Get the latest from Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell

Scottish Greens call on supermarkets to reinvest in food supply chain

Sat 21 Mar, 2020

Scottish Greens have proposed measures to safeguard Scotland’s food supply chain during the coronavirus crisis.

Supermarket profits have been boosted by people stocking up, and these should be reinvested up the food supply chain to give farmers and foodbanks greater security, according to Scottish Greens food and farming spokesperson Mark Ruskell.

DRS delay disappointing say Greens

Tue 17 Mar, 2020

Responding to the news that Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS) has been delayed until 2022, Scottish Green environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell said:

“The Covid-19 outbreak is clearly an unprecedented unforeseen circumstance, but the decision to delay Scotland’s deposit return scheme for years not months is disappointing from the Scottish Government.

“Clearly there has been numerous attempts by industry to derail DRS over the last 18 months, with a long list of excuses from corporate vested interests for postponing or weakening the scheme.

COP26 cannot be Glasgow Science Centre bunfight

Wed 11 Mar, 2020

The COP26 climate summit must not descend into a playground bunfight over use of the Glasgow science centre, the Scottish Greens have warned.

In a statement to MSPs, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the world event at Glasgow’s SEC is still set to go ahead despite the shadow the coronavirus has cast over large events, according to a statement to MSPs.

But she said the UK and Scottish Governments were at loggerheads about who would use the neighbouring Glasgow Science Centre to host events.

2,000 write to Environment Secretary over Mossmorran future

Mon 9 Mar, 2020

Around 2,000 people have written to Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham to demand immediate action to protect local communities impacted by pollution from ExxonMobil’s Mossmorran petrochemical plant in Fife.

Free bus travel for young people passed at Holyrood in historic budget

Thu 5 Mar, 2020

The Scottish Parliament has passed a historic budget which will see every young person under 19 in Scotland be given access to free bus travel.

Scottish Labour, Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats voted against the Scottish Greens proposal, which will see over 700,000 young people offered the opportunity to travel for free, saving students hundreds in travel to college and giving families in poverty much needed mobility.

Mossmorran communities being failed say Greens

Thu 5 Mar, 2020

SEPA is either not up to the job of protecting the communities surrounding the Mossmorran gas plant or doesn’t have the powers to do so according to Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions this afternoon Ms Johnstone called on the First Minister to “end the misery this plant is causing,” after communities were once again subjected to intense periods of flaring which NHS has said impacts the health and wellbeing of local people.

Alison Johnstone MSP said:

Greens call for more ambition on heat networks

Tue 3 Mar, 2020

The Scottish Greens have called for ministers to be bolder in the Scottish Government’s new heat networks bill.

The new bill will introduce new regulations and a licensing system for heat networks – where neighbourhoods can use a single heat source to warm their homes.

The Scottish Green New Deal, published last year, proposes expanding heat networks and retrofitting homes to make them more efficient and cut heating bills.

Longannet report shows need for just transition honesty from government

Thu 27 Feb, 2020

Communities that rely on fading industries must be supported now, the Scottish Greens have warned.

The Interim Report of the Just Transition Commission has challenged the Scottish Government over the closure of the coal power station at Longannet, warning it had a negative impact on nearby communities.

Scotland must revisit 20mph after 130 countries sign pledge

Mon 24 Feb, 2020

Scotland should revisit the idea of a 20mph national speed limit for residential streets after 130 countries signed a pledge to introduce it, Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell has said.