Editing Scottish Greens (section)

=== Independence referendum and rapid growth (2014–2019) ===
[[File:Scottish_Green_Leadership_2016.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Harvie (left) with [[Maggie Chapman]], co-convenors of the party between 2014 and 2018.]]
==== 2014 Independence referendum ====
[[File:Tardis_(15205152331).jpg|left|thumb|"Green Yes" activists in [[Edinburgh]] campaigning for independence, 2014|227x227px]]In November 2013, [[City of Edinburgh Council|Edinburgh]] councillor [[Maggie Chapman]] succeeded [[Glasgow City Council|Glasgow]] councillor Martha Wardrop as the party's female co-convenor after she did not seek re-election, while [[Patrick Harvie]] was re-elected.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 November 2013 |title=Glasgow MSP retains Greens leader role |work=[[Evening Times]] |publisher=[[Newsquest]] |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/u/glasgow-msp-retains-greens-leader-role.1385393124 |url-status=live |access-date=8 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923014445/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13268416.glasgow-msp-retains-greens-leader-role/ |archive-date=23 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephen |first=Phyllis |date=2013-11-27 |title=Edinburgh councillor chosen to lead the Green Party in Scotland |url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2013/11/edinburgh-councillor-chosen-to-lead-the-green-party-in-scotland/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=The Edinburgh Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> 

During the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]], the party participated in the cross-party [[Yes Scotland]] campaign in favour of [[Scottish independence]]. Co-convenor Patrick Harvie sat on the campaign's advisory board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yesscotland.net/perspective_why_a_yes_voter_needn_t_be_a_nationalist|title=Perspective: Why a Yes voter needn't be a nationalist|date=2013-01-10|access-date=2013-04-03|archive-date=5 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405001441/http://www.yesscotland.net/perspective_why_a_yes_voter_needn_t_be_a_nationalist|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-02 |title=From treaties to referendums: Scotland's political timeline |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13056487.treaties-referendums-scotlands-political-timeline/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101073511/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13056487.treaties-referendums-scotlands-political-timeline/ |archive-date=1 January 2024 |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref> Briefly, the party withdrew from Yes Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-12 |title=Greens pull out of Yes Scotland referendum campaign |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/9326575/Greens-pull-out-of-Yes-Scotland-referendum-campaign.html |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}</ref> However, the party's 2012 conference overturned the decision.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dennison |first=James |title=The Greens in British politics: protest, anti-austerity and the divided left |date=2017 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-3-319-42672-3 |location=Cham |pages=50–51}}</ref> The party also joined the [[Radical Independence Campaign]].<ref name=":13">Dennison, James (2017). ''The Greens in British politics: protest, anti-austerity and the divided left''. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. pp.51. {{ISBN|978-3-319-42672-3}}.</ref> 

