Latest news with #ButeHouseAgreement
The Herald Scotland
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Greens election official resigned over 'anomaly' in results
She said: 'Hi all, I just wanted to say a couple of things about the situation as I understand it. As I see it, I did two things wrong.' 'Not spotting the anomaly in the results spreadsheets when they were initially sent to me, the cocos of SOC and the cocos of ECC, as well as to staff.' A screenshot of the message, viewed by The Herald. (Image: NQ) 'Going along with a statement yesterday reassuring people that there were no realistic doubts about the results when I was not sure that that was the case.' It is unclear what the 'cocos of SOC and the cocos of ECC' refers to. Last night, The Herald received a statement from the Scottish Greens official communications team which stated: "The party's Internal Elections Officer has confirmed that the process and the methodology used are compliant with our selections procedure, and the lists published are correct. "The IEO has verified that the count was conducted using iterative rounds of STV, specifically the Weighted Inclusive Gregory method, and was done as a bottom-up process." However, Ms Joester later told members she had not approved the statement, and that she was standing down from her position. Today, she said: 'I was not aware that the statement had gone to the media at the point where I expressed my unwillingness to proceed with it. 'I think others involved thought I was aware. Either way, I think I needed to resign as IEO because I hadn't done a good enough job.' Party bosses have come under fire in recent years as a result of the Bute House Agreement. (Image: PA) 'I do not know whether or not there is a problem with the results,' she added in the message, sent at 2.31 PM on Tuesday. 'MiVoice [an electoral counting service] assured the party yesterday that they carried out iterated stages of STV with the votes of excluded candidates transferred between stages. 'That is the understanding I had about what we had asked them to do - while MiVoice were originally commissioned to carry out this ballot before my tenure as interim Internal Elections Officer, 'I have spoken to them to clarify what was needed over the past few weeks. They have offered to clarify their processes in due course, and I think we should wait until that has happened.' Activist Ellie Gomersall challenged Patrick Harvie for the top spot on the list. (Image: Ellie Gomersall) 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. A source inside the party told The Herald: ''Honestly, I feel bad for Kate. It's the s******* job in the party. That being said, she should have noticed the inconsistency in the numbers. I think resigning now is a cop-out though, she should have remained in post and fought for those raising issues, It's the IEO's job.' 'It looks like she has been thrown under the bus by the Executive, who have totally shirked their responsibility to oversee and ensure fair party democracy.' Read more: Maggie Chapman ousted as top Green candidate ahead of Holyrood 2026 Scottish Greens release statement on contests after members demand recounts Turmoil deepens as Greens elections officer quits in selection contests row Last night, party executive co-chairs Zoe Clelland and Carolynn Scrimgeour told members: 'We recognise the spreadsheets provided by the supplier may not be very easy to follow, even for members with experience of STV election results…' 'We plan to ask the supplier to provide further guidance and detail to ensure the results can be examined with maximum transparency. Please bear with us while we explore this with the external voting provider.' The Scottish Greens have been approached for comment.
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Patrick Harvie has a nerve to carp from the sidelines about meeting
He should remember that his team's actions resulted in the resignation of the very FM who would have been more likely to deliver the outcome he now so desperately seeks. READ MORE: Greens press SNP over secret Israeli ambassador meeting As I recall, the Green's weaponisation (maybe we'll go, maybe we'll stay) of the Bute House Agreement to force through polices beyond their seven-MSP support resulted in Humza Yousaf terminating the agreement. That, as we now know, led in turn to Yousaf's own demise at the hands of a bullish Harvie et al. Perhaps Harvie, rather than sharing his mercenary outrage, would be better to reflect on how his own actions might have contributed to this apparently more conciliatory approach from the current SNP leadership than either he or I would like. I Easton Glasgow
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Tories slam SNP over A96 dualling - as repair bill revealed
Repairs totalled £14.9m in 2023/24, £11.8m in 2022/23 and £13.4m in 2021/22; up from £7.7 in 2020/21. The Scottish Government had announced plans to upgrade the A96 in 2016, promising to convert the 102 mile road into a dual carriageway by 2030. However, the £3b commitment was rowed back last year, as Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop blamed austerity from the UK Government and a lengthy review of the project for delays. Douglas Lumsden has criticised the delay. (Image: Conor McAuley) North East Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden has slammed the government over the 'eye-watering' figures, which he said demonstrated that the A96 'is not fit for the 21st century'. Mr Lumsden added: 'After decades of neglect by the SNP, it's no surprise that repair costs are soaring each year as the road falls into a state of disrepair. 