Green leader in Northern Ireland joins campaign trail for Holyrood

The leader of the Greens in Northern Ireland has travelled to Scotland to join campaigning for the Holyrood election.

With less than four weeks to go until voters go to the polls, Mal O’Hara teamed up with Ross Greer, co-leader of the Scottish Greens.

Mr O’Hara said he was “delighted” to join Scottish Green activities across Edinburgh and Glasgow over the weekend.

The politician, who travelled to Scotland with a number of Green councillors from Northern Ireland, added: “Across the UK, Green parties are surging. Record polling and record memberships because we are offering a clear message of hope which is clearly resonating with people.

“Whether in Belfast, Dublin, Cardiff, London, Edinburgh or Glasgow – only the Greens represent that ambitious vision and our interconnected relationships on these islands.”

He added that while the Scottish Greens and Northern Irish Greens are “distinct” parties, the organisations are “united by shared values and priorities” – including “lowering bills, facing down the far-right, fighting the climate crisis and ending inequality”.

Mr Greer said it was “great to have Mal and his team join us in Scotland this weekend”.

He added: “I am proud to be part of a movement that is growing across these islands and beyond.

“Mal’s leadership has been crucial to growing the Green Party in Northern Ireland. We are keen to learn from that and work with him to deliver record Green results across our nations.

“I’m looking forward to campaigning with Mal and to returning the favour next year by heading to Northern Ireland to help them to secure a record result in the next Stormont elections.”