THREE councillors in Glasgow have become the first “Your Party” representatives in Scotland after defecting from the Scottish Greens.

Dan Hutchison, Seonad Hoy and Leodhas Massie have also been joined by a host of former Green activists in the city as well as Ellie Gomersall, who has sat as the second candidate, behind Patrick Harvie, on the party’s Glasgow regional list for next year’s Holyrood election.

In a statement issued by the party, Ms Gomersall said: “Where every single one of the existing Holyrood parties is complicit in passing on brutal cuts to public services, it’s clear to me that only Your Party can be taken seriously to stand firm against austerity and work to materially improve the lives of the working class.

“I’m grateful to all those who supported me during my time in the Greens, and my message to each of you is simple: if you want to see socialists elected to our parliaments, city chambers and town halls across Scotland and the UK, join me in Your Party.”

Mr Hutchison, who has represented Girvan for four years, added: “I’ve spent the last 10 years fighting to get the Greens to be the left-wing force they think they are.

“But their MSPs have their heads deep in the sand, voting to cut budgets year after year and enabling the largest sell-off of public land to the private sector.

“While Your Party is still in its early days, it’s the largest step toward unity that I’ve seen on the left in my lifetime.

“The damage that the parties in Holyrood have already done to our public sector is catastrophic but is nothing compared to the damage that a Farage-led government will do.

“I’m proud to be joining a truly socialist party who will not accept the status quo, will actually involve ordinary people in the politics that impacts their lives, and won’t be accepting brutal cuts in exchange for scraps off the table.”

Expressing their disappointment a Scottish Greens spokesperson thanked them “for the work they have done as Green councillors,” adding: “Our councillors will continue to lead the fight for their communities and against the billionaire profiteers who exploit Scottish workers and pollute our planet.”