Scottish Greens
Scottish Green Party
Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba (Scottish Gaelic)
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Co-Leaders | |
| Council Co-Convenors |
|
| Executive Co-Chairs | Ross Greer |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Preceded by | Green Party (UK) |
| Headquarters | 17b Graham Street Edinburgh EH6 5QN |
| Youth wing | Scottish Young Greens |
| Women's wing | Scottish Greens Women's Network |
| LGBTQ+ wing | Rainbow Greens |
| Membership (2023) |
 7,646
|
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
| European affiliation | European Green Party |
| International affiliation | Global Greens |
| Colours | Green |
| Slogan | For People. For Planet. |
| Scottish seats in the House of Commons |
0 / 59 |
| Scottish Parliament |
7 / 129 |
| Local government in Scotland |
35 / 1,227 |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
|
greens | |
The Scottish Greens (also known as the Scottish Green Party; Scottish Gaelic: Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba [ˈpʰaːrˠʃtʲi ˈuəɲə nə ˈhal̪ˠapə]) are a green political party in Scotland. The party has seven MSPs in the Scottish Parliament as of May 2021. As of the 2022 local elections, the party sits on 13 of the 32 Scottish local councils, with a total of 35 councillors. They hold two ministerial posts in the Yousaf government following a power-sharing agreement with the SNP in August 2021, marking the first time Green party politicians formed part of a government in the UK.
The Scottish Greens were created in 1990 when the former Green Party separated into two independent parties, representing Scotland and England and Wales. The party is affiliated to the Global Greens and the European Green Party.
Party membership increased dramatically following the Scottish independence referendum, during which it supported Scotland's independence from the United Kingdom.
Organisation
The Scottish Greens are fully independent, but work closely with the green parties from Ireland: the Green Party Northern Ireland and the Green Party of Ireland. Until October 2022, it also cooperated with the Green Party of England and Wales. It is a full member of the European Green Party. The party currently has seven MSPs and 35 councillors, but has no representation in Westminster.
Membership
Within days of the Scottish independence referendum being held, the membership swelled to more than 5,000. Launching its manifesto for the 2015 UK general election, the Scottish Greens stated a membership of over 8,500. By October 2015 the party were holding their biggest ever conference, with their membership standing at more than 9,000. In mid-2021 it had fallen back somewhat, reported as standing at 7,500. In April 2023 the number of members had risen to 7,646.
Conferences
The Scottish Greens hold conferences every Spring and Autumn, where members from throughout Scotland attend to deal with all the business of the party, with members voting on conference motions and policy motions.
Internal party bodies
There are two key bodies which steer the party between conferences, party council and the national executive. The party council can, with some exceptions, act as a more frequent conference on issues that appear outside conference season. The national executive oversees the day-to-day administration of party activities.
Branches
The party is made up of branches, who usually cover one or more local authority areas, and meet on a regular basis.
Representation and special interest groups
The Scottish Greens have five self-organised representation groups:
- Scottish Young Greens
- Women's Network
- Rainbow Greens
- Disabled Greens
- Greens of Colour
They also currently have one formally recognised special interest group:
- Scottish Green Party Trade Union Group
These groups have additional meetings and discussions which are separate from the main party meetings.
History
Origins in the Ecology Party (1978–1999)
The Scottish Green Party originated as the Scottish branch of the Ecology Party, founded in 1978 by Leslie Spoor. The Ecology Party became the UK Green Party and it remained a constituent party until 1990, when the Scottish Green Party became a separate entity.
The separation was entirely amicable, as part of the green commitment to decentralisation. The predecessor party opposed Britain's entry into the European Common Market in its 1989 European election manifesto, claiming that the Common Market would cause mass unemployment for Scottish workers, force Scotland to move towards a tourist-based economy, enable the destruction of local food markets and cause catastrophic environmental damage. Instead, it campaigned for a Europe-wide confederation of individuals on global issues affecting the environment.
The 1990 Highland Regional Council election gave the Greens their first ever councillor in the UK. Roger (aka Rory) Winter, representing the Highland Green Party (Known in Scottish Gaelic as Uainich na Gàidhealtachd), was elected in Nairn. However, Cllr Winter broke away from the Greens in 1991 and continued his four-year term as an Independent Green Highlander.
In 1997, the Green parties of the United Kingdom were described as "stunningly unsuccessful" as despite the strength of the environmental movement, and their status as the oldest green parties in Europe, they had as yet no electoral success.
First electoral successes (1999–2007)
The Scottish Green Party has its most prominent presence in the Scottish Parliament, which is elected using the additional member system of proportional representation. In the first election to this Parliament, in 1999, the Scottish Green Party got one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) elected by proportional representation, Robin Harper, the UK's first elected Green parliamentarian (George MacLeod had previously represented the UK Green Party in the House of Lords).
