Former SNP and Labour councillors join the Scottish Greens

Ross McKenzie, who represents Sighthill and Gorgie on Edinburgh Council, and John Stuart, who represents Buckie on Moray Council, have officially joined the party after their applications were approved by the Greens’ national council.

Mr McKenzie was initially elected as a Scottish Labour councillor, but left the party in 2023 after it formed an administration on Edinburgh Council with support from the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Lib Dems.

Ever since he has sat as an independent but has worked with the Green group on the council.

Mr McKenzie said: “Since leaving the Labour Party, I have worked closely with my Scottish Green colleagues in Edinburgh to make a fairer, greener city for all.

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“In the face of a disastrous Labour administration propped up by the Tories and Lib Dems, we need a strong left-wing alternative in our capital city, putting people and planet before profit.

“I’ve heard time and again from my constituents concerns about housing, social care, planning and public spaces, and I’m in no doubt that the most effective way for me to represent those concerns is by working as closely as possible with the Greens.

“Labour have abandoned their core principles of standing up for the working-class across our country, they would rather hold onto power with the backing of Tories than improve our city for people and planet.”

Mr Stuart was elected as an SNP councillor in 2022 but left the nationalists in 2024 over concerns about what the Greens say is the party’s shift to the right on LGBT+ rights.

Since leaving the SNP he has sat as an independent councillor.

Mr Stuart said: “I am delighted to be joining Scotland’s largest progressive party at a time when the mainstream parties have shifted further to the right-wing, and are prioritising the demands of the super-rich over the needs of our communities.

“Scotland’s marginalised communities have been abandoned by mainstream parties in a desperate attempt to win over the votes of the far-right, but the Scottish Greens have stood their ground, making it clear that our vision for Scotland is as an independent, inclusive and equal nation at the heart of the EU.”

The party’s co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said she is “delighted” the two councillors have joined the Scottish Greens.

She said: “This is a movement dedicated to delivering eco-socialist change for people and planet across Scotland.

“From cutting household bills to taxing the super-rich and protecting our nature, I know that Ross and John will continue their fantastic work alongside our Green councillors in Moray and Edinburgh.

“With a Labour government looking more and more like the Conservatives every day and the SNP dropping progressive commitments all over the place, there has never been a more crucial moment for strong Scottish Green voices in town halls across our country.”

The two councillors will sit as “green-aligned independents” until the next election, but are able to join Green groups on their councils.