Get the latest from Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell

Pressure on councils after incineration to be reviewed

Fri 1 Oct, 2021

Councils across Scotland with plans to open polluting waste-to-energy plants are today under pressure after the Scottish Government announced a review of their future.

Greens: New nuclear plans show need for independence

Mon 27 Sep, 2021

Reports that the UK government is planning for a new generation of nuclear reactors show the need for Scotland to have full control over energy policy, according to the Scottish Greens.

Major shift on aviation from Scottish Government

Thu 23 Sep, 2021

The Scottish Government has made a major shift on policy towards aviation by accepting recommendations of its new independent report ‘Decarbonising Scottish Transport’.

In a statement to MSPs, Transport minister Graeme Dey said: “Without a reduction in aviation demand, the transport sector will not be able to achieve its emissions envelope for 2030.”

This is the first time the Scottish Government has recognised the need for a reduction in aviation demand, and a clear sign of influence of the Scottish Greens in government.

Greens: Scotrail must listen to workers and passengers

Wed 22 Sep, 2021

The Scottish Greens have called for Abellio Scotrail to move quickly to resolve the industrial dispute which has disrupted Scotland’s railways and to engage better with passengers when it comes to timetabling.

Abellio’s contract ends in March next year, after which Scotrail will come into public ownership.

Scottish Greens transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell said: “The rail unions are right when they say Abellio’s tenure has been chaotic, so it’s vital the company does not spend the next six months running down services and ignoring workers and passengers.

Greens £1.8bn buildings pledge crucial as gas prices surge

Tue 21 Sep, 2021

Plans to invest at least £1.8bn in net zero buildings in Scotland are set to be approved today at a time when gas prices are surging, threatening to push many more families across Scotland fuel poverty. A quarter of households in Scotland are already considered to be in fuel poverty.

The Scottish Government debate on a net zero Scotland comes as Charity Energy Action Scotland has warned that ‘skyrocketing’ gas prices will lead to more families being forced to choose between heating and eating this winter.

Tories left red faced by FoES report

Wed 15 Sep, 2021

Scottish Conservatives have been embarrassed by a report from Friends of the Earth Scotland and Oil Change Int

Tories misleading communities with motion from sidelines

Tue 14 Sep, 2021

Scottish Conservatives are misleading communities with a ridiculous debate in parliament that fails to understand the meaning of the words ‘just transition’, the Scottish Greens have said.

The Tories have announced they will be seeking parliament’s backing for reckless expansion of fossil fuel production, against the advice of the International Energy Agency, the UN Secretary General and the Climate Change Committee.

The motion suggests that the Scottish Greens are ‘extremists’ for accepting this advice.

UK Government slammed for climate capitulation

Wed 8 Sep, 2021

The UK Government’s shameful capitulation on climate targets in trade negotiations with Australia shows the Tories can’t be trusted to tackle the climate crisis the Scottish Greens have said.

CCC issue Cambo warning

Tue 31 Aug, 2021

The UK Climate Change Committee has warned that the case for approving the vast Cambo oil field off the coast of Shetland has not been made.

Despite the warnings from the IPCC report on climate breakdown and warning from the UN Secretary General, the UK Government remains committed to expanding oil and gas production in the North sea and is set to approve the opening of the Cambo field too.

Proposed ScotRail timetable traveling in wrong direction say Greens.

Wed 25 Aug, 2021

ScotRail are traveling in the wrong direction with their proposed new timetable according to the Scottish Greens.

The proposed changes would increase journey times on some key routes throughout Mid-Scotland and Fife as well as reducing the number of services across the country as a whole

The timetable is open for consultation until 1^st October and Scottish Green Transport Spokesperon Mark Ruskell has encouraged all concered rail users to respond and make their views heard.