Scottish Green Party Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba | |
|---|---|
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| Co-Leaders | |
| Council Co-Convenors |
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| Executive Co-Chair |
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| Founded | 1990; 35 years ago (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[2] |
| Membership(November 2025) | 9,000+ |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-left[6] toleft-wing[9] |
| European affiliation | European Green Party |
| International affiliation | Global Greens |
| Colours | Green |
| Slogan | For People. For Planet.[10] |
| Scottish seats in the House of Commons | 0 / 57 |
| Scottish Parliament | 7 / 129 |
| Councillors in Scotland[11] | 31 / 1,226 |
| Election symbol | |
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| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
greens | |
TheScottish Greens, also known as theScottish Green Party (Scottish Gaelic:Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba[ˈpʰaːrˠʃtʲiˈuəɲənəˈhal̪ˠapə]), are agreenpolitical party inScotland. The party has 7 MSPs of 129 in theScottish Parliament, and holds 31 of the 1,226 councillors at local government level in Scotland. The party held two ministerial posts in theScottish Government underFirst MinistersNicola Sturgeon andHumza Yousaf respectively, followinga power-sharing agreement with the SNP effective from August 2021 until the end of theBute House Agreement in April 2024, marking the first time Green Party politicians formed part of a government in the UK.
The Scottish Greens were created in 1990 when the formerGreen Party separated into two independent parties, representing Scotland andEngland and Wales. The party is affiliated to theGlobal Greens and theEuropean Green Party. Party membership increased dramatically following the2014 Scottish independence referendum,[12] during which it supported Scotland regaining itsindependence from the United Kingdom.[13]
The Scottish Green Party originated as the Scottish branch of theEcology Party, founded in 1978 byLeslie Spoor.[14] The Ecology Party became theUKGreen Party and it remained a constituent party until 1990, when the Scottish Green Party became a separate entity.
The1990 Highland Regional Council election gave the Greens their first ever councillor in the UK.[15] Roger (aka Rory) Winter, representing the Highland Green Party (Known inScottish Gaelic asUainich na Gàidhealtachd), was elected inNairn. However, Cllr Winter broke away from the Greens in 1991 and continued his four-year term as an Independent Green Highlander.
In the first election to this Parliament, in 1999, the Scottish Green Party got oneMember of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) elected by proportional representation,Robin Harper, the UK's first elected Green parliamentarian.
In the2003 Scottish Parliament election, the Scottish Greens added six new MSPs to their previous total.[16] The result was a surprise for the party.[17] Afterwards, Harper stood for election forFirst Minister, securing six votes.[18]
Despite the breakthrough in Holyrood, the party failed to elect any candidates in the2004 European Parliament election,2005 Westminster elections.
In the2007 Scottish Parliament election, the party lost five seats inHolyrood, leaving the party with just two MSPs. The result was disappointing as polls initially suggested the party would remain with seven MSPs.[19][20] However, in the council elections, taking place under the newSingle Transferable Vote voting system, they gained three Councillors on theCity of Edinburgh Council and five Councillors onGlasgow City Council.
Co-convenor Robin Harper blamed the loss on spoiled ballot papers and the campaign focusing on larger parties.[21]
Despite the loss of MSPs, the party gained influence with the newSNP government. On 11 May, the Greens signed an agreement with theScottish National Party (SNP), which meant that the Greens voted for Alex Salmond as First Minister and supported his initial Ministerial appointments.[22][23] In return, the SNP backed aclimate 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 nominatePatrick 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.[22] But they left open the door to further negotiations should theScottish Liberal Democrats join theFirst 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
— thenMSPRobin Harper, speaking toBBC Scotland.[22]
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 councillorAlison Johnstone in November 2007.[24]
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 MSPEleanor Scott, Glasgow councillor Nina Baker and Edinburgh councillorMaggie Chapman.[25] The role of female co-convenor was won by Scott.[26][27]
During the 2009 Scottish budget process, the Scottish Greens demanded an £1 billion home insulation programme over 10 years.[28] The SNP Scottish Government offered £22 million for a 'pilot' project. The party decided this compromise was not acceptable.
