Harvie and Slater roles safe after EGM

PATRICK Harvie and Lorna Slater will remain the co-leaders of the Scottish Greens and government ministers after members of their party voted against separating the roles.

A motion which could have seen Mr Harvie and Ms Slater forced out of their leadership positions was rejected by the grassroots at a meeting at the weekend.

The two politicians became ministers in Nicola Sturgeon’s government in August last year after striking a power-sharing agreement with the SNP at

Holyrood.

But a motion put to party’s members at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Saturday proposed splitting the leadership posts from ministerial roles. It was seen as a way of the Scottish Greens being able to voice more criticism of the SNP administration while remaining in power. One third of members attending the meeting voted for the proposal, with two thirds voting against.

A Scottish Greens spokesman said: “The result of the vote is a clear endorsement of the current leadership and arrangements in place. At a moment of vital constitutional history when Tories and Labour are locking arms to block Scotland’s democratic right to choose its own path, the Scottish Greens family and vision for independence has never been stronger. We are grateful to all our members for their involvement and consideration.”

The Bute House Agreement put the Greens into government with the SNP in an arrangement short of a coalition and handed Mr Harvie and Ms Slater junior ministerial positions, allowing them to directly influence policy.

In return, Green MSPS have to support the government on key votes, including on the budget and on any confidence motions.