Get the latest from Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell

Greens call for bill to recognise climate emergency

Tue 2 Apr, 2019

Scottish Greens Environment and Climate Spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP will this afternoon (2 Apr) call on the Scottish Government to listen to the experts and listen to public opinion by increasing the ambition in its climate change bill. 

Mark Ruskell MSP said: 

“Last week every other party in the Scottish Parliament voted against our proposition to declare a climate emergency. 

Parliament fails declares a climate emergency

Wed 27 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Environment and Climate Spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has expressed his disappointment after the Scottish Parliament failed to declare a climate emergency this evening.

The Greens brought forward a motion noting the need to act in the face of the climate emergency, but every other party in parliament voted it down.

Mark Ruskell MSP said:

“It is hugely disappointing that the Scottish Parliament has failed to face up to the climate emergency.

Greens to declare climate emergency

Wed 27 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Environment and Climate Spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP will today (27 March) lead a debate calling on the Scottish Parliament to declare a climate emergency.

Mr Ruskell will highlight a recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shows that we have just over ten years left to take the bold and urgent action required to keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius, and he’ll praise the work of the young people in Scotland and beyond who have been taking part in school strikes to highlight the issue.

Additional Needs: Pupil to Teacher Ratio Worst Ever

Fri 22 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has today revealed figures showing that the number of additional support needs teachers has plummeted by 400 since 2010.

This alarming statistic comes at a time when the number of pupils identified as having an additional support need has rocketed by over 130,000 during the period.

When looked at alongside the recently published pupil census these figures reveal that for every 58 ASN pupils there is just one specialist teacher, an increase from one to fifty five in 2017 and one teacher to every 18 pupils in 2010.

FMQs: Ruskell raises horrific fox hunting video

Thu 14 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP this afternoon (14 March) challenged the First Minister on fox hunting, following the publication of horrific footage posted online over the weekend. [1]

Mr Ruskell asked the First Minister whether, in light of the footage, she felt it was ever acceptable to hunt foxes with dogs. The First Minister failed to respond directly to the question.

Mark Ruskell MSP said:

Poll reveals increased majority in favour of 20mph

Thu 14 Mar, 2019

Mark Ruskell MSP has today (14 March) revealed polling which shows that a clear majority of people support his proposal to change the default speed limits on the streets where we live, work and play to 20mph.

A poll conducted by Survation shows that once those who neither agreed nor disagreed with the policy were removed, 72% of people said they support the introduction of 20mph default speed limits. This has risen from 65% in 2017, excluding those who neither agreed nor disagreed. 

Tory bid will allow beaver killing to continue

Tue 12 Mar, 2019

Green MSP Mark Ruskell has slammed Tory MSPs on the Parliament’s Environment Committee for trying to block moves to protect beavers from indiscriminate killing.

Tory MSP John Scott this morning said that his party would attempt to annul amendments to conservation regulations, which will make beavers in Scotland a European protected species and ensure that culls can only happen under licence and after other steps have failed.

Ruskell: More needs to be done to prevent beaver suffering

Tue 5 Mar, 2019

Following news that the Scottish Government will introduce legal protections for beavers from May this year, it has been revealed that beavers may still be killed during the breeding season.

Scottish Greens Environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has raised serious concerns that this will lead to pregnant beavers being shot and dependent kits left to suffer. Ruskell has called on the Scottish Government to strengthen the proposed protections to ensure no shooting takes place during the breeding season.

Ruskell reveals MSPs opposed to levy hog Holyrood car park

Mon 4 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has accused Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MSPs of duplicity, claiming their opposition to the devolvolution of workplace parking levy powers to councils was largely borne out of self interest.

Mr Ruskell made the claims after obtaining figures from the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body showing that MSPs from the three parties use the Holyrood car park substantially more than others.

The figures reveal that over a four-week period commencing 7 January 2019, 64 MSPs used the car park at least once.

Ruskell reveals MSPs opposed to levy hog Holyrood car park

Mon 4 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has accused Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MSPs of duplicity, claiming their opposition to the devolvolution of workplace parking levy powers to councils was largely borne out of self interest.

Mr Ruskell made the claims after obtaining figures from the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body showing that MSPs from the three parties use the Holyrood car park substantially more than others.

The figures reveal that over a four-week period commencing 7 January 2019, 64 MSPs used the car park at least once.