Mark Ruskell MSP

Mid Scotland and Fife

Climate, Energy, Environment, Food & Farming

Mark Ruskell was re-elected as an MSP in May 2016, having served Mid Scotland and Fife between 2003 and 2007, during which time he served on the environment committee, introduced legislative proposals on climate targets and GM crops. In this session he is a member of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform committee. He has been a councillor on Stirling Council since 2012. Outside of politics Mark has managed community development projects, worked in the renewables sector and for conservation bodies in Scotland. He lives near Doune with his young family.

Mark Ruskell comments on Bifab latest

Fri 27 Nov, 2020

Commenting on the statement issued by Bifab's owners this morning, Scottish Greens Energy Spokesperson and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell said:

“The Scottish Government cannot bemoan the fact that it’s a minority shareholder with no seat on the board while at the same time turning down opportunities to step up and become a majority shareholder. Bifab urgently needs a recovery plan that can secure interim work and deliver promised green jobs while the Scottish Government works towards state ownership that is still in line with market rules it has to adhere to.”

Scottish Govt dodges wildlife responsibilities

Thu 26 Nov, 2020

The Scottish Government has dodged its responsibilities on the nature and climate responsibilities by allowing destructive grouse moors to decide how they are to be regulated, the Scottish Greens have warned.

Having waited a year to respond to a review into Scotland’s grouse moors, ministers have now confirmed that the grouse shooting industry is unable to police itself, but indicated it will get to decide its own regulations.

In a statement to parliament environment minister Mairi Gougeon announced a further consultation on grouse moor licensing scheme will take place.

SNP and Tories have nothing but excuses for Bifab workers

Tue 24 Nov, 2020

Responding to the statement issued this evening by the Scottish and UK Governments regarding Bifab, Scottish Greens Energy Spokesperson and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell said:

“When it comes to the future of jobs at Bifab the SNP and the Tories have nothing to offer but excuses.

“Time and again we’re told that state aid rules are the reason that the Scottish Government cannot take a greater stake in the company, yet we know that other European countries strategically invest in the energy market all the time.

SNP blocks declaration of a nature emergency

Wed 18 Nov, 2020

The Scottish Parliament has missed the opportunity to declare a nature emergency, after the SNP blocked the vote with an amendment congratulating the Scottish Government instead.

If passed, the Scottish Green motion would have made Scotland the first country to formally recognise the rapid decline in species populations as an emergency.

Windfall tax to pay for COVID recovery proposed at parliament

Wed 18 Nov, 2020

A windfall tax on businesses that are making enormous profits from lockdown has been raised at the Scottish Parliament by Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell.

Supermarkets and online retailers are recording rises in pre-tax profits at a time when many small businesses are facing extinction because of COVID-related restrictions.

At the Scottish Parliament’s COVID committee, Mark Ruskell proposed a windfall tax to support a fair recovery and protect the high street.

Chris Packham: Vital that nature emergency is widely understood

Mon 16 Nov, 2020

TV personality and naturalist Chris Packham has backed calls from the Scottish Greens for the Scottish Parliament to declare a nature emergency, saying that recognising it, “would be a bold first step toward rectifying it.”

The Scottish Greens will put such a declaration to a vote at Holyrood on Wednesday which, if passed, would make Scotland the first country to officially recognise that rapid decline of species and wildlife populations across the world constitutes an emergency. In Scotland one in nine species currently face extinction.

Chris Packham said:

Scottish Greens call for Parliament to declare a nature emergency

Mon 16 Nov, 2020

The Scottish Parliament must declare a nature emergency to reverse the alarming decline in species, the Scottish Greens have said.

The Scottish Greens are set to put the declaration to a vote at Holyrood which would make Scotland the first country in the world to recognise that the rapid decline of species and wildlife populations across the world constitutes an emergency.

Greens: Stopping climate funding for farms is hypocrisy

Tue 10 Nov, 2020

Scottish Greens have accused the Scottish Government of hypocrisy after it closed vital funding for farmers to reduce their carbon footprint.

The closure of the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme was raised in the Scottish Parliament by Scottish Greens food and farming spokesperson Mark Ruskell.

The Scottish Parliament was discussing support for addressing climate emissions from agriculture, following the publication of a report by the Farming for 1.5 inquiry yesterday.

Douglas Ross accused of spouting “anti-science drivel”

Mon 9 Nov, 2020

Scottish Greens energy and climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has slammed Douglas Ross, branding his plans to shelve climate targets and continue oil and gas extraction for decades as “climate change denial.”

Scottish Greens: build testing into Tier system

Wed 4 Nov, 2020

Mass testing should be built into the COVID framework so that everyone gets tested for COVID-19 in areas placed in Tier Four restrictions, the Scottish Greens have said.

The call comes after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs of the Scottish Parliament’s COVID committee that current situation was “fragile”.

She told MSPs: “We need to see infection rates decline significantly.”