On 28 January 2009, the two Green MSPs were instrumental in the defeat of the Government's budget.[29] The move surprised some commentators, whose leadership had until this point been marked with increased cooperation with the SNP government.[30]
A slightly amended version of the budget was passed easily the following week with the support of other parties.[31]
At the party's 2010 conference,Robin Harper announced that he would not seek re-election in the2011 Scottish Parliament election.[32][33] The party's election campaign was launched with a focus on investment into public services paid for by tax raises.[34][35] In the end, the party only elected 2 MSPs in the 2011.[36]
Despite not moving forward, the party was the only 'minor' Scottish party which achieved representation in theScottish Parliament after 2011 when theScottish Socialist Party,Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party and others lost seats.[37]
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In November 2013,Edinburgh councillorMaggie Chapman succeededGlasgow councillor Martha Wardrop as the party's female co-convenor after she did not seek re-election, whilePatrick Harvie was re-elected.[38][39]
During the2014 Scottish independence referendum, the party participated in the cross-partyYes Scotland campaign in favour ofScottish independence. Co-convenor Patrick Harvie sat on the campaign's advisory board.[40][41] Briefly, the party withdrew from Yes Scotland.[42] However, the party's 2012 conference overturned the decision.[43] The party also joined theRadical Independence Campaign.[44]
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.[44][45] He also argued that devolution did not go far enough to tackle issues important to Scots like austerity.[46]
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
— Patrick HarvieMSP, speaking about the party's vision of independence,New Statesman[46]
However, some in the party were opposed to independence, including former convenorRobin Harper who said that he would "absolutely vote No".[47]
| 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-leaderLorna Slater.[50][51][52] The party claimed that, for a period in the day after the referendum, it gained a member every 15 seconds.[53] The party's then co-convenors, Harvie and Chapman were chosen by the party to serve as its representatives on the post-referendumSmith Commission.[54][55] 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.[56]
In 2015,Maggie Chapman was challenged as co-convenor by activist Zara Kitson in the party's internal elections.[57] 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. Chapman was re-elected.
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In the leadup to the2016 Scottish Parliament election, the party campaigned with a focus on tax-rises for the rich, with co-convenorPatrick Harvie saying it would be "agenda item one" in any post-election talks with the SNP.[58][59] The party's selection process of co-convenor Maggie Chapman as lead candidate in theNorth East Scotland region for the 2016 election attracted controversy.[60][61][62]
In the2016 Scottish Parliament election, the party won 6 more seats, its best result since 2003.[63] The result pushed the party ahead of theScottish Liberal Democrats in seat numbers, making it the fourth-largest party for the first time.[64] The Scottish Greens also elected the youngest MSP ever,Ross Greer at the age of 21.[65]
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In the2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, the party called for a 'Remain' vote.[66] Subsequently, the party began more strongly advocating for asecond Scottish independence referendum.[67][68]
In February 2015, the party announced that it would field candidates in 32 seats for the2015 United Kingdom general election with 40% of their candidates being women.[69] In 2017 the party generated some controversy by standing only 3 candidates at thegeneral election.[70] In the 2019general election they contested significantly more seats in 22 constituencies. They failed to win any seats and lost their deposit in every contest.
