New Leadership for Scottish Greens as Greer and Mackay Take the Helm
Published 28 August 2025
Highlights
- Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay have been elected as co-leaders of the Scottish Greens, succeeding Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater.
- The leadership election saw a low turnout of 12.5%, with 950 out of 7,500 members voting.
- Greer and Mackay plan to focus on universal income, free bus travel, and higher taxes on the wealthy.
- The leadership change comes after the collapse of a power-sharing deal with the SNP, highlighting internal party challenges.
- The new leaders have nine months to prepare for the Holyrood elections in May, aiming to surpass their previous record of eight MSPs.
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Rewritten Article
New Leadership for Scottish Greens as Greer and Mackay Take the Helm
The Scottish Greens have elected Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay as their new co-leaders, marking a significant shift in the party's leadership dynamics. This change follows the departure of Patrick Harvie, who stepped down after 17 years, and Lorna Slater, who was narrowly defeated in the leadership contest.
Leadership Election and Results
The leadership election, which concluded with a turnout of just 12.5%, saw Greer and Mackay emerge victorious over their competitors, including former co-leader Slater and Green member Dominic Ashmole. Greer, at 31, becomes the youngest leader of a party at Holyrood since its inception in 1999, while Mackay, 33, has been a Central Scotland MSP since 2021. The election results were announced at the Scottish Poetry Library, with Mackay securing 34% of the vote in the first round and Greer defeating Slater by 317 votes to 304 in the second round.
Policy Focus and Party Challenges
Greer and Mackay have outlined ambitious plans to advocate for a universal income, free bus travel, and increased taxation on the wealthy. Greer emphasized the need for the party to address the cost of living and climate crises, stating, "We will be the party brave enough to take on the rich and powerful." Mackay, known for her successful campaign to establish buffer zones at abortion clinics, highlighted the importance of internal reform to revitalize the party's energy and structure.
Historical Context and Future Prospects
The leadership change comes after the collapse of a power-sharing agreement with the SNP, which had initially brought the Greens into government in 2021. This agreement's dissolution in April 2024 has led to internal debates about the party's direction and strategy ahead of the Holyrood elections in May. Greer and Mackay's election is seen as a generational shift, with the new leaders having just nine months to prepare for the upcoming elections, where they hope to exceed their previous record of eight MSPs.
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Scenario Analysis
The election of Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay as co-leaders of the Scottish Greens signals a potential shift in the party's approach to governance and policy-making. With their focus on universal income and environmental issues, the new leaders may attract a broader base of support, particularly among younger voters. However, the low voter turnout in the leadership election suggests challenges in engaging the party's membership, which could impact their ability to mobilize support in the upcoming Holyrood elections.
The collapse of the power-sharing deal with the SNP highlights the complexities of coalition politics and the need for the Greens to navigate these dynamics carefully. As the party prepares for the elections, it will be crucial for Greer and Mackay to balance their radical principles with pragmatic strategies to achieve policy goals. Their success in doing so could determine the party's influence in shaping Scotland's political landscape in the coming years.
The Scottish Greens have elected Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay as their new co-leaders, marking a significant shift in the party's leadership dynamics. This change follows the departure of Patrick Harvie, who stepped down after 17 years, and Lorna Slater, who was narrowly defeated in the leadership contest.
Leadership Election and Results
The leadership election, which concluded with a turnout of just 12.5%, saw Greer and Mackay emerge victorious over their competitors, including former co-leader Slater and Green member Dominic Ashmole. Greer, at 31, becomes the youngest leader of a party at Holyrood since its inception in 1999, while Mackay, 33, has been a Central Scotland MSP since 2021. The election results were announced at the Scottish Poetry Library, with Mackay securing 34% of the vote in the first round and Greer defeating Slater by 317 votes to 304 in the second round.
Policy Focus and Party Challenges
Greer and Mackay have outlined ambitious plans to advocate for a universal income, free bus travel, and increased taxation on the wealthy. Greer emphasized the need for the party to address the cost of living and climate crises, stating, "We will be the party brave enough to take on the rich and powerful." Mackay, known for her successful campaign to establish buffer zones at abortion clinics, highlighted the importance of internal reform to revitalize the party's energy and structure.
Historical Context and Future Prospects
The leadership change comes after the collapse of a power-sharing agreement with the SNP, which had initially brought the Greens into government in 2021. This agreement's dissolution in April 2024 has led to internal debates about the party's direction and strategy ahead of the Holyrood elections in May. Greer and Mackay's election is seen as a generational shift, with the new leaders having just nine months to prepare for the upcoming elections, where they hope to exceed their previous record of eight MSPs.
What this might mean
The election of Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay as co-leaders of the Scottish Greens signals a potential shift in the party's approach to governance and policy-making. With their focus on universal income and environmental issues, the new leaders may attract a broader base of support, particularly among younger voters. However, the low voter turnout in the leadership election suggests challenges in engaging the party's membership, which could impact their ability to mobilize support in the upcoming Holyrood elections.
The collapse of the power-sharing deal with the SNP highlights the complexities of coalition politics and the need for the Greens to navigate these dynamics carefully. As the party prepares for the elections, it will be crucial for Greer and Mackay to balance their radical principles with pragmatic strategies to achieve policy goals. Their success in doing so could determine the party's influence in shaping Scotland's political landscape in the coming years.
