By Bruce Robbins

The Scottish Green Party yesterday savoured the possibility of holding the balance of power in the next Scottish Parliament.

Co-convener Robin Harper ended their two-day conference in the Bonar Hall, Dundee, with a message to the faithful that the “vision and practical approach” already agreed could lead the Greens to more election success in 2007.

In his closing address Mr Harper said his party aimed to bring new life to the “power sharing” and participation originally promised with the establishment of a Scottish parliament.

He said, “There is indeed speculation that we may hold the balance of power in 2007, and that is something that we should aim for and it is right that we have agreed a democratic way forward: not just so that we can make sure action is taken on many of the critical challenges like climate change that are ducked by the other parties, but to have the chance to breathe some life into a new way of doing politics in Scotland.”

The potential for the Greens to become a partner in a coalition parliament in 2007 was a major part of the weekend’s debates.

The party considered alternative models to the Labour/LibDem style of agreement which was denounced as an arrangement held together by the “willingness of both parties to vote for things they didn’t believe in.”

Mr Harper claimed the present coalition politicians were “worried” by the Green’s approach to partnership. “They don’t want real democracy, they don’t want the real issues challenged. They seem to only want power for power’s sake, and prepared to give up any policy and any principle to hold onto the steering wheel of their ministerial Mondeos,” he said.

“We didn’t all sign up to a parliament where deals were decided in back rooms or where the Westminster style of yah-boo politics would continue unabated. The people voted for a parliament that would debate issues openly and honestly.

“Put it another way: did LibDem voters vote for GM crops? Did they vote to shut down the Airborne Centre for young offenders? Did they vote for massive new motorways and more pollution and congestion? I think not, but the LibDem MSPs were found wanting on these issues and they are bringing the whole of politics into disrepute.”

The progress “sunny” Dundee is making on renewable energy was also celebrated at the party’s annual conference.

Dundee-based MSP Shiona Baird’s opening address to the conference said groundbreaking projects like Dundee Sun City pointed to a “better way of doing things.”

She said, “The innovative Dundee Sun City project, which will be relaunched at the end of 2005, will spearhead the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy across the city.

“It will open up opportunities for investment and manufacturing and will support small-scale renewables across the city.

“Dundee has the best solar resource of all Scotland’s cities and is seizing the opportunity to use this to benefit local businesses, households and the environment.

“I wish to see this happen right across Scotland. That is why I lodged a bill in the parliament on micro-renewable energy earlier this year. And, after six years of perseverance, the first urban wind turbines at a manufacturing site in the UK will be right here in Dundee.”

The conference, attended by around 200 delegates, also included a talk on sustainable transport by experts David Spaven and David Begg and a speech on the drawbacks of nuclear energy by journalist Lesley Riddoch and Green MSP Mark Ruskell.