The2017 Scottish local elections saw 'real progress' with the party returning 14 councillors across Scotland, with 8 in theCity of Edinburgh Council.[71]
The Scottish Greens contested the2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom, with co-convenorMaggie Chapman as lead candidate and rising starsLorna Slater andGillian Mackay also on the list.[72] The party 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 the2019 Scottish Green Party co-leadership election, where Patrick Harvie andLorna Slater were elected as co-leaders with 43.1% and 30.2% respectively.[73]
In the2021 Scottish Parliament election, the party won a record eight Holyrood seats.[74]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 becomeHolyrood's Presiding Officer as the position is a politically neutral role.[75]
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After two months of negotiations, on 20 August 2021, the Scottish Greens announced a newpower-sharing agreement with theSNPScottish Government.[76][77][78] While not anofficial coalition, for the first time in Scottish and UK history it offered the Greens two ministerial posts.[79][80][81] The agreement saw both parties pledge for a second referendum onScottish independence, an increase investment in active travel and public transport, enhancing tenants rights, a ten-year £500mJust Transition and establishing a National Care Service.[82][83] The agreement was approved by 83% of Scottish Green members, and secured a two-thirds majority vote of the party's National Council.[84] This was required under the party's constitution for the agreement to be ratified.
Academic ProfessorNicola McEwen suggested that the agreement "sometimes pushes [the SNP] further" particularly on climate, social and fair work policy.[85] She also argues that the two parties had already converged on many issues over the preceding decade. However, critics and supporters of the party agreed that the agreement had allowed the party to have a lot of influence on the Scottish government.[86][87]
After the election ofHumza Yousaf asLeader 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.[88][89] During the leadership campaign, the party had suggested it would not support a government led by the other candidates.[90][91] The party's co-leaders served as ministers in thefirst Yousaf government from March 2023 to April 2024.
In government, the party introduced thefirst government bill from a Green Minister.[92]
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On 3 August 2023,Robin Harper, the party's first MSP resigned, claiming the party had 'lost the plot'. Harper announced he would vote Labour in the2024 UK general election.[93] Nonetheless, the party also enjoyed an unprecedented level of support.[94]
The2022 Scottish local elections saw a record result for the party, doubling its seat count to 35.[95] The party elected councillors for the first time inNorth Lanarkshire,South Lanarkshire,Argyll and Bute,Clackmannanshire,Shetland,East Lothian,Moray and theScottish Borders. The party committed to introduce policies in local government based on climate and social justice.[96]
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 inGlasgow andEdinburgh.[97][98][99][100][101] In March 2024, theparty won its first ever by-election, electing Seonad Hoy as a councillor inHillhead ward in Glasgow.[102]
Following the announcement byMàiri McAllan that the Scottish Government's legally binding target to see a 75% percent reduction in emissions by 2030 would not be achieved and was to be scrapped, an extraordinary general meeting was called by Scottish Green Party members to discuss the future of the agreement. On 25 April 2024, following a meeting at Bute House, it was decided that the power sharing agreement would come to an end.[103][104]
The Scottish Greens contested in the2024 United Kingdom general election in Scotland.[105] The party run in 44 out of 57 seats and received 3.8% of the vote share in Scotland while gaining zero seats. This was the best general election result of the party's history.[106]
Aco-leadership election took place in August 2025, andGillian Mackay andRoss Greer were elected as the new co-leaders of the party.[1] Of the incumbent co-leaders,Lorna Slater failed in her bid for re-election, whilePatrick Harvie stood down. Harvie had announced his intention to step down as co-leader on 2 April 2025, but said he would remain in the post until the next scheduled election in the summer.[107] The new co-leaders will help lead the party into the2026 Scottish Parliament election.[108]
The Scottish Greens are fully independent, but work closely with the green parties fromIreland: theGreen Party Northern Ireland and theGreen Party of Ireland. Until October 2022, it also cooperated with theGreen Party of England and Wales; this partnership was suspended due to differences of opinion ontrans rights.[109] It is a full member of theEuropean Green Party. The party currently has seven MSPs and 32 councillors, but has no representation in Westminster.
