Green co-convener Patrick Harvie has urged pro-independence Scots to elect "constructive" critics of the Scottish Government rather than more SNP "cheerleaders".

Mr Harvie rejected a suggestion that his party's criticism of the SNP would be curtailed by their shared desire for Scottish independence, on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme.

"I'm sure the Labour Party wouldn't feel that they are curtailed in their ability to hold the Conservative government to account because they were on the same side in the independence debate," he said.

"This is an election. It's not a binary choice about whether you support independence or not.

"I think many independence supporters saw during the referendum campaign a distinctive platform for the Greens that they found attractive, and many people who weren't yet convinced by independence but might one day clearly need to hear something more than what the SNP had to offer.

"When ministers look across the table promoting a Land Reform Bill for example, who else do you want sitting across the chamber than the land reform campaigner Andy Wightman?

"When ministers sit across the table in committees promoting a range of Bills, do you want them held to account only by their own cheerleaders, by people who will only ask them easy questions, or people who put constructive pressure to bear and try and make sure Scotland becomes a better place.

"If that's going to happen I think we need a bolder Holyrood that is willing to challenge."

The Scottish Greens meet in Edinburgh this weekend for their spring conference, following a post referendum surge in membership.