This article appears as part of the Unspun: Scottish Politics newsletter.

Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater should have quit as Green Party co-leaders when the Bute House deal with the SNP collapsed.

Yes, it was all down to the abject political naivety of Humza Yousaf, who pulled the trigger on the pact only to shoot himself in both feet and lose his premiership. But the end of the deal should also have been an opportunity for the Greens to renew themselves.

The party’s messaging is abysmal. A huge space on the left of the political spectrum exists that’s been vacated by Labour. Voters are crying out for a leftwing alternative to Labour, and to some extent the SNP.

Whilst the Greens are firmly on the left, they have – whether they like it or not, or accept it or not – put class and economics firmly on the back-burner. Indeed, even their environmentalism is overshadowed by their identity politics.

Now, let’s be clear, I’m not suggesting the Greens shred everything they stand for, throw LGBT people under the bus, and become some sort of Old Labour avatar.

A party is needed that defends minorities in this era. However, identity politics don’t need to be front and centre all the time.

The public knows that Greens will stand up........

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