In the 2003 Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish Greens added six new MSPs to their previous total. The result was a surprise for the party, with newly elected MSP, and party election co-ordinator credited the 'Second Vote Green' message, lack of confidence in the SNP, and Harper's leadership. However, the party was still small, with its 2001 conference attracting just 35 members. In the Scottish Parliament's post-election briefing, political scientist John Curtice warned that the focus on the 'Second Vote Green' strategy made the party's vote fragile, and depended on voters seeing the election as unimportant.
Afterwards, Harper stood for election for First Minister, securing six votes.
We had very little money, few activists outside Edinburgh and Glasgow, a tiny and damp national office, two paid staff members, and generally had to beg or borrow resources (including sometimes having to rely on the WiFi from the Pub across the road to send press releases)
— then MSP Mark Ballard, speaking about the party's 2003 election campaign
In the European Parliament election of 2004, it polled 6.8% of the vote and did not return any MEPs.
In February 2005, the party announced plans to field candidates in 19 seats in the 2005 Westminster elections. At the election, the party contested 19 seats and polled 25,760 votes, however they returned no MPs. Its highest share of the vote was 7.7% of the vote in Glasgow North.
At the party's 2005 conference, a motion passed to support Scottish independence.
Increased influence of the Government (2007–2014)
2007 Scottish Parliament election
Heading into the election, the party felt confident. At its 2005 conference, then co-convenors Harper and Baird said the party had emerged as a "major new force in politics" and that they expected to hold the balance of power in the next Parliament, as well as elect councillors for the first time.
At the start of 2007, polls indicated that the party would replicate its 2003 Scottish Parliament election result and re-elect 7 MSPs. However, polls later narrowed, with one suggesting the party would only retain a single MSP. Despite polls narrowing internally, Eddie Barnes suggested that the party remained confident, planning to be a king-maker and influence government from the outside.
In the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, the party lost five seats in Holyrood, leaving the party with just 2 MSPs. However, in the council elections, taking place under the new Single Transferable Vote voting system, they gained three Councillors on the City of Edinburgh Council and five Councillors on Glasgow City Council.
Co-convenor Robin Harper blamed the loss on spoiled ballot papers and the campaign focusing on larger parties. This analysis was shared among the other smaller parties that lost out. Other commentators noted controversial policies in the manifesto such as integrating religious schools into nondenominational schools and the campaign's increased focus on Labour and the SNP.
Supporters of the first SNP government.
Despite the loss of MSPs, the party gained influence with the new SNP government. On 11 May, the Greens signed an agreement with the Scottish National Party (SNP), which meant that the Greens voted for Alex Salmond as First Minister and supported his initial Ministerial appointments. In return, the SNP backed a climate change bill as an early measure and promised to legislate against ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth. The SNP also agreed to nominate Patrick Harvie, one of the Green MSPs, to convene the Scottish Parliament Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change.
Differences, primarily over transport policy, were cited for the limited nature of the agreement. But they left open the door to further negotiations should the Scottish Liberal Democrats join the First Salmond government.
Given the present situation that (the SNP) are going to be forming a minority government, it really didn't seem to make sense for us to tie ourselves closely into confidence and supply or into coalition, because we have serious reservations about many SNP policies, particularly their transport policies
During the election, co-convenor Shiona Baird lost her seat, and did not re-stand for election as co-convenor. She was replaced by then Edinburgh councillor Alison Johnstone in November 2007.
Robin Harper and Johnstone did not seek re-election in 2008 as co-convenor. While Harvie was the sole nominee for the male co-convenor, there was 3 candidates for female co-convenor: former MSP Eleanor Scott, Glasgow councillor Nina Baker and Edinburgh councillor Maggie Chapman. The role of female co-convenor was won by Scott.
2009 Scottish budget negotiations
During the 2009 Scottish budget process, the Scottish Greens demanded an £1 billion home insulation programme over 10 years. The SNP Scottish Government offered £22 million for a 'pilot' project. The party then demanded a £33 million pilot for their backing of the budget, which the SNP refused.
On 28 January 2009, the two Green MSPs were instrumental in the defeat of the Government's budget. The party's co-convenor Patrick Harvie blamed this on the government's funding proposal for the pilot being "too vague" on whether it would be "new money" or from pre-existing local authority budgets. The move surprised some commentators, whose leadership had until this point been marked with increased cooperation with the SNP government.
A slightly amended version of the budget was passed easily the following week with the support of other parties
Campaigning against Donald Trump
On 31 May 2009, Cllr Martin Ford, formerly a Liberal Democrat, joined the Scottish Green Party in protest against the plans by Donald Trump to develop on an important environmental site at Menie.
On 13 October 2009, he was joined by fellow former Liberal Democrat Cllr Debra Storr. Both Councillors continued to serve on Aberdeenshire Council as members of the Democratic Independent group. At the 2012 Scottish local elections Councillor Debra Storr stood down to concentrate on her professional career. Councillor Martin Ford was re-elected, this time standing as a Scottish Green Party candidate.