Within days of the Scottish independence referendum being held, the membership swelled to more than 5,000.[48] Launching its manifesto for the2015 UK general election, the Scottish Greens stated a membership of over 8,500.[110] By October 2015 the party were holding their biggest ever conference, with their membership standing at more than 9,000.[49] In mid-2021 it had fallen back somewhat, reported as standing at 7,500.[111] In April 2023, the number of members had risen to 7,646.[112] On the 16 October 2025, membership had increased to 8,279,[113] and increasing to 8,680 a week later.[114] On 28 October 2025, the party announced that membership had reached 8,800[115] On 12 November 2025, the Scottish Greens membership increased to over 9,000.[116]
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.
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.
The party has a Conduct and Complaints Committee. In May 2024, it expelled thirteen members after a disciplinary investigation.[117][118] Those expelled were accused of breaching the party's code of conduct by signing the eight-point Scottish Green Declaration For Women's Sex-Based Rights that asserted that "sex is a biological reality", of which it was complained made the party less safe for transgender and non-binary members.[119][117] The party has stated that "trans-exclusionary individuals of any kind are not welcome as members".[117]
The party is made up of branches, who usually cover one or more local authority areas, and meet on a regular basis.
The Scottish Greens have six self-organised representation groups:[120]
These groups have additional meetings and discussions which are separate from the main party meetings.
The Scottish Greens are a party whose ideology is shaped bygreen politics,Scottish independence,Scottish republicanism andpro-Europeanism.[121][122]
Co-leader Patrick Harvie has described the party's ideals as:[123]
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.
According to the party's website, the Scottish Greens are committed to forming asustainable society and are guided by four interconnected principles:
The party claims that, taken together, these principles give the party aholistic view that is in common with allgreen parties around the world.[124]
There are internal factions which seek to transform the party's ideology to beeco-socialist.[125][126] 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.[127] The group's candidates were all elected and hold key positions in the party as of 2019.[128] In 2015, future MSP and then co-convenorMaggie Chapman, former MSPMark Ballard and influential memberPeter McColl were reported to be part of a "leftist grouping inside the Greens".[60] McColl argued that Chapman's election and subsequent role as lead candidate in the2014 European Parliament election marked an increased socialist influence on the party.[129] In 2023, the Scottish Green Party Trade Union Group called the party's parliamentary group a "group of ecosocialist MSPs in their own right."[130]
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…
In 2021, the party's conference backed a motion calling for the party to work "towards building a democratic ecosocialist system", which was taken by some internal groups, such as theScottish Young Greens as the party backing eco-socialism.[132][133] The party's critics on theLabour left like Coll McCail and Finn Smyth claim that it has taken aneo-liberal turn in office and is simply maintaining the status-quo by reneging on commitments like the establishment of a government owned energy company.[133]Radical Independence Campaign co-founderCat 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".[134]
McCail and Smyth's criticism was engaged with by the party. Green MSPRoss Greer who co-authored the party'spower-sharing agreement with theSNPScottish 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.[135]
After the2021 Scottish Parliament election, in which she was elected as an MSP, Chapman argued that the left had "won the Scottish Green Party".[136] 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 emphasisedsocial justice andclimate justice.
