PATRICK HARVIE has announced he will not seek re-election as co-leader of the Scottish Greens.

Since being elected as a Glasgow regional list MSP in 2003, Mr Harvie went on to become the party’s co-convener in 2008 to become one half of the party’s co-leadership team, alongside Lorna Slater, in 2019.

In 2021, he and Ms Slater made history, becoming the first Green politicians in Britain to enter government.

Mr Harvie served as minister for zero-carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights before the coalition deal with the SNP collapsed in acrimony a year ago.

Confirming he would, however, seek selection as a candidate at next year’s Holyrood elections, Mr Harvie called serving as co-leader as an “extraordinary privilege,” adding: “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.

“I want to thank everyone who has helped the party to grow, and given me the opportunity to play a role.”