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Scotsman
a day ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Four candidates confirmed for Scottish Greens co-leadership contest - including Ross Greer and Lorna Slater
The Scottish Greens will elect two co-leaders next month to take the party into next year's Holyrood election. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Four candidates will battle it out for the two Scottish Greens co-leadership roles ahead of next year's Holyrood election. Patrick Harvie, who has been an MSP since 2003, is stepping down ahead of the coming co-convener election, while incumbent co-leader, Lorna Slater, is seeking re-election. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Images) Mr Harvie withstood a campaign from some activists to deselect him as a candidate ahead of next year's Holyrood election and will be the party's first choice on the regional list for Glasgow. As well as Ms Slater, who tops the Edinburgh and Lothians East list for the Greens, two MSPs and a party candidate have put themselves forward for the two leadership roles. Previously, at least one of the co-conveners was required to be female. But the party has scrapped the rule over the 'legal implications and risks' following the Supreme Court judgment that established a new position that a woman in the Equality Act referred to a biological woman. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Greens spokesperson said the decision was necessary 'given the toxic, reactionary culture war that has been waged against our trans community by other parties and parts of the media'. That means any of the four candidates can be elected co-leader of the Scottish Greens. Alongside Ms Slater, Central Scotland MSP Gillian Mackay, who successfully introduced buffer zones outside abortion clinics to prevent anti-abortion protesters from harassing people attending medical appointments, is vying for the leadership role. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Greens finance spokesperson Ross Greer is also in the running, having taken on a key role in talks with SNP ministers over the Bute House Agreement and budget negotiations. READ MORE: Row breaks out over Scottish Green selection contest as key figure quits Research and development manager, Dominic Ashmole, has also put himself forward for the leadership contest, having been selected as a candidate for the South Scotland region for the party at next year's election. During the announcement of election candidates last week, Greens internal elections officer Kate Joester resigned after failing to spot an issue from a third party and admitted there was an 'anomaly'.
The Herald Scotland
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Chapman 'deselection' sends shockwaves through Greens
Ms Chapman served as the party's co-convener along with Patrick Harvie from 2013 to 2019 when she lost out to Lorna Slater, who is currently co-convener. She is currently the party's equalities spokeswoman in Holyrood and also sits on the Scottish Parliament's corporate body, the cross party responsible for running the Scottish Parliament building. READ MORE: Maggie Chapman ousted as top Green candidate ahead of Holyrood 2026 Why does everyone seem to hate Maggie Chapman? Under pressure Police Scotland requests help from NI with Donald Trump visit Chapman defends trans rights after surviving Tory bid to oust her This year's internal elections saw her lose out to rival candidate Guy Ingerson, who is co-convener of the Rainbow Greens, the party's LBBTQ+ wing, for the top ranking on the party's north east list. With polling suggesting it is unlikely the Greens will get two MSPs in the north east, it means she is unlikely to be re-elected to Holyrood. Controversially, the party decided against any gender balancing mechanism in the selection contests. "It is a massive surprise to see any incumbent not get selected. We were really sad not to see the gender balancing that we've had in the past," said one senior member. "If there had been gender balancing she would have been in top ranked." Another senior member told The Herald that controversies surrounding Ms Chapman in Holyrood could have seen her pushed to number two on the list. She was censured by the party in October 2023 after tweeting that the Hamas terror attack on Israel was 'a consequence of apartheid, of illegal occupation and of imperial aggression by the [[[[Israel]]]] state.' Party brass refused to back her, with co-leader Lorna Slater telling the BBC she had spoken to Ms Chapman about her tweet. While Ms Chapman apologised for 'any upset' in a subsequent post, the reputational damage was done. Further controversy followed in the spring of 2025. Speaking at a rally in Aberdeen, Chapman said the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman was based in 'bigotry, prejudice and hatred'. She was blasted by top lawyers and narrowly survived a vote to oust her as Deputy Convenor of Holyrood's Equalities Committee in April - after voting for herself to remain in post. "There is shock across the party today. I think Guy got selected as the lead candidate as the party in the north east needs a refresh and Maggie's had a different parliamentary term." Ms Chapman was first elected as an MSP in 2021 when she was the lead candidate on the North East regional list for the Scottish Greens, and was the first Green MSP in the region since Shiona Baird lost her seat in 2007.
