Greens opt out of North East Fife to help SNP

Pro-independence party will not field candidate in the constituency

The Scottish Greens will not field a candidate in North East Fife to try to help the SNP win the key general election battleground.

Mirroring controversial tactics adopted by the party across much of Scotland, Andy Collins, chairman of Yes North East Fife, said any pro-independence rival to Stephen Gethins would be put forward “over my dead body”.

His comments came as the Greens confirmed they would contest fewer than 10 constituencies in the June 8 poll.

The Liberal Democrats are confident of ousting Mr Gethins by squeezing traditionally Conservative voters into a pro-Union alliance following leader Willie Rennie’s 2016 Holyrood election victory.

Mr Gethins recorded a 4,344 majority in 2015, while Mr Collins, who confirmed he will vote for the SNP’s Europe spokesman, secured 1,387 Green votes.

Mr Collins said: “This election is going to be about independence for Scotland and I certainly would not want to split the vote because of a stupid electoral system. The Greens are a very democratic organisation and in North East Fife won’t be putting forward any candidates, over my dead body.”

Mr Gethins said: “I am very grateful for all the support I have received from people across North East Fife including backing from those who would not usually vote SNP.”

The Courier understands the Greens’ Perth branch met on Monday to discuss standing candidates in Perth and North Perthshire, a key Tory target seat, Ochil and South Perthshire, and Stirling.

“By targeting resources in key constituencies ... we can build on our strong support to win Scotland’s first Green MP, offering a bold alternative to the other parties,” a spokesman said.

Murdo Fraser, the Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, said: “Quite simply, they might as well not exist.”

Meanwhile, a former Lib Dem candidate accused his party of “living in cloud cuckoo land” as he revealed he will back Mr Gethins next month.

Simon Horner, who has stood five times during his 27 years as a member, said the election was a choice between “insular British nationalism... or Scottish nationalism”.

Mr Horner, a former European Commission official who voted Yes in 2014, said his ideal scenario would be Scotland inside both the UK and the EU.

He added: “This is where the Liberal Democrats are living in cloud cuckoo land. It is perfectly clear Scotland cannot have both.”

A Lib Dem spokesman said: “It’s unsurprising that the Green candidate has stepped aside in this election when, as he says, it is all about independence.

“Mr Horner, who also supported independence in 2014, will be bitterly disappointed when he realises the SNP are merely using the EU and Brexit to get another independence referendum when the referendum won’t get the EU.”