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.

Finnie calls for action to understand impact of tourism

Wed 5 Aug, 2020

Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie, the Scottish Green Party’s spokesperson on Tourism, has called on Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing, “to commission independent research into the social and environmental impact of tourism in Scotland.”

Following a flurry of bad publicity surrounding the irresponsible behaviour of a number of tourists in the Highlands, Mr Finnie said:

Scottish Greens demand government stops neglecting Argyll

Wed 5 Aug, 2020

Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP has called on the Scottish Government to stop neglecting Argyll and demanded a radical rethink on how the Scottish Government’s transport budget is spent after yet more landslips at the Rest and Be Thankful.

The Highlands and Islands MSP made the call following the most recent incident of large, multiple landslips blocking not only the vital A83 into Cowal, Mid Argyll, and beyond, but also the Old Military Road typically used as a diversion during previous incidents.

John Finnie MSP said:

Urgent action needed to tackle drug deaths

Mon 3 Aug, 2020

Responding to the publication of the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce One Year Report, Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie said:

“Scotland’s drug deaths crisis requires urgent action. This public health emergency was responsible for almost 1,200 deaths in 2018, while the figures for 2019 have been delayed by dithering at the Crown Office.

Rail Freight is key for greener Highland industry

Thu 30 Jul, 2020

The news that Highland Council has approved a planning application from Norbord to increase the height of two towers at the Morayhill site is, for the most part, to be welcomed.

The development reflects significant investment by the milling firm in the future of the site, increasing production and hopefully ensuring a future for the 130 there as well as hundreds more jobs in the wider Highland forestry industry.

Roads Budget Should Support Active Travel

John Finnie MSP Fri 17 Jul, 2020

Following the announcement that the Scottish Government intends to allocate £3.4m from the active travel to fund to support the Spaces for People programme, Green Transport Spokesperson John Finnie has suggested more money for the programme should come from the roads budget.

The Spaces for People has successfully improved active travel infrastructure throughout Scotland on a temporary basis during the lockdown, but much of the funding raided from the active travel budget was intended to support permanent upgrades.

Holidaymakers urged to consider community safety

Fri 3 Jul, 2020

Holidaymakers have been urged to consider the safety of the communities they are visiting, as lockdown restrictions are eased across Scotland.

Commenting after the First Minister urged Scots to take holidays within Scotland, Scottish Greens rural economy and tourism spokesperson John Finnie said: “Small businesses across Scotland will welcome holidaymakers, but at the same time communities remain understandably concerned about the potential arrival of COVID-19.

Scottish Greens respond to drug deaths figure delay

Mon 22 Jun, 2020

Responding to reports that the publication of Scotland’s drug death figures is to be delayed, Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie said:

“It’s deeply troubling that the publication of the latest drug death statistics is to be delayed. It’s not good enough for the Crown Office to say it ‘appreciates the impacts of the delays.’ It must confirm exactly how long this backlog will take to clear.

Greens call for update on seven year long rendition investigation

Mon 22 Jun, 2020

The Lord Advocate should come before parliament to provide an update on a now seven year long investigation into the possibility that Scottish airports were involved in rendition, Scottish Greens Justice Spokesperson John Finnie MSP has said.

The former Lord Advocate Frank Mullholland instructed Police Scotland to enquire into claims that Scottish Government owned airports were complicit in the process of abduction and torture in June 2013.

Community must be at heart of Cairngorm Mountain future

Thu 18 Jun, 2020

Responding to the publication of the Auditor General’s report: Highlands and Islands Enterprise Management of Cairngorm Mountain and Funicular Railway, Scottish Greens Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie said:

Greens call for fair work to be put at heart of tourism restart

Tue 26 May, 2020

Scottish Greens Tourism Spokesperson John Finnie MSP has this afternoon called for the Scottish Government to ensure that trade unions are involved in discussions about restarting the tourism industry to ensure that fair work terms are put on the agenda.

Questioning the Scottish Government in parliament this afternoon Mr Finnie highlighted the importance of the tourism sector to the Highlands and Islands region, where it accounts for 15% of jobs, [1] almost double the national average.