Patrick Harvie

Patrick Harvie has announced he will be standing down as co-leader of the Scottish Green Party. A leadership election is scheduled to take place for the co-leadership of the party this summer and Harvie has confirmed that he won’t be a candidate.

Harvie has had a decades-long position at the forefront of the Scottish Greens. He was first elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament in 2003 and five year’s later became the Scottish Green Party co-convener, the closest equivalent to a leader the party had at the time.

In 2021, Harvie became a Scottish Government minister alongside his co-leader Lorna Slater. This made them the first Green politicians in the UK to have roles in a government.

Harvie has said that while he is standing down from the leadership of the party, he intends to stand once again for the Scottish Parliament at the 2026 election.

Speaking on his decision to stand down, Harvie said: “It has been an extraordinary privilege to hold leadership roles in the Scottish Greens, first as Co-Convenor and then as part of our first ever Co-Leader team.

“It has also been humbling to have had the support of party members to serve in these roles, and to work with members around the country to advance Green politics in Scotland.

“At the start of devolution, few people regarded the Greens as a serious political force. But as we have grown, learned and developed we have become the most significant, sustained new movement in Scottish politics for generations. Given the growing urgency of the climate emergency, that movement is greatly needed.

“Green solutions are more necessary than ever, and we have been the only party clearly making the case for the action needed to tackle growing inequality and the climate and nature emergency. Others are happy to set targets, but then actively resist the action needed to meet them.

“I want to thank everyone who has helped the party to grow, and given me the opportunity to play a role. There is far more work ahead of us, especially as we see both UK and Scottish Governments drag their feet on climate action, and too often continue the policies which have made our society less equal.

“The election of Co-Leaders in a pre-election year is an important moment for the party. I won’t be part of the leadership team that fronts up that campaign, but I’m optimistic to see the party choose the people who will do so, and to us building on our record results and delivering the largest possible group of Green MSPs in 2026.”

Responding to the news, Carla Denyer MP, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said: “Patrick’s legacy goes well beyond being the longest-serving political leader in the UK, or even being the leader who took Greens into government for the first time in the UK. His legacy will be marked every time a young person gets on public transport free of charge; with every renter who is able to keep a roof over their heads because of protections that Patrick secured; and with every kilowatt of clean renewable power that Scotland produces because of Green policies. These are real achievements to be proud of. A legacy offering real hope for Scotland.”

Image credit: Ric Lander – Creative Commons