An update from Patrick Harvie MSP
A statement from Patrick Harvie MSP on his intention to step-down as Scottish Green Co-leader this summer
It has been an extraordinary privilege to hold leadership roles in the Scottish Green Party, first as Co-Convenor and then as part of our first ever Co-Leader team.
It has also been humbling to have had the support of party members to continue in these roles for such a long time. I’ve seen leaders of all other parties come and go, and I’ve had the chance to work with so many Greens around the country to advance the development of Green politics in Scotland.
The change over the years has been extraordinary. At the start of devolution few people regarded the Greens as a serious political force. But as we have grown, learned and developed we have become the most significant, sustained new movement in Scottish politics for generations. Given the growing urgency of the climate emergency, that movement is greatly needed.
Thanks to our groups in Parliament and in local councils, and our thousands of members around the country, we have built political credibility. When I took on a leadership role for the first time in 2008 we had just 2 MSPs, a handful of councillors and barely more than a thousand members. Since then, a period of extraordinary growth has led to a string of best-ever election results, with more MSPs and more councillors than ever before.
We have also taken the party into Government for the first time. This gave us the chance to deliver groundbreaking legislation like a rent freeze, provide free bus travel for ever more young people, challenge the divisive ‘culture war’ rhetoric, and invest in climate and nature action on a scale beyond anything seen before in Scotland.
It was also a period which saw our best ever polling and election results, sustained throughout our work in Government and despite relentless hostility directed at us by the political right.
Through it all, we have been the only party clearly making the case for the action needed to tackle the climate & nature emergency. Others are happy to set targets, but then actively resist the action needed to meet them.
I want to thank everyone who has given the party the opportunity to make progress, and given me the opportunity to play a role. There is far more work ahead of us, especially as we see both UK and Scottish Governments drag their feet on climate action, and too often continue the policies which have made our society less equal.
Scotland needs Green ideas to be put into practice. That means the Scottish Greens must remain on the path toward greater political impact, making change happen for people. I intend to put myself forward for selection as a candidate in 2026, an election which could see further gains for Green politics if we continue to bring professionalism, creativity and hard work to our task.
I’ve put in a decent stint. I’ve been glad to do so. But I won’t be part of the leadership team that fronts up that campaign. I’m optimistic to see the party choose the people who will do so. We’ve never been the kind of party that acts like a personality cult, or gives too much internal power to leaders. But the election of Co-Leaders in a pre-election year is an important moment for the party, in choosing its path forward.
I have no doubt we will hear positive, ambitious ideas from people with the drive, the talent and the professionalism to take the party forward toward greater success.