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.

Bus recovery plans prevent councils taking ownership

Tue 10 Nov, 2020

Councils are being forced to use private bus operators if they want to access new recovery funding, the Scottish Greens have warned.

The Bus Partnership fund, first announced in September 2019’s Programme for Government, is designed to increase investment in priority bus lanes and other infrastructure, but new criteria for councils includes a requirement to use a bus partnership model.

This is despite councils being given the powers to take bus operators in-house in the transport bill last year.

Equal Protection law to come into force

Fri 6 Nov, 2020

Scotland will join more than 50 countries that provide children with the same legal protection from assault that adults enjoy when the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019 comes into force tomorrow .

The law, steered through the parliamentary process by Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie, was passed overwhelmingly by the Scottish Parliament last year. It removes the Scots law defence that the ‘physical punishment’ of a child can be deemed ‘justifiable’, affording children equal protection under the law.

John Finnie MSP said:

Grouse moors report ignores key issues

Wed 4 Nov, 2020

Commenting on the publication of a new Scottish Government

Greens welcome step forward for animal welfare

Wed 28 Oct, 2020

Scottish Greens Rural and Island Communities Spokesperson John Finnie MSP has welcomed cross party agreement to mandate the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses hailing it an, “excellent animal welfare provision.”

The Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses (Scotland) Regulations 2020 were agreed at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee this morning

Greens welcome news Wales is to renationalise railways

Thu 22 Oct, 2020

The Scottish Greens have welcomed calls from the RMT union to renationalise Scotland's railways after the Welsh Government announced it would appoint a public operator to run rail services as a result of the private rail operator’s failure to meet its contractual obligations due to the massive drop in passenger numbers caused by Covid–19.

Finnie Slams Home Secretary’s Traveller Comments

John Finnie MSP Wed 30 Sep, 2020

Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands John Finnie has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament condemning recent comments from Priti Patel on Travellers.

In an online meeting with Jewish leaders, the Home Secretary suggested that violence and criminality were endemic in the Traveller community.

Her comments have been condemned in an open later signed by more than 80 academics and race equality organisations.

John Finnie’s motion calls on the Home Secretary to apologise and retract her comments.

Committee must investigate impact of Kent border on food exports

Fri 25 Sep, 2020

Scottish Greens Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie has called on the Conservative Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy Committee to call UK Ministers before it to explain how chaotic Brexit plans will impact Scotland’s food producers.

In a letter to Sir Edward Mountain, Mr Finnie highlights recent reports that queues of 7,000 port-bound trucks could be delayed for up to two days in Kent, where hauliers would require a Kent Access Permit to enter, and the need for the committee to understand the impact this would have on Scotland’s food exporters.

Rail and Road should be considered for Rest and Be Thankful

Thu 24 Sep, 2020

Responding to a statement on the Scottish Government’s infrastructure plan, Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson and Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie has called on the Transport Secretary to consider a rail and road solution to the ongoing Rest and Be Thankful saga.

Speaking afterward, John Finnie MSP said:

“Events at the Rest and Be Thankful illustrate the devastating impact the climate emergency is having and will continue to have on Scotland’s infrastructure.

Finnie backs striking sleeper workers

Tue 22 Sep, 2020

Responding to reports that Caledonian Sleeper staff are to strike, Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP said:

Climate plan needed for Scotland’s railway say Scottish Greens

Mon 14 Sep, 2020

The Scottish Government must take immediate action to climate proof Scotland’s railways, Scottish Greens Transport Spokesperson John Finnie MSP has said.

Speaking following the closure of the West Highland Line between Fort William and Crianlarich due to a landslip the Highlands and Islands MSP called for urgent action to protect Scotland’s rail network.

John Finnie MSP said: