Scottish Greens call for increased NHS role in testing strategy

Thu 17 Sep, 2020

The Scottish Government must produce an updated testing strategy which recognises that the UK-wide system is failing and increases NHS Scotland’s role, the Scottish Greens have said.

At First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader and health spokesperson Alison Johnstone raised the fact that UK testing centres are struggling to cope with demand as cases rise across the country.

Ludicrous grouse shooting exemption must not apply in Scotland

Tue 15 Sep, 2020

The Scottish Government must resist calls for grouse shoots to be exempt from public health rules about gatherings of six people, the Scottish Greens have warned.

Scottish Greens: BBC has duty on public health messages

Fri 11 Sep, 2020

The BBC has a duty to ensure public health messages and information reaches as many people as possible, the Scottish Greens have said.

The public service broadcaster has decided to stop airing the First Minister’s daily briefing on Coronavirus, just as cases are rising across the country and public health advice is becoming more varied.

Ending furlough removes option of local lockdown say Greens 

Tue 8 Sep, 2020

Ending the job retention – furlough – scheme will limit the ability of government to introduce local lockdowns the Scottish Greens said today. 

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, the party’s health spokesperson Alison Johnstone MSP raised serious concerns about the public health implications of ending the furlough scheme. 

Alison Johnstone MSP said: 

Scottish Greens: Govt must step up urgency and scale on climate

Tue 1 Sep, 2020

Nicola Sturgeon’s programme for government fails to respond to the climate emergency with the necessary urgency and scale, the Scottish Greens have said.

The Scottish Greens have campaigned for a green jobs fund, as well as for a package of measures to support tenants in the private rented sector and to end homelessness and fuel poverty. The First Minister’s statement includes modest moves on both issues, but without the scale of investment needed.

FMQs: We cannot stand by while mothers and babies go hungry 

Wed 26 Aug, 2020

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP this afternoon called on the First Minister to act to ensure that the tragic death of an asylum seeker in Glasgow is never repeated. 

Mercy Baguma was found dead on Saturday beside her malnourished baby in a Glasgow flat. Speaking at First Minister’s Questions this afternoon Ms Johnstone said that while the asylum system is the responsibility of the UK Government, MSPs could not simply stand by while mothers and babies went hungry. 

Alison Johnstone MSP said: 

Govt urged to build relationship between NHS and care homes

Tue 18 Aug, 2020

The relationship between hospitals and care homes must be built up, after revelations about COVID patients being discharged into the care sector revealed a lack of progress on the integration of health and social care, the Scottish Greens have said.

In Parliament, Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone raised concerns by care home body Scottish Care that there has been “a breakdown in relations” between hospitals and the care sector over discharges, even dating back to before pandemic.

FMQs: Call for an end to persecution of birds of prey 

Wed 12 Aug, 2020

Scottish Greens MSP Alison Johnstone has called on the First Minister to end raptor persecution once and for all. 

Speaking at First Minister’s questions the Lothian MSP referenced the words of late First Minister Donald Dewar who described the persecution of birds of prey, “a national disgrace,” with Johnstone remarking that 22 years later it remains a disgrace. 

Speaking on the day the grouse shooting season starts, Alison Johnstone MSP said: 

Shooting lobby confirm mass killing of mountain hares will go ahead next week

Wed 22 Jul, 2020

The shooting lobby has confirmed the mass killing of mountain hares on Scotland’s grouse moors will go ahead from August 1, despite the will of parliament to protect the declining species, which is native to Scotland. 

In the recent wildlife bill, MSPs backed Scottish Green amendments to end the practice, but in a public statement, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation has said the open season will continue until the new laws come into effect.

Scottish Greens call for abolition of "obscene" two child limit as almost 14,000 hit

Thu 16 Jul, 2020

Scottish Greens have called for the immediate end to the Two Child Limit, as new figures showed that 13,700 Scots families are losing much-needed cash as of 1st April this year. Across the UK, the limit impacted 250,300 families, with almost one million children affected. The cut to family incomes is over £50 a week.