The party's own campaign of 'Green Yes' launched in October 2013, and advocated that only independence could deliver radical change, with Harvie also arguing that the party's vision of independence was progressive, and explicitly not nationalistic.<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Citation |last=Dennison |first=James |title=The Rise of the Greens in British Politics |date=2017 |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-42673-0_1 |work=The Greens in British Politics |pages=2 |access-date=2024-01-01 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-42673-0_1 |isbn=978-3-319-42672-3}}</ref> He also argued that devolution did not go far enough to tackle issues important to Scots like austerity.<ref name="harviestatesman">{{Cite web |last=Chakelian |first=Anoosh |date=2014-08-15 |title=Leader of the Scottish Greens: "You don't need to like Alex Salmond to vote Yes" |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2014/08/leader-scottish-greens-you-don-t-need-alex-salmond-vote-yes |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=For me, it's got nothing to do with flags, or 300 years of history; it's about the future. And I think that the best way [...] of changing Scotland|author=[[Patrick Harvie]]  [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]|title=speaking about the party's vision of independence|source=[[New Statesman]]<ref name="harviestatesman"/>}}However, some in the party were opposed to independence, including former convenor [[Robin Harper]] who said that he would "absolutely vote No".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-robin-harper-to-vote-no-1-3218200 |title=Robin Harper to vote No |work=[[Edinburgh News]] |publisher=[[Johnston Press]] |date=3 December 2013 |access-date=3 December 2013 |archive-date=6 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206043859/http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-robin-harper-to-vote-no-1-3218200 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Bar chart|title=Membership before and after independence referendum<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29311147 |title=Scottish referendum: 'Yes' parties see surge in members |work=BBC News |date=22 September 2014 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023090449/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29311147 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The Herald">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/13839262.Scottish_public__should_have_power_to_propose_independence_referendum_/ |title=Scottish public 'should have power to propose independence referendum' |work=The Herald |date=10 October 2015 |access-date=28 March 2016 |archive-date=11 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411202259/http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/13839262.Scottish_public__should_have_power_to_propose_independence_referendum_/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|label_type=Year|data_type=Membership|bar_width=35|width_units=em|data_max=9001|label1=2013|label2=2014|label3=2015|data1=1,178|data2=7,800|data3=9,000|float=right}}
After the independence referendum, the Scottish Greens experienced a massive surge in membership, including future co-leader [[Lorna Slater]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-11 |title=Scottish politics has turned upside down since the independence referendum |url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/scottish-politics-turned-upside-down/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=British Politics and Policy at LSE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Slater |first1=Lorna |author1-link=Lorna Slater |date=2 May 2021 |title=Green Because... Lorna's Story |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wRENuLb504 |website=youtube.com |publisher=Scottish Greens |language=en |format=video}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brooks |first=Libby |date=2014-10-12 |title=Scottish Greens look to the future |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/scotland-blog/2014/oct/12/scottish-greens-look-to-the-future |access-date=2023-12-31 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The party claimed that, for a period in the day after the referendum, it gained a member every 15 seconds.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=513275485095477248 |user=scottishgreens |title=Since yesterday morning, we've gained 1,200 new members. At one point folks were signing up one every 15 seconds! |date=20 September 2014 |access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref>  
The party's then co-convenors, Harvie and Chapman were chosen by the party to serve as its representatives on the post-referendum [[Smith Commission]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-10-06 |title=Henry McLeish backs Greens to win devolved powers |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29507197 |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-09-29 |title=Scottish referendum: Iain Gray to join powers commission |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29417162 |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref> The party argued that full powers on income tax, the bulk of welfare policy, energy, transport, employment law and human rights law should be transferred to Holyrood.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-10-10 |title=What are the parties' proposals to the Smith Commission? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29570658 |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref>
==== 2016 Scottish Parliament election and Brexit ====
In 2015, [[Maggie Chapman]] was challenged as co-convenor by activist Zara Kitson in the party's internal elections.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2015-10-27 |title=Activist challenges co-convenor of Greens for top post ahead of biggest election campaign |url=https://www.thenational.scot/politics/14889387.activist-challenges-co-convenor-of-greens-for-top-post-ahead-of-biggest-election-campaign/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref>  The election was notable as it was the first time an incumbent co-convenor faced a serious challenge, all to date had been re-elected as the sole nominees. Chapman was re-elected.[[File:Green-Group-in-Chamber-May-2012_(13337649444).jpg|left|thumb|262x262px|Edinburgh Green councillors, including [[Maggie Chapman]] (top middle)]]
In the leadup to the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election]], the party campaigned with a focus on tax-rises for the rich, with co-convenor [[Patrick Harvie]] saying it would be "agenda item one" in any post-election talks with the SNP.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=2016-04-12 |title=Scottish Greens to press Nicola Sturgeon to tax rich after election |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/12/scottish-green-party-nicola-sturgeon-tax-rich-holyrood-election |access-date=2024-01-01 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Scotland Can {{!}} Scottish Greens |url=https://greens.scot/scotland-can |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408051306/https://greens.scot/scotland-can |archive-date=2016-04-08 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=Scottish Greens}}</ref> The party's selection process of co-convenor Maggie Chapman as lead candidate in the [[North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|North East Scotland]] region for the 2016 election attracted controversy.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news |last=Hutcheson |first=Paul |date=4 July 2015 |title=Scottish Greens in civil war over Holyrood ballot |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13415735.scottish-greens-civil-war-holyrood-ballot-irregularity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231231044302/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13415735.scottish-greens-civil-war-holyrood-ballot-irregularity/ |archive-date=31 December 2023 |access-date=31 December 2023 |work=The Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-17 |title=Scottish Greens in turmoil after three Holyrood candidates quit |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14281188.scottish-greens-turmoil-three-holyrood-candidates-quit-row-co-leader-maggie-chapman/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Storr |first=Debra |title=Rather belatedly : Why I resigned from the Scottish Greens |url=https://www.debrastorr.org/2016/07/rather-belatedly-why-i-resigned-from.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210192245/http://www.debrastorr.org/2016/07/rather-belatedly-why-i-resigned-from.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=10 December 2016 |access-date=2023-12-31 |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

