HARVIE URGES STURGEON TO TOUGHEN UP ON TTIP, FRACKING
Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow and co-convener of the Scottish Greens, will today urge incoming First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to toughen the Scottish Government's stance on key issues.
To date Scottish Ministers have supported the principle of the controversial trade deal between Europe and the US, known as TTIP, which would give corporations the ability to sue governments. The SNP has so far also refused to back calls for a moratorium on unconventional fossil fuel developments such as fracking.
Ahead of her appointment as First Minister at Holyrood this afternoon (19 Nov) Mr Harvie urged Ms Sturgeon to take the opportunity to toughen the Scottish Government's stance.
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
"The Scottish Government has earned its reputation for promoting renewables but this cannot be allowed to hide an ill-considered enthusiasm for coal, oil and gas. If Nicola Sturgeon wants to reflect what Scotland's communities are thinking she would do well to say no thanks to fracking and instead focus on clean technology investment and energy efficiency.
"Growing public awareness of the deeply undemocratic corporate power grab known as TTIP should also galvanise the new First Minister into action. Scotland may not have a formal role in the negotiations but Nicola Sturgeon should add her voice to the concerns raised recently by the French government. Scotland's economic opportunity comes from growing our SMEs and raising wages, not rolling over for big business."
"The Scottish Government believes that TTIP could deliver significant economic benefits for Scotland."
Letter from Finance Secretary to European Committee
French government will not sign TTIP agreement in 2015 (EurActiv)
"The Scottish Government is open to onshore gas extraction."
Scottish Government position in SPICe Briefing on Unconventional Gas