Glasgow Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Scottish Greens reveal Glasgow list rankings for Holyrood
The long-serving MSP and co-leader who is stepping down from that role will go into the Scottish Parliament election next year as number one on the party list. It means if the Greens secure enough support for one MSP once again, he will be re-elected for the sixth time in a row. READ NEXT: All the latest changes to Glasgow city centre streets explained Harvie leads the list in the city with activists Ellie Gommersall second and councillor Holly Bruce in third spot. (Image: Newsquest) The Greens have narrowly missed out on electing two MSPs in Glasgow on a number of occasions and are hopeful next year will be the year the manage to succeed. The [[Scottish Greens]] have announced their slate of candidates for regional lists ahead of next year's Holyrood election. The party hopes to return a record number of MSPs at the ballot box next May. Lorna Slater, Co-Leaders is top of the Edinburgh and Lothians East list and Gillian Mackay who steered the abortion protest buffer zones law though parliament top for Central Scotland and Lothians West. Ross Greer who has spearheaded the campaign against a developer which owns Flamingo Land resorts building a park on the banks of Loch Lomond is top in West of Scotland with Cara McKee second. While in the Highlands and Islands MSP Ariane Burgess is top with councillor Chris Leask second. The tops spots are completed by Mark Ruskell, MSP in Mid Scotland and Fife with Mags Hall second. Guy Ingerson is the list nominee for North East Scotland and Laura Moodie for South Scotland. READ NEXT:Man 'banned' from Glasgow city centre after Palestine protest The SNP secured eight MSPs in 2021, its highest since devolution. A recent poll indicated that the party could secure 15 MSPs, giving the Scottish Greens a stronger voice in Parliament to push for bold, fair and progressive policies that champion people and planet above corporate greed. Lorna Slater, Scottish Greens Co-Leader, said: 'Next year's election is pivotal for the future of Scotland and our planet, that's why I am delighted that Scottish Green members have selected such a strong group of lead candidates who will deliver real change in Holyrood. 'Greens have been the only influential left-wing force in the Scottish Parliament for decades, delivering free bus travel for young people, scrapping peak rail fares, and securing tax reforms to ensure the richest in society pay their fair share to support the services we all rely on, like our NHS. 'With more Green MSPs, we can continue to push for the climate emergency to be taken seriously by other parties who want to protect corporate profits rather than our planet, and to fight back against the toxic climate change denialism from the far-right. Scottish Greens won't give up on our planet's future. 'Electing a record number of [[Scottish Greens]] is the only way to secure the pro-independence majority in [[Holyrood]], and to continue advancing the case to rejoin the European Union. It is a cause that Scottish Green MSPs will continue to make on the doorsteps across the country and in the chamber at [[Holyrood]].' The full Glasgow list is: Patrick Harvie MSP Ellie Gommersall Cllr Holly Bruce Iris Duane Cllr Seonad Hoy Malena Roche Rana Noor Mohamed Isabel Ruffell Kit Renard
The National
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Maggie Chapman dropped as top Greens candidate for Holyrood 2026
The party announced their full list of candidates on Monday afternoon, with Chapman no longer being listed as the top candidate for the region. Instead, she has been replaced as the lead candidate for the North East by activist Guy Ingerson, who previously lodged a bullying complaint against Chapman. Maggie Chapman (Image: Christian Gamauf) The National previously reported that the complaint alleged that the MSP contacted Ingerson's place of work in October 2024 to suggest that he was "untrustworthy and should be 'watched'". Since 2021, the Scottish Greens have only picked up one MSP on the North East list. This means Chapman's chance of being elected in 2026 has been significantly reduced. The rest of the party's current MSPs have been named as lead candidates: Gillian Mackay, Lorna Slater, Patrick Harvie, Ariane Burgess, Mark Ruskell and Ross Greer. READ MORE: Labour launch review into raising retirement age Commenting on the announcement, [[Scottish Greens]] co-leader [[Lorna Slater]] said she was "delighted" that members had "selected such a strong group of lead candidates who will deliver real change in Holyrood". She went on: "Greens have been the only influential left-wing force in the Scottish Parliament for decades, delivering free bus travel for young