Responses from candidates for Leader of the Scottish Green Party

Following the publication of questions to leadership candidates in June, and the closure of nominations on 25 July for those successfully nominated to be Co-Leader of the Scottish Green Party, Green House Think Tank gave all candidates one week to submit their responses.

Leadership Candidate Responses

1. Where are we now?

Do you think the UK is currently a democracy? Would you agree that our society’s economic and governance systems are broken beyond repair? If so, what is the Green alternative pitch? How much does economics need to change to deal with the climate emergency? 

Ross Greer

The UK is no democracy, but Scotland could be.
At Westminster we have governments with overwhelming majorities in the Commons despite winning just one in three votes, an unelected House of Lords filled with donors, cronies & rejected MPs and a Head of State ‘chosen’ by birth and personally exempt from any laws which might inconvenience them.
These are the obvious examples of how anti-democratic the UK really is.
But as Greens we believe in radical democracy, going far beyond just the structures of our state. I want us to talk much more about economic democracy. That means giving ordinary people more power not just in their communities but in their workplaces and local economies as well.
The super-rich have caused a climate crisis and made millions of peoples’ lives miserable, all so they can hoard more wealth than they could spend in a thousand lifetimes. What we’re putting up with right now is a cost of greed crisis.
To protect our planet and end the cycles of poverty and despair which have trapped so many communities, we need a radical redistribution of political and economic power.
That must include giving communities a direct say over how budgets are spent in their areas and giving workers the power to form cooperatives and buy out their employers.
It should include not just repealing every last bit of anti-trade union legislation but recognising increasing union membership as key to our national economic success and making it a Government priority.
And it must include bringing as much control over our economy back to Scotland as we can, rather than leaving ourselves at the mercy of multinational corporations.
Independence is key to fully realising this vision, but in areas like community budgeting we can start right now, proving that another Scotland is possible.

Gillian Mackay

At a time when politics is dominated by ego and inaction, we need bold progressive leadership, especially from women with strong voices.
As Greens, we must lead with courage, with our members at the heart of our movement. In Scotland, the Scottish Greens are the only party willing to act and tackle the root causes of inequality and injustice.
To do this we must speak directly to the communities most affected by the cost-of-living crisis and the climate crisis. As the saying goes, there is no climate justice without social justice. Climate change disproportionately impacts communities who have contributed the least to the problem, but those in the positions of power often fail to effectively communicate with these communities. We must change our language to deliver real change. We must be visible, relatable and compassionate, allowing people to understand the connection and providing solutions to improve people’s lives.
In Scotland there is an opportunity. Recent polling predicts the largest ever group of Scottish Green MSPs in Holyrood in 2026. If replicated next May, we would return 16 MSPs, the party’s best result to date. But we can’t be complacent. Scotland is at a crossroads. With Reform hoping to enter Holyrood for the first time, it’s more important than ever that we have a strong Green voice at the heart of our politics, pushing for real change that would make everyday life better for the people of Scotland and protect our environment. Continuing with the same failed approach would only contribute to a society where the super-rich take the largest slice and the rest fight for the scraps

Lorna Slater
No Response Recieved

Dominic Ashmole
No Response Recieved

2. How best can Green Parties help to transform our culture, politics and economy?

How should Greens deal with the gap between aspirations, expectations, and living within planetary boundaries?

Ross Greer

One legacy of the 2014 Yes campaign was the sense of hope that Scotland could be a fairer, greener country. Our movement convinced people of this country’s potential. That has faded fast in recent years though. Brexit, Trump, Tory governments and a Labour government which acts like a Tory government have drained the hope from our politics.
The Scottish Greens can bring that hope back. To do that, we must become a far more effective campaigning movement. That’s why I’m standing to be our co-leader. As a campaigner, organiser and MSP, I have consistently delivered meaningful change for the Scottish Greens and for the people of Scotland.
Devolution is exceptionally limiting, but I’ve consistently worked to stretch it to the limit and deliver the kind of change which not only meets people’s immediate needs, but which gives that sense of hope that a better Scotland is still possible.
The high water mark for public concern about the climate was the 2019 climate strikes. Since the pandemic and cost of living crisis have hit, the main concern of most people in Scotland has been paying their bills and balancing their household budgets.
Rather than lecture the public on why the climate emergency should be their top priority, we must meet people where they are and focus on policies which deliver both climate and economic justice.
I negotiated the first year without peak fares on Scotrail in 23-24, which resulted in 10 million more journeys being taken by train whilst saving commuters a fortune.
Now I’m proposing that we go into the election proposing expanding free bus travel from the roughly half of Scotland currently eligible to absolutely everyone who lives here.
These are the big ideas we need to reduce emissions and help people cut their daily costs.

