PATRICK Harvie will not stand to become leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, despite becoming a shock bookmakers' favourite to land the job.
Scottish Greens laughed off the suggestion that its co-convenor was a contender for the role, pointing out that Mr Harvie led a separate entity to its sister party south of the border.
The long-serving MSP was mentioned as a possible successor to Natalie Bennett, who has announced she is to step down as leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, in a Sunday newspaper. One bookmaker, Betway, was today offering odds of just 6/1 that Mr Harvie would succeed Ms Bennett, making him third favourite.
A senior source within the Scottish Greens described the speculation as "hilarious." He added: "It's a separate party. And no, he won’t be putting his name forward."
Following this month's Holyrood election, Mr Harvie finds himself as the most senior figure in a parliamentary group that has trebled in size, with the Greens winning six MSPs compared to just two in the previous term. The Greens are likely to enjoy substantial influence over the next five years, after the SNP fell just short of a majority.
The favourite to succeed Ms Bennett, an Australian who was criticised for poor media performances but saw her party win well over one million votes at last year's general election, is Caroline Lucas, the party's only MP.
Sian Berry, a member of the London Assembly and her party's candidate in the recent mayoral elections, is second favourite although she has already ruled herself out of the running.
Actress Joanna Lumley, one of the most famous Green supporters, is priced at 100/1 to become the next leader while Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who has previously performed at benefit gigs for the party, is 500/1.
Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who has previously described the Greens as "Communists with armpit hair", is priced at 5000/1, the same odds that were on offer in August for Leicester City to win this season's English Premier League.
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