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 comments on Commission on Parliamentary Reform

20 June, 2017 - 10:04

John Finnie MSP, the Scottish Greens' representative on the Commission on Parliamentary Reform, today (20 June) commented on the publication of the commission's recommendations.

Mr Finnie said:

Finnie welcomes decision of chair of Scotland's police watchdog to stand down

14 June, 2017 - 13:57

John Finnie MSP, Justice spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (14 June) welcomed the decision of the chair of Scotland's police watchdog to stand down from the role.

Andrew Flanagan is resigning from the Scottish Police Authority amid concerns over his conduct and the transparency and governance of the organisation.

John Finnie MSP said:

“Andrew Flanagan has made the right decision, albeit at the wrong time.

Finnie urges investment in cycling infrastructure as figures show rise in road deaths

14 June, 2017 - 13:53

John Finnie MSP, Transport spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (14 June) urged investment in cycling infrastructure in light of figures showing a rise in road deaths, including a rise in cycling fatalities.

In 2016 there were 191 fatalities, fourteen per cent more than in 2015, and 8 cycling fatalities, three more than in 2015.

John Finnie MSP said:

Finnie wins Railway Policing Guarantee

1 June, 2017 - 16:47

Scottish Greens’ Justice Spokesperson, John Finnie MSP, has today (30/05/2017) won a commitment for British Transport Police (BTP) Officers transferring to Police Scotland over their future terms and conditions.

Mr Finnie moved an amendment, “Limitation on redeployment of constables,” during Stage 2 of the Justice Committee’s consideration of the Railway Policing Bill, proposing that any BTP officer who transfers into Police Scotland would continue to work on railway policing duties unless they themselves chose to move.

John Finnie said:

Finnie responds to report on governance of Scottish Police Authority

25 May, 2017 - 17:15

Responding to publication of a report on governance of the Scottish Police Authority by Holyrood's Justice Sub-Committee on Policing, John Finnie MSP, the Scottish Greens’ Justice Spokesperson, said:

“The Scottish Police Authority play an important role in scrutinising Police Scotland and holding it to account. Andrew Flanagan said nothing at his most recent appearance in front of the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing which led me to believe that he has learned the important lessons necessary for him to lead the Scottish Police Authority.

Finnie comments on terror threat level & use of armed officers

24 May, 2017 - 14:49

John Finnie MSP, Justice spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (24 May) welcomed comments from the First Minister that there are no plans to deploy military personnel on the streets in light of the terror threat level across the UK being raised to "critical", suggesting another attack is expected.

Police Scotland have deployed more armed officers for the "foreseeable future" after the Manchester concert attack.

A fourteen-year-old girl from Barra remains missing following Monday's suicide bombing.

Time to give all children in Scotland the same level of protection from assault as adults

John Finnie MSP Fri 19 May

I’m sure all of us want Scotland to be among the most progressive, socially just, and equal nations in the world. We all want our children to be happy, healthy and to give them the very best start in life. Yet in 2017, we still afford children less protection from assault than adults.

Scotland cannot be thought of as the best place in the world for children to grow up while our law gives children less protection from assault than everyone else. We know conclusively that permitting the physical punishment of children can be detrimental to children’s long term health and wellbeing.

Equal Protection: Finnie bill widely welcomed

12 May, 2017 - 09:52

John Finnie MSP, Justice spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today received widespread backing for his proposed member's bill to give children equal protection from assault.

Launching a three-month consultation on the legislation, Mr Finnie said:

John Finnie leads debate on ship to ship oil transfers

2 May, 2017 - 10:27

Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands John Finnie will lead a debate on ship to ship oil transfers in the Scottish Parliament today.

Mr Finnie, who joined campaigners from the Cromarty Rising campaign group at the parliament’s Public Petitions Committee recently, has been campaigning against the proposals to allow ship to ship oil transfers to take place in the Moray Firth since last year.

You can put councillors in place who will prioritise local needs

John Finnie MSP Fri 28 Apr

They say travel broadens the mind. And we could do with some broader thinking at this time. A narrow-minded Tory Prime Minister has called a General Election right in the middle of a vital local election campaign. That tells you all you need to know about how little the Tories value local council services.