[EGP] EGP PRESS RELEASE : SCOTTISH AND ENGLISH GREENS

07.05.2007

EUROPEAN GREENS SUPPORT SCOTTISH GREENS AS THEY DISCUSS POSSIBLE ROLE IN GOVERNMENT

The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today gave their reaction to the current political situation in Scotland following last Thursday’s elections. The elections saw the number of Green Members of the Scottish Parliament go down from 7 to 2 but the Greens are in talks with the Scottish National Party about the possibility of political co-operation.

EGP Co-SPOKESPERSON ULRIKE LUNACEK said: “Of course we share the Scottish Greens’ deep disappointment that they lost 5 of their very hardworking and capable MSPs. We are delighted that Scottish Green Party Co-convener Robin Harper and Patrick Harvie held on to their seats and we have every confidence that they and their party colleagues will be able to rebuild the Greens’ position in the next four years. Despite the Greens’ reduced presence in the Scottish Parliament, we are delighted that they are in a position of some influence.”

EGP Co-Spokesperson PHILIPPE LAMBERTS continued: “We understand from our Scottish colleagues that they have already held constructive talks with the leadership of the SNP. The SNP share the Greens’ clear opposition to new nuclear power stations and have also confirmed their commitment to reducing climate change pollution every year. This latter issue was the Scottish Greens’ top priority during its campaign. We are sure that the Scottish Greens will be able to further the Green agenda, both in terms of the environment and social justice, in the next parliamentary session. We also want to congratulate the Scottish Green Party for their best local council election results ever, having 5 councillors elected in Glasgow and 3 in Edinburgh.”

Both Spokespersons also send their warmest congratulations to the Green Party in England for increasing their number of councillors from 93 to 111 in last Thursday’s elections. The Greens doubled their number of councillors in Brighton and Hove from 6 to 12 and are likely to play an important role in that council as no single party now has overall control there. The Greens also had fantastic results in Lancaster where their number of councillors increased from 7 to 12 and in Norwich where their number of councillors went up from 9 to 10.

Graham Burgess

Communications Officer

European Green Party

Tel no: 0032 (0)2 626 0720

Mobile: 00 32 (0)477 902 023

Email: graham.burgess@europeangreens.org