Get the latest from Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie

Finnie welcomes Equal Protection support

Thu 16 May, 2019

Green MSP John Finnie has today (16 May) welcomed the publication of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee Stage One report into his Member’s Bill, the Children (Equal Protection from Assault)(Scotland) Bill.

The Committee took evidence from a variety of witnesses, including academics, children and parenting organisations, police officers, social workers, religious organisations, health experts, with a majority of the witnesses at the committee supporting the proposals.

Climate: Greens urge support for workplace parking levy

Wed 8 May, 2019

Scottish Greens have called on other parties to end their opposition to a progressive workplace parking levy after the SNP ditched its plans to cut air passenger duty following declaration of a climate emergency.

Finnie: Chief Constable may end in court

Tue 30 Apr, 2019

Scottish Greens Justice Spokesperson and former Scottish Police Federation official John Finnie MSP this afternoon (30 Apr) warned the Cabinet Secretary for Justice that the Chief Constable of Police Scotland could end up in court unless urgent action is taken to improve the state of its police stations.

Mr Finnie raised the matter in the Scottish Parliament in the wake of comments from the Scottish Police Federation that much of the police estate is, “unfit for human habitation”.

Commenting afterwards John Finnie MSP said:

Transport Bill must deliver better buses

Thu 4 Apr, 2019

Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP will today (4 Apr) call on the Scottish Government to back his plans for the Transport Bill to deliver better buses for communities across Scotland. 

The Scottish Parliament will debate the bill at stage 1 this afternoon and Mr Finnie will push Ministers to be more ambitious than the current, timid plans. 

John Finnie MSP said: 

Greens call for private firms to be kicked out of criminal justice system

Tue 2 Apr, 2019

Scottish Greens Justice Spokesperson John Finnie MSP will today (2 Apr) propose an amendment to the Management of Offenders Bill to remove any role for the private sector in the existing or proposed expanded monitoring regime.

The Justice Committee will begin its Stage 2 consideration of the Bill, which, “… brings forward a number of reforms designed to … transform the way in which Scotland deals with offenders”.

John Finnie MSP said:

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: