PATRICK Harvie has said the General Election is not a “mock referendum” as he was asked whether a vote for the Greens would split the independence vote.
The Scottish Greens co-leader spoke whilst attending a press conference in Glasgow on Friday, where the Scottish Greens announced a record 44 candidates would be standing in the General Election – the party’s biggest election campaign yet.
Speaking to the media, Harvie (below) said: “Look, if anybody wants to add up the tally of all the pro-independence votes cast, or pro-independence parties, and treat is almost as a kind of mock referendum, they’re free to make that calculation – the number of pro-independence candidates won’t change that.
“But in reality, this is not a mock referendum, this is an election about the kind of voices which will represent Scotland.
“And I think it’s critical that Scotland has people representing it who will say oil and gas is not the future, either of our economy or of our energy system, and that unless we commit to that transition that others are holding back, then we’ll not only miss out on a huge economic opportunity for Scotland, but we won’t get back on track with our climate targets either.”
Speaking at the campaign event, the party’s co-leader, Lorna Slater, said the “future” of the people of Scotland depended on the outcome of the election.
Slater (below) said: “Today, I am proud to announce that there will be 44 Scottish Green candidates standing across the length and breadth of Scotland. 44 candidates who will be asking the people of Scotland to vote like your future depends on it. Because our future does depend on the outcome of this election.
“To our fantastic, inspiring slate of 44 Scottish Green candidates - Thank you for running - I am very grateful for your time, energy and courage. Now let's get out there, let's get our message heard - let’s ask Scotland to vote like our future depends on it.”
The full list of Scottish Greens candidates can be found below.
- Aberdeen North - Esme Houston
- Aberdeen South - Guy Ingerson
- Alloa and Grangemouth - Nariese Whyte
- Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock - Korin Vallance
- Bathgate and Linlithgow - Simon Jay
- Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk - Neil MacKinnon
- Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross - Anne Thomas
- Central Ayrshire - Tom Kerr
- Coatbridge and Bellshill - Patrick McAleer
- Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy - Mags Hall
- Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch - Anne McCrossan
- Dumfries and Galloway - Laura Moodie
- Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale - Dominic Ashmole
- Dunfermline and Dollar - Ryan Blackadder
- East Kilbride and Strathaven - Ann McGuinness
- East Renfrewshire - Karen Sharkey
- Edinburgh East and Musselburgh - Amanda Grimm
- Edinburgh North and Leith - Kayleigh O'Neill
- Edinburgh South - Joanne Phillips
- Edinburgh South West - Dan Heap
- Edinburgh West - James Puchowski
- Falkirk - Rachel Kidd
- Glasgow East - A.S Kettyles
- Glasgow North - Iris Duane
- Glasgow North East - Ewan Lewis
- Glasgow South - Niall Christie
- Glasgow South West - John Hamelink
- Glasgow West - Nick Quail
- Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West - Iain Hamilton
- Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire - Peter Newman
- Kilmarnock and Loudoun - Bex Glen
- Livingston - Cameron Glasgow
- Lothian East - Shona McIntosh
- Mid Dunbartonshire - Carolynn Scrimgeour
- Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey - Draeyk Van der Horn
- Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke - Gordon Miller
- North Ayrshire and Arran - Cara McKee
- North East Fife - Morven Ovenstone-Jones
- Orkney and Shetland - Alex Armitage
- Paisley and Renfrewshire North - Jen Bell
- Paisley and Renfrewshire South - Athol Bond
- Stirling and Strathallan - Andrew Adam
- West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine - William Linegar
- West Dunbartonshire - Paula Baker
