Scotland has appointed a new Tenants’ Rights Minister. Patrick Harvie, the Green  MSP for Glasgow will also hold portfolio for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel as well as the Tenants’ Rights Minister. Harvie will lead on delivering a new deal for tenants, and ensuring building standards are fit for purpose.

Speaking on behalf of the Greens, West of Scotland MSP Ross Greer said: “The appointments were a moment 48 years in the making for the Greens. This afternoon, we’ll take our first place in Government, the first Greens anywhere in the UK to do so.

“Patrick Harvie will be to the best of my knowledge, the first minister for tenants who was himself evicted by an unscrupulous landlord. In fact, I think he’s the first minister to have tenants in their job title.”

Will the UK Government follow?