Patrick Harvie
Patrick Harvie (born 18 March 1973) is the co-leader of the Scottish Greens (with Lorna Slater) and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow region. He was first elected in the 2003 election and was re-elected in 2007, 2011 and 2016.
Patrick Harvie | |
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Patrick Harvie in March 2013 | |
Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens | |
Assumed office 1 August 2019 | |
Preceded by | Himself (as co-convenor) |
Co-Convenor of the Scottish Greens | |
In office 2008 – 31 July 2019 | |
Preceded by | Robin Harper |
Succeeded by | Himself (as co-leader) |
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow | |
Assumed office 1 May 2003 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Vale of Leven, Dunbartonshire, Scotland | 18 March 1973
Political party | Scottish Greens |
Alma mater | Manchester Metropolitan University |
Website | www |
Background, education and career
Harvie went to Dumbarton Academy between 1984–1991, and attended Manchester Metropolitan University where he was briefly a member of the Labour party.[1]
From 1997 till his election in 2003, Harvie worked within the Gay Men's Project at the sexual health organisation PHACE Scotland (now part of the Terrence Higgins Trust) initially as a youth worker and later as Development Worker for the Lanarkshire Health Board area. Although this work was principally concerned with HIV prevention, it also involved Harvie in equality campaigning. He also had a spell as a civil servant, working with the Inland Revenue in Dumbarton. During this period, he was active in the campaign to repeal Section 2A of the Local Government Act, more commonly known as Section 28. This campaign was successful, and Harvie has stated that the experience prompted him to become more actively involved in politics, leading to his joining the Scottish Green Party.[2]
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Harvie has gained attention both for issues strongly associated with the Greens, such as campaigning against the extension to the M74 motorway in Glasgow, and for more 'mainstream' issues such as opposition to the Identity Cards Bill.
Quickly after becoming an MSP he caused some controversy by proposing civil partnership legislation in the Scottish Parliament. Though this legislation was ultimately handled at Westminster and covered the whole UK, the distinctive Scottish proposals helped to stimulate some public debate north of the border, both on the issue of same-sex relationships and on the process known as a Legislative Consent Motion by which the Scottish Parliament allows Westminster to legislate for the whole UK.
Harvie was a member of the Communities Committee of the Scottish Parliament throughout the 2003–07 session,[3] and through this committee he worked on the Anti-social behaviour Bill, the Charities Bill and the Housing Bill, as well as on issues of homelessness, debt, the planning system and building standards. In 2004 Harvie was given the 'One to Watch' award at the annual Scottish Politician of the Year event. In addition to the Communities portfolio, Harvie covered the Justice portfolio for the Greens, and has been active on a number of civil liberties issues. He has also been convener of the Cross Party Group (CPG) on Human Rights, and helped to establish a CPG on Sexual Health.
Following the Green Party's disappointing performance in the 2007 election, Harvie was returned with a reduced share of the vote. The tight parliamentary arithmetic and a constructive relationship with the Scottish National Party led to a Co-operation Agreement between the two parties. Under this, Harvie was nominated to convene the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee.
Positions held
Scottish Parliament
- MSP for Glasgow region (2003–present)[4]
- Member of the Finance and Constitution Committee (present)
- Convener of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee (2007–2011)[5]
Party
- Co-leader, Scottish Greens (2019–Present)
- Co-convener, Scottish Green Party (2008–2019)[6]
- Spokesperson for Finance, Economy, Fair Work, Equalities (present)[6]
- Spokesperson for Justice, Communities, Europe and Constitutional Affairs (2005–2007)
- Spokesperson for Justice and Communities (2003–2005)
Other
Harvie is an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society[7], Honorary Vice-President of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association and a patron of Parents Enquiry Scotland. He is a board member of the Glasgay! Festival, and a member of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Equality Network, Stonewall (UK), Amnesty International, Humanist Society Scotland, Campaign for Real Ale and the Campaign Against the Arms Trade. From 2003 till 2007, Harvie wrote a weekly column in the Scottish edition of the Big Issue.
He is bisexual, and in 2003 became the first openly bisexual Member of the Scottish Parliament.[8]
He was also a candidate in the election for Rector of the University of Glasgow in February 2008.[9]
Harvie is an advocate of Open Source and Free Software, and a Linux user. His use of Twitter during an important political dinner drew much media comment.[10]
References
- Gordon, Tom (5 April 2015). "Party Leader interviews: Patrick Harvie". The Herald. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- Chakelian, Anoosh (15 August 2014). "Leader of the Scottish Greens: "You don't need to like Alex Salmond to vote Yes". New Statesman. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- "Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003–2007): Patrick Harvie MSP". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- "Glasgow - Scottish Parliament electoral region - Election 2016". Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- "Previous MSPs: Session 3 (2007–2011): Patrick Harvie MSP". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- "Patrick Harvie MSP". Scottish Green Party. 22 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- "Honorary Associates". National Secular Society. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "30 years of Stonewall: The fight for LGBT rights". The Herald. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- Rectorial Elections 2008 Results, Glasgow University SRC, February 2008
- Maddox, David (18 April 2009). "Harvie: Twitter ye not at my manners". The Scotsman.
External links
- Official website
- Profile at Scottish Green Party
- Scottish Parliament profile
Party political offices | ||
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New office | Co-leader of the Scottish Green Party 2019–present With: Lorna Slater |
Incumbent |
Preceded by Robin Harper |
Co-Convener of the Scottish Green Party 2008–2019 With: Eleanor Scott 2008–2011 Martha Wardrop 2011-2013 Maggie Chapman 2013–2019 |
Constitution changed |
Scottish Parliament | ||
Preceded by Robert Brown Scottish Liberal Democrats |
Regional MSP for Glasgow region 2003– With: 6 others |
Incumbent |