Trump 'increasingly fascist', proved wrong on energy & jobs, says Harvie
Ahead of this week’s visit to the UK by the US President, long-time Trump critic Patrick Harvie MSP, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, says not only is the billionaire property developer “increasingly fascist” but time has proved him wrong on the economy.
In 2012, Mr Harvie challenged Trump during an inquiry by Holyrood’s economy, energy and tourism committee into renewable energy targets.
Trump claimed “I am the evidence” when asked to support his claim that wind farms would “lead to the almost total destruction of Scotland’s tourism industry”, insisting renewables would cause Scotland to “go broke”, that climate change is “not man-made”, and that Scotland would “lose tremendous numbers of jobs in tourism.”
Afterwards, the Green MSP ridiculed the claims on social media using a Monty Python parody, prompting Trump to complain to the Standards Commissioner, accusing Mr Harvie of blasphemy. Trump’s complaint was thrown out.
Today (8 July) the Scottish Greens highlighted figures showing that since Trump’s warnings of doom in 2012, renewable electricity capacity in Scotland has doubled to over 10,000 megawatts, and generated nearly 70 per cent of the country’s demand last year, with onshore wind accounting for three-quarters of installed capacity. Over the same period, the number of jobs in tourism in Scotland has risen by 25,000, from 175,000 to 200,000.
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
“As subservient Tory politicians get ready to roll out the red carpet for an increasingly fascist President who puts children in cages and brags about sexual assault, we should remember that this man is as delusional as he is dangerous, and cannot be trusted on any subject. Scotland’s renewable energy and tourism sectors have flourished despite his doom-mongering, proving he is the worst kind of clubhouse bore, who just makes it up as he goes along.
“Greens stand ready to take part in this week’s public protests to show solidarity with the people he oppresses. We’ve long challenged his bluster and bullying, and we will continue to support American friends and colleagues working to end Trump’s chaotic rule.”
Renewable electricity capacity has doubled since 2012, from 5,816MW to over 10GW. Onshore wind is the biggest single technology, accounting for over 76 per cent of installed capacity
The number of jobs in tourism in Scotland has risen by 25,000, from 175,000 in 2012 to 200,000 in 2016, the most recent year for statistics