View source for Robin Harper

{{Short description|British politician (born 1940)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = Robin Harper
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRSSA|size=100%}}
| image               = RobinHarper.jpg
| imagesize           = 
| caption             = Harper in 2008
| constituency_MP     = [[Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothians]]<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}}
| parliament          = Scottish
| majority            = 
| term_start          = 6 May 1999
| term_end            = 22 March 2011
| predecessor         = 
| successor           = 
| office1             = [[Rector of the University of Aberdeen|Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen]]
| term_start1         = July 2005
| term_end1           = July 2008
| predecessor1        = [[Clarissa Dickson Wright]]
| successor1          = [[Scotland the What?|Stephen Robertson]]
| office2             = [[Rector of the University of Edinburgh|Lord Rector of the University of Edinburgh]]
| term_start2         = March 2000
| term_end2           = March 2003
| predecessor2        = [[John Colquhoun (footballer)|John Colquhoun]]
| successor2          = [[Tam Dalyell]]
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1940|8|4|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Thurso]], [[Caithness]], Scotland
| birthname           = Robin Charles Moreton Harper
| nationality         = 
| party               = [[Scottish Labour|Labour]] (2024–present)<ref name="auto">{{cite news  |title=Robin Harper quits Greens over stance on trans rights and independence |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyxx9x773nlo |access-date=11 June 2024 |work=BBC |date=11 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
| otherparty          = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (2023–2024)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andrews |first1=Kieran |title=Former Scottish Greens leader Robin Harper joins Labour |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/robin-harper-quits-greens-over-stance-on-trans-rights-and-independence-7khsxhk02 |access-date=2 August 2023 |work=The Times |date=2 August 2023 |url-access=subscription |language=en}}</ref> <br> [[Scottish Greens]] (1985–2023)
| spouse              = 
| relations           = 
| children            = 
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = [[University of Aberdeen]]
| occupation          = 
| profession          = Teacher
| cabinet             = 
| committees          = 
| religion            = 
| signature           = 
| website             = [http://robinharper.wordpress.com/ robinharper.wordpress.com]
| footnotes           = 
}}
'''Robin Charles Moreton Harper''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRSSA}} (born 4 August 1940) is a Scottish politician, who was a [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) for the [[Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothians region]] (1999–2011). 

He was co-convener of the [[Scottish Greens]] (2004–2008). 

Harper became an MSP in the first elections to the [[Scottish Parliament]] in [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|1999]], the first ever elected [[Green party|Green]] parliamentarian in the United Kingdom.

==Early life and career==
Harper was born in [[Thurso]], [[Caithness]]. He was educated at [[St Marylebone Grammar School]] and [[Elgin Academy, Moray]]. He graduated from the [[University of Aberdeen]] in 1962. He worked as an English teacher in [[Kenya]], then a [[Modern Studies]] teacher at [[Boroughmuir High School]], [[Edinburgh]].<ref name="BBC retire 2008">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7613870.stm |title=Constant force calls it a day |first=Andrew |last=Black |work=[[BBC News]] |date=13 September 2008 |access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref>

Harper was a member of Lothian [[Children's Panel]] 1985–1988 and Lothian Health Council 1993–1998.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2861271.stm |title=CV: Robin Harper |work=BBC News |date=2 April 2003 |access-date=22 June 2020}}</ref>

==Political career==
Harper joined the [[Ecology Party]]'s Scottish branch in 1985.  At the time the branch had only 35 members and its AGM that year was held in his flat. He was elected unopposed as its convenor and secretary and remained a leading figure as it became first the [[Green Party (UK)|UK-wide Green Party]] then the independent Scottish Greens.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/people/a-short-history-of-the-scottish-green-party/|title=A Short History of the Scottish Green Party|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702190544/http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/people/a-short-history-of-the-scottish-green-party/|archive-date=2 July 2015|date=2 July 2015|publisher=Scottish Greens}}</ref>

He stood, unsuccessfully, as a Green candidate in the [[1995 Perth and Kinross by-election]], and for [[Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Pentlands]] in the [[1997 United Kingdom general election]], finishing seventh and sixth respectively.<ref name="Demon">{{cite web|url=http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by1992.html|title=Results of Byelections in the 1992-97 Parliament|last=Boothroyd|first=David|access-date=2022-05-23|website=United Kingdom Election Results|archive-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720031954/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/by1992.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/230.stm |title= Vote2001: Results & Constituencies > Edinburgh Pentlands  |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref>

