Harvie to step down as co Greens chief after 17 years in the hotseat

PATRICK HARVIE has confirmed that he will be standing down as Scottish Greens co-leader this summer, after serving for 17 years in the leadership team.

- By David Walker Scottish Politics Reporter

He and co-leader Lorna Slater became ministers under Nicola Sturgeon as part of the Bute House Agreement, becoming the first Green politicians to serve in the devolved Scottish executive.

But his three-year stint was judged a failure by many with his environmental policies on housing wreaking havoc for Scots.

The Greens were dramatically turfed out by Humza Yousaf in April 2024, which in turn sparked the end of his own ill-fated spell as First Minister.

During his time in government, Mr Harvie oversaw a rent freeze which critics claim led to housing emergencies being declared in many council areas due to lack of properties and rent costs soaring.

He also led a heating in buildings bill which was torn up by the SNP last month amid concerns it would have penalised people for having gas boilers.

Mr Harvie took time off from the Scottish Parliament earlier this year when he had an operation, and he was recently seen at Holyrood using a walking stick.