Co-leader_of_the_Scottish_Greens

Co-leaders of the Scottish Greens

Co-leaders of the Scottish Greens

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The co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party are the leaders of the Scottish Green Party. The incumbents are Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater who were elected in August 2019 as the inaugural co-leaders.[2][3][4] The co-leaders are responsible for the political leadership of the party, and act as its principle spokespersons.[5]

Quick Facts Type, Member of ...

The role was introduced in 2019, following constitutional changes in the party, replacing the co-convenors.[6] When the Scottish Green Party are a party in a coalition government, the co-leaders would usually become ministers in the government.

Position

The position of co-leaders of the party were created on 1 August 2019, due to changes in the party's constitution. The changes replaced the old co-conveners system with a new co-leader system. An election for this was held, which Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie won.[2]

The voting system used to elect the co-leaders is the Single Transferable Vote.[7] The constitution changes also stated that at least one of the leaders has to be a woman.[8] Unlike most political parties, Scottish Green co-leaders are only elected for two year terms.[9]

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.[10] However, since the introduction of the co-leaders they have taken it in turn to serve as 'leader' for that purpose.

Notable elections

Most co-leadership elections are only contested by the incumbents.[9][11] Some exceptions include:

Leaders

Convenors

More information Convenor, Took office ...

Co-Convenors

More information Term, Male Co-convenors ...

Co-Leaders

More information Term start, Term end ...

Co-Leaders in the Scottish Parliament

In 2019 Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie were elected Co-leaders of the Scottish Greens. As Slater was not an elected official, while Harvie was a long-standing Member of the Scottish Parliament, in the interest of gender-balancing senior female Green MSP Alison Johnstone was appointed Co-leader of the Green Parliamentary Group alongside Harvie.[22]

This arrangement ceased upon Slater's election to the Scottish Parliament in 2021.

More information Term start, Term end ...

References

  1. The office was known as co-convenor of the Scottish Greens until 2019.
  2. "Scottish Greens elect Harvie and Slater as leaders". BBC News. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  3. "Scottish Green co-leaders given ministerial roles". 30 August 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  4. "Scottish Greens to announce new co-leaders". Holyrood.com. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  5. "Scottish Greens to announce new co-leaders". Holyrood Website. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  6. "Scottish Greens elect Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater as co-leaders". BBC News. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  7. Jarvis, Chris (4 August 2019). "Changes at the top of the Scottish Green Party - UK Green news round up week 31 | Chris Jarvis". Bright Green. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  8. "Scottish Greens to announce new co-leaders". Holyrood Website. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  9. Harper, Robin; Bridgland, Fred (2011). Dear Mr Harper. Edinburgh: Birlinn. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-84158-934-3.
  10. Amery, Rachel (30 July 2021). "Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie re-elected as Scottish Greens' co-leaders". The Courier. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  11. "Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater elected first Scottish Greens co-leaders". Holyrood Website. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  12. "Scottish Greens elect Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater as co-leaders". BBC News. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  13. "SNP and Greens sign working deal". 11 May 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  14. "New co-leader for Scottish Greens". BBC News. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  15. "Scottish Greens". Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  16. "Scottish Greens appoint Alison Johnstone as new co-leader". BBC News. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2023.

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