Alison Johnstone

Alison Johnstone has represented Lothian region since 2011 and was an Edinburgh city councillor between 2007 and 2012. Alison is from Edinburgh and lives in the south west of the city. A former East of Scotland 800m and 1500m title holder, Alison is a qualified athletics coach and Board member of Scottish Athletics. She continues to campaign to preserve precious green space, for investment in walking and cycling and for access to sport for all. She led the Fans First campaign to win football fans the right to buy their clubs; led the fight against fracking by proposing a ban in 2014 when all other parties supported it; and persuaded ministers to make energy efficient housing a national infrastructure priority. Since 2016 her advocacy for a compassionate social security system has led to benefit sanctions not being applied to devolved employment schemes and boosted family incomes by securing a roll out of the Healthier, Wealthier Children programme. She secured an amendment to the Social Security Act to ensure that unnecessary face-to-face assessments will not be required to access disability benefits when these are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Alison is also bringing forward legislation to introduce a real ban on fox hunting and protect Scotland's hares.

Alison Johnstone was elected Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, a non party political role, in 2021.

Time for fan ownership of football teams

Tue 20 Apr, 2021

The controversy surrounding the formation of the European Super League emphasises what happens when greed is allowed to dominate football and the need for fan ownership and representation, according to the Scottish Greens.

In 2015 then Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone secured agreement from the Scottish Government that their Community Empowerment Bill would contain powers to introduce a fans' right to buy their football clubs.

In Scotland, various clubs are now owned by supporters, including Motherwell FC, Clydebank and Stirling Albion.

Scottish Greens vow to end fox hunting for good

Tue 6 Apr, 2021

The Scottish Greens will ban fox hunting in Scotland, the party have pledged.

Despite an apparent ban being introduced in 2002, fox hunts continue in Scotland by exploiting loopholes that mean it continues much as it did.

Scottish Green Alison Johnstone proposed a bill in 2019 to close the loopholes and also to protect mountain hares.

Mountain hare protections were won in wildlife laws last year, but the Lothian candidate has pledged to finish the job next term if re-elected.

Scottish Greens: Vote Like Our Future Depends On It

Tue 16 Mar, 2021

Voters at the 2021 Holyrood election are being urged to ‘Vote Like Our Future Depends On It’ by the Scottish Greens.

The party unveiled the new slogan today as it launched its campaign for the election on 6 May.

Commenting, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “Our future is at stake at this election. Climate science gives us just nine years to reverse climate breakdown, and the pandemic has shown up the gaps in our economy that allow too many people to fall into poverty.

Scottish Greens launch election campaign

Tue 16 Mar, 2021

Only the Scottish Greens have the solutions for a green recovery from the pandemic and tackling the climate emergency, the party will say today at its campaign launch for the 2021 Holyrood election.

The party’s lead candidates across Scotland will launch the party’s slogan for the election this morning, with co-leader Patrick Harvie and parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone MSP attending a press event on Calton Hill in Edinburgh.

FMQs: Scottish Greens call out SNP climate hypocrisy

Thu 11 Mar, 2021

The Scottish Greens have called out Scottish Government complaints about Boris Johnson’s Union Connectivity Review as hypocritical when the SNP commit to the same climate-wrecking transport policies.

At First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnson raised the fact the reckless policies of cutting air taxes and expanding major roads included in the UK Government plans are also policies of the Scottish Government.

Scotland should become the first rewilding nation

Alison Johnstone Tue 23 Feb, 2021

While more of our work and leisure has moved online, there also seems to be a growing awareness of the importance of our natural world.

I can’t have been the only person to notice the loud birdsong in recent days, heralding a Spring we all hope will bring renewal and a path out of the pandemic.

I was also heartened by an important discussion happening in cyberspace about how our nature can recover from an economy that has caused far too much damage for far too long.

School return priority must mean school staff vaccinations

Tue 16 Feb, 2021

The phased return of schools should be kept as safe as possible, including prioritising teachers in the next vaccination phase, the Scottish Greens have said.

The First Minister announced P1-3 pupils will return to school on Monday, as well as some senior phase students, with further pupils expected to return in March.

Responding, Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone said: “The progress on the vaccination programme is most welcome, as is the commitment to regularly test school staff, as proposed by the Scottish Greens last year.

Scottish Child Payment not enough to recover families from the pandemic, Greens warn

Mon 15 Feb, 2021

The Scottish Child Payment, which has started to be paid today, will not be enough to support families recovering from the pandemic, the Scottish Greens have warned.

The payment, a £10 top-up of existing benefits, has begun rollout, but poverty groups have urged the First Minister to at least double it. It is also estimated that thousands will miss it because of low take-up.

Scottish Green Mountain Hare protections begin in March

Wed 27 Jan, 2021

Protections for Mountain Hares hard-won by the Scottish Greens will come into force in March, it has been confirmed.

According to regulations introduced to Holyrood today, it will be illegal to intentionally kill, injure or take mountain hares at any time unless a licence is obtained from 1 March 2021.

This is because Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone forced the Scottish Government’s hand to accept licensing in last year’s Wildlife legislation.

Save Murrayfield Ice Rink

Alison Johnstone Sun 6 Dec, 2020

I was saddened to hear of the recent closure of the Murrayfield Ice Rink. For decades, the rink has hosted many and varied events, from professional ice hockey to disco skating to the closing ceremony of the first Commonwealth Games to be held in Scotland and has brought much joy to those who live in Edinburgh and further afield. Until the pandemic hit, people could flock to Murrayfield to watch sporting events but also take skating lessons or learn about the building’s fascinating history.

Alison Johnstone Back to greens.scot

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