FORMER Greens MSP Andy Wightman thanked backers yesterday after he failed to secure re-election as an independent. The former representative for the Lothian region entered Holyrood in 2016 and quit the party in a row related to their diverging positions on equalities reforms. He subsequently announced he’d go it alone and run in the Highlands and Islands region. His was a platform of land reform, affordable housing and environmental action. Wightman secured 3367 votes but this was not enough to win a seat. However, the Greens did take a list seat with 17,729 votes, meaning Ariane Burgess is now heading to Holyrood.