THE Scottish Greens first ever MSP has officially joined Scottish Labour.
Robin Harper, who was an MSP between 1999 and 2011, is now calling for voters to back Labour to get rid of the Tories.
We previously told how Patrick Harvie said he was “really sorry” to see Harper campaigning for Labour and the Daily Record now reports the former MSP has officially joined the party.
Labour MP Ian Murray (below), the shadow secretary of state for Scotland, has secured Harper’s endorsement.
In a letter to local voters, Harper said: “I want to tell you why I’ve joined the Scottish Labour Party and why I’m supporting Ian Murray at the General Election on July 4.
“I desperately want to see the back of this Conservative government, who have crashed our economy, degraded our political life and failed to tackle climate change.
“The SNP, and until recently their Green coalition partners, have also failed to take action on the environment.
“John Swinney has failed to rule out supporting new oil and gas licences and the SNP have rejected Labour’s calls for a windfall tax on record oil and gas profits.”
Harper previously resigned from the Greens after claiming they had “lost the plot” as a party.
At the time, he said he was concerned about their stance on key issues, including independence and trans rights.
Harper also backed Labour’s GB Energy – which was recently branded a sham as Keir Starmer was forced to admit it was “not an energy company” but an “investment vehicle”.
“Investment in renewable energy would be paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants making record profits during a cost-of-living crisis, something that the SNP oppose," said Harper.
He added: “This election provides us with a now-or-never opportunity to remove the Tories from power and end the chaos, failure and inaction that has marked their fourteen years in government.
“Only Labour is able to do this across the UK and only Labour has a plan to halt environmental destruction.”
Speaking on the endorsement, Murray added: “His decision to join the Scottish Labour Party demonstrates that we are the only party with a clear plan to deliver on Scotland’s green potential – creating thousands of clean energy jobs and cutting energy bills for good, with GB energy paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants.
“At this election, only a vote for Scottish Labour is a vote to remove the Tories from power, and I’m delighted that Robin is helping our campaign to make sure we get the Tories out and deliver the change Scotland needs.”