In the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election]], the party won 6 more seats, its best result since 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-05-04 |title=Holyrood 2016: SNP claims 'historic' win but no majority |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-scotland-36205187 |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref> The result pushed the party ahead of the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] in seat numbers, making it the fourth-largest party for the first time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-05-06 |title=Scottish Greens push Lib Dems into fifth place |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-scotland-36224348 |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref> The Scottish Greens also elected the youngest MSP ever, [[Ross Greer]] at the age of 21.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-05-06 |title=Greens' Ross Greer becomes youngest MSP |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-scotland-36223801 |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref>
[[File:Dunfermline_Youngish_Greens_(13337812223).jpg|thumb|255x255px|A collection of Green activists with co-leader [[Patrick Harvie]] in 2014]]
In the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]], the party called for a '[[Remain campaign|Remain]]' vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-06-22 |title=EU referendum: Scotland backs Remain as UK votes Leave |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36599102 |access-date=2023-12-26}}</ref> Subsequently, the party began more strongly advocating for a [[second Scottish independence referendum]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greens could back indyref2 court fight against Tories, Patrick Harvie suggests |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19218107.patrick-harvie-greens-back-indyref2-court-challenge/ |access-date=2021-09-02 |website=The National |date=8 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Whitaker |first=Andrew |date=8 January 2017 |title=Senior SNP figures back Sturgeon on 'parking' indyref2 |work=The Herald |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=UKNB&req_dat=A1194290412D455C8584EB4D9AE76D7B&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F161C630E2A728038 |access-date=26 December 2023}}</ref>

In February 2015, the party announced that it would field candidates in 32 seats for the [[2015 United Kingdom general election]] with 40% of their candidates being women.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/scottish-greens-set-to-field-candidates-in-32-seats.1424597966 |title=Scottish Greens set to field candidates in 32 seats |work=[[Sunday Herald]] |publisher=[[Newsquest]] |date=22 February 2015 |access-date=22 February 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923014505/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13202792.scottish-greens-set-field-candidates-32-seats/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017 the party generated some controversy by standing only 3 candidates at the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|general election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39873325|title=General election 2017: Scottish Greens to field three candidates|publisher=BBC|date=10 May 2017|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=10 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010052157/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39873325|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2019 [[2019 United Kingdom general election|general election]] they contested significantly more seats in 22 constituencies. They failed to win any seats and lost their deposit in every contest.

The [[2017 Scottish local elections]] saw 'real progress' with the party returning 14 councillors across Scotland, with 8 in the [[City of Edinburgh Council]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-05-04 |title=Council election results: Sturgeon hails victory despite Tory surge |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39806664 |access-date=2023-12-30}}</ref>