'This is the tragic reality of the dangers the road poses, yet the transport minister continues to kick the prospect of fully dualling the road into the long grass, despite the SNP's promise 14 years ago. Mr Lumsden went on to call on Ms Hyslop to 'stop this nonsense" and 'commit to the full upgrade, once and for all, before parliament resumes. 'The Scottish Government's failure to properly improve the A96 betrays local communities, undermines the North East's future connectivity and endangers lives,' he said. 'Rather than spending endless sums patching up the A96, the SNP must prioritise dualling the road as a matter of urgency.' In a Transport Scotland statement, a spokesperson said the nation's motorway and trunk road network was the Scottish Government's 'single biggest asset' - and that £714m was set to be spent in 2025/26, despite a decrease in capital project funding from the UK Government. The spokesperson added: 'We have continued to invest in the maintenance of all trunk roads, including the A96, in order to ensure the continued safe and effective operation of the network that road users rely upon. These costs also include repairs and recovery from storm damage, which are on the increase. Read more: Why does everyone seem to hate Maggie Chapman? 'Long overdue': Scottish young people weigh in on lowering of voting age Smoked salmon, Irn-Bru bhajis and micro herbs: What's on the menu at Bute House? 'Our current favoured position is to fully dual the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn Bypass, having acquired the land for the scheme earlier this year. "We continue to progress the work to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering this scheme and thereafter a timetable for progress can then be set in line with available budgets." The spokesperson noted that the [[Scottish Government]] had agreed to carry out a review of the A96 corridor as part of the Bute House Agreement, as their erstwhile partners in government, the Scottish Greens, were opposed to the road's dualling. An ensuing consultation received more than 1,400 responses from communities and businesses along the A96. 76% of respondents were 'dissatisfied' or 'very dissatisfied' with the draft outcomes of Transport Scotland's review, which recommended that the road not be dualled in its entirety. 'Any decision on the way ahead for the A96 corridor will need to take into consideration the UK Government's recent Spending Review and its impact on Scottish Budgets,' the spokesperson said, 'as well as the forthcoming update to the Scottish Government's Infrastructure Investment Plan, expected later this year.' Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing left the SNP in part over the dualling delays. (Image: PA) Longtime Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing left the [[SNP]] earlier this year in a row over the government's lack of progress in dualling the road. He will stand as an independent candidate in 2026. Writing in the [[Inverness]] Courier in March, he said: 'It's not good enough that both governments have these great plans and ambitions for renewables, mostly to be delivered in the north and north east, but they do not match them with commensurate investment in our transport and public services. 'We here are expected to do the work, to create the development, and the impacts of pylons and turbines, but are not to get the assistance to upgrade our roads, schools, GP practices, Raigmore, or indeed the rail services about which we are getting many more complaints of late. 'Now, near on £100 million has been, or will shortly be, spent on the A96 and not one inch of tarmac laid.'
Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Scottish Greens publish Holyrood candidate list amid party infighting
As the 2026 Holyrood election looms, parties are scrambling to get their candidate lists finalised. Today the Scottish Greens have released their regional list names – with some rather interesting selections amid party splits. One of the most significant decisions sees the current MSP for the North East region, Maggie Chapman, demoted on the list as her rival Guy Ingerson secures the top spot. While Chapman is second on the list, party insiders have admitted they are not expecting to elect two MSPs in the area – which would mark the end of the eco-activist's five-year career in frontline politics. The move is the latest development in infighting that has caused schisms in the party. Last month, Ingerson made a formal complaint against the North East MSP, accusing her bullying. Ingerson said that Chapman contacted his employer to tell them he was 'untrustworthy'. The Green party's leader in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Ingerson is also the co-convenor of the party's LGBT group. Chapman's skirmish with Ingerson isn't the first time she has proven herself a controversial figure. She was criticised after describing the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas as 'decolonisation', not terrorism, in a now-deleted Twitter post. After being spoken to by her party leadership – with co-leader Lorna Slater saying she did not support Chapman's comments – she later wrote that the 'upset and anger' her tweet had caused was 'never my intention and I regret where this was the result'. After the Supreme Court ruling that reaffirmed the biological definition of a woman, Chapman sparked outrage after taking to the street of Aberdeen to denounce the ruling and fume that she believed there was 'bigotry, prejudice and hatred' coming from the country's highest court. Scottish Tory MSP Tess White subsequently tabled a motion calling for the removal of Chapman from her role as deputy convenor