Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater set to be appointed ministers

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has signalled her intention to appoint Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater as Scottish Government ministers.

It will be the first time ever in the UK that Greens have been in government and comes after an agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens was confirmed by members at the weekend.

The appointment of the Scottish Green co-leaders will be subject to formal confirmation and acceptance by the Scottish Parliament and by the Queen.

The appointments are expected to be formally confirmed by Holyrood and by the Queen.

Patrick Harvie has been named as minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights.

He will have responsibility over areas including active travel, heat networks, a new deal for tenants, building standards and energy efficiency.

Lorna Slater has been named as minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.

She will have responsibility over areas including the circular economy, national parks and natural heritage, nature recovery targets and a green industrial strategy.

The First Minister welcomed Harvie and Slater at Bute House in Edinburgh on Monday.

“This historic cooperation agreement is founded in a shared drive to work together in the Scottish Government to build a greener, fairer, independent Scotland,” said Sturgeon.

“We have massive challenges to overcome: a global pandemic and its lasting effects, the climate emergency and the assault by the UK Government on the powers of our Parliament.

“Patrick and Lorna’s roles in Government are rightly at the heart of facing up to them, and the expertise and passion they bring with them will contribute greatly to defining Scotland’s path forward in doing so.”

She added: “Although our parties do not agree on everything we have been able to compromise on both sides, find common ground and agree on areas where we can work together to build a better country.

“The world has had to adapt quickly to respond to the fast-paced and changing nature of the pandemic but what it has shown us is that we can put politics aside to tackle the challenges in front of us decisively and in a way that delivers.

“I look forward to working with my new Green Party colleagues in this new and ambitious way.”

Harvie said he was “thrilled” at the opportunity.

“We are at a crucial tipping point in terms of our relationship with the planet,” he said.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to drive forward policies that enhance peoples’ lives while supporting the urgent goal of tackling the climate emergency as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Slater said: “Any transition to net-zero must be just, and my focus will be on delivering policies that support our workforce and wider economy through that change as well as ensuring our greener future is also a prosperous and fair one that benefits our natural environment.”