Green infighting over after a ‘difficult couple of years’, Greer insists

The so-called “civil war” within the Scottish Greens is over, co-leader Ross Greer has said.

Mr Greer accepted it had been a “difficult couple of years” for the Greens, telling how a “very, very small” group of about 12 to 15  members had “unfortunately spent the last couple of years trying to ferment what they described as a ‘civil war’ within our party”.

Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: “That is over now, in so far as there ever was one.

“I think we have firmly drawn a line under that.”

His comments come after media reports of a “Glasgow faction” of radical Green activists who have been critical of the party’s leadership.

In his final conference speech as Scottish Green co-leader, Mr Greer’s predecessor Patrick Harvie said in April that a “a small minority of members have taken to anonymous leaks, smears, insults”.

This, Mr Harvie said, was “undermining the work of fellow members and damaging our whole party, and our reputation, by doing so”.

Mr Greer, however, said by the time of the party’s autumn conference that members were having “respectful debates”.

He added: “I think it is notable that we have seen a 100% reduction in anonymous Green source stories in the last couple of weeks.

“I’m the first to admit the last couple of years have been really difficult for us.

“I am also absolutely confident that period is over now.”

This, he said, showed the party was “serious about moving forward together” – with Mr Greer adding Greens need to be united in order to challenge the rising popularity of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

The prospect of Reform having a significant block of MSPs – as polls have indicated could happen in May – is “unifying” for the Greens, he added.

Mr Greer said: “For every seat that we win, for every MSP the Greens elect, we are depriving Reform of the opportunity to get someone else elected.

“If there is one thing that will unify our members it is standing up against that kind of hateful and nasty politics.”

He added: “The stakes are just so high now, we need to act as one.

“Taking on and defeating the really hateful politics that are going to arrive in this Parliament come May, that is unbelievably important for the future of this country.”

Mr Greer told how since August, when he and fellow MSP Gillian Mackay were elected as the Scottish Greens’ new co-leaders, there had been “a massive increase in on-the-ground activity from our branches across the country, people just getting out and knocking on doors”.

With the party now having more than 9,000 members across Scotland, he said: “We’re in a position where polling is up, membership is up and the enthusiasm levels from our members are just growing day by day by day.”