== Scottish Parliament ==
Harper stood for election at the first ever [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|Scottish Parliament election in 1999]], and was elected as an [[Additional member system (Scottish Parliament)|additional member]] for the [[Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothians region]], becoming the first ever elected Green Party parliamentarian in [[British politics|British political history]]. In an emotional speech, he promised to be a critical voice on the environment in the newly created devolved Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/scotland_99/news/338166.stm |title=Historic Green victory |work=BBC News |date=7 May 1999}}</ref> He criticised the [[Scottish Executive]]'s decision to split ministerial responsibility for the environment in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1232787.stm |title=Greens see red over executive shake-up |work=BBC News |date=21 March 2001}}</ref> He served as his party's sole representative in the first Parliament (1999–2003) until the [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003 election]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/31612.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 1 (1999-2003): Robin Harper |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> when the Scottish Green Party won another 6 seats in the regional lists.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2003/scottish_parliament/html/13_region.stm |title=Vote 2003 > Scottish Parliament election > region > Lothians |work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=28 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2996719.stm |title=Greens in seven heaven |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2003}}</ref> Harper was sworn in by giving the formal affirmation, also adding: "On behalf of the Scottish Green Party I wish to affirm that our priority will be to serve the people of Scotland who are sovereign in this land."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3006175.stm |title=Oath protest as MSPs start work |work=BBC News |date=7 May 2003 |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> He was the party's spokesman on education and young people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/30646.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003-2007): Robin Harper |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> In 2004, he was a member of the Scottish Parliament team in the TV general knowledge show ''[[University Challenge: The Professionals]]''. He and fellow team members [[Richard Baker (Scottish politician)|Richard Baker]] (Labour), [[Stewart Stevenson]] (SNP) and [[Jamie Stone (politician)|Jamie Stone]] (Lib Dem) who was captain, beat a [[Senedd|Welsh Assembly]] team by 110 points to 75.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3844487.stm |title=Scots win in 'Paxo' challenge |work=BBC News |date=28 June 2004}}</ref>

In January 2007, ''[[The Scotsman]]'' reported that Harper was being considered for the next [[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament]]. Harper stated that he did not know of this story, but said "it would be an honour even to be considered".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/harper-tipped-to-be-presiding-officer-1-1423783 |title=Harper tipped to be Presiding Officer |work= [[Scotland on Sunday]] |date=28 January 2007 |access-date=23 September 2014}}</ref> Following the 2007 elections to the [[Scottish Parliament]], Harper was returned as a list MSP for the [[Lothians (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothians]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/26589.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 3 (2007-2011): Robin Harper |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> this time one of only two Green Party members elected.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6626133.stm |title=Smaller parties suffer at polls |work=BBC News |date=4 May 2007}}</ref> After an agreement with the [[Scottish National Party]], the party with the largest mandate from the election, the Green MSPs including Harper voted for [[Alex Salmond]] to become [[First Minister of Scotland]] but the Greens declined to enter a formal coalition with the Scottish National Party. As part of the deal, fellow Green MSP [[Patrick Harvie]] was nominated to head the [[Committees of the Scottish Parliament|Holyrood Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6646227.stm |title=SNP and Greens sign working deal |work=BBC News |date=11 May 2007}}</ref> In 2009, Harper and Harvie voted to reject an SNP government budget.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7854417.stm |title=Scottish budget rejected by MSPs |work=BBC News |date=28 January 2009}}</ref> He did not seek re-election in [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12761271 |title=Scottish election: MSPs bidding farewell to Holyrood |first=Andrew |last=Black |work=BBC News |date=22 March 2011}}</ref>

==After Parliament==
''Dear Mr. Harper'', Harper's autobiography written with journalist [[Fred Bridgland]], was published in 2011.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/pdfplus/10.3366/scot.2013.0029 |title=Dear Mr Harper: Britain's First Green Parliamentarian, Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2011 |first=Eberhard |last=Bort |journal=[[Scottish Affairs]] |number=84 |year=2013|doi=10.3366/scot.2013.0029 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

In September 2014, Harper became chairman of the [[Scottish Wildlife Trust]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=News: Former Green MSP becomes Trust Chairman|url=http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/article/former-green-msp-becomes-trust-chairman/|website=scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk|publisher=Scottish Wildlife Trust|access-date=8 October 2014|date=22 September 2014}}</ref> He remained in that role for three years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/major-conservation-body-seeks-new-chair |title=Major conservation body seeks new chair |first=Susan |last=Smith |work=Third Force News |date=4 January 2017 |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

At the beginning of December 2013, Harper announced that he would "absolutely vote no" in the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|2014 referendum on Scottish independence]], going on to say that he would be happy to help the [[Better Together (campaign)|Better Together campaign]] and that there was a "significant minority" of [[Scottish Greens|Greens]] who were opposed to independence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-independence-robin-harper-vote-no-1551413 |title=Robin Harper to vote No|work= The Scotsman |date=3 December 2013 |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

