Former SNP MSP John Wilson joins Green Party

FORMER SNP MSP John Wilson, who quit the nationalists after the independence referendum, has joined the Scottish Green Party.

By ANDREW WHITAKER Wednesday, 17th December 2014, 12:04 am

Mr Wilson had left the SNP over issues such as the party leaderships backing for Nato membership. Picture: Robert Perry

The Scotsman revealed earlier this year that Mr Wilson had left the SNP over issues such as the party leadership’s backing for Nato membership.

Yesterday he said he had decided to join the Greens, but would continue to sit as an independent MSP at Holyrood.

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Mr Wilson will join fellow independent MSP John Finnie, who also joined the Scottish Greens, after originally being elected as an SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands region.

Mr Finnie resigned from the SNP in late 2012 after the party abandoned its long-standing opposition to Nato – a policy shift critics said was at odds with the SNP’s opposition to nuclear weapons.

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The Scottish Greens won two MSPs at the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections – Patrick Harvie in Glasgow and Alison Johnstone in Lothian.

Mr Wilson said: “I can announce that following a few months to reflect on my future in politics I have decided to join the Scottish Green party, however I will continue to sit in the Scottish Parliament as an independent member for Central Scotland.

“The Scottish Green party is the best vehicle for reflecting my view on environmental, social and economic policies and is providing leadership on key issues such as fracking, land ownership and a citizens income.”

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