Scottish Greens

Empowering communities and delivering food security

Alison Johnstone MSP Tue 16 Oct, 2018

I previously wrote in the Evening News (Food for thought and a little thought for food) in support of calls from the Scottish Food Coalition for a right to food to be enshrined in Scots Law, to address our dependency on foodbanks to provide for people in our wealthy, food-producing nation.

Harvie warns “the clock is ticking” on fairer funding of local services as councils start drawing up cuts and charges to cope with “carnage”

Fri 12 Oct, 2018

Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP is today (12 Oct) warning that the “the clock is ticking” on the need for fairer funding of local services, as councils across Scotland start drawing up fresh cuts and increased charges to cope with “carnage” on a scale already inflicted on councils in England.

The Case For Local Democracy Renewed

John Finnie MSP Fri 12 Oct, 2018

High quality public services are the bedrock of our society and as demand for services rises, we cannot duck the debate about how they are funded. When we look at the services local councils are responsible for delivering, it becomes clear why their funding is so important. In every community there are council staff working hard, providing help and operating facilities that we all use on a regular basis: schools, social care, housing, roads, leisure centres and libraries. Local councils in Scotland employ over 240,000 people - that’s almost 10 per cent of all the jobs in Scotland.

Greenpeace study of fish quotas shows sector at risk

Thu 11 Oct, 2018

A new study by Greenpeace, revealing how a tiny minority of wealthy families controls huge swathes of Scottish fishing rights, should serve as a warning that the sector's future is at risk, according to the Scottish Greens.

The investigation reveals that five families on the Sunday Times Rich List own or control a third of all Scottish quota, and that four members of one of these families were fined for their role in the 2012 “black fish” scandal.

Wightman: Scotland will never be a normal European country until it addresses the deficit in local democracy

Thu 11 Oct, 2018

The Scottish Greens’ local government spokesperson will today (11 Oct) tell an audience of council leaders and staff that Scotland will never be a normal European country until it addresses the deficit in local democracy.

Andy Wightman MSP will warn that without renewed local democracy, Scotland will continue to have the most centralised local governance arrangements in Europe as well as among the most limited fiscal autonomy of any European country.

Scotland’s response to IPCC report on climate change must be a summit of political and civic leaders

Mon 8 Oct, 2018

Scotland’s response to the damning IPCC report on climate change must be to convene a summit of political and civic leaders says Patrick Harvie.

The Scottish Greens’ co-convener says that such a meeting should take the need for rapid transition to a post-oil economy as its starting point, and have no limit set on the proposals for progress that are put forward.

We must tackle poverty, and tackle it at source

Alison Johnstone MSP Fri 5 Oct, 2018

An MSP’s year has some very regular milestones. The Programme for Government every September; the process of negotiating the annual budget either side of Christmas, and the recess periods when MSPs finish their work in the chamber and in committees, but which offer us more time to get out and about visiting constituents and organisations in the areas we represent.

New NHS research echoes our calls to boost social security spending & introduce Basic Income

Wed 3 Oct, 2018

The Scottish Greens welcomed research published today by NHS Health Scotland that echoes the party's calls to boost social security spending and introduce a Universal Basic Income.

The "Income-based policies in Scotland: how would they affect health and health inequalities?" research modelled the effects of a wide range of income-based policies on health and health inequalities.

Finnie urges public inquiry into Sheku Bayoh case

Wed 3 Oct, 2018

Scottish Greens justice spokesperson John Finnie MSP today (3 Oct) urged Scottish Ministers to set up a public inquiry into the Sheku Bayoh case, after the family was told that no criminal charges will be brought.

31-year-old Mr Bayoh died after being restrained by police who were called to reports of a man behaving erratically and brandishing a knife in the street in Kirkcaldy in May 2015.

Johnstone & Wightman welcome ruling which saves Jim's Farm

Wed 3 Oct, 2018

Alison Johnstone and Andy Wightman, Scottish Green MSPs for Lothian, today (3 Oct) welcomed a ruling which prevents a farmer being removed from his Midlothian home so landlords can sell the site to developers proposing a film studio.

Alison and Andy have campaigned in support of Jim Telfer who faced eviction from smallholdings at Damhead where Scottish Ministers controversially gave planning approval for a film studio in December last year.

Now the Scottish Land Court has found that the landlord has no lawful grounds to resume Mr Telfer’s tenancy.

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