The first time this system was used in Britain, Robin Harper of the Scottish Green Party was elected to the Scottish Parliament for Lothian Region. The system was then used in the European elections and two British Greens were elected. Then in the London Assembly elections, three Green representatives were returned. The new PR system makes Green votes count.

The election of Robin Harper as the first Green parliamentary representative in Britain shows that Greens can now get elected. All the political pundits expect him to be joined by other Green MSPs in the next election.

On May 1st each elector will have two votes for the parliament (and one for local government). The first vote is for the traditional 'first past the post' style constituency. The second vote elects further MSPs by the fairer PR system, in which every vote counts.

The Scottish Green Party will only be standing in the second vote, and we need just 6% of the second vote across the Region to win a seat. All the polls suggest that this is within our grasp.

If every person concerned about the environment - or aspects of it, from waste prevention to bird diversity - makes their second vote Green, there will be at least one Green representative for the South of Scotland.

The Scottish Green Party Candidates from across Scotland for election on May 1st.