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 SPECIES CHAMPION JOHN FINNIE HAILS PROTECTION FOR BEAVERS

Tue 19 Mar, 2019

Scottish Green MSP John Finnie – announced today as the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s new champion for the Eurasian beaver – has welcomed new legal protections for the species, despite Tory attempts to block progress.

The Scottish Parliament’s Environment Committee today agreed to add the beaver to a list of European protected species, which will mean they can only be culled under licence and after other management steps have failed.

John Finnie writes to FM on drug deaths

Tue 19 Mar, 2019

At First Minister’s Questions on Thursday Green MSP John Finnie called on the Scottish Government to establish a public inquiry into Scotland’s drug deaths crisis.

Mr Finnie has now written to Nicola Sturgeon, noting that a public inquiry is, “the best manner of establishing every aspect of this problem and to give Government the evidence required to address it comprehensively.”

Scotland saw a record 934 drug deaths in 2017. It is feared the figure for 2018 could be significantly higher.

Finnie calls for drug deaths inquiry

Thu 14 Mar, 2019

Green MSP John Finnie has today (14 March) called on the Scottish Government to instruct a statutory public inquiry into drugs deaths in Scotland.

Mr Finnie, who is the Co-Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Drug and Alcohol Misuse, questioned the First Minister on the rising number of drug deaths in Scotland, in parliament this afternoon.

Scotland saw a record 934 drug deaths in 2017, in comparison there were 146 road traffic deaths in the same year.

It is feared the figure for 2018 could be significantly higher.

John Finnie MSP said:

Finnie calls for ferries review after breakdowns

Mon 25 Feb, 2019

Scottish Greens Transport spokesperson John Finnie MSP has called on the Scottish Government to urgently review its ferries plan in light of new figures, which show that almost 800 Calmac sailings were cancelled because of mechanical breakdowns last year.

According to figures obtained from Calmac by Mr Finnie, 780 services were cancelled for technical reasons in 2018, 150 more than in 2017. [1]

Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie said:

Greens reveal Scotland’s ten most skipped stations

Fri 22 Feb, 2019

Scottish Greens Transport spokesperson John Finnie MSP has today (22 Feb) revealed Scotland’s most skipped rail stations.

Figures obtained from the Scottish Government by Mr Finnie show that in 2018, 2,131 incidences of stop skipping were recorded on ScotRail services, with ten stations being skipped on more than 100 occasions.

The ten most skipped stations in 2018 were:

1. Drumry - 166

2. Anniesland - 158

3. Westerton - 142

4. Coatbridge Sunnyside - 122

5. Falkirk High - 119

6. Edinburgh Park - 107

7. Singer - 107

Park The Hysteria

John Finnie MSP Sat 16 Feb, 2019

Last month the Scottish Parliament voted for the £42.5billion Scottish Budget thanks to a deal between the Scottish Greens and the SNP. In previous years Greens have focused on securing funding for vital local services and this year we went much further.

Finnie joins Lochaber climate strike

Fri 8 Feb, 2019

Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie today (8 Feb) joined pupils from Lochaber High School who are striking for action on climate change.

Holly Gillibrand has hit the headlines recently for taking part in the Youth Strike for Climate movement, which involves schoolchildren missing classes on a Friday to call for serious action to tackle the climate emergency.

Mr Finnie visited to lend his support to the committed campaigners and reiterated Scottish Green Party calls for a Climate Emergency Bill.

Mr Finnie said:

Finnie questions bus services funding reduction

Wed 9 Jan, 2019

Following questions to the Minister for Public Finance & Digital Economy. Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie has called on the Scottish Government to prioritise the provision of bus services, in light of a reduction in support for bus services in its draft budget

The world is a better place because of those who bravely follow peace processes

John Finnie MSP Fri 4 Jan, 2019

Like many, I am always keen to support any cessation of violence or moves to peace.

In any armed conflict, it takes courage to disarm and good grace to engage with former combatants.

The world is a better place because of those who bravely followed peace processes in the north of Ireland and South Africa and, whilst there are unresolved differences, a willingness to seek truth and reconciliation provides a constructive environment in which former adversaries and communities can move forward together.

Government ignoring demand for safer cycling routes; ministers set to fail target

Sun 30 Dec, 2018

The Scottish Greens today (30 Dec) accused the SNP Government of ignoring public demand for safer cycling routes as ministers look set to fail to meet their own target of ensuring that 10 per cent of all journeys in Scotland are made by bicycle within the next twelve months.

The 2020 target is a long way from the current situation, with the most recent Household Survey showing that just 3 per cent of adults usually cycle to work and less than 1 per cent of children cycle to school.