Interview
bookies that we would get eight or more ally to transform the characterisation and Halifax had before they were all
seats. of the Greens as an eccentric, single taken over and I contrast that with a
“What hurt more than anything was issue, fringe group and in doing so, has financial services sector that is domi-
making our staff redundant and dealing also transformed himself – he has even nated by a couple of mega banks, with
with the fall out in the party. I think, to accepted that conformity might have its everybody simply just worried about
be honest, for a little part of last year for advantages. jobs. I am worried about jobs but also
a couple of months after the election, I “I guess I have accepted that you about the quality of jobs and whether
went through a bit of a low point… I wear the uniform if you want to be taken they are satisfying jobs that are rooted in
remember Mark Ballard (a former Green seriously. I did get taken more seriously local communities.”
MSP who lost his seat in the 2007 elec- when I put a suit on and I suppose I have I observe that he is quite a frighten-
tion) asking me ‘how long do you want to got used to wearing suits and there is a ing force in the Chamber, a heady mix
be an MSP?’ and I honestly hadn’t con- little part of me that secretly likes dress- of intelligence, cool control and inde-
sidered it. I think the answer I gave at the ing up! pendence of mind. His surprise secret is,
time was that we are a relatively power- “Saying something radical wearing he discloses, blood pressure pills.
less group in a relatively powerless parlia- ripped jeans and dreadlocks is one thing “I have been on blood pressure pills
ment and if both those things stayed the and saying something radical when you for several years now following a kidney
same for a long time, this would not be look part of the mainstream may prick infection when I was a child and before
a job that would be ultimately rewarding people’s ears up a bit.” I started taking them, I did get nervous
to do for decades. Harvie says his approach is to try during public speaking but now – not a
“However, I think we have the and achieve ‘constructive debate’, which flutter. I do get angry but stage fright and
opportunity to change both of those he says leads to a better outcome rather nerves do not affect me – all a façade but
things and I think if we can, then it will than just thinking, ‘you’re all shit and my quite handy.
be a privilege to do the job and be part way is right.’ Never was that more true “I do enjoy saying what I think but
of that and yes, I do intend to stand in than amid all the brouhaha of the pro- I am puzzled by the prospect that other
2011.” posed HBOS takeover by Lloyds TSB parties do not have the freedom and I
Always one to see the positive side when the First Minister coined his con- think you only lose that freedom if you
in everything, Harvie says that the poor troversial ‘spivs and speculators’ phrase choose to constrain yourself. I think it
election result has allowed the party to and Iain Gray agreed that short sellers would be a terrible, boring, soul-destroy-
regroup and rediscover its strengths. He should be ‘thrown to the fire’. It was ing job if you only cared about keeping
also believes that minority government Harvie who brought some much needed it.
has offered the Greens a crucial deal- clarity when he said: “Debating the “The Green Party has the potential
making role. HBOS takeover without addressing the and opportunity to change the political
“We have been able to achieve a fundamental causes of economic trouble landscape in Scotland, which is some-
great deal in this session that we wouldn’t amounts to little more than a group hug times hard to see when you have gone
have been able to achieve in the last ses- on the deck of the Titanic. It might feel through a bad election like last year but
sion with more numbers. We only have like it helps a little bit, make us feel a bit if we can build on the fact that we sur-
two votes but they are more crucial than better, or give us some comfort in the vived the big squeeze last year, and if
our seven of the last session. We can get short term, but it does nothing to change we can come back in bigger numbers,
budget concessions, legislative sessions the problem that is at the very heart of we genuinely have the potential to not
and our constructive attitude in debates the crisis.” just change our status in politics but also
has been perfectly suited to this period His lone voice caused a number of the status of certain debates within the
of minority government.” heads to turn and look at him with fresh whole political spectrum.”
In fact, Harvie has been a bit of a
I do
null

eyes. The Greens, he says, may still have These are mighty aspirations. The
surprise this time round. There is no enjoy a way to go to persuade the electorate word diminutive tends to prefix any
doubt he has grown into the job and
saying
that their views are valid and all encom- description of Harvie and he is, undeni-
admits that he himself has adopted a
what I think
passing but it is something he hopes to ably, a Polly Pocket-sized politician but
more professional and single-minded
but I am
address when he takes over Robin Harp- he is also a big man – big enough to say
attitude. er’s role as male co-convener next month what he thinks, big enough to say he
He is a popular and respected fig-
puzzled
and gets a bit more evangelical about can change the world and big enough to
ure in and around the Parliament and
by the
spreading the word of the Greens. keep trying.
a key player in the politicians/media prospect “I think, for instance, we have “I do think the Greens have the most
pool league that has established itself in
that other
something radically different to say on distinctive position, the most exciting
a local hostelry of a Tuesday evening.
parties
the economy and the financial crisis. and positive message in Scottish politics
It’s an incongruous vision; little Patrick
do not
We have been saying something radi- at the moment but I don’t pretend that
Harvie, the very out gay in the politi- cally different on a different vision for we are the only decent and noble peo-
cal village, propping up the pool table
have the
financial services in Scotland; about ple…that would be bullshit.
with a pint in his hand, surrounded by
freedom
looking at a diverse range of small “All people are flawed and imper-
the political hack pack, which is perhaps and local financial services companies fect and all parties could do better on all
more testament to his own tolerance of
them than some sections of the press
null
rooted in local communities – not all things but to gravitate towards machine
credit unions and co-operatives but politics, to do whatever it takes to keep
have been about him. including many of those – but with the your job, does not interest me – that
Harvie has done much person- kind of values that the likes of the TSB would be a hateful life for me…” HM
| www.holyrood.com | Holyrood magazine | 17 November 2008 |
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