Our time is now: Scottish Greens aim for biggest number of MSPs
The Scottish Greens can win two MSPs in every regional list in 2021, the party’s co-leaders are to tell its Autumn conference.
Recently published data from the Scottish Household Survey [1] shows two thirds of Scots are now aware of the urgency of the Climate Emergency, with the number rising in every part of Scotland.
At the Scottish Green conference in Inverness, the party will unveil who has been selected to contest the regional lists in 2021.
Co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater will tell members the party can build support in the next 18 months to win 2 seats in every region.
They will also point to the considerable success the party has had with only 6 MSPs, including reforming Scotland’s income tax system, reversing the decline in local government funding, winning new powers for councils to raise funds and take control of bus services, and giving children equal protection from assault.
However, the way other parties coalesced around long term targets for emissions reductions without any short term measures to significantly cut Scotland’s carbon footprint shows why more Green MSPs are needed to push for a Scottish Green New Deal, they are expected to say.
Co-leader Lorna Slater will say: “Only the Greens understand the climate emergency, know what needs to be done, and are determined enough to deliver transformative change.
“Every one of the 16 candidates we announce today can be elected in 2021.
“And just imagine the hope this could give us. The power to take the action needed to save the planet and build a new Scotland.
“Our time is now. In 2021, we can win. We can lead the way with a vision for a Green and Independent Scotland.”