While associated mainly withenvironmentalist policies, the party has a history of support for communitarian economic policies, including well-funded, locally controlled public services within the confines of asteady-state economy, is supportive ofproportional representation and takes a progressive approach to social policies. The party is also strongly opposed to bothnuclear power and theTrident nuclear programme.[137][138][139] The Scottish Greens opposed theWar in Afghanistan, theIraq War, war in Libya, and theSyrian civil war.[140]
The party's 2019 manifesto included pledges to implement a green new deal to tackle climate change and for future investment, the introduction of auniversal basic income, the phasing in of afour-day week, support for rent controls and treating drug use as a health issue rather than a crime.[141]
The party favours strong action to combat climate change, including phasing out single-use plastic, the creation of more Low Emission Zones in cities and a ban on the sale of new petrol cars, diesel cars and fossil fuel boilers.[142] 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".[143] However, theBBC News journalist Philip Sim argued in 2021 that since then the party position has shifted to "hitting these [carbon emissions reduction targets] than stretching them".[144]
The party is also against oil and gas developments in Scotland, such as the proposedCambo andRosebank oil and gas fields.[144]
In government, the party's ministers announced a ban on new waste incinerators and a new biodiversity strategy.[145]
The Greens are against plans to dual theA9 and theA96, arguing that the plans are incompatible with climate commitments.[146] Instead, the party advocates for the expansion of Scotland's railway network, such as atunnel across the Forth constructed betweenLeith andKirkcaldy, 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.[147]
The Scottish Greens also supported the nationalisation ofScotRail andCaledonian Sleeper, and advocates for "the whole of Scotland's railways – both track and train – to be brought into public ownership".[148][149][150] The party, as part of its co-operation agreement with theScottish Government scrapped peak-time rail fares for at least one year.[151]
The party also supports a wider nationalisation of all rail, bus and ferry companies, alongside further investment in walking, wheeling and cycling.[152]
It is the second largest party to both supportScottish independence and have representation in the Scottish Parliament. At the party's 2005 conference, a motion passed to supportScottish independence.[153]
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 thepound sterling.[154][155][156]
The party backed the Scottish government's attempt to hold asecond Scottish independence referendum in 2023, and made it a key part of its 2022 autumn conference.[157]
However, in an interview at the party's 2023 autumn conference, co-leader Lorna Slater suggested that independence was not a "red line" for any future power-sharing deals withScottish Labour, re-affirming similar comments during the independence referendum.[158]
The party has campaigned strongly for LGBT rights, with the party publishing a specific LGBT+ manifesto co-produced with its LGBT wing.[159] The party supports gender self-identification, banningconversion therapy, improving LGBT+ inclusive education and improving transgender healthcare.[160] The party has also campaigned to get morenon-binary people into politics, and voted to 'suspend ties' with theGreen Party of England and Wales due totransphobia concerns.[161][162]
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.
The party was the only party to support same-sex civil partnerships upon its entry to theScottish Parliament in 1999.[164] In 2003, the party's MSPPatrick Harvie introduced a bill to allow civil partnerships in Scotland.[165] The bill failed, but was key to creating the debate on the topic which let to its passing at Westminster.[166]
The Scottish Greens have also firmly supported reforms to theGender Recognition Act 2004. The party's MSPAndy Wightman, and later, the party's first MSPRobin Harper both left the party over the policy.[93][167] 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 theUK Government's veto of theGender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.[168]
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.
Alongside many other green parties, the Scottish Greens initially shunned the idea of a singular leader, despite key party figures likeRobin Harper commenting that it must "have an official Leader and face to represent it if it is to sustain political effectiveness."[169][170][33] Increasingly, duringPatrick 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.[131][171][172] In 2019, as a part of internal party reforms, the role of two co-leaders was introduced, withPatrick Harvie andLorna Slater elected as inaugural co-leaders.[73] 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.[173] Generally, incumbents are returned without opposition, but the inauguralco-leadership election,[a] 2015 co-convenorship election, and2025 co-leadership election were contested.[57]
| Co-leaders | Term start | Term end | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Portrait | Name | ||
 | Patrick Harvie |  | Lorna Slater | 1 August 2019 | 31 August 2025 |
.jpg) | Gillian Mackay MSP forCentral Scotland (2021–present) | .jpg) | Ross Greer MSP forWest Scotland (2016–present) | 1 September 2025 | Incumbent |
The other four members of the party's leadership team are drawn from its national council and executive. They serve for two year terms, and are elected by a ballot of party members.
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 theEuropean Greens. Its decisions may be overridden by the party council or conference.
The party executive also oversees the work of the elected National Committees; Finance & Fundraising, Elections & Campaigns, Policy, Membership and International.
It is presently chaired by Carolynn Scrimgeour, previously a lead candidate for West Region in the2021 Scottish Parliament election.