2011 Scottish parliament election
At the party's 2010 conference, Robin Harper announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. He was succeeded as Lothians lead candidate by Edinburgh councillor Alison Johnstone.
The party's election campaign was launched with a focus on investment into public services paid for by tax raises. There was scepticism in reporting on whether the proposals had been 'fully costed' but Harvie and Johnstone were both considered to be "impressive" candidates During the campaign, Johnstone launched pledges to maintain free tuition fees, invest in graduate jobs in low carbon industry and create a free universal insulation scheme. The scheme was a revival of the party's proposal during the 2009 Scottish budget process.
In the end, the party only elected 2 MSPs in 2011. Some commentators argued that the party's "hard left economic agenda" had distracted from their environmental agenda, losing it votes. Voices from within the party disagreed, considering the lack of gains to come from poor capacity, not policy.
James Dennison notes that, despite not moving forward, the party was the only 'minor' Scottish party which achieved representation in the Scottish Parliament after 2011 when the Scottish Socialist Party, Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party and others lost seats.
Independence referendum and rapid growth (2014–2019)
2014 Independence referendum
In November 2013, Edinburgh councillor Maggie Chapman succeeded Glasgow councillor Martha Wardrop as the party's female co-convenor after she did not seek re-election, while Patrick Harvie was re-elected. Chapman had difficulty being recognised as equal to Harvie in the media, she commented to Common Weal's blog Source that "It’s galling when you hear mainstream media, who do know better, referring to Patrick as leader of the party.” Influential party member Peter McCollargued that Chapman's election and subsequent role as lead candidate in the 2014 European Parliament election marked an increased socialist influence on the party.
After the Scottish Government announced the referendum on Scottish independence, a campaign group called Yes Scotland was established to promote a vote for independence. Leading members of the Scottish Green Party actively supported and became involved with the campaign from its foundation, with Patrick Harvie among the members of Yes Scotland's advisory board.
Briefly, the party withdrew from Yes Scotland, due to concerns it was dominated by the SNP, and its acceptance of the pound, monarchy and NATO membership. However, the party's 2012 conference overturned the decision, after the party was convinced that the campaign was no longer the 'puppet' of the SNP. The party also joined the Radical Independence Campaign.
The party's own campaign of 'Green Yes' launched in October 2013, and advocated that only independence could deliver radical change, with Harvie also arguing that the party's vision of independence was progressive, and explicitly not nationalistic. He also argued that devolution did not go far enough to tackle issues important to Scots like austerity.
For me, it’s got nothing to do with flags, or 300 years of history; it’s about the future. And I think that the best way [...] of changing Scotland
However, in December, former convenor Robin Harper said that he would "absolutely vote No" in the independence referendum and offered his backing to the Better Together campaign, putting himself at odds with official party policy and its present leadership. Going on to say that he would like to help the Better Together and that there was a "significant minority" of Greens who were opposed to independence.
Uniquely amongst the parties in the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Green Party is open about and comfortable with the differences of opinion in the party on the constitutional issue, with co-convenor Patrick Harvie pointing out that "even the very firm supporters of independence within the Greens tend to be more strongly motivated by other aspects of our political agenda." Academic James Dennison argued that after the referendum, the party gained support from independence supporters who "supported independence not as an expression of nationalism but as a route to a fairer society."
Impacts of the referendum
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 2013 |
1,178
|
| 2014 |
7,800
|
| 2015 |
9,000
|
After the independence referendum, the Scottish Greens experienced a massive surge in membership, including future co-leader Lorna Slater. The party claimed that, for a period in the day after the referendum, it gained a member every 15 seconds. It led to the party's membership becoming younger, and significantly more female alongside being able to hire more paid staff than ever before. The party's co-convenor Patrick Harvie, became a recognised figure on Scotland's political stage
The party's then co-convenors, Harvie and Chapman were chosen by the party to serve as its representatives on the post-referendum Smith Commission with former Scottish Labour First Minister Henry McLeish arguing the party could make a 'a strong case' for more devolved powers on the commission. The party argued that full powers on income tax, the bulk of welfare policy, energy, transport, employment law and human rights law should be transferred to Holyrood.
Chapman's challenges
In 2015, Maggie Chapman was challenged as co-convenor by activist Zara Kitson in the party's internal elections. Kitson was second on the party list for Glasgow in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election and was nominated by former MSP Mark Ruskell and endorsed by MSP and former convenor Alison Johnstone. The election was notable as it was the first time an incumbent co-convenor faced a serious challenge, all to date had been re-elected as the sole nominees.
The party's selection process of co-convenor Maggie Chapman as lead candidate in the North East Scotland region for the 2016 election attracted controversy. After she won selection by local members in late 2015, some members started a petition calling for her de-selection and replacement with a local candidate, whose signatures included fellow list candidates Green councillor Martin Ford and former Green councillor Debra Storr, as well as former Green MSP Shiona Baird. Then, allegations emerged of ballot irregularities in the selection process, although they were dismissed by the party's Elections and Campaigns Committee. There was also controversy around claims Chapman had pretended to have a doctorate, although the party claimed it was an administrative error.
