General Election 2010: Harper cries 'tears of joy' for Green MP

Published on 07/05/2010 10:23

GREEN Party MSP for the Lothians Robin Harper said he wept "tears of joy" on seeing the party's first MP elected.

Party leader Caroline Lucas overturned a 5,000 Labour majority to take the Brighton Pavilion seat.

Mr Harper said he hoped the Greens' fortunes at Westminster would now mirror that of the party's experience at Holyrood.

He said: "I watched it happen, and I had a call from (Green councillor] Steve Burgess afterwards and I burst into tears of joy. I'm totally overcome.

"I know what she feels like, because that's what I felt like in 1999.

"I think I can honestly say that I did go on to make a difference and we came back with seven more Greens in the Scottish Parliament after I'd been there for four years on my own, and I'm really hoping that this is what's going to happen."

Ms Lucas polled 16,238 votes, while Labour trailed in second with 14,986 votes.

She had been favourite to win the seat, which had been held by Labour since 1997 and was a Conservative stronghold before that.

A record number of Green candidates stood this year, with candidates in more than 300 constituencies.

Click here to find out the results in your part of the Lothians.