Scottish Greens made budget fairer, greener and better for Scotland
More children will be fed, buses will be cheaper and nature will be protected as a result of changes made to the Government’s budget by the Scottish Greens, says the party’s finance spokesperson Ross Greer ahead of a debate and vote taking place today.
Through negotiations late last year the Scottish Greens secured record investment in climate action, a funding increase for local services including schools, social care and bin collections, free ferry travel for young islanders and free bus travel for asylum seekers. They also increased the tax paid when buying a second or holiday home, giving a boost to first-time home buyers.
And last week it was announced that the Greens had also secured free school meals for thousands more S1-S3 pupils, more funding for nature restoration and a year-long trial where bus fares in one region of the country will be capped at no more than £2.
Mr Greer said:
“As a direct result of Green negotiations, this budget will lift more children out of poverty, make buses cheaper and help tackle the climate crisis.
“No child should be hungry at school, and the extra meals secured by Green MSPs will take us one step closer to eradicating that hunger completely. This builds on the extension of universal free school meals to P4 and P5 which the Scottish Greens delivered a few years ago.
“We are determined to make it cheaper to get the bus. That’s why we will launch a year-long trial in one region where bus fares are capped at £2, something we are confident will be successful enough to then roll out across all of Scotland."
Mr Greer added:
“There is a huge contrast between everything the Scottish Greens have delivered for people and planet, and a Scottish Labour Party who allowed the SNP’s budget to pass without securing a single change of their own.
"While others played silly games, Green MSPs worked to support families in poverty and protect our natural environment.”