Scottish Greens

Community Empowerment? The reality, as Bonnyrigg is discovering, is very different.

comms Tue 25 Mar, 2014

I’m calling on Midlothian Council to rethink plans to demolish Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre.

Community campaigners trying to save the centre received my support last summer but it has emerged that councillors will be invited next week (Tue 25 Mar) to approve demolition.

CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT SHOWS WE MUST GO BEYOND CURRENT PLANS

Tue 25 Mar, 2014

Scottish Green MSPs are urging ministers to act on the recommendation of the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) to "go beyond" current and proposed policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Scottish Government has missed the first two annual emissions reduction targets and today's CCC report says achieving future years' targets will be more difficult.

The report supports what the Green MSPs have been calling for including:

POLL SHOWS CHANCE TO DEVELOP WELCOMING IMMIGRATION POLICY

Thu 20 Mar, 2014

A new poll for the Scottish Green MSPs shows two-thirds of Scots want Holyrood to have control over immigration policy, with almost half of those planning to vote No to independence backing the idea.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone, a member of Holyrood's economy committee, says the survey highlights the opportunity for Scotland to develop a welcoming immigration policy that attracts skilled workers for new industries - in contrast to the negative approach at Westminster driven by concerns in the south-east of England.

INDYREF: HARVIE HIGHLIGHTS RISK TO ECONOMY FROM CARBON BUBBLE

Wed 19 Mar, 2014

Green MSP Patrick Harvie will use tonight's independence referendum debate hosted by climate change campaigners from across Scotland to highlight the risk of the "carbon bubble" that could precipitate another economic crash.

Tonight's 2014 Matters: Energy, Environment & Climate Change debate comes as MPs warn that stock markets are overvaluing companies that produce fossil fuels, posing a serious threat to the economy, and as oil giant Shell warns that its profits are likely to be affected by efforts to curb climate change.

BUDGET SHOWS UK EMBEDDING POVERTY

Wed 19 Mar, 2014

Responding to today's Budget statement, Green MSP Patrick Harvie says the Westminster austerity agenda is embedding poverty in society.

The Chancellor's announcements included tax cuts for people earning up to £100,000 a year, