FMQs: Scotland’s land belongs to the people, not billionaires
The First Minister must stand up to billionaires and put Scotland’s land back into the hands of the people, says Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Ross pointed to the fact that more of Scotland’s land is concentrated into the hands of the super-rich and corporations now than when the SNP took office in 2007. Currently, half of all private land is owned by around 420 individuals and companies.
The Scottish Greens are calling for the Scottish Government’s Land Reform Bill to be radically amended before it is voted on later this month, with the aim of breaking up big estates and putting more land under the control of local communities rather than super-rich elites based in tax havens like the Cayman Islands.
Ross asked the First Minister:
“Scotland is a country of over five million people, but fewer than five hundred people and companies own half of our land. And many of them don’t even live here.
“They’re a motley crew including aristocrats, billionaires, minor royalty from across the world - and in some cases we don’t even know who they are.
“Three quarters of a million acres are owned from tax havens like the Cayman Islands.
“More Scottish land is owned by corporations and the super-rich now than when the First Minister’s party formed their government in 2007.
“Later this month the Scottish Government will ask MSPs to vote for a new Land Reform Bill. One that won’t break up big estates or redistribute land from billionaires to the people of Scotland.
“So can I ask the First Minister, with less Scottish land in the hands of the people now than in 2007, is his government just scared of these billionaires?”