Gillian Mackay

One of the biggest challenges Green parties face, both in the UK and across the Globe, is bridging the gap between what people aspire to and what the planet can sustain.
Everyone wants a better life, but our current systems promise that opportunity through endless growth and consumption. This isn’t realistic or sustainable.
Our movement must rethink what a ‘good life’ means for working people. We must change perceptions. People aspire to have the best car, the expensive holiday and designer clothes, but we must make a shift to placing importance on what really matters; affordable housing, reliable public transport, time to spend with your family and friends and meaningful work.
We can do that by talking about fairness and equality rather than sacrifice. We need to make people believe that not only those at the top of the tree can thrive. We can do that by bringing people together behind the causes we champion. Causes that make working peoples lives better; like a 4-day working week, better paternity pay and conditions, universal basic income and free public transport.
By offering solutions rather than solely highlighting problems, we can transform how we do politics.

Lorna Slater
No Response Recieved

Dominic Ashmole
No Response Recieved

3. Role of Green leadership?

How do you see your role as a leader within a democratic party? On what issues should Green Parties be a broad coalition that embraces diverse opinions, and on what issues do you feel a unified position is needed?

Ross Greer

We should always be guided by the four pillars of Green politics; ecology, radical democracy, peace & non violence and equality.
Our coalition should be broad enough to embrace different views on how we live out these values but that doesn’t mean including those who oppose them outright.
For example, I will share a party with people whom I might disagree with on the tactics required to win the current battle for the fundamental rights of trans people, but I don’t believe the Green coalition is or ever should be broad enough to include those who oppose that aim. That would violate our core value of equality.
The role of the Scottish Greens co-leaders as per our constitution includes providing ‘political direction’. Over the last year in particular I feel that we have lacked a shared sense of direction across the party. I want to bring back that shared purpose.
I wrote recently that our structures (and culture) are no longer working.
Far too many volunteers, especially national office bearers, are burning out. I identified three key problems to solve:
● Too many meetings - We are less of a radical democracy and more of a radical bureaucracy, constantly feeding the need for written reports for the next meeting. This is inaccessible and as a result, anti-democratic.
● A reluctance to say no - It's hard to reject a good idea but we are a small organisation with limited staff and volunteer capacity. We can’t do everything and should focus on doing a smaller set of things well, rather than agree to every new proposal.
● An unforgiving culture - A minority of members have consistently failed to give other volunteers the benefit of the doubt, making it an often unpleasant experience to be a national office bearer.
Solving these problems would be my top internal priority.

Gillian Mackay

Any growth in parliamentary representation must not come at the expense of party democracy. This party is at it’s best when united. Only by promoting and protecting party democracy can we ensure the organic growth that can turn us into a healthy campaigning powerhouse.
I firmly believe that the strength of our movement lies in our commitment to participatory democracy, grassroots activism, and open dialogue. We are a party of bold ideas, but also of deep respect - for each other, for our communities, and for our shared future.
We should be a broad coalition on issues that are complex or deeply personal, where lived experience must shape policy. For example, how we approach questions of, rural development or the future of health and care services must reflect the diversity of Scotland’s communities. No single approach will work for everyone, and we must ensure we are listening to voices from all walks of life, particularly those historically excluded from politics.
Internal discussions around the form of political change, whether that’s on independence strategy or approaches to the question of re-entering Government, should allow space for differing views. Our movement is strongest when it reflects the range of hopes and concerns held by those who share our vision for a greener, fairer Scotland.
There are of course issues that speak to the very moral core of the party. On climate action, social justice, equality, and human rights, we must speak with one voice. It means standing firm on trans rights and the rights of all marginalised people. Our stance on these issues are the pillars of our political identity and we must be bold in defending them.
Leadership is about listening and empowering people. By working together this party can be a force for good. It can be the party that leads the way in Scottish politics and the party that gives people hope and optimism.

Lorna Slater
No Response Recieved

Dominic Ashmole
No Response Recieved

4. Electoral strategy?

How should Green Parties balance gaining more nationally elected representatives as soon as possible with building a movement and consensus to transform our culture, economy and politics across the party and wider society? 

Does it pay to be provocative with messaging or does this risk recent electoral success? On which issues are you prepared to be provocative?

