The Scottish Green Party was a constituent part of the UK Green Party (as it was then called) until 1990, when the Scottish Green Party became a separate party from the party in England and Wales (Northern Ireland also took this route later). The separation was entirely amicable, as part of the green commitment to decentralisation. The Scottish Green Party is now an independent Green Party, and a fully independent member of the European Federation of Green Parties. The UK Green Party renamed itself the Green Party of England and Wales.

The Scottish Green Party benefits from the fact that the Labour Party Government created a Scottish Parliament, which includes an element of proportional representation in addition to the seats elected by first-past-the-post. In the first election to this parliament, in 1999, the Scottish Green Party got one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) elected by proportional representation. On May 1, 2003 the Scottish Greens added six new MSP's to their previous total.

The Scottish Parliament is elected using the Additional Member System of proportional representation. Soon, local authorities in Scotland are to be elected using the Single Transferable Vote system of proportional representation.

The Scottish Green Party is generally said to support Scottish independence, but recent manifesto commitments have only extended to further powers for the Scottish parliament. Certain MSPs, such as Patrick Harvie of Glasgow, have however been vocal in their individual support for independence.

Scottish Green Party MSPs

• Shiona Baird is co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party, and speaker on rural development. She is an MSP for North East Scotland.

• Mark Ballard is Green speaker on the economy and an MSP for the Lothians, the second Green MSP for that region.

• Chris Ballance is an MSP for South of Scotland, and Green speaker on transport at Holyrood.

• Robin Harper is Co-Convenor of the Scottish Green Party, Green speaker on education at Holyrood and the first Green MSP for the Lothians.

• Patrick Harvie is Green speaker on Justice and Communities at Holyrood, and sits on the Comunities Committee which is currently dealing with charity reform and will move onto housing and planning legislation later in 2005. He is an MSP for Glasgow and he convenes the parliamentary Green group.

• Mark Ruskell is an MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, and Green speaker on the environment at Holyrood. He leads the Green campaign for a Food Revolution and GM Liability.

• Eleanor Scott is an MSP for Highlands and Islands, and Green speaker on health at Holyrood.

See also List of parties contesting the UK general election, 2005/06

External link

• http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk