PATRICK Harvie believes he can oust the SNP from Glasgow North at the General Election next month to become Scotland’s first Green MP. Launching his campaign yesterday, the Scottish Greens co-convener said he knew it would be a “hard” task but took inspiration from the Green MP, Caroline Lucas, who he said had turned Brighton and Hove into a “safe Green seat”.
The Scottish Greens came fourth in Glasgow North in the 2015 General Election with the SNP’s Patrick Grady taking the seat from Labour with a 9295 majority. However, it improved its performance to come second in the broadly parallel seat of Glasgow Kelvin at last year’s Holyrood elections.
Harvie, who was the Greens’ candidate in May 2016, missed out to the SNP’s Sandra White in the first past the post constituency contest, but gained a seat through the regional ballot which is voted on through the proportional representation system.
“I think we can win Glasgow North. The Greens in England and Wales have shown very clearly that a breakthrough even under first past the post is possible,” he said addressing newly elected councillors, activists and journalists outside Glasgow University yesterday.
He added: “It’s absolutely possible for us to be taken from second place in Kelvin to first place in Glasgow North. We know it’s going to be hard but we will put in every effort we can to reach the voters in Glasgow North to make this possible.”
The Scottish Greens are standing in just three out of Scotland’s 59 constituencies. As well as Glasgow North, they are standing in Edinburgh North and Leith and Falkirk. The move has been much criticised by the Conservatives, Labour and the LibDems.
Harvie said the Scottish Greens will not endorse any other party in the 56 seats it is not contesting and advised supporters in such areas they should vote for the candidate who they agreed with in terms of Green policy and also on constitutional questions.
“We will not endorse any other candidate, but the advice I would give to anyone who has not got a Green candidate to vote for is ask yourself what are the most important issues to you. And then put those to the candidates and judge them as individuals. If you want that transition away from fossil fuels ask the candidates if they are willing to stand up, if they get elected, and oppose ever greater subsidies for the oil and gas industry. If they want a sustainable transport system ask them if they will break the party whip and vote against the expansion of Heathrow.”
Pressed on the constitution, he responded: “There are two critically important constitutional questions in this election. One is Brexit and the reckless approach the UK Government is taking to take us not just out of the European Union but out of the single market. But the second constitutional question is why the UK Government is unwilling to respect the 62 per cent vote for remain which was in every part of Scotland, including this one, and give some ability for Scotland to maintain a closer affiliation with Europe than the rest of the UK wants. They have been unwilling to even want to talk about that so in my view the question can only be resolved by the people.”
Patrick Grady, SNP candidate for Glasgow North, said: “Now more than ever, it is vital to have a strong cohort of SNP MPs in Westminster to protect Scotland from the dangers of an unopposed Tory government.”
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