Scottish Greens

The Tories are throwing a wrecking ball at the devolution settlement

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 4 May, 2018

When is consent not consent? This kind of question can be complicated, and when it becomes the focus of both public debate and legal process disagreements and misunderstandings can arise because of nothing more than woolly use of language. Most of us have an instinctive idea of what consent means, but until we actually discuss it openly we can’t rely on the assumption that we all share the same definition.

We can’t yet abolish the monarchy ... but we can tackle poverty

John Finnie MSP Fri 27 Apr, 2018

My Green colleague Patrick Harvie got it spot on when he called out the excessive “fawning over privilege” by some politicians about the birth of William and Kate Windsor’s third child.

In case you missed it, Patrick’s amendment to a Tory motion, that was in awe of the royal couple and their new baby, received quite a bit of media attention. In it, Patrick rightly congratulated the parents of the thousands of children born in the UK on the same day while highlighting that 30% of the babies will be born into poverty.

Ending disability assessments is the highest priority for Scotland’s new social security system

Alison Johnstone MSP Wed 25 Apr, 2018

There’s no doubt the UK’s social security system makes a mockery of its name. It often undermines people’s security, leaving them dependent on charities to put food on the table, and it does not afford its users the dignity and respect we would hope for in a fair society.

This week, Scotland has a chance to take a different approach. The Scottish Government’s Social Security Bill, covering aspects of newly-devolved powers, is an opportunity to put dignity and respect at heart of how people are treated.

Working for a more just world can’t be done by saying “I wouldn’t start from here”

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 20 Apr, 2018

As the Commonwealth Games holds the attention of sports fans, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government meet in London, there has been another round of speculation about the organisation’s future, and debate about its past. Is the Commonwealth merely a legacy of Empire, a reminder of the brutal crimes of Empire, or is it a mutually beneficial community of countries bound together by bonds of friendship?

Don’t Bomb Syria – Then What?

Ross Greer MSP Thu 19 Apr, 2018

In recent days the UK Government, in consultation with the Trump administration and France but without asking the UK parliament, launched airstrikes against the Assad regime in Syria. This was a mistake. Here’s why:

A chance to get Scotland’s rail potential back on track

Mark Ruskell MSP Fri 13 Apr, 2018

"A catalyst for investment, enabling people to take up new opportunities." The words of Transport Minister Humza Yousaf, praising a recent study into the continuing impact of the Borders Railway, now in its third year of operation.

The Borders Railway Blueprint Group study found that the Edinburgh to Tweedbank line, which opened in September 2015, has provided jobs and investment opportunities. Travel on the line is increasing, and it has prevented an estimated 36,000 annual car journeys.

Foxes and hares endure another year of slaughter due to loopholes

Alison Johnstone MSP Thu 12 Apr, 2018

Another fox hunting season came to an end in Scotland recently, with investigations into illegal activity by a number of hunts.

Most people would be forgiven for thinking that fox hunting was no longer an activity which required police intervention, given that hunting with dogs was banned in Scotland over 15 years ago.

Martin Luther King must be remembered for his belief in our collective ability to rise against injustice

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 6 Apr, 2018

An enduring memory from my teenage years was hearing for the first time, in documentaries to mark the twentieth anniversary of his assassination, some of the speeches of Martin Luther King. Now, as we mark the fiftieth anniversary, his words have lost none of their searing power.

Scotland should be known as a good food nation that takes animal welfare seriously

Alison Johnstone MSP Fri 30 Mar, 2018

The Scottish Government have this week asked the public to comment on whether compulsory CCTV cameras should be installed in abattoirs, a key protection for livestock that Greens have long called for. The UK Government has already decided to adopt this measure, and by this summer footage from all abattoirs in England will be available to vets from the Food Standards Agency.

Everything about the Brexit crisis appals me

Patrick Harvie MSP Thu 29 Mar, 2018

I was born just a few months after this country joined the European Community, and in the 45 years since then Europe has proved itself as a protector of human rights, the planet’s most progressive global voice on climate change, and the most successful peace project in history. It has created a future in which young people are no longer sent to other European countries to kill one another, but can choose for themselves where they want to travel, learn, work and live.

« first
‹ previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
…
next ›
last »

Blog

The Tories are throwing a wrecking ball at the devolution settlement

We can’t yet abolish the monarchy ... but we can tackle poverty

Ending disability assessments is the highest priority for Scotland’s new social security system

Working for a more just world can’t be done by saying “I wouldn’t start from here”

Don’t Bomb Syria – Then What?

A chance to get Scotland’s rail potential back on track

Foxes and hares endure another year of slaughter due to loopholes

Martin Luther King must be remembered for his belief in our collective ability to rise against injustice

Scotland should be known as a good food nation that takes animal welfare seriously

Everything about the Brexit crisis appals me

Get involved

More like this