In August 2021, Harper criticised the [[Bute House Agreement]] that the Greens had struck with [[Nicola Sturgeon]]'s government, claiming that his party had failed to take tougher action on North Sea oil, marine protection and taxation.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 August 2021|title=Former Scottish Greens leader criticises 'disappointing' agreement with SNP|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/26/former-scottish-greens-leader-criticises-disappointing-agreement-with-snp|last1=Carrell|first1=Severin|last2=Brooks|first2=Libby|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 August 2021|language=en}}</ref>

In September 2022, he joined the board of [[Gordon Brown]]'s unionist think tank, Our Scottish Future.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/22317504.gordon-brown-appoints-new-advisory-board-unionist-think-tank-scottish-future--/|title=Gordon Brown launches new advisory board for his Unionist think tank – here's who's in|last=Webster|first=Laura|date=20 September 2022|website=The National|accessdate=20 September 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In August 2023, he announced that he had resigned from the Scottish Green Party, citing differences of opinion on independence, concerns over what he described as the party's move to the left and their position on trans rights.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-66389816|title=Robin Harper quits Scottish Greens as party has lost the plot|date=3 August 2023|website=BBC News|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> Harper also stated his intention to vote Labour at the next election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/robin-harper-says-vote-labour-30617144|title=Robin Harper says he will vote Labour after quitting Scottish Greens|first=Paul|last=Hutcheon|date=3 August 2023|website=Daily Record}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.holyrood.com/comment/view,robin-why-i-had-to-leave-the-scottish-greens|first=Robin|last=Harper|title=I am a builder not a destroyer - that's why I had to leave the Scottish Greens|date=4 August 2023|website=Holyrood Website}}</ref>

In June 2024, he joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] citing their plan for combatting climate change and their ability to beat the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] in the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]].<ref name="auto"/>

==Patronage==
Harper, who is married with one stepson, has been a patron of many organisations including [[LGBT Youth Scotland]], an organisation dedicated to the inclusion and advancement of the rights of [[lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender]] young people in Scotland. He was an Honorary Vice-President of [[English-Speaking Union Scotland]]. He served as [[Rector of the University of Edinburgh]] 2000–2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12188369.new-rector-pledges-to-cut-suicide-rate/ |title=New rector pledges to cut suicide rate |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |location=[[Glasgow]] |date=12 May 2000 |access-date=22 June 2020}}</ref> Harper was an Honorary President of the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group.<ref>{{cite web |last=EUSOG |url=http://www.eusog.org/ |title=the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group |access-date=30 January 2013}}</ref> He was elected as [[Rector of the University of Aberdeen]] in 2005.

He was President of the [[Royal Scottish Society of Arts]] 2008–2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rssa.org.uk/history/past-presidents.shtml |title=Past Presidents |publisher=[[Royal Scottish Society of Arts]] |access-date=22 June 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{SP-MSP}}
* [http://robinharper.wordpress.com/ Robin Harper – MSP for the Lothians] website that was in use from 2006–2008

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{{s-ttl
 |title=[[Principal Speaker]] of the [[Scottish Greens]]
 |years=199?–2004<br /><small>with Marian Coyne 1999</small>
}}
{{s-non|reason= position abolished}}
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{{s-ttl
 |title=Convenor of the Scottish Greens
 |years=1999–2002
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{{s-aft|after=[[Eleanor Scott]]}}
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 |title=Co-Convenor of the Scottish Greens<
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{{s-aft|after=[[Patrick Harvie]]}}
{{s-aca}}
{{succession box|title=[[Rector of the University of Edinburgh]]|before=[[John Colquhoun (footballer)|John Colquhoun]]|after=[[Tam Dalyell]]|years=2000–2003}}
{{succession box|title=[[Rector of the University of Aberdeen]]|before=[[Clarissa Dickson Wright]]|after=[[Scotland the What?|Stephen Robertson]]|years=2005–2008}}
{{S-end}}

{{1999 Scottish Parliament election|state=collapsed}}
{{2003 Scottish Parliament election|state=collapsed}}
{{Scottish Parliament election, 2007A}}
{{Scottish Green Party}}
{{Former Green Party MSPs|state=collapsed}}
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[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Green MSPs]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen]]
[[Category:Rectors of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Rectors of the University of Aberdeen]]
[[Category:Scottish schoolteachers]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Scottish Greens]]
[[Category:People from Thurso]]
[[Category:Scottish pacifists]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 1999–2003]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011]]
[[Category:People educated at Elgin Academy, Moray]]