The party's national council ruled that the ballot result was the "settled will of the party" and told Ford and Storr to cease contesting it or resign as candidates. Both chose to resign both as candidates and party members.
Brexit and 2016 Scottish Parliament election
In the leadup to the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the party campaigned with a focus on tax-rises for the rich, with co-convneor Patrick Harvie saying it would be “agenda item one” in any post-election talks with the SNP. The party's key message was that "a better Scotland needs a bolder Holyrood" and the party aimed to elect 7 MSPs In the next parliament, Greens set out to be the SNP's "constructive opposition".
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the party won 6 more seats, its best result since 2003. The result pushed the party ahead of the Scottish Liberal Democrats in seat numbers, making it the fourth-largest party for the first time. The Scottish Greens also elected the youngest MSP ever, Ross Greer at the age of 21.
In the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, the party called for a 'Remain' vote. After the vote to Leave, co-leader Patrick Harvie argued that Scotland "must keep open every option for protecting ourselves from this threat" Subsequently, the party began more strongly advocating for a second Scottish independence referendum.
In February 2015, the party announced that it would field candidates in 32 seats for the 2015 United Kingdom general election with 40% of their candidates being women. In 2017 the party generated some controversy by standing only 3 candidates at the general election. In the 2019 general election they contested significantly more seats in 22 constituencies. They failed to win any seats and lost their deposit in every contest.
The 2017 Scottish local elections saw 'real progress' with the party returning 14 councillors across Scotland, with 8 in the City of Edinburgh Council.
Inaugural co-leaders and first Green ministers (2019–present)
Leadup to the 2021 Scottish Parliament election
The Scottish Greens contested the 2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom, with co-convenor Maggie Chapman as lead candidate and rising stars Lorna Slater and Gillian Mackay also on the list. The party campaigned on a message of a "just and welcoming Scotland at the heart of Europe" but failed to elect any MEPs despite other Green parties having significant success across Europe.
In August 2019, a newly adopted constitution by the party led to the 2019 Scottish Green Party co-leadership election, where Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater were elected as co-leaders with 43.1% and 30.2% respectively.
2021 Scottish Parliament election and power-sharing agreement
In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election the party won a record eight Holyrood seats. Alison Johnstone was one of the eight MSPs elected for the Scottish Greens in the election, however on 13 May 2021 she gave up her party affiliation in order to become Holyrood's Presiding Officer as the position is a politically neutral role. Thus the party's number of elected representatives in the Scottish Parliament was reduced from 8 MSPs to 7.
After two months of negotiations, on 20 August 2021, the Scottish Greens announced a new power-sharing agreement with the SNP Scottish Government. While not an official coalition, for the first time in Scottish and UK history it offered the Greens two ministerial posts. The agreement will see both parties pledge for a second referendum on Scottish independence, an increase investment in active travel and public transport, enhancing tenants rights, a ten-year £500m Just Transition and establishing a National Care Service.
Some commentators on the left praised the agreement for its commitments to railway decarbonisation, rent controls and a just transition fund for the North East of Scotland.
The agreement faced some criticism inside the party for not being radical enough. In openDemocracy, member Adam Ramsay argued that "beyond rent controls and tenants’ rights, few of the proposed ideas [in the agreement] mean picking real fights with people with much power." but also noted that due to the party's more radical membership having greater power than most political parties, that could make the government more radical. Outside the party, some commentators thought the agreement was too radical and thought the party was a "dangerous, extremist influence on [the] government" and it was condemned by the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour Academic Professor Nicola McEwen suggested that the agreement "sometimes pushes [the SNP] further" particularly on climate, social and fair work policy. She also argues that the two parties had already converged on many issues over the preceding decade. However, critics and supporters of the party agree that the agreement has allowed the party to have a lot of influence on the Scottish government.
The deal was subject to Scottish Green Party members approving the deal as "its constitution requires a power-sharing deal at Holyrood to be put to a full vote of the membership, and a two-thirds majority vote by its ruling council". On 28 August 2021, it was announced that Scottish Green members had backed the deal, with 83% of members who took part in an extraordinary general meeting voting in favour of the deal with some proxy votes still to be counted. The deal then passed the required two-thirds majority of the party's National Council, meaning the deal was then formally ratified.
Success in local government
The 2022 Scottish local elections saw a record result for the party, doubling its seat count to 35. The party elected councillors for the first time in North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Shetland, East Lothian, Moray and the Scottish Borders. The party committed to introduce policies in local government based on climate and social justice.
In the central belt cities, the party also got closer to power, either supporting a minority administration or attempting to form a coalition with the SNP in Glasgow and Edinburgh:
- In Glasgow City Council, the party agreed a 'co-operation' deal with the SNP to support their minority administration. While it does not bind the party to support the administration long-term, it gave the party a greater say on the development of the council's strategic plan and the chair in the Net Zero Committee in return for voting in favour of the SNP forming the administration. The party in Glasgow also secured first place in several council wards for the first time, in Hillhead and Langside.
