With 21.2% and almost 68,000 votes the Greens have easily topped the previous highest mark in 2021 and elected four MSPs in the region for the first time.
That result includes the first-ever Green constituency win in Edinburgh Central where former Green minister Lorna Slater toppled Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson with a majority of over 4,000. Lorna is joined by three regional list Green MSPs Kate Nevens, Q Manivannan and Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill.
Lorna Slater said:
Across Scotland it’s already clear that more people have voted Green than at any time in our country’s history and, as a result, we will have more Green MSPs than ever before in Holyrood. I am delighted that here in Edinburgh and Lothians East we have been a big part of that success. And so I want to offer my huge thanks to all our voters and campaigners who made it happen.
The victory here in Edinburgh Central also marks a new chapter for Scottish Greens: our first ever constituency win – alongside the success of Holly Bruce in Glasgow Southside. So I want to thank voters here for backing me in record numbers and look forward to working on their behalf over the next five years.
Newly-elected Green MSP Kate Nevens added:
I am delighted to be joining the largest-ever group of Green MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. We are here because we said that Scotland should demand better of our parliament and we are now going to make those demands within Holyrood: addressing cost of living pressures, standing up to the far right and tackling the climate crisis. For everyone who shares those ambitions now is the time to join the Scottish Greens.
Joining Kate as a new Green MSP is Q Manivannan, who said:
Today’s historic result for the Scottish Greens shows that there is a real appetite for an alternative to the politics of hate. In the parliament and in our diverse communities, my aim is to show a politics of hope, of inclusion and of care. There’s work to be done, I cannot wait to get started.
And the Green team is completed by current city councillor Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill now elected as Green MSP.
She said:
As a councillor, I have been vocal on issues of pavement parking, dropped kerb access, and other barriers that disabled and older people face in their daily life. As an MSP I am going to bring my experience of representing people who are struggling with housing issues, health problems, financial difficulties, access needs, and barriers to multiple areas of society. It is much needed.