Scottish Greens

Crown Estate Bill proposed by Scot Gov maintains a feudal relic; radical overhaul needed, warns Wightman

Tue 19 Jun, 2018

Scottish Green MSPs will today (19 June) warn that the Scottish Crown Estate Bill being proposed by the Scottish Government maintains a "feudal relic" and risks "business-as-usual" when a "radical overhaul" is needed to benefit local communities.

This afternoon's Stage One debate and vote on the Bill follows the 2014 Smith Commission recommendation that management and revenues from Crown assets such as harbours, coastlines and forestry should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and that management be further devolved to local councils.

Johnstone: Universal Credit must end after damning Audit Office report

Fri 15 Jun, 2018

The Scottish Greens have welcomed a report from the National Audit Office that outlines how the UK government’s Universal Credit is causing hardship for claimants.

Green MSPs voted with a majority in the Scottish Parliament in October 2017 for the Westminster government to halt the combined benefit payment.

Alison Johnstone MSP, the Scottish Greens’ social security spokesperson, said:

The Greens’ commitment to campaigning for independence could not be clearer

Ross Greer MSP Fri 15 Jun, 2018

“For me, independence is about autonomy, allowing Scotland to meet success and failure on its own merit and not point an embittered finger of blame at anyone else”. These aren’t the words of a dyed-in-the-wool independence supporter, but rather a very recent convert who is no longer able to “tolerate a Tory government prepared to treat devolution with blatant contempt”.

You might recognise these welcome and salient words from the brilliant news yesterday that the former Daily Record editor, Murray Foote will back independence the next time we are asked the question.

For Bike Week: 4 things we will do to boost walking and cycling

John Finnie MSP Fri 15 Jun, 2018

To mark National Bike Week 2018, here’s a round-up of Scottish Greens policies to promote cycling and demonstrate the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling. Did you know that 51% of people in Glasgow don’t have access to a car?

1. Funding for active travel

Harvie: SNP prioritising Heathrow ahead of public transport

Thu 14 Jun, 2018

Scottish ministers have admitted they are relying on, and are content with, the environmental impact assessments carried out by the UK government on building a third runway at Heathrow.

The admission came from Keith Brown at Holyrood today after being questioned by Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens’ co-convener. Harvie says it’s strange for the SNP, who regularly claim Westminster is out of touch, to be in complete agreement with the Tories on aviation policy.

6 things the Transport Bill could deliver

John Finnie MSP Thu 14 Jun, 2018

With a new Transport Bill presented to the Scottish Parliament for scrutiny, here are six ways we think it could help all of us in our daily lives.

1. Better buses

Three-quarters of all public transport journeys in Scotland are made by bus yet many routes face cuts, local fares are rising and service standards are slipping. Buses are vital transport for many of us to get to school or college, to get to work or hospital and to meet friends. We believe this Transport Bill must reflect the importance of buses to many people’s daily lives.

Constitutional crisis increases urgency of giving people of Scotland control of their own future

Thu 14 Jun, 2018

Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP today (14 June) used First Minister's Questions to urge Nicola Sturgeon to take inspiration from progressive governments around the world to grow support for independence amid a constitutional crisis caused by Tory recklessness and Labour indifference.

Harvie puts forward Green alternative to SNP’s growth commission report on independence

Wed 13 Jun, 2018

Independence will provide Scotland with the opportunity to match the “progressive economic, social and environmental policies” of successful similarly-sized countries, contrasting with the decline of post-Brexit Britain, say the Scottish Greens.

However, Patrick Harvie also used the finance and constitution debate at Holyrood to warn that “growth economics”, which he says dominates the economic analysis in the SNP’s Sustainable Growth Commission report, is not sustainable in a “finite world” with a “fragile ecosystem already under extreme pressure”.

Government pledge on mental health being delivered too slowly, warns Johnstone

Wed 13 Jun, 2018

A government pledge to put in place an extra 800 mental health workers is being delivered too slowly, warned Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone in today’s (13 June) Holyrood debate on mental health.

Alison said:

Rise in pedestrians killed on urban roads shows need for safer streets legislation

Wed 13 Jun, 2018

Figures showing a rise in the number of pedestrians killed on urban roads underline the need for action on safer streets, according to Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, whose member's bill aims to lower urban speed limits from 30 to 20mph.

In 2017 there were 26 pedestrians killed on built-up roads in Scotland, up from 23 in 2016.

There was also a 12 per cent increase in serious injuries to cyclists on built-up roads - an 18 per cent increase on the 04-08 average.

« first
‹ previous
…
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
…
next ›
last »