Good day for the Greens after two-seat boost

The Scottish Greens have returned a record number of MSPs in the Holyrood election, creating a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament.

The Greens again failed to win a constituency, but took eight seats on regional lists, including gains in the North East and Central Scotland regions.

Now, the focus on the Greens shifts to whether they will again occupy the role of helping the SNP pass budgets and other legislation on a case-by-case basis – while extracting concessions from the ruling party – or if there will be a formal coalition between the two.

Before polling day, both the SNP and Scottish Greens refused to rule out a coalition, and Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said yesterday it would be for the SNP to make the first approach.

He added: “I’ve always said that Parliament’s at its best when there’s a balance and ministers are at their best when they’re kept on their toes, whichever political party they’re from.

“We’ve worked hard over the last five years to push the SNP beyond their comfort zone and we’ll keep on doing that.”

Co-leader Lorna Slater was elected to Holyrood on the Lothian list, occupying the seat formerly held by Andy Wightman. There is also space in the parliamentary group for former co-leader Maggie Chapman, who won in the North East.

Ms Chapman’s election could be seen as one of the most surprising results of the election, due to the North East region’s reliance on the oil and gas sector as a source of employment and economic stimulus. The Greens have previously said they want a just transition away from oil and gas, along with an end to new exploration licences in the North Sea.