A PROMINENT Scottish Greens member has ruled out standing in the leadership contest due to the "toxic" culture within the party.
Anthony Carroll, a Glasgow councillor for the Dennistoun ward, had previously been tipped to run for a co-leader position.
However, he has now ruled out standing and has called for an internal review into the party's culture.
"But I am not standing to become the next co-leader of the Scottish Green Party."
Carroll went on to explain that he was not standing due to "the culture within the party", which he alleged was targeted against the Glasgow Greens branch, citing recent media reports which he said had branded the Glasgow faction as "toxic" and a "militant tribute act".
He said: "There's active briefing not just within the party, but now publicly against folks from Glasgow.
"I don't get it, I don't get why this benefits anyone. It's not been helpful, it doesn't help anyone, it undermines the party, undermines the abilities of our party to thrive.
@cllranthonycarroll An update from me about the leadership contest for the Scottish Greens #Scottishpolitics #fyp #Glasgow #scottishgreens ♬ original sound - Cllr_Anthony_Carroll
"It's been something that has been making me second-guess going for leadership, because if there's folk who brief in bad faith about folk from Glasgow and the potential of someone from Glasgow standing to be the co-leader of the party – why should I stand?"
Carroll went on to ask the candidates who are standing for leadership to "fight the issues of culture within the party, the toxicity, misogyny, bad faith".
He said: "The kind of personification or personalification of disagreements, of making criticism or professional disagreements be taken as personal gripes has been really unhealthy.
"People have left roles because of toxicity within the party. People have been asking for a cultural review. That's what people need to be doing."
Carroll reiterated that he would still be campaigning for the Greens, as he said: "I'll still be fighting for people and planet before profit, that's something I think all of us should still keep fighting for."
He added: "We need to shake off this image as a middle-class party because our ideas can actively help and benefit communities that have been left behind."
The National understands that Carroll has not been contacted by anyone in the party leadership since publishing the statement.
Speaking to The National, Carroll said: "Someone has to say what people feel internally in the party, and it's important to say that out loud.
"I don't feel that I've said anything that isn't out of the place of a genuine want for the party to improve its culture, so that it can increase the involvement of more members and increase who we appeal to as well."
It comes as the Scottish Greens published their list of Holyrood candidates earlier this week, which saw MSP Maggie Chapman removed from the top spot of the North East list.
Members then raised concerns around the processing of some of the results, which led to a recount taking place.
On Wednesday evening, the party confirmed a "software error" had affected the ranking of a number of candidates and published a revised list, but stressed that it did not impact on any of the lead candidates, who are most likely to be elected to Holyrood.
The Scottish Greens used Mi-Voice, a third-party voting platform, to host and count the ballot papers for the selection contest.
The party apologised for the error and thanked candidates and members for their "vigilance, patience and trust".
A Scottish Greens spokesperson said: “The Scottish Greens are a proud democratic party that gives all members a voice in decision-making and selecting internal positions.
"We are excited to work with our members in our biggest ever election campaign to return record numbers of MSPs and deliver positive, progressive policies for the people of Scotland."
