The Scottish Green Party was further buoyed by its performance in the European elections, where it took almost 6% of an admittedly low vote right across Scotland. While the party was disappointed to fall short of the threshold for a Scottish MEP, it expressed delight at the strengthened Green showing across Europe and at the election of two Green MEPs in the south of England.
The Scottish Greens highlighted the increase in their vote from the Scottish Parliament election: up two-thirds from 3.6% to 5.8%. The party claimed that it was now clearly Scotland's fifth party and was hard on the heels of the Liberal Democrats. It added that its showing, if repeated, would see it gain between six and eight seats in the next Holyrood elections. The Greens also pointed out that they had beaten the Liberal Democrats across Glasgow as a whole and in three of the six Edinburgh constituencies.
The Scottish Greens' top candidate in the elections, Marian Coyne said: "Across Europe the Green advance has continued to claim new territory. Green votes have increased almost everywhere. As a result there will be an even stronger Green Group in the European Parliament and I am delighted that Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert of our sister party south of the border will be the first Green MEPs in the UK."
Robin Harper MSP, the first Green Parliamentarian in the UK, added: "This vote firmly establishes the Scottish Green Party as the fifth force in Scottish politics. Our share of the vote has markedly increased from only five weeks ago in the Scottish election. In my own area of Lothian our vote has increased from 6.9% to over 9%. This proves that the Scottish election result was no flash in the pan. We have now started on a course which will see us secure between six and eight seats in the next Holyrood elections. I will look forward to welcoming my colleagues into the Scottish Parliament."