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Patrick Harvie Steps Down as Scottish Greens Co-Convener
Patrick Harvie, who holds the distinction of being the longest-serving parliamentary leader in the UK, has announced his decision to resign as co-convener of the Scottish Greens after an impressive tenure of nearly 17 years.
The Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 2003, the 52-year-old Harvie has recently taken a leave of absence from the Scottish Parliament in order to undergo medical surgery and recovery. He revealed on Wednesday that he will not participate in the upcoming party leadership election scheduled for this summer.
In his statement, Harvie expressed that it has been “an extraordinary privilege” to lead the party. He made history as the first Green politician in the UK to assume a governmental role, partnering with Lorna Slater, his co-convener, in a power-sharing agreement with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2021.
Reflecting on the evolution of the party, Harvie noted, “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.”
During his tenure as a junior minister, Harvie was instrumental in implementing significant policies, including a rent freeze and enhanced housing rights. He successfully advocated for progressive public transport initiatives, which included free bus travel for individuals under 21, and initiated a pilot project aimed at eliminating peak rail fares, though this project was later discontinued.
The power-sharing agreement, however, came to an abrupt end amid tensions when Humza Yousaf, who succeeded Sturgeon as SNP leader and First Minister, cited that several Green policies were detrimental to the SNP’s public support and unilaterally terminated the arrangement.
Under Harvie’s leadership, the Scottish Greens became a decidedly pro-independence party and exerted a substantial influence on tax increase measures targeting higher earners in Holyrood. He also became a strong advocate for transgender rights, a position that led to some internal conflicts within the party, with notable figures resigning and concerns raised over restrictions on free speech.
Scotland has faced ongoing criticism from the UK Committee on Climate Change regarding its climate policies, a situation that persisted even during the Greens’ participation in government.
As the party looks to the future, it remains uncertain whether Lorna Slater will seek reelection as co-convener. There are indications that fellow MSPs Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay are strong contenders for the leadership position. Greer is viewed as the most senior candidate, while Mackay has recently garnered recognition for her efforts in enacting Scotland’s new abortion clinic buffer zone laws and addressing issues surrounding single-use vapes.
Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, commented on Harvie’s impact, stating that his legacy “will be marked every time a young person gets on public transport free of charge; with every renter who is able to keep a roof over their heads because of protections that Patrick secured; and with every kilowatt of clean renewable power that Scotland produces because of Green policies.”
Source
www.theguardian.com