HARVIE URGES GLASGOW TO VOTE YES TO TACKLE INEQUALITY
Green Yes, the Scottish Green Party's campaign for a Yes vote in the independence referendum, is today (13 Sep) urging Scotland's biggest city to vote Yes to close its appalling inequality gap.
Glasgow is the worst local authority area for income deprivation in Scotland at 21 per cent of the population. In other words, almost a quarter of Glasgwegians are on income support or jobseeker's allowance, with no other source of income.
By contrast Aberdeenshire and Shetland are the least income deprived at just 7 per cent. And within Glasgow there's a wide variation, with some neighbourhoods such as Parkhead and Dalmarnock up to 41 per cent deprived.
Today Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow and Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, will join with other campaigners from across the broad Yes movement to speak to voters in the city centre as part of the 'People's Takeover'.
Mr Harvie said:
"Rebuilding the welfare state, improving jobs and wages, and tackling the structural causes of poverty all require a Yes vote. As well as closing the gap between rich and poor we have the chance to rebalance the economy within Scotland.
"Westminster has had its chance and failed, over successive governments. By taking responsibility for the vast wealth we generate here in Scotland we can at last put it to good use and really help Glasgow flourish."
Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics showing income deprivation in Glasgow