Late bid for Scottish Greens leadership contest announced

The Herald Scotland

3 days ago

Mr Ashmole, who was recently selected by the Greens as a South Scotland regional candidate for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election, joins MSPs Ross Greer, Gillian Mackay and Lorna Slater in his bid to become one of two co-leaders.
The 58-year-old research and development manager placed third on the South Scotland list behind the party's Laura Moodie and former Hamilton by-election candidate Anne McGuinness.
He contested Conservative MP David Mundell's Westminster's constituency, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale, in 2024.
Announcing his co-leadership bid, Mr Ashmole said his goal was to challenge the party to speak more plainly about the difficult times he believes are ahead, and to demand 'emergency action' at Holyrood and in wider society in response to 'the collapse of climate and nature'.
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Mr Ashmole said: 'Some people might assume that only MSPs can stand for this role. But the Scottish Greens have the luxury of two co-leaders, and this can be turned to our advantage. With my colleague focused on delivering Green policies in [[Holyrood]], I can work directly with the public, with civic society and with our excellent Green councillors, to help accelerate and scale up the change we so urgently need.'
'We have a problem with hope. Everyone craves it – voters perhaps demand it. But 'hope' has also become a cynical rallying cry for vested interests and the super-rich. To conceal the immediacy and scale of their global catastrophe. To delay corrective action and retain control, selling imaginary future solutions. This is in fact 'hopium'.'
'If the Greens – as scientific and social realists – cannot call out this disaster, then who will? What's our purpose, beyond modest 'Green wins', if we aren't the one political voice always demanding a proportionate and credible response?'
'Tragically, the future is not in fact full of hope. 2.5 degrees of heating is expected by 2040, with 4 degrees probable before 2100 – and scientists warn we'll soon cross multiple 'tipping points' that endanger continued life on Earth.'
'The suffering ahead is beyond comprehension. Food and water will fail. Billions of humans, and other species, risk becoming stranded in unliveable conditions.'
'As Greens, we are rightly proud of our achievements in both local and national government. But the brutal truth is that the situation demands bigger and faster change. Rather than selling 'hope', we should be issuing a call to arms. Let's mobilise civic society to mount a grassroots emergency response, and to empower a bolder politics.'
'We must strive for the best, prepare for the worst, and protect what we love.'
Mr Ashmole, who has previously represented the Greens at Council, Holyrood and Westminster elections, added that his '25-year R&D management career in Edinburgh technology start-ups' and 'longstanding commitment to social and environmental causes' would equip him for the voluntary co-leader role.
His bid comes as a top party official for the Scottish Greens has said she quit over 'an anomaly' in the party's list selection results with MSP Maggie Chapman ousted from the top spot in the North East region.
Ex-Internal Elections Officer Kate Joester, who resigned from her position last night, made the claim in an internal party communications thread yesterday.
It is understood the party has been asked to review the count in Glasgow, after co-leader Patrick Harvie survived an attempt by activist Ellie Gomersall to remove him as the party's top candidate.
It was also asked to review the count in the North East of Scotland, where MSP Maggie Chapman was ousted by former employee Guy Ingerson.