SNP must go further for people and planet
The SNP must go further for people and planet, says Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater.
Speaking in parliament today during a debate on the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, Ms Slater called for action to rapidly reduce carbon emissions and put money in people’s pockets.
Opening her speech, Ms Slater said:
“The Scottish Government cannot be timid in its response to the challenges we face. We are facing profound threats and we need profound answers. It isn’t enough to try to do the same thing faster with ever-reducing resources.
“It is possible to build a fairer and greener Scotland, and we need a brave and bold Government to do this.
“Greener means rapidly reducing emissions and restoring our depleted nature. Fairer means redistributing wealth and opportunity so that homes are affordable, work pays fair wages, and ensures that our social security net allows everyone to live with dignity.
“It means practical measures to get money back in people’s pockets, and reduce poverty.”
Lorna went on to highlight the positives in the Programme for Government that Scottish Green policies and campaigning were central to securing.
Ms Slater added:
“There are some good examples of these policies in this Programme for Government, including a permanent end to peak rail fares - a policy first brought in by the Scottish Greens in October 2023.”
Ms Slater used her speech to voice her concerns that the SNP are not going far enough with their commitments, seeming to be rolling back progressive policy instead.
Ms Slater concluded:
“This Government does not always seem willing to do the hard things we need to do to build a fairer, greener Scotland and, frankly, we’re running out of tomorrows.
“Scotland is unfair for so many people and the Scottish Government could do more to make it fairer.
“For example, with greater ambition to deliver warmer homes and cheaper energy bills. Through proper rent controls which end rip-off rents and protect renters.
“We need an ambitious plan to effectively tax wealth in Scotland and invest in public services in communities.
“We need cheaper fares across all public transport, including capped bus fares.
“With the world and the climate in crisis, people across Scotland will want reassurances that the government is still on their side - and that can’t come from broken promises and scrapped commitments.
“The Scottish Government can do better than this, and the Scottish Greens will keep pushing them to do so.”