Scottish Greens will bring hope back to Scottish politics
The Scottish Greens will bring hope back to Scottish Politics, says the party’s Co-leader Ross Greer.
Addressing a sold out Scottish Green party conference, Ross said:
“We are all here because we believe in peace and justice and that a better world is possible
“And our movement is growing. This is our biggest conference in almost a decade and the highest our membership has been in that same period of time.
“We are far bigger than Lib Dems, we are blogger than the Tories and if Scottish Labour would actually publish their membership figures, we’re pretty sure that we’re now a bigger party than them as well.
“The reason for that is pretty simple - hope. I want you all to think about why you joined this party, and why you’re here this weekend.
“I joined when I was 15. I knew at that point that I was a socialist, but I joined the Scottish Greens because of the urgency of climate and nature emergency
“We have one world, one planet and one opportunity to save it
“I don’t just believe that we can tackle the climate crisis. I don’t just believe that we can build a better and fairer and greener Scotland. I know that we can. I know that this is possible.
“I refuse to give in to despair. People want hope right now, and it is the Scottish Greens who will bring hope back to this country’s politics."
Ross emphasised that the Scottish Greens are the only party who are prepared to fight for people and take on the billionaires and corporations who are making life miserable for so many people.
Ross added:
“We recognise that life in the UK isn’t working for millions of people. Every day I speak to constituents who are really struggling.
“It’s not an accident or by some force of nature. Their life is made miserable by the people with much more power than them. It’s a rigged system, not a broken one.
“But it doesn't have to be like this. The Greens are the only party willing to tell the truth - not just the problems but about the solutions as well.
“It wasn’t immigrants who hiked anyone’s electricity bills. It wasn’t asylum seekers who increased anyone’s rent. Trans people didn’t make your weekly shopping more expensive
“We’re here to call bullshit on those kinds of lies.
“Reform and their super wealthy backers want people to punch down. They want to divide us. But the Scottish Greens want to build solidarity. We believe in building a longer table, not a bigger wall.
“We are the only party prepared to fight for the people, on their side against those who are really causing so much suffering.
“Our message to the public - we are on your side. We are fighting your corner. And with your help, with your support, and with your vote, we can win.”
Ross outlined some of the key actions that Greens will take to cut costs and support people and families across Scotland, including the introduction of free bus travel
Ross said:
“We know that the biggest financial hit that so many people have taken over recent years is in skyrocketing energy bills because our energy system is rigged in favour of the handful of private companies who control it.
“We need to break the hold they have on our essential utilities by putting more control over energy in the hands of communities and individuals.
“And it’s not just unaffordable energy bills that are trapping people in spiralling debts. One of the most common types of debt is council tax debt. Because the Council Tax is so unfair, so outdated and so broken that it punishes the poorest people while allowing the richest to get off with an absolute steal.
“It doesn’t have to be that way. Property taxes are wealth taxes. We talk about the need to tax wealth, not just work. That’s why Green MSPs are fighting to finally scrap and replace the comically outdated and broken Council Tax and make the wealthiest people in the biggest properties start paying their fair share.
“We know that too many people can’t even afford getting the bus to work. Fares going up, the services aren’t getting any better, but the millionaires who own our privatised bus network are cashing in all while transport emissions go up.
“We delivered free bus travel for young people. We want to go further. We will bring our bus network back into public ownership and deliver free bus travel for everyone in Scotland.”