MSPs Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay have been elected as the new co-leaders of the Scottish Greens. The pair replace Patrick Harvie, who did not seek re-election, and Lorna Slater, who was narrowly defeated in the leadership contest. Harvie was Holyrood’s longest-serving leader after 17 years in the role, while Slater had held the post alongside him since 2019. Greer and Mackay also saw off a challenge from Green member Dominic Ashmole, who unsuccessfully stood for the party in the 2024 general election.
The contest was decided in a ballot of 950 Scottish Green members, with a turnout rate of 12.5%. Mackay won in the first round with 34% of the vote. Greer then defeated Slater in the second round by 317 votes to 304. Aged 31, Greer is the youngest leader of a party at Holyrood since the devolved parliament was set up in 1999. The West Scotland MSP also holds the record as the youngest ever MSP after being elected aged 21 in 2016.
Mackay, 33, has been MSP for Central Scotland since 2021. She successfully spearheaded the bill creating buffer zones at abortion clinics. Mackay said the election result marked a “generational shift” in the leadership of the party. She told a news conference in Edinburgh: “Together, Ross and I will lead with courage and listen with intent, with members at the heart of our movement.”
Citing the cost of living and climate crises, Greer said Scotland was “rigged” in favour of the super-rich, big polluters and “greedy landlords”. He said: “To fix this country that’s who we need to take on and that’s who we need to defeat. We will be the party brave enough to take on the rich and powerful. To take on these elites.” Greer also vowed to take on “bigots and the conmen” directing anger at the most vulnerable people in society.
The result is a blow for Slater, who alongside Harvie was the first green politician in the UK to serve as a government minister after signing a power-sharing deal with the SNP in 2021. That deal collapsed in April last year, leading to Humza Yousaf’s resignation as first minister. Harvie, Holyrood’s longest-serving party leader, announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election.
At his conference speech in April, he hit out at a “small minority” within the Greens who he claimed were damaging the party and its reputation. Ashmole was eliminated in the first round of the contest after winning 66 votes. The new Green leaders have just nine months in charge before Holyrood elections in May, with the party hoping to better its record return of eight MSPs in 2021.
Greer has been a prominent member of the Greens since being elected almost a decade ago. He played a key role in a Green-SNP power-sharing deal – sparking criticism from some further to the left in his party. However, he said he would be “absolutely willing” to work with the SNP again, despite the party having ditched several policies championed by Greens ministers since John Swinney became first minister.
Mackay is best known in parliament for having successfully brought forward a member’s Bill that created buffer zones around abortion clinics. The legislation that came into force last year prevents any protests or vigils taking place within 200m. The Greens’ announcement took place in the Scottish Poetry Library – where the rhythm and rhyme of the party changed. There’s truly been a generational shift.
Patrick Harvie – described as having “defined the party” – is retiring and Lorna Slater has been ousted. The pair were the first Green government ministers in the UK as they shared power with the SNP – but the romance ended in tragedy. Perhaps it’s no surprise Lorna Slater is out as members look for something different. However, the turnout was poor at 12.5% and the contest against Ross Greer in the second round of voting was a very tight run thing.
Gillian Mackay – who got through on the first round – is confident they can motivate the membership to get the vote out. She and Ross Greer dismissed claims of a “civil war” in the party affecting turnout – saying that was overblown but there certainly has been deep internal strife. Looking outward, polling has suggested they could claim a record number of MSPs at next year’s Holyrood election and could be the kingmakers in parliament.
That’s despite the agenda rather drifting away from Green thinking, with Greer talking about a “sense of hope disappearing”. Even with the collapse of the Bute House agreement, both new co-leaders have a warm relationship with the SNP leader John Swinney. They proclaim what they view as their achievements in government and say they are willing to deliver their ideas – and with their pro-independence stance that could mean a door to the SNP is left very much open.
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