A renewed power-sharing deal between the Scottish Greens and the SNP would be "difficult" to achieve, according to Green co-leader Lorna Slater, who accused her former coalition partners of backtracking on key policy commitments.

Slater's comments, reported by The Herald, mark the latest sign of lingering tension following the collapse of the Bute House Agreement — the groundbreaking coalition that saw the Greens share power in Holyrood for the first time.

The co-leader is currently fighting an uphill battle to become the Scottish Greens' first-ever constituency MSP, locked in a competitive race against SNP cabinet minister Angus Robertson in Edinburgh. Historically, the Greens have relied entirely on regional list seats to secure parliamentary representation, making Slater's constituency bid symbolically significant for the party.

Her warning about the difficulty of resurrecting a formal partnership with the SNP suggests the wounds from their split remain fresh. While Slater did not detail specific policy areas where she believes the SNP has backslid, the Greens have previously criticized their former partners on issues ranging from climate targets to social justice reforms.

The timing of her remarks is politically charged. With both leaders vying for the same seat, any suggestion of future cooperation could complicate Slater's pitch to voters seeking a distinct alternative to the SNP.

The original Bute House Agreement, named after the First Minister's official residence, marked a watershed moment in Scottish politics when it was struck. Its eventual breakdown left questions about whether Scotland's pro-independence parties could ever govern together again.

For now, Slater's focus appears firmly on winning her constituency fight — and keeping her former allies at arm's length.