people, scrapping peak rail fares, and securing tax reforms to ensure the richest in society pay their fair share to support the services we all rely on, like our NHS. "With more Green MSPs, we can continue to push for the climate emergency to be taken seriously by other parties who want to protect corporate profits rather than our planet, and to fight back against the toxic climate change denialism from the far-right. Scottish Greens won't give up on our planet's future." Slater added: "Electing a record number of [[Scottish Greens]] is the only way to secure the pro-independence majority in [[Holyrood]], and to continue advancing the case to rejoin the European Union. It is a cause that Scottish Green MSPs will continue to make on the doorsteps across the country and in the chamber at [[Holyrood]]." The full list of Scottish Greens candidates is below. Names in bold have been selected as lead candidates by the party. Scottish Greens Holyrood 2026 election candidates: Central Scotland & Lothians West Gillian Mackay MSP Cllr Claire Williams Cameron Glasgow Edinburgh & Lothians East Lorna Slater MSP Kate Nevens Q Manivannan Cllr Chas Booth Cllr Kayleigh O'Neill Adam Al-khateb Mridul Wadhwa Jo Phillips Cllr Dan Heap Dr Astri JS Kvassnes Cllr Alex Staniforth Connal Hughes Glasgow Patrick Harvie MSP Ellie Gommersall Cllr Holly Bruce Iris Duane Cllr Seonad Hoy Malena Roche Rana Noor Mohamed Isabel Ruffell Kit Renard Highlands & Islands Ariane Burgess MSP Cllr Kris Leask Cllr Kate Willis Cllr Draeyk Van der Horn Cllr Alex Armitage Anne Thomas Julie Christie Mid Scotland & Fife Mark Ruskell MSP Mags Hall Caitlin Ripley Ryan Blackadder Marie Stadtler Clare Andrews Andrew Adam Paul Vallot Elspeth Maclachlan North East Scotland Guy Ingerson Maggie Chapman MSP Esme Houston William Linegar Sylvia Hardie Kathryn Vincent Charlotte Horne Remi Joseph Michel Salvan South Scotland Laura Moodie Anne McGuinness Dominic Ashmole Cameron Garrett Barbra Harvie Cllr Neil MacKinnon Tim Clancey Tom Kerr Korin Matthew Vallance West Scotland
Edinburgh Reporter
17-07-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Prevalence of disposable vapes in Edinburgh risks creating a ‘black market' MSP warns
The prevalence of disposable vapes in Edinburgh risks creating a 'black market' in the Capital, an MSP has warned. The comments follow a Local Democracy Reporting Service investigation which found shops across Edinburgh were still selling disposable vapes over a month after they were banned. And a leading health charity has called their widespread availability across the city 'disappointing'. Edinburgh Council has insisted it is enforcing the disposable vapes ban, and added it was currently seeking two banning orders for traders who have flouted the law. The city's trading standards team are currently investigating evidence passed on by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Miles Briggs, a list MSP for Lothian region, said: 'It is very concerning that the ban on disposable vapes is not being enforced properly in Edinburgh. 'The effects of these devices on people's health and the environment are serious, and shopkeepers who do not accept this must be held to account. 'Police must work with local businesses to ensure that this new law is followed, and all disposable vapes are removed from shelves immediately. 'We cannot allow a black market to develop in our city.' Lothians Green MSP Lorna Slater said: 'Disposable vapes are a scourge on our environment. Before the ban 5 million were being thrown away every week in the UK, littering our streets, parks, rivers and beaches. 'Shops have had plenty of time to adjust their inventories. There's simply no excuse to still be selling these illegal products. It shows a clear lack of respect for the law and their local community. 'The penalties for breaking this law can be steep. Now it's up to the Scottish Government to ensure enforcement teams are properly funded and equipped to crack down on those who are putting personal profit ahead of our environment and young people's health.' And Councillor Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill, the Green group co-leader, said: 'Disposables vapes are an environmental nightmare, and Greens firmly supported banning them. 'They create litter and reinforce the throwaway culture while having questionable health benefits so it's right we should see the back of them. 'However a ban is useless unless it is enforced, and the Local Democracy Reporting Service's investigation into this problem shows that enforcement in Edinburgh is practically non-existent. 'Unfortunately after years of austerity in local authority budgets, trading standards departments are under severe pressure, which may account for why so many stores in Edinburgh are apparently flouting the ban. 