Scottish Conservative MSPs have criticised their Green counterparts after several Scottish Green MSPs, including co-leader Patrick Harvie, walked out of a Holyrood debate celebrating the Queen’s platinum jubilee. The Greens’ action, described as “petty, student politics” by the Tories, marks the most overtly republican demonstration yet seen in the Scottish Parliament.
Sharon Dowey, the Scottish Tories’ culture spokesperson, said every other party had joined in thanking the Queen for her service. “The Greens’ refusal to do so is petty, student politics at its worst,” she said. “Their transparent attempt to woo anti-monarchy voters will frustrate the vast majority of Scots who recognise [the] celebrations as a chance to show our gratitude for Her Majesty’s tireless dedication.”
Graham Smith, director of the anti-monarchist campaign group Republic, praised the Greens’ actions as symptomatic of growing republican sentiment, particularly among younger voters and in Scotland. “I think it’s quite extraordinary,” he said. “There are big political changes across the whole of the UK and certainly in Scotland. It wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago.”
A Scottish Green spokesperson said the party believed Scotland needed an elected head of state: “We respect others hold different beliefs. Our MSPs decided to absent themselves from today’s short debate and instead spend their time serving their constituents.” Three Green MSPs were absent, either on an official visit or working from home.
Celebrations of the jubilee in Scotland appear more muted than elsewhere in the UK. While central London is festooned in union flags, fewer than 250 of the more than 7,000 registered street parties and public events are shown on the official jubilee events map in Scotland. A recent poll for the thinktank British Futures found only 45% of Scottish voters wanted to keep the monarch, compared with 60% at UK level, while 36% said the end of the Queen’s reign would be the right moment to establish a republic.