of Holyrood's equalities committee – though thanks to SNP support, Chapman held onto the job. There is trouble elsewhere in the party too. Attempts were made to oust outgoing co-leader Patrick Harvie from the top of the Glasgow list by a new group of radicals – called the 'Glasgow Faction' – made up of vocal campaigner Ellie Gomersall and one-time general election candidate Iris Duane (who has been placed fourth on the party's Glasgow list). Alongside councillor Seonad Hoy, the pair argued in a social media video that the party needed a 'fresh start' and took aim at the current leadership of the party (co-ran by Harvie and Slater, but with a leadership contest taking place this summer), saying internal power had been 'consolidated into a smaller and smaller group of people'. The emerging group is also critical of the time the Greens spent in government – before the Bute House Agreement was scrapped under Humza Yousaf – and have lamented a lack of community investment during that time. Speaking to the BBC, Harvie hit back at his rivals in a statement that perhaps reveals some long-overdue self-reflection: For a long time, the Greens sometimes were guilty of – and sometimes even felt satisfied – just saying 'we're right, everyone else is wrong'. Sometimes that can make activists feel satisfied, but it doesn't achieve very much. And I think to a lot of voters, it comes across as smugness. The rowing goes back further, with the party's former general election candidate, Niall Christie, suspended during the candidate selection process for the 2026 elections after publicly criticising the Green party leadership. Christie has since backed Gomersall and Duane as 'excellent candidates' – and has in the past called on Harvie and current Green MSP Ross Greer to stand aside for 'radical women', even if they were ranked top of the regional list race by party members. With Greer especially ambitious (he is standing for the party leadership, with Slater and current MSP Gillian Mackay also throwing their hats into the ring) it doesn't seem likely this will happen anytime soon. Despite the rifts within the party, the polls suggest the Greens are on track to gain seats next year – with one Ipsos survey from June suggesting the environmentalists could even double their current MSP intake. But as both the Conservatives and SNP have demonstrated in the recent past, party infighting can seriously harm your chances in the eyes of the electorate. And while today's candidate list suggests that some sitting MSPs may be right to fear for their jobs, a 'fresh start' isn't quite on the horizon yet.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Patrick Harvie brands radical left challengers 'out of order' as he addresses Greens' 'smugness'
Patrick Harvie has launched an attack on those within the Scottish Greens trying to halt him being re-elected next year. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Patrick Harvie has branded radical activists attempting to oust him from office as 'out of order' as he admitted the Scottish Greens have a problem with 'smugness'. Mr Harvie, who is standing down as co-leader of the Scottish Greens this summer, is running again to be re-elected as an MSP on the Glasgow regional list. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater (Picture: Jane Barlow) But party activists, who have been highly critical of the Greens going into government with the SNP and believe the party is not radical enough, have challenged him for his bid to re-enter Holyrood next year. In a social media video ahead of the internal selection contest, three activists - Ellie Gomersall, Iris Duane and Councillor Seonad Hoy - insist that "a fresh start" is needed for the Greens, and that internal power has been "consolidated into a smaller and smaller group of people". The so-called 'Glasgow faction' is hoping to oust Mr Harvie ahead of next year's Holyrood election. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Mr Harvie has hit back, saying the Greens must work with others and be a broad church. He told the BBC: 'For a long time, the Greens sometimes were guilty of - and sometimes even felt satisfied about - just saying 'we're right, everyone else is wrong'. "Sometimes that can make activists feel satisfied. But it doesn't achieve very much. And I think to a lot of voters it comes across as smugness." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Addressing some of those within his party trying to remove him from running for office next year, Mr Harvie claimed some "never accepted the legitimacy of the decision on the Bute House Agreement' with the SNP, adding that they 'set out to try and undermine not just the position of the party but some of the individuals [involved]'. Mr Harvie said: 'That behaviour is out of order.' Ahead of Humza Yousaf pulling the plug on the Bute House Agreement, some party activists had grown frustrated about criticism of their party from some in the SNP, who they believe used the Greens as a scapegoat. Ahead of Mr Yousaf tearing up the co-operation deal and sacking Mr Harvie and fellow co-leader Lorna Slater from their government jobs, activists had called for a vote on whether to continue with the Bute House Agreement. Mr Harvie has always insisted that party members would have ultimately voted to continue being part of the government. But the row heaped pressure on Mr Harvie and Ms Slater. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One of the candidates hoping to become a co-leader of the Greens in the coming weeks, Ross Greer, has said he would be "absolutely willing" to work with the SNP again, but not while Kate Forbes was involved in government.
