Green councillor set to take Harper's place at Holyrood

GREEN councillor Alison Johnstone is heading for Holyrood after being named top of her party's Lothians list for next year's Scottish Parliament elections. Fellow councillor Steve Burgess, chosen as number two on the list, could be joining her if the Greens poll well next May.

Veteran Green politician Robin Harper became the UK's first Green parliamentarian when he was elected a Lothians MSP in the first Scottish Parliament elections in 1999.

He has retained his seat ever since, but is standing down at the next election. Now Green party members in the Lothians have selected Ms Johnstone - who worked as Mr Harper's assistant - to take his number one slot on the list.

The Greens had a second Lothians MSP, Mark Ballard, between 2003 and 2007, raising hopes within the party that a good showing could get Mr Burgess elected as well.

Ms Johnstone, a former champion athlete, first became involved with the Greens through campaigning for green spaces at Meggetland.

She said: "It is an extraordinary honour to have been backed. Robin will be a hard act to follow. We'll miss him in parliament, but I know he'll be around to help keep us on the right track."

Mr Burgess was a research scientist at Edinburgh University and head of research for the Green MSPs before being elected councillor for Southside/Newington in 2007.

He said: "The more Green MSPs are elected to Holyrood the stronger will be the voice against reckless road-building and airport expansion.

"We have the LibDem/SNP administration in Edinburgh, on the one hand talking up concern over climate change yet continuing to support unsustainable growth, airport expansion and now even beginning to encourage commuting by car again. We need the parliament to ensure that councils make action on climate change a priority and not a side issue to be ignored. It's a crunch time."

Mr Harper said: "I am delighted that Alison Johnstone is the choice of Lothians members to head up our list for the Scottish Parliament election, and that Steve Burgess is in position to be elected to Holyrood as well.

"Alison is better prepared than I was in 1999 to take up this post, as she knows the ropes after 12 years of supporting me in my efforts to take forward the Green message."

• The SNP has selected Jim Eadie as its candidate for the Edinburgh Southern seat at next year's elections.

Mr Eadie, 42, owns a consulting business in the city working for healthcare clients in the corporate and voluntary sectors.