Scottish Greens

Scotland Bill - priority must be to oppose cuts

Tue 30 Nov, 2010

For immediate release 30 November 2010

Today's publication of the Westminster Coalition's Scotland Bill is the next stage in a flawed process which has been dominated by the interests of political parties rather than Scotland's people, Greens today argued.

However the Greens challenged the other parties to set out how they would use the powers in the Bill to ensure that Scottish politics is not dragged toward the Coalition's right wing agenda, and instead to help create a more equal society. (1)

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

Council Tax freeze and many cuts decided

comms Sun 28 Nov, 2010

COUNCIL TAX FREEZE AND MANY CUTS DECIDED

On Thursday (25 November), Aberdeenshire Council took important decisions about its budget for the financial year 2011/12.

It was one of the worst days I have had as an Aberdeenshire councillor.

First, the Council had to decide whether it would accept Finance Secretary John Swinney's 'offer' of a funding cut of 2.6 per cent (

SNP close down key environmental watchdog

Thu 25 Nov, 2010

For immediate release 25 November 2010

Greens slammed the decision by SNP Ministers, announced today in a written Parliamentary answer, that they will scrap the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) in Scotland, the official environmental watchdog tasked with scrutinising the Scottish Government's environmental credentials. (1) In May this year, for example, the SDC criticised the Scottish Government for "making poor progress on its sustainability targets".

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

Opposition parties united over tax fiasco

Wed 24 Nov, 2010

For immediate release 24 November 2010

Harper urges MSPs to let discussion continue on End of Life proposals

Tue 23 Nov, 2010

For immediate release 23 November 2010

Holyrood must this week vote at Stage One to allow discussions to continue on the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill proposed by Margo Macdonald MSP, Robin Harper today argued. The most recent polling, published today, indicates that 77% of Scots back these proposals.

Green MSP Robin Harper said:

Horrific scale of Council cuts becomes clearer

comms Mon 22 Nov, 2010

Following the announcement last Wednesday (17 November) by Finance Secretary John Swinney of the Scottish Government's budget proposals, the scale of the cuts required at Aberdeenshire Council has become slightly clearer.

If the Council agrees to freeze the Council Tax and other measures, it will have its government funding cut by around

SNP Local Income Tax plans now in tatters

Sat 20 Nov, 2010

For immediate release 20 November 2010

Tax fiasco - John Swinney may have misled Parliament

Fri 19 Nov, 2010

For immediate release 19 November 2010

SNP Ministers must retrieve Holyrood tax powers

Fri 19 Nov, 2010

For immediate release 17 November 2010

Swinney confirms SNP support for Tory cuts

Wed 17 Nov, 2010

For immediate release 17 November 2010

Today's SNP Budget confirms their priorities, which are out of tune with the needs of the Scottish economy and the political will of the Scottish people, Greens argued. John Swinney has decided simply to hand on cuts, and remains unwilling to use the Parliament's existing powers to raise revenue.