Votes cast for Scottish Greens 'will count towards indy majority in de-facto poll'

EVERY vote cast for the Scottish Greens at the next General Election will count towards a pro-independence majority, the party has confirmed.

Following the Supreme Court ruling that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to hold an independence referendum, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday that she will continue with the party's plans to hold a de-facto referendum at the next UK-wide election. 

With the SNP and Scottish Greens co-operation agreement in place, both parties have now confirmed that they will fight the next General Election on the single issue of independence.

Alba leader Alex Salmond has previously argued that all Yes parties should fight under one banner in a bid to reach 50% of the vote plus one. 

Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer outlined the party’s position in response to a statement by Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson on Wednesday afternoon. 

Greer first challenged Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross's claim that unionist parties had won more votes at the Holyrood election in 2021 than Yes parties. 

The Greens MSP told the chamber: “Not only did the SNP and the Greens win more seats than the opposition at last year’s General Election, we won 16,057 more votes than the anti-independence parties combined.

Greer confirmed the Greens position in Holyrood after the ruling was made

"We did so on the basis of manifestos which committed to giving the people of Scotland a choice over their future.

“The onus is now on the UK Government to explain how, if this a voluntary union, a part of that union can decide whether to stay or to go."

Turning to the issue of securing a pro-independence majority in a de-facto referendum, Greer asked: “In the absence of any alternative being put forward by Westminster though, does the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that every vote cast for pro-independence candidates at the 2024 General Election will count towards that mandate for Scotland’s independence.”

Responding to the question, Robertson told the Chamber: “Indeed they will and as democrats it beholds us all to embrace every democratic opportunity to secure democratic change.”