- In Edinburgh, the party attempted to form a coalition with the SNP, but their effort was defeated after Labour won Conservative support to form a minority administration. Later, the two parties also proposed a joint budget, which was also defeated. The party key aims included reducing the number of short term lets in the city, introducing a levy on carparking spaces to be paid by big employers and doubling the number of council homes in the city.
- In North Lanarkshire, sole Green councillor Claire Williams was part of the balance of power, and supported the formation of a SNP minority administration. However, after a scandal in the SNP caused defections to Labour, the administration fell.
Entry into Government
At their national conference in October 2022, the Scottish Greens voted to suspend the clause of their constitution which gave members of the Green Party of England and Wales automatic rights to attend meetings of the Scottish Greens, over the issue of transphobia.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the party chose not to attend any of the events surrounding her death, bar a service of thanksgiving at St Giles' Cathedral, or around the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla, stating that many viewed the monarchy as a 'tiresome spectacle'. Co-leader Patrick Harvie called for a 'national debate' on the future of the monarchy
On 15 February 2023, Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party, pending a leadership election. The party praised her leadership, calling her the "most significant figure of the devolution era". Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands Ariane Burgess said she had left a "solid foundation" to respond to the climate emergency and deliver independence.
A key issue in the following leadership campaign became around the continuation of the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens, with Humza Yousaf backing it, but Kate Forbes and Ash Regan criticising it. At the party's spring conference, co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater declared that while they had "so much more to deliver" in government, they would not do so at "any cost". These comments were widely interpreted as meaning that the Scottish Greens would not support a government led by Forbes or Regan. This speculation was later confirmed by Harvie, stating that due to Forbes positions "[the power-sharing agreement] would need to be ended".
We will only vote for the SNP’s new Leader to become First Minister if they are committed to the politics of cooperation. If they respect and share our values of equality and environmentalism. [...] These are fundamental issues for us. They are non-negotiable.
— Lorna Slater, speaking at the party's 2023 Spring Conference
Inside the party, the Scottish Green Party Trade Union Group called for a 'debate' at an extraordinary general meeting on the future of the agreement. However, elements in the party doubted they had the support to secure the calling of an EGM.
After the election of Humza Yousaf as Leader of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Green Party National Council unanimously voted to direct its MSPs to vote for Yousaf to become First Minister and continue their power-sharing agreement. The party's co-leaders continue to serve as ministers in the Yousaf government.
Successes and challenges in government
In government, the party introduced the first government bill from a Green Minister, with the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 to freeze rents and ban evictions in response to the cost of living crisis. In 2023, the two Green ministers introduced proposals to creating two new national parks, introducing rent controls, a new draft biodiversity strategy and consulted on home heating legislation. The party also had impact in areas outwith its ministers' control, with the end of peak-time rail fares, increased funding for active travel and additional income tax bands for higher earners.
However, the party also faced significant challenges with some of its key policies. Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme, which was spearheaded by co-leader and circularity minister Lorna Slater, was delayed until at least 2025 as a result of the UK Government blocking the inclusion of glass bottles in the scheme. A commitment to protect 10% of Scotland's seas as Highly Protected Marine Areas was also dropped, and the party had concerns with SNP's pledging a council tax freeze.
The party also suffered from some internal issues, with a co-chair and co-convenor of both its National Council and Executive resigning prematurely and both co-leaders commenting that the party had experienced "an an increase in factionalism and hostile behaviour". On 3 August 2023, Robin Harper, the party's first MSP resigned claiming the party had 'lost the plot' and announced he would vote Labour in the next UK general election.
In an interview at the party's Autumn conference, co-leader Lorna Slater suggested that independence was not a "red line" for any future power-sharing deals with Scottish Labour, re-affirming similar comments during the independence referendum.
Nonetheless, the party also enjoyed an unprecedented level of support. Some within the party commentators lauded the party's role in government for raising income tax and securing better representation for trades unions in the public sector
Ideology
The Scottish Greens are a party whose ideology is shaped by green politics, Scottish independence, Scottish republicanism and pro-Europeanism.
Co-leader Patrick Harvie has described the party's ideals as:
Of a liveable planet.
Of justice, equality and dignity for all people.
Of Scotland’s right to decide its own future - not because of attachment to one flag or another, but because of a clear, compelling vision of what a Green Scotland could be.
Eco-socialism
There are internal factions which seek to transform the party's ideology to be eco-socialist. In the party's 2019 internal elections, the Green Futures Group ran a slate of candidates on a platform of a Green New Deal, eco-socialism and independence. The group's candidates were all elected and continue to hold key positions in the party as of 2019. In 2015, future MSP and then co-convenor Maggie Chapman, former MSP Mark Ballard and influential member Peter McColl were reported to be part of a "leftist grouping inside the Greens". In 2023, the Scottish Green Party Trade Union Group called the party's parliamentary group a "group of ecosocialist MSPs in their own right.”
