John Finnie MSP

Highlands and Islands

Justice, Transport & Tourism, Rural & Island Communities

John is a former police officer and has been a Highlands and Islands MSP since 2011. He is a member of Holyrood's Justice and Rural Economy committees. He successfully campaigned against deploying armed police to routine incidents, work for which he was awarded “Community Politician of the Year 2014”. He has campaigned against cuts to local education and medical services, police control rooms and Citizen’s Advice Bureaux and for public ownership of Calmac Ferries and the railways. He has also pushed for ethical investment of public funds and against ship to ship oil transfers of oil in the Moray Firth.

New Transport Secretary challenged to prioritise bus & rail, and drop outdated obsession with more & bigger roads

Wed 15 Aug, 2018

New Transport Secretary Michael Matheson is being challenged to prioritise bus and rail services, and drop the government’s “outdated obsession” with building more and bigger roads, as the Scottish Greens point to the failure of a £500million motorway project that promised to cut journey times by 20 minutes.

Public transport is a public service and it should be run as such

John Finnie MSP Fri 20 Jul, 2018

“The biggest problem with the bus service is evenings and weekends. They start too late and finish too early,” says Catriona in Beauly. She’s one of hundreds of people who’ve been contributing in recent months to my Better Buses campaign. Bus journeys account for more than three quarters of all public transport journeys, and the crisis in this vital public service needs to go straight to the top of the new Transport Secretary’s to-do list.

New Transport Secretary needs to get on board with public opinion on bus services

Wed 4 Jul, 2018

New Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has work to do to get on board with public opinion on bus services, according to polling results published today (4 July) by the Scottish Greens.

Last month the Scottish Government published a long-awaited Transport Bill, which would enable public bodies to step in where private operators fail but Greens warn that this will not stop commercial interests "cherry-picking" the most profitable routes.

Serious overhaul of drugs strategy needed in light of record number of deaths

Tue 3 Jul, 2018

A serious overhaul of the government's drugs strategy is needed in light of new figures showing a record number of drug-related deaths in Scotland, according to Scottish Greens justice spokesperson John Finnie MSP.

The National Records of Scotland figures show there were 934 deaths in 2017, 66 (8 per cent) more than in 2016 and more than double the figure for 2007 (455).

Green MSP challenges Michael Gove on animal slaughter loophole

Wed 27 Jun, 2018

Michael Gove has been challenged by a Green MSP to close a loophole that could result in thousands of animals that are transported for fattening every year not being included in post-Brexit animal welfare legislation.

During questioning at Holyrood’s rural economy committee, the UK environment secretary asked John Finnie to forward evidence that thousands of calves leave Scotland every year for “processing” – a term used for the transportation of animals for fattening and then eventual slaughter.

Finnie calls on Scot Gov to speed up work on public sector rail bid

Tue 26 Jun, 2018

John Finnie MSP, Scottish Green Party Transport spokesperson, has this afternoon (26 Jun 2018) called on The Scottish Government to speed up their work on a public sector rail bid, accusing ministers of pushing proposals into the long grass.

The Minister for Transport and Islands has twice advised Mr Finnie that he will identify a suitable public sector body, firstly by spring and secondly before summer recess.

John Finnie, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said:

Finnie urges Ministers to intervene over golf course on environmentally-sensitive Coul Links

Wed 20 Jun, 2018

Highlands & Islands Green MSP John Finnie today (20 June) urged Scottish Ministers to step in, after Highland councillors approved plans to build a golf course on the environmentally-sensitive Coul Links dune system near Embo in Sutherland.

Planning officials had warned that the course would have a detrimental impact on a protected wildlife habitat, and had recommended refusal.

Organisations including RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust objected to the project.

John Finnie MSP said:

For Bike Week: 4 things we will do to boost walking and cycling

John Finnie MSP Fri 15 Jun, 2018

To mark National Bike Week 2018, here’s a round-up of Scottish Greens policies to promote cycling and demonstrate the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling. Did you know that 51% of people in Glasgow don’t have access to a car?

1. Funding for active travel

6 things the Transport Bill could deliver

John Finnie MSP Thu 14 Jun, 2018

With a new Transport Bill presented to the Scottish Parliament for scrutiny, here are six ways we think it could help all of us in our daily lives.

1. Better buses

Three-quarters of all public transport journeys in Scotland are made by bus yet many routes face cuts, local fares are rising and service standards are slipping. Buses are vital transport for many of us to get to school or college, to get to work or hospital and to meet friends. We believe this Transport Bill must reflect the importance of buses to many people’s daily lives.

Ministers urged to begin detailed mapping of travellers’ sites

Tue 12 Jun, 2018

The mapping of stopping-off places will go a long way in improving the lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers, a Green MSP has told government ministers at Holyrood.

Speaking in a government debate, John Finnie, the Green MSP for Highlands and Islands, says Scottish ministers should carry out mapping of traditional stopping off places, a move that will help prevent Gypsy/Travellers from feeling “ostracised from our cities, towns and villages”.

Mr Finnie, a champion of Gypsy/Travellers’ rights since being elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011, said: