Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer elected co-leaders of Scottish Greens

Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer have been elected as Co-leaders of the Scottish Greens.

Current co-leader Lorna Slater and activist Dominic Ashmole were also in the running, with the new leadership announced at an event in Edinburgh.

Patrick Harvie – who has been one of the party’s leaders since 2008 – announced earlier this year he would stand down from the role but continue to be an MSP.

In her acceptance speech, Mackay said: “From free bus travel for people under 22, increasing the roll out of free school meals, restoring Scotland’s natural environment, the introduction of Safe Access Zones, and the scrapping of peak rail fares, the Scottish Greens have already started improving the lives of millions. But we can and will go further.

“We need to be clear; the Scottish Greens have delivered real change, and we are the party for you. For many, the cost of living crisis is still taking its toll, but the focus from our governments and our media continues to distract from the real issues facing working people.

“As a disabled woman and a new mum, I am getting to know some of the struggles that so many families are facing. That’s why I will champion a four-day week, better parental pay, and universal basic income. These are policies that will transform lives.”

Greer said: “About a decade ago, there was a real sense of hope in Scotland. People really believed that this could be that better, fairer, greener country. But that sense of hope has all but disappeared, and we should be honest about that.

“Whether it is through the re-election of Tory governments that we didn’t vote for or a Labour government that looks like another one of those Tory governments, Brexit or even Trump.

“The Scottish Green Party will bring back that hope. And we will bring it back through action. We will cut people’s bills and tackle the climate crisis. That’s why I have proposed ideas during this contest like universal free bus travel.

“We shouldn’t be afraid to make the super-rich pay for the transformation that we know our society needs. For example, by ending the tax breaks that the aristocracy get for their shooting estates.

“Fixing Scotland’s problems means replacing a system that is rigged in favour of the super-rich with one that works for people and planet.