There are many of us who are socialists, is the party as a whole socialist? I’d like to say yes, but I don’t know if I can…
— then party co-convenor Maggie Chapman, speaking to Common Weal, 2014
In 2021, the party's conference backed a motion calling for the party to "towards building a democratic ecosocialist system", which was taken by some internal groups, such as the Scottish Young Greens as the party backing eco-socialism. The party's critics on the Labour left like Coll McCail and Finn Smyth claim that it has taken a neo-liberal turn in office and is simply maintaining the status-quo by reneging on commitments like the establishment of a government owned energy company. Radical Independence Campaign co-founder Cat Boyd noted that while the party had been "a consistent ally of the radical left" she was concerned that may end as the party got closer to power due to "the temptations of ‘pragmatic’ coalition government".
McCail and Smyth's criticism was engaged with by the party. Green MSP Ross Greer who co-authored the party's power-sharing agreement with the SNP Scottish Government argued that they had identified the wrong problem, and that the Government's lacking capital borrowing powers was what forced the end of the policies they discussed.
After the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, in which she was elected as a MSP, Chapman argued that the left had "won the Scottish Green Party". She argued the election was the first which the party "run a campaign on the basis of policies rather than personalities or tactical voting messages" and that those policies emphasised social justice and climate justice.
Four principles
According to the party's website, the Scottish Greens are committed to forming a sustainable society and are guided by four interconnected principles:
- Ecology: "Our environment is the basis upon which every society is formed. Whenever we damage our environment, we damage ourselves. Respect for our environment is therefore essential".
- Equality: "A society that is not socially and economically just cannot be sustainable. Only when released from immediate poverty can individuals be expected to take responsibility for wider issues. Our society must be founded on cooperation and respect. We campaign hard against discrimination on grounds of gender, race, sexuality, disability, age or religion".
- Radical democracy: "Politics is too often conducted in a polarised, confrontational atmosphere and in a situation remote from those that it affects. We must develop decentralised, participative systems that encourage individuals to control the decisions that affect their own lives".
- Peace and nonviolence: "Violence at all levels of human interaction must be rejected and succeeded by relations characterised by flexibility, respect and fairness".
The party claims that, taken together, these principles give the party a holistic view that is in common with all Green parties around the world.
Policy
While associated mainly with environmentalist policies, the party has a history of support for communitarian economic policies, including well-funded, locally controlled public services within the confines of a steady-state economy, is supportive of proportional representation and takes a progressive approach to social policies. The party is also strongly opposed to both nuclear power and the Trident nuclear programme.
The party's 2019 manifesto included pledges to implement a green new deal to tackle climate change and for future investment, introduce a universal basic income, phase in a four-day week, support rent controls and treat drug use as a health issue rather than a crime.
Climate change
The party favours strong action for climate change, including phasing out single-use plastic, the creation of more Low Emission Zones in cities, a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and fossil fuel boilers. The party also seeks "ambitious" climate action, and in 2019 abstained on the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill claiming it was not "anywhere near meaningful action to address the climate emergency". However, the BBC News journalist Philip Sim argues that since then the party position has shifted to "hitting these [carbon emissions reduction targets] than stretching them"
The party is also against oil and gas developments in Scotland such as the proposed Cambo and Rosebank oil and gas fields.
In government, the party's ministers announced a ban on new waste incinerators, a new biodiversity strategy,
Transport
The Greens are against plans to dual the A9 and the A96, arguing that the plans are incompatible with climate commitments. Instead, the party advocates for the expansion of the Scotland's railway network, such as a tunnel across the Forth constructed between Leith and Kirkcaldy, an aim to connect every town with more than 5,000 people to the railway network and to completely electrify the Scottish network by 2030.
The Scottish Greens also supported the nationalisation of ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper, and advocates for the full nationalisation of the rest of the UK rail network. The party, as part of its co-operation agreement with the Scottish Government scrapped peak-time rail fares for at least one year.
The party also supports a wider nationalisation of all rail, bus and ferry companies, alongside further investment in walking, wheeling and cycling.
Scottish independence
It is the only party other than the SNP to both support Scottish independence and have representation in the Scottish Parliament.
In an independent Scotland, the Scottish Green Party supports Scotland having its own currency if it were to become an independent country. The party has said this would be in order to establish full economic independence, rather than being tied to the pound sterling.
The party backed the Scottish government's attempt to hold a second Scottish independence referendum in 2023, and made it a key part of its 2022 autumn conference.
LGBT+ rights
The party has campaigned strongly for LGBT rights, with the party publishing a specific LGBT+ manifesto co-produced with its LGBT wing. The party supports gender self-identification, banning conversion therapy, improving LGBT+ inclusive education and improving transgender healthcare. The party has also campaigned to get more non-binary people into politics.