Ross Greer

I’m standing to be co-leader because I want to take on the super-rich elites who have caused a climate crisis and made everyone else’s lives even harder.
People are struggling and they are angry, but it's greedy billionaires, greedy landlords and polluting corporations at fault, not asylum seekers, trans people or striking workers. If Greens don’t make that clear, no other party will.
Just last month I was attacked by a billionaire bus company owner due to my campaigning for public ownership of our bus network.
I’ve been insulted by lobbyists for the short-term let industry after successfully increasing their tax bill three times as part of my efforts to tackle the housing crisis.
And for the last decade I have regularly been attacked by the bosses at Flamingo Land, the company whose plans to exploit Loch Lomond I have resisted at every step.
I take all of these as signs that my work has been effective. I will always stand up for our values and I believe that is what voters want, politicians who actually believe in what they say and are willing to fearlessly defend it.
Our electoral strategy can’t rely on ‘viral moments’ in the media and online though.
That’s why I’ve traveled across the country over many years to campaign alongside our local volunteers. Our ‘Target to Win’ approach has proven itself time and again. If elected as co-leader, I will make myself available to branches as often as possible, supporting your local campaigns and campaigning door to door with you.
The role of a co-leader isn’t just to be a spokesperson, they should also be an organiser. Whether it was coordinating our record 2021 election campaign or mobilising residents in Balloch to defeat Flamingo Land, I’ve proven that I can bring people together and win.

Gillian Mackay

The Party’s policy platform is one of our key strengths. Focus groups and canvassing returns show that our policies are popular. However, we have work to do to effectively communicate to those outside our traditional voter base.
The image of the party needs an evolution: it’s cool to be left-wing, to care for people and planet and to rally against the institutional discrimination that so many suffer.
At its heart, that is what this party is, but we must get better at reaching the audiences that these issues effect by presenting an image of a party that is on their side. Only by recognising and tackling these obstacles will the party substantially grow.
We can take the examples from other parties on the left across Europe, those who have appealed to young and disengaged voters with bold and clear messaging across social media platforms. Their modern, charismatic campaigning has more than doubled some parties projected vote share. Make yourselves accessible to new audiences and hopefully voters like what they see.
Not only should Greens keep up with the times, but we should also be proactive rather than reactive. It’s imperative to have a comprehensive election strategy that covers both traditional campaigning methods, as well as slick online messaging which reaches wider audiences at the click of a button.
In Scotland we must and could be doing better in traditional working-class communities. We can do this by not only by outflanking the SNP and Labour on the left but crucially by speaking directly to those who have been left behind, in a relatable and accessible manner. We have the policies that can win us votes, let’s adopt a strategy that maximises the number of people who know about them

Lorna Slater
No Response Recieved

Dominic Ashmole
No Response Recieved

​5. Anything else you would like to add?

This is an opportunity to add any points that the preceding questions have not covered and that you consider to be important for Green House readers and Green Party members to hear.

Ross Greer

This leadership election is an opportunity for members to decide what kind of Green Party we should be.
When I joined in 2009 we had fewer members than there were pupils at my high school. Our main role was to pressure the bigger parties to be a bit less shit with the power they held.
We played that role proudly, but it wasn’t good enough when we knew just how urgently a radical change was needed.
In the last few years we’ve seen the difference when Greens can deliver change directly.
We set up Scotland’s first ever Nature Restoration Fund, increased spending on climate and nature to just under £5 billion, delivered free bus travel for young people, cancelled school meal debts and expanded free school meals, brought in an emergency rent freeze etc. etc.
Protest will always be in our DNA. In the last few months I’ve spoken at demonstrations against fascism & transphobia and in solidarity with the peoples of Palestine and Ukraine.
We cannot just be a party of protest though. That won’t deliver the kind of change we know that people and planet desperately need.
We are the electoral wing of a wider movement. We must focus relentlessly on building power in communities, in council chambers and in Parliament and then using that power to deliver transformational change in Scotland.
I believe that we can secure record results in next year’s Holyrood election and the 2027 local elections by focusing on policies which will tackle the climate crisis and cut the cost of living.
That is how we address the frustration and anger so many people feel at a political establishment which has failed them, by giving them hope that a better Scotland is possible.

Gillian Mackay

I am proud to be standing to be the next co-leader of the Scottish Greens.
I believe I am the person who can not only take the party further and deliver great election results but deliver fantastic things for Scotland and our communities.
From Safe Access Zones, to pushing for a ban on disposable vapes, securing free to air football and helping to re-instate school buses in North Lanarkshire, I’ve consistently delivered on the causes I champion.
Growing up in Grangemouth and living in Falkirk, I understand the challenges facing working people. I believe that my voice will resonate with people who live and work not only in our cities, but in post-industrial, rural, and industrial towns across the length and breadth of Scotland. I also believe that I can strengthen bonds across borders and be an important voice for Greens globally.
As a disabled women and a new mum, I know first-hand the struggles families face. That’s why I’ll champion a four-day week, better parental pay, and universal basic income, policies that will transform lives. I’m proud to stand with marginalised communities and will always be an ally for those underrepresented in politics.
We have a huge opportunity to do things differently. To be bold and to lead with courage. Let’s seize that opportunity. It’s time for fresh leadership. It’s time to vote Gillian Mackay for co-leader of the Scottish Greens.

Lorna Slater
No Response Recieved

Dominic Ashmole
No Response Recieved

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