Jamie Greene not selected as Lib Dem lead candidate

Former Tory MSP Jamie Greene has not been selected as the lead candidate for the Liberal Democrats in the West of Scotland next year.

Greene quit the Conservatives earlier this year, hitting out at the party’s move to the right.

The next day it was announced he had joined the Lib Dems.

It is understood he stood for selection, but the party has now confirmed the lead candidate in the West will be charity worker Adam Harley, who will also contest the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency.

It is unlikely that the Lib Dems – who have not secured enough votes to have an MSP in the West since the 2007 election – will see more than one person elected for the area.

That means should Greene be placed further down the list, he is unlikely to return to parliament next May.

The Lib Dems have now selected lead candidates in seven of the eight regions. The last to be announced is Highlands and Islands, where a list MSP is unlikely given the party dominates in two constituencies: Orkney and Shetland.

Commenting on Harley’s selection, leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “I’m delighted that Adam has been selected for the West Scotland list. He’s got the talent, drive and charisma to speak up for communities on the issues that matter most.”

Greene was elected in 2016 and again in 2021, serving on the Conservative frontbench team as education and justice spokesperson.

He briefly considered running for the leadership in last year’s contest following the departure of Douglas Ross, but decided against it and instead endorsed Murdo Fraser.

After the election of Russell Findlay as leader, he become increasingly dissatisfied with the direction of the party and ultimately quit in April.

He accused the party of adopting a “Trump-esque narrative” and seeking to become “Reform-lite”.

Since joining the Lib Dems, he has been the finance and economy spokesperson.

The Lib Dems are hoping for a resurgence in the election next May, building off the back of its success at the general election last year.