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 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:

Transport Bill is a missed opportunity says Finnie

Mon 11 Jun, 2018

The Scottish Government’s transport bill leaves a lot to be desired the Scottish Greens’ transport spokesperson has said.

Green MSP John Finnie says the bill is a “missed opportunity” in many areas of transport, particularly in improving rail services, where trains are not mentioned in the publication.

Mr Finnie, a Highlands and Islands MSP, said:

Greens welcome recommendations from hate crime report

Thu 31 May, 2018

New recommendations for updating Scotland’s hate crime legislation have been broadly welcomed by the Scottish Greens.

John Finnie MSP, the party’s justice spokesperson, says the recommendations on transgender identity and age hostility are particularly welcome and will provide a “timely update” in making Scotland a more inclusive nation.

Mr Finnie said:

Finnie Challenges Minister Over Ferry Contract

Tue 29 May, 2018

Scottish Greens transport spokesperson John Finnie MSP today (29 May) challenged Scottish Ministers to overhaul their "opportunistic" attitude toward ferry services between Orkney, Shetland and the Scottish mainland.

Mr Finnie, a Highlands and Islands MSP, has written to Transport Minister Humza Yousaf following last week's announcement from the Scottish Government that it will put the Northern Isles ferry services out to commercial tender, rather than bringing them into the public sector.

Minister urged by Greens to stop salmon farm expansion

Wed 9 May, 2018

The rural economy minister is under pressure from the Scottish Greens to put a moratorium in place on fish farm expansion in Scotland.

Local economies on track for a boost thanks to Local Rail Development Fund, a Green budget win

Mon 7 May, 2018

Local economies across Scotland are on track for a boost thanks to a new £2 million Local Rail Development Fund set up during the Scottish Greens' negotiations with the Scottish Government over the 2018-19 budget.

The fund is open for bids until Friday 8 June, with community groups, local councils and transport partnerships able to apply for funding to help them progress the business cases for new stations and lines.

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.