We will only vote for the SNP’s new Leader to become First Minister if... they agree that trans rights are human rights. [...] These are fundamental issues for us. They are non-negotiable.
Co-leader Lorna Slater, speaking at the party's 2023 Spring Conference.
The party was the only party to support same-sex civil partnerships upon its entry to the Scottish Parliament in 1999. n 2003, the party's MSP Patrick Harvie introduced a bill to allow civil partnerships in Scotland. The bill failed, but was key to creating the debate on the topic which let to its passing at Westminster.
The Scottish Greens have also firmly supported reforms to the Gender Recognition Act 2004. The party's MSP Andy Wightman, and later, the party's first MSP Robin Harper both left the party over the policy. Despite this, the party remained committed to the policy, arguing that "...human rights, including the rights of trans people, are at the core of our vision and have been since our party was founded over 30 years ago". The party opposed the UK Government's veto of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Leadership
The Scottish Greens is led by a six-person leadership team. This is made up of the co-leaders of the party, the co-chairs of the national executive of the party and the co-convenors of the party council.
The political leadership roles are generally held by a present or aspiring elected politician, while internal leadership is held by a mixture of ordinary members and aspiring or elected politicians.
Political leadership
Alongside many other green parties, the Scottish Greens initially shunned the idea of a singular leader, despite key party figures like Robin Harper commenting that it must "have an official Leader and face to represent it if it is to sustain political effectiveness." Increasingly, during Patrick Harvie's tenure as co-convenor, the role became more like a traditional party leader, as his profile as an MSP tended to overshadow his fellow co-convenor. In 2019, as a part of internal party reforms, the role of two co-leaders was introduced, with Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater elected as inaugural co-leaders. A maximum of one of the co-leaders may identify as a man.
Unlike party leaders in most other political parties, the Scottish Greens' co-leaders are only elected for two year terms, after which they may seek re-election. Generally, incumbents are returned without opposition, but the inaugural co-leadership election, and 2015 co-convenorship election were contested.
For Electoral Commission registration purposes, only one person may legally be named party leader. Initially, this 'leader' was selected from one of the parliamentary group, solely for that administrative purpose. However, since the introduction of the co-leaders they have taken it in turn to serve as 'leader' for that purpose.
| Co-leaders | Term start | Term end | Government | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Portrait | Name | |||
|
Patrick Harvie
MSP for Glasgow (2003–present) Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights (2021–present) |
|
Lorna Slater
MSP for Lothian (2021–present) Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (2021–present) |
1 August 2019 | Incumbent | Third Sturgeon Government |
Internal leadership
The other 4 members of the party's leadership team are drawn from its national council and executive. They serve for 2 year terms, and are elected by a ballot of party members.
Party Council
Between conferences, the Party Council provides the forum for strategic decisions, policy discussions, oversight and branch coordination. The council is composed of two delegates from branches, usually branch co-convenors, representative and special interest groups. Its decisions can only be overridden by a party conference or AGM.
The council is currently led by council co-convenors Laura Moodie and Kate Nevens.
Party Executive Committee
The National Executive oversees the day-to-day administration of the party. It is led by two co-chairs, directly elected by party members, and who manage the party staff and its volunteer-led National Committees which focus on specific party functions like policy development or engagement with the European Greens. Its decisions may be overridden by the party council or conference.
It is presently solely chaired by Ross Greer, after the resignation of Co-chair Ellie Gomersall in December 2023. This committee also oversees the work of the elected National Committees; Finance & Fundraising, Elections & Campaigns, Policy, Membership and International.
| National Executive Co-Chairs | Took office | Left office | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Portrait | Name | ||
|
Ross Greer
MSP for West of Scotland (2016–present) |
Vacant | 2019 (Greer) | Incumbent | |
| National Council Co-Chairs | Took office | Left office | |||
| Portrait | Name | Portrait | Name | ||
|
Laura Moodie
Lead candidate for South Scotland (2021) |
Kate Nevens
Lead candidate for Lothian (2021) |
2022 (Moodie)
2023 (Nevens) |
Incumbent | ||
Elected representatives
The Scottish Greens have representation in the Scottish Parliament and several Scottish councils. It does not have any representation in the House of Commons or the House of Lords, unlike its sister party the Green Party of England and Wales.
MSPs
All of the Scottish Green Party's members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) have been elected under the list in the Scottish Parliament. The party elected a record 8 MSPs in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. However the party's representation was reduced to 7 after Green MSP Alison Johnstone was elected as the Parliament's non-partisan Presiding Officer.
Previous MSPs
- John Finnie for Highlands and Islands. Finnie was elected Green within this region in May 2016, having previously been SNP then Independent. Stood down in 2021.
- Shiona Baird for North East Scotland. Baird served as party co-convener from 2004 to 2007.
- Chris Ballance for the South of Scotland.
- Mark Ballard for the Lothians.
