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.

Sheku Bayoh Inquiry Must Have Power to Call Witnesses

John Finnie MSP Wed 13 Nov, 2019

The inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh must have the power to summon witnesses, Scottish Green justice spokesperson John Finnie has said.

Responding to a ministerial statement laying out the proposals for a “full and public” inquiry, John Finnie said key people like former Chief Constable Sir Stephen House should be brought in to give evidence.

Responding, John Finnie said: “I welcome this inquiry, and it is vital this inquiry is able to get the full picture from all involved, so that the family impacted by this tragedy can get some answers.

Equal Protection Bill Granted Royal Assent

John Finnie MSP Fri 8 Nov, 2019

John Finnie’s Member’s Bill on giving children in Scotland equal protection from assaults has been granted Royal Assent on November 7th becoming an Act, following last month’s passage by the Scottish Parliament. The Act which was supported by an overwhelming majority of the Scottish Parliament means that children in Scotland will soon be given the same legal protection from assault that adults currently enjoy. The Act’s main provision will come into effect on November 6^th 2020.

Government could replace entire ferry fleet

Tue 8 Oct, 2019

The Scottish Government could replace Scotland’s entire public ferry fleet by cancelling the climate busting road building projects according to the Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP.

The Islands Minister made a statement to parliament this afternoon in relation to the publication of the government's National Islands Plan, which bizarrely included reference to the Scottish Government’s commitment to dual the A9 on page 24.

Scottish Labour MSPs set to betray councillors over new powers

Tue 8 Oct, 2019

Scottish Labour MSPs are set to vote against the wishes of their councillors this week as Holyrood debates the Transport Bill.

The Scottish Green proposal to empower councils to introduce a levy on employers based on parking spaces is set to be voted against by Labour MSPs, despite the fact the idea originated from their party.

The Workplace Parking Levy was introduced by Labour in England and Wales, successfully implemented by a Labour-controlled council in Nottingham and proposed in Labour’s council manifestos for Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Private prisons come at cost to public sector

Tue 8 Oct, 2019

The Scottish Government must urgently review its private prison expenditure after the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service confirmed that inflation uplifts built into these contracts result in cuts to the overall prison budget, according to the Scottish Greens Justice Spokesperson John Finnie MSP. Colin McConnell made the statement at Hoylrood’s Justice Committee this morning.

In written evidence provided to the committee, the Auditor General stated that the uplifts, “will require additional recurring savings of around £12 million a year by 2022-23.”

Equal Protection Passes

John Finnie MSP Fri 4 Oct, 2019

Parliament takes historic and courageous step

MSPs have taken the historic decision to back Green MSP John Finnie’s Equal Protection Bill yesterday evening, meaning that children in Scotland will soon be given the same legal protection from assault that adults currently enjoy.

John Finnie MSP said:

Minister accused of ripping up fair work agreement

Tue 24 Sep, 2019

The Islands Minister has been accused of ripping up a fair work agreement signed by the Scottish Government less than a year ago after he named Serco as the preferred bidder for a lifeline ferry contract.

The Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP challenged Mr Wheelhouse in parliament this afternoon (24 Sep), after the government named the outsourcing giant as its choice to run the Northern Isles Ferry Services for the next eight years.

Northern Isles Ferries

John Finnie MSP Sat 21 Sep, 2019

As you may know I do frequent columns for local papers across the Highlands and Islands. During the summer I submitted this article for one such column, but its publication was declined.

The ferries linking Orkney to the rest of Scotland are unquestionably lifeline services. They connect the island to the rest of the country and are relied upon by huge numbers of people. It is therefore in everyone’s interest that the services be run publicly, in the interests of the people they serve.

Finnie slams Serco appointment

Fri 20 Sep, 2019

Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP has slammed the Scottish Government for maintaining its association with Serco, after ministers appointed the disreputable company as the preferred bidder for the Northern Isles Ferry Services.

Highlands and Islands John Finnie MSP said:

“I’m astonished that the Scottish Government has decided to maintain its relationship with such a disreputable company by selecting them as the preferred bidder for the lifeline northern isles ferry services.

Wales takes first step towards equal protection, now Scotland must lead the way

Wed 18 Sep, 2019

Scottish Green MSP John Finnie has welcomed progress on equal protection of children in Wales.

The Welsh bill to remove the legal defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ was backed at its first stage in the Senedd today, with AMs voting for the proposed legislation.

Next month John Finnie’s Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Member's Bill is expected to complete its parliamentary journey at Holyrood, which will remove the legal defence of ‘justifiable assault’ from Scots law.