General election 2024: SNP First Minister Humza Yousaf admits parties like the Scottish Greens and Alba could split the pro-independence vote

The admission comes after the SNP’s longest-serving MP Pete Wishart questioned how a split in the nationalist vote would be the best strategy to beat the Conservatives at the ballot boxes. Now the First Minister has said there is a “real danger” the Scottish Greens could take votes away from the SNP.

However, Mr Yousaf warned pro-independence voters who were considering voting Green “they are not going to win a Westminster seat”.

He told the BBC: “There is only one party that’s by far the largest advocating for the cause of independence – that’s the SNP. So if you believe in independence and want to advance the cause of independence, I would urge people to vote for the SNP.

“We are in government with the Greens, but we are different political parties. We have competed for votes in different elections before, so there is a real danger of those who believe in independence voting Green and taking votes away from the SNP.

“With the greatest respect to my Green colleagues, they are not going to win a Westminster seat. There are a number of opportunities to advance the cause of independence to ensure there are no more Tory MPs in Scotland, and making sure Scotland’s voice is heard in Westminster. So voting for another pro-independence party risks splitting the vote.”

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Last week Mr Wishart, who has been an SNP MP since 2001, posted online to say he is likely to be opposed by other pro-independence candidates when he stands for re-election in the seat of Perth and Kinross-shire.

Posting on X, he said: “Apparently I’m going to be opposed by an Alba and an ‘unofficial’ Alba candidate at the general election and maybe even a Green too. Does anybody know how this advances independence and helps keep the Tories out?”

Previously Mr Wishart said he would have “nothing to do” with the SNP’s pledge to make Scotland “Tory free” at the coming election.