Sheriffhall objections reach 2,500 with one week to go

Fri 24 Jan, 2020

Around 2,500 objections have been lodged to a proposed £120m development of Sheriffhall roundabout on the Edinburgh City bypass, with a week still to go on the Transport Scotland consultation.

Lothians Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who launched the campaign last week, said the objections must be considered by the Scottish Government when planning all future road expansion projects.

Greens back call for double lock on child payments

Thu 23 Jan, 2020

Scottish Greens today have backed calls from the new benefits system watchdog for the value of new child payments to be ‘double locked.’

The £10 payment for low-income families will launch this year, beginning with under 6s.

But concerns have been raised by the Scottish Commission for Social Security that the impact of the payment on poverty will be weakened unless the Scottish Government guarantees the payment will be annually uprated by the higher of rising prices or rising average incomes.

Greens celebrate first Young Carer Grants

Mon 20 Jan, 2020

Scottish Greens today welcomed the payment of around £67,000 in grants to young carers.

In the first five weeks of the new scheme, £66,900 was paid to 325 young carers.

Scottish Greens back COSLA wellbeing call

Wed 15 Jan, 2020

The Scottish Greens have welcomed a call from COSLA to protect funding for local services that promote wellbeing.

COSLA have warned a reduction in the local government settlement in this year’s budget would have an impact on the wellbeing of citizens.

Responding, Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone said: “COSLA are absolutely right to make this link between council funding and wellbeing. The Scottish Greens have always argued for a greater focus on prevention, and that means making sure local services are adequately funded.

Greens launch campaign to stop Sheriffhall spaghetti junction

Mon 13 Jan, 2020

A proposed £120m spaghetti junction at Sheriffhall roundabout will increase congestion and should be scrapped, the Scottish Greens have said.

Scottish Green MSPs and councillors have launched a campaign to halt the proposal and instead use the money to improve clean transport across the city region, reflecting Edinburgh’s proposed new ten-year City Mobility Plan.

The campaign highlights how £120m could be better invested in segregated cycle paths, bus lanes and park and rides, transforming the city’s transport infrastructure.

Soaring foodbank use shames Scotland

Thu 9 Jan, 2020

Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone has said a new report which reveals soaring foodbank use in Scotland is a source of shame for the country.

First Minister avoiding science on fossil fuels

Wed 11 Dec, 2019

The Scottish Greens have criticised the ‘cosy consensus’ at Holyrood that recognises the climate emergency but avoids the scientific evidence by supporting continued oil and gas exploration.

At First Minister’s Questions parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone asked Nicola Sturgeon to “accept the science” like the progressive government in New Zealand has done.

New Zealand Prime minister Jacinda Ardern has committed to end all new oil and gas exploration.

Westminster must change gear on poverty

Tue 19 Nov, 2019

Rising levels of poverty and inequality show the need for change in the way the UK is governed, the Scottish Greens have said.

The Scottish Greens have welcomed the publication of the general election manifesto from the Poverty Alliance, which reveals how policies at Westminster drove inequalities which has left Scotland with over a million Scots in poverty, 240,000 of them children.