Greens’ motion on polyamorous rights not debated as conference ends early

A motion by Scottish Greens activists proposing that people in multi-person relationships should have the same rights as couples was not debated at the party conference which ended early. The event being held at Eden Court in Inverness was due to finish at 4.30pm today but instead the organisers decided to end at 3.30pm so that members, visitors, observers and journalists could travel home amid transport disruption caused by Storm Boelo.

Many of those attending the conference had travelled from the Central Belt with the last train leaving Inverness for Glasgow was due to depart at 4.25pm. The motion calling for rights of people in polyamorous relationships had caused something of headache for the party leadership as it dominated the headlines in several newspapers ahead of weekend's conference, while co-leaders Ross Greer wanted to present a more focussed message on party policies designed to combat the cost-of-living crisis and climate change.

There was some doubt on Saturday whether it would be debated after members gave it a low ranking meaning it was likely that there would have been no time for it to be debated after it was pushed near to the end of the list of motions to be debated. Read More: Holyrood 2026: How the Greens delivered 'seismic' result Inside the Greens' conference as party plots return to power How Scottish Greens won 15 MSPs while running out of money During his conference speech on Saturday some believed Mr Greer was referring to the motion implicitly when he warned members "not to give opportunities" to the party's opponents to attack the Scottish Greens.

“We are under constant attack," he told the audience. “Our opponents will take the opportunity to portray us as extreme as fringe or as un serious or out of touch with people’s lives. “We cannot afford to give our opponents those opportunities to attack us – 320,000 people voted for the Scottish Greens.

They put their faith in us to change their lives. “That makes the work of a Green MSP very hard, it is very personally exposing. We stand for a different way of doing politics .

We face a level of scrutiny and often bad faith attacks that often aren’t faced by other parties." The motion stated: "Poly relationships are growing in number across Scotland but remain without recognition in any part of our lives. "This poses difficulties for those in these relationships by leaving space for misunderstandings and ignorance when interacting with others, including public services, and legal barriers where recognised relationship dynamics otherwise have support.

"This can prevent members of poly relationships from visiting their partners in cases of serious illness or being recognised as their partners in official documentation. It can lead to additional and unnecessary complexity when it comes to financial affairs, leaving many unprotected where traditional relationships would not be." Many members left the Scottish Greens conference in Inverness early on Sunday because of travel disruption because of Storm Boelo. (Image: Peter Jolly.

Northpix) On housing, it said: "For housing all appropriate regulations and mortgage agreements should take into account the potential for cohabiting relationships to consist of more than two people." If passed and enacted, it to could have rewritten how divorce works, by ruling that consensual non-monogamy cannot count as adultery as grounds for ending a marriage.

It could have also made benefits, universal basic income and pensions, healthcare access, inheritance, and immigration and asylum rules take account of more than one partner. The motion also called for a "commitment to counter discrimination" through equality legislation covering employment, property, healthcare and harassment.

The motion proposed that "sex and relationships education should reflect key principles of consent and mutual respect and support in relationships without prescribing specific relationship structures as superior or inherently more desirable." The proposal had been around the party before.

A version was referred back in 2023 after discussion before conference, and it was brought again in 2025 but was not heard. This year it had the formal backing of the Greens of Colour committee. After the motion was made public last week, Rachael Hamilton, the Scottish Conservative deputy leader, said: "The Greens are completely detached from reality and have their priorities utterly wrong.

While Scots are being hammered by soaring bills, crumbling public services and an NHS in crisis, the Scottish Greens are obsessing over giving polyamorous relationships a legal makeover." Massachusetts city ordinances allow partnerships of more than two adults, while Canadian court rulings recognising three legal parents.

During the two-day conference Mr Greer announced a new policy promising a new railcard for millennials paid for by wealthy frequent flyers. He said the 31-49 age group was the only age group not to be offered a discounted rail fare scheme. Under the Green plans, a “millennial railcard” would save people a third off fares across Scotland.

According to the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), a tax on frequent flyers could raise around £50 million a year. Speaking to reporters, Mr Greer said the party’s initial costings found the price of the millennial railcard would be around £47 million. But he said Scotland would “very quickly get to the point where millennial railcard isn’t actually costing any money” due to an increase in rail usage.

It is understood the policy would not be part of Green asks during Budget negotiations with the SNP in the next month due to time constrains, with the party instead of hoping to introduce the it some time before 2031. It is the latest push from the Greens on public transport, with the party playing a key role in scrapping peak rail fares, rolling out free bus travel to under 22s, and the £2 bus cap in some parts of Scotland.