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Greer MSP forWest of Scotland (2016–present) | August 2019 | August 2024 | Vacant | August 2019 | August 2021 | |
| Rachel Shanks | August 2021 | July 2022 | |||||
Ellie Gomersall
| August 2022 | December 2023[174] | |||||
| Vacant | December 2023 | March 2024 | |||||
| Jen Bell | September 2024 | March 2025 | Carolynn Scrimgeour Lead candidate forWest of Scotland (2021) | March 2024 | Incumbent | ||
| Vacant | March 2025 | June 2025 | |||||
| Zoe Clelland | June 2025 | Incumbent |
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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.[citation needed]
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mags Hall Lead candidate forMid Scotland and Fife (2021, 2026) | August 2019 | July 2022 | .jpg) | Chris Ballance
| August 2019 | July 2021 | |
| James Puchowski | July 2021 | March 2023 | |||||
| Laura Moodie Lead candidate forSouth Scotland (2021, 2026) | July 2022 | August 2025 | |||||
Kate Nevens
| March 2023 | August 2025 | |||||
| Joanne Gordon | September 2025 | Incumbent | Emily Sutton | September 2025 | Incumbent |
The Scottish Greens have representation in theScottish Parliament and several Scottishcouncils. It does not have any representation in theHouse of Commons or theHouse of Lords, unlike its sister party theGreen Party of England and Wales.
All of the Scottish Green Party'smembers of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) have been elected under thelist in the Scottish Parliament.[175] The party elected a record eight MSPs in the2021 Scottish Parliament election.[74] However the party's representation was reduced to seven after Green MSPAlison Johnstone was elected as the Parliament'snon-partisanPresiding Officer.
| Portrait | Name | Region | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Gillian MackayMSP | Central Scotland (2021–present) |
|
.jpg) | Ross GreerMSP | West of Scotland (2016–present) | |
.jpg) | Lorna SlaterMSP | Lothian (2021–present) |
|
.jpg) | Patrick HarvieMSP | Glasgow (2003–present) |
|
 | Ariane BurgessMSP | Highlands and Islands (2021–present) | Spokesperson forCommunities,Housing andRural Affairs |
 | Maggie ChapmanMSP | North East Scotland (2021–present) |
|
.jpg) | Mark RuskellMSP | Mid Scotland and Fife (2016–present, 2003–2007) | Spokesperson forTransport and theEnvironment |
Prior to the2007 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 inNairn as Scotland's first Green regional councillor to the thenHighland 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 eight councillors between Glasgow City and the City of Edinburgh Councils.
In the2012 local elections, this was increased to 14. The party elected councillors for the first time to Aberdeenshire, Stirling &Midlothian Councils.
At the2017 local elections, the party returned a record 19 councillors, including elected councillors toOrkney Islands Council for the first time. However, the party lost its sole councillor on Midlothian Council.
The2022 local elections saw another record number of Green councillors elected. Thirty five candidates gained seats across 13 local authorities, an increase of 16.[181] This included the first ever Green councillors in North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Argyll & Bute, Clackmannanshire, Shetland, East Lothian, Moray and the Scottish Borders.[182][183] In March 2024, theparty won its first ever by-election, electing Seonad Hoy as a councillor inHillhead ward in Glasgow.[102]
Vote share represents the party's share in Scotland rather than the UK at large.
| Election | Scotland | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | Seats | ||
| 1992 | 0.3 | 0 / 72 |  |
| 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 | |
| 2024 | 3.8 | 0 / 57 | |
| 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(2021–2024) |
| Opposition(2024–) | ||||||||||
| 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 / 1,226 | 16 |
| 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 | | ||
A hereditary monarchy is incompatible with Green principles of democracy, equality and fairness. We favour an elected Head of State.
A hereditary monarchy is incompatible with Green principles of democracy, equality and fairness. We favour an elected Head of State.
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