'But the Labour administration in Edinburgh need to get a grip on this problem and ensure resources are in place to ensure the ban is properly enforced. ' Our undercover investigation saw us purchase disposable vapes at seven shops in Edinburgh, with most of them displaying the vapes openly. At one, we saw none on the shelves, but we asked a shopkeeper if he had any anyways – he obliged, placing ten on the counter for us to pick one. He told us: 'The only difference is the battery. But people still want these, they like the taste I think.' The same shopkeeper later denied selling us a disposable vape, and said the store did not stock any. Phil Doggart, a Conservative councillor for Liberton/Gilmerton ward, said: 'Any new legislation that introduces a ban or something, or restrictions on something, is only ever going to be as good as the enforcement around it. 'Not for the first time, the Scottish Government introduced something, and placed a responsibility on local authorities to deliver. 'From that perspective, if enforcement officers are unable to do anything around enforcing the vape ban, then it's not going to work. It's pointless legislation.' Cllr Doggart also noted that his party had won an additional £500,000 for trading standards enforcement in this year's budget. But he reiterated that placing extra responsibilities on local authorities without adding extra funding was bound to fail. The Scottish Government has set aside a £300,000 fund to enforce the ban, but to date none of it has been distributed to local authorities. Cosla and the government are currently in talks to determine how the funding will be distributed to Scotland's 32 local authorities. ASH Scotland, a health charity, called our investigation's findings 'deeply disappointing'. Sheila Duffy, the charity's chief executive, said: 'ASH Scotland welcomed the ban of cheap disposable e-cigarettes, which are still the starter recreational nicotine product for most youngsters. 'It is a vital first step towards reversing the alarming upsurge of children vaping in Scotland during the last few years. 'It is deeply disappointing that some retailers have not been adhering to these new regulations, which came into effect at the start of June. 'It is vital that trading standards teams are supplied with sufficient funding to effectively enforce the new regulations as a matter of urgency to protect public health and the environment.' She also said that the charity wanted to see quicker progress at Westminster over a proposed ban on flavoured vapes. A committee report from trading standards officers, presented to councillors in May, said that the service needed more funding to enforce the ban without degrading other enforcement activities. A Council spokesperson said: 'Whilst the committee report highlighted pressures on the service, it clearly outlined the success of the teams in terms of seizures of illegal vapes. 'Recently, the Council has been in court enforcing the legislation by seeking two banning orders for traders who have flouted the law. All reports are taken seriously and will be investigated with action if required.' In many shops we visited, shopkeepers acknowledged the vapes were illegal, saying that they were trying to eliminate stock and make up for the fact that refill pods are not yet widespread. However, in some, people working the tills seemed to be confused by the ban. At one store, a shopkeeper appeared to legitimately believe that the vape we bought there was disposable. A different worker at the same store believed the same thing when we came back a couple days later, saying they had got the disposable units in two weeks prior. Many companies have brought in reusable vapes which have the same design and flavours of their old disposable ones, at a similar price point. Even where refill pods are available, they are often priced at a similar level to a new reusable vape. Some vape users have continued buying a new reusable vape, which comes with a refill pod already in the unit, and then throwing it away after it is consumed. The ban was brought in to help fight littering and improve public health, with the Scottish ban part of a nationwide effort. The legislation, and punishments, for breaching the ban differ in each of the four nations, but it came into effect in all of them on 1 June. Retailers had many months' notice to clear out existing stock ahead of the ban starting, with Scotland's ban delayed by two months to line up with the rest of the UK. In Scotland, retailers can be fined £200 for the first offence, with repeat offences drawing a higher sum. The maximum penalty is a criminal prosecution, with fines up to £5,000 and up to two years in prison. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
