Scottish Greens' new leaders, Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay, have pledged to advocate for a universal income, free bus travel, and increased taxes on high earners following a subdued leadership race.
Greer and Mackay, previously backbench MSPs at Holyrood, were elected co-conveners of the Scottish Greens with a notably low turnout of 12.7%, with only 950 of the party’s 7,500 members voting after a quiet summer campaign.
They acknowledged the turnout was concerning. Greer stated he had long believed the party needed structural and operational reforms to regain momentum. "We’ve turned into a bureaucratic entity rather than a dynamic democratic movement," he said. "Serious internal changes are necessary if we are to expand."
Mackay dismissed claims of embarrassment but admitted the low participation was troubling. "We need to understand why so few members voted," she said.
The leadership contest gained attention after Patrick Harvie, the UK’s longest-serving party leader, stepped down earlier this year due to health reasons after 17 years in the role. Harvie had guided the Scottish Greens into government in 2021, marking the first time the party shared power in the UK through a historic agreement with Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP.
His former co-leader, Lorna Slater, who was widely expected to win, lost narrowly to Greer in the final vote by 13 votes. Mackay secured her victory in the first round with 34%, suggesting members sought a shift in direction. She has been recognized for her work on abortion clinic buffer zones and efforts against single-use vapes and for free bus travel for young people.
The outcome may influence the ongoing leadership election for the Greens in England and Wales, set for 2 September, which has seen more debate over the party’s direction compared to Scotland’s relatively peaceful race.
Greer and Mackay expressed support for Zack Polanski, the frontrunner in the England and Wales contest. Speaking in Edinburgh, Mackay—who will remain on maternity leave until January—highlighted priorities such as NHS improvements, a shorter workweek, and universal basic income. "Work should enable people to thrive, not just get by," she said. While unsure of the exact cost of a universal income, some estimates place it at £7 billion or more.
Greer, a key figure in the party’s cooperation with the SNP, emphasized the need for internal renewal to strengthen their political influence.
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