Greens now represented in six of Scotland’s council authorities
GAINS for the Greens in Glasgow and Edinburgh have led the party to claim it’s achieved “significant breakthroughs” in the 2017 council elections.
The Scottish Greens, whose membership increased rapidly during the independence referendum period, had been targeting seats on new councils and increasing its number of seats in Scotland’s two largest cities.
Strong performances in Glasgow and Edinburgh won the Greens the majority of its seat, while the party also returned councillors in Stirling, Aberdeenshire, Highlands, and Orkney.
A total of 19 seats represented an increase on the 14 councillors the party won five years ago – with victories in Highlands and Orkney being the first ever Green candidates returned. However, the party failed to hold its seat in Midlothian.
John Finnie MSP points out the Greens are now the largest (and only) major party on Orkney council – which is dominated by independents
— John Finnie (@JohnFinnieHI) May 5, 2017
Eight Green councillors were elected in Edinburgh, seven in Glasgow, and a single councillor in Stirling, Aberdeenshire, Highland, and Orkney.
Patrick Harvie, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens and MSP for Glasgow, said: “Greens have expanded our support base across Glasgow and Edinburgh, and we’re seeing significant breakthroughs in other parts of Scotland, getting our first councillors onto local authorities where those Green voices will bring fresh ideas to the table.
“It’s brilliant to have broken through in Orkney and Highland, and to have retained our presence on Stirling and Aberdeenshire councils,” he added.
However, the Greens will only be represented in six of Scotland’s 32 council authorities – having stood a record 219 candidates. Full national vote shares are yet to be confirmed – but are likely to show the Green share up on the party’s 2.3 per cent performance in 2012.
Picture: CommonSpace
