Scottish Greens 'civil war' has now ended, insists new co-leader Ross Greer

A "civil war" among the Scottish Greens has now ended, Ross Greer has insisted. The environmentalists endured a spate of anonymous briefings against senior figures in the party after long-serving co-leader Patrick Harvie announced he was standing down earlier this year. The Record previously reported how some activists warned the Greens were still being dismissed as "a bunch of middle-class do-gooders" with members viewed as "well-meaning but well-off". Greer, who was elected co-leader in August alongside Gillian Mackay, accepted it had been a “difficult couple of years” for the Greens. He said 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”. Greer continued: "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 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, Harvie said in April that "a small minority of members have taken to anonymous leaks, smears, insults". Harvie claimed it was "undermining the work of fellow members and damaging our whole party, and our reputation, by doing so". But Greer today 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." 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. 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.” Greer told how since August 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 added: “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.” To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here