- Robin Harper for the Lothians. Harper was the first elected Green parliamentarian in the UK and was the party's convener from the time of that position's creation in 1999 until 2002. He later served as one of its co-conveners from 2004 to 2008.
- Eleanor Scott for the Highlands and Islands. Scott was party convener from 2002 to 2004, and a co-convener of the party from 2008 to 2011.
- Andy Wightman was an MSP for the Lothian region 2016 to 2021. He was elected for the party in the 2016 election, but left in December 2020 after facing possible complaints and disciplinary action for the way he intended to vote on an amendment to the Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Bill. He had planned to vote against the party and for the amendment, in conflict with the party's policy on trans rights. He stated in his resignation letter that he felt the party had an "alienating and provocative" stance on trans rights.
- John Wilson, a member of the Greens, sat as an independent MSP in the 4th Scottish Parliament, having left the SNP in September 2014 because of its change in policy on NATO membership. He stood for the Greens in the 2016 election, but was unsuccessful.
- Alison Johnstone is an MSP for the Lothian and was elected Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, 13 May 2021, giving up her party affiliation on election to the role.
Councillors
Prior to the 2007 elections, the Party had only ever elected one councillor at local level: in May 1990, Roger (aka Rory) Winter, representing the Highland Green Party (Uainich na Gàidhealtachd), was elected in Nairn as Scotland's first Green regional councillor to the then Highland Regional Council. Cllr Winter broke away from the Greens in 1991 and continued his four-year term as an Independent Green Highlander.
The party made its first major breakthroughs at council level in the 2007 local elections, electing 8 councillors between Glasgow City and the City of Edinburgh Councils.
In the 2012 local elections this was increased to 14. The party elected councillors for the first time to Aberdeenshire, Stirling & Midlothian Councils.
At the 2017 local elections, the party returned a record 19 councillors, including elected councillors to Orkney Islands Council for the first time. However, the party lost its sole councillor on Midlothian Council.
The 2022 local elections saw another record number of Green councillors elected. 35 candidates gained seats across 13 local authorities, an increase of 16. This included the first ever Green councillors in North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Argyll & Bute, Clackmannanshire, Shetland, East Lothian, Moray and the Scottish Borders.
Electoral performance
Vote share represents the party's share in Scotland rather than the UK at large.
House of Commons
| Election | Scotland | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | Seats | ||
| 1997 | 0.1 |
0 / 72
|
|
| 2001 | 0.2 |
0 / 72
|
|
| 2005 | 1.1 |
0 / 59
|
|
| 2010 | 0.7 |
0 / 59
|
|
| 2015 | 1.3 |
0 / 59
|
|
| 2017 | 0.2 |
0 / 59
|
|
| 2019 | 1.0 |
0 / 59
|
|
Scottish Parliament
| Election | Constituency | Regional | Total seats | +/– | Rank | Government | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||||
| 1999 | 84,023 | 3.6 |
1 / 56
|
1 / 129
|
5th | Opposition | ||||
| 2003 | 132,138 | 6.9 |
7 / 56
|
7 / 129
|
6
|
5th | Opposition | |||
| 2007 | 2,971 | 0.1 |
0 / 73
|
82,584 | 4.0 |
2 / 56
|
2 / 129
|
 5
|
5th | Opposition |
| 2011 | 87,060 | 4.4 |
2 / 56
|
2 / 129
|
|
5th | Opposition | |||
| 2016 | 13,172 | 0.6 |
0 / 73
|
150,426 | 6.6 |
6 / 56
|
6 / 129
|
4
|
4th | Opposition |
| 2021 | 34,990 | 1.3 |
0 / 73
|
220,324 | 8.1 |
8 / 56
|
8 / 129
|
2
|
4th | Cooperation agreement |
Local councils
| Election | 1st pref votes |
% | Councillors | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 45,290 | 2.1 |
8 / 1,222
|
8
|
| 2012 | 36,000 | 2.3 |
14 / 1,223
|
6
|
| 2017 | 77,682 | 4.1 |
19 / 1,227
|
5
|
| 2022 | 110,791 | 6.0 |
35 / 1,227
|
16
|
European Parliament
| Election | Scotland | +/– | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | ||||
| 1994 | 23,304 | 1.6 |
0 / 8
|
|||
| 1999 | 57,142 | 5.8 |
0 / 8
|
|
||
| 2004 | 79,695 | 6.8 |
0 / 7
|
|
||
| 2009 | 80,442 | 7.3 |
0 / 6
|
|
||
| 2014 | 108,305 | 8.1 |
0 / 6
|
|
||
| 2019 | 129,603 | 8.2 |
0 / 6
|
|
||
See also
- Green politics
- List of advocates of republicanism in the United Kingdom
- List of environmental organisations
- Radical Independence Campaign
- Renewable energy in Scotland
- Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Related organisations
Further reading
- Dennison, James (2016). The Greens in British Politics: Protest, Anti-Austerity and the Divided Left. Palgrave.