Green Vote Grows

The Scottish Greens are on course to secure 12 seats in the 2016 Holyrood elections, according to a Survation survey.

The party's regional vote is currently at 11%, up from the 10% recorded by Survation in early June. It's predicted the Greens could take ten seats from Scottish Labour.

The party, whose membership now numbers 9,000, has already selected its lead candidates for all 8 regions, including MSPs Patrick Harvie (Glasgow), Alison Johnstone (Lothian) and John Finnie (Highlands and Islands), and Councillor Mark Ruskell (Mid-Scotland and Fife). Patrick Harvie will also contest Glasgow Kelvin constituency.

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: "With our surging, enthusiastic membership and great candidates in place we are determined to deliver our best ever result at Holyrood. Polling isn't a prediction but given the consistent numbers we're seeing, there's a clear opportunity to elect many more Green MSPs to represent Scotland's communities.

"The Scottish Parliament needs a main opposition party that is constructive yet challenging. The Scottish Greens have been a clear voice on so many issues, from the economy to local democracy and from football club ownership to fracking. We are ready to step up to a bigger role."