have been largely anonymous in the Government and this shows they have little influence too.
“It is no surprise that the Greens’ headline promises have been ditched within a few weeks of entering government. Whether it is vaccine ID cards, Heathrow Airport or a state owned energy company the Greens have ditched their commitments in return for very little influence in government.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens said: “As agreed in our cooperation deal, the Scottish Greens co-leaders will attend cabinet twice a year and when cabinet is due to discuss matters related to their ministerial portfolios.
“They also sit on cabinet sub-committees. Lorna and Patrick have only been in government for just over a month and have already showed their influence, announcing a major review of incineration and publishing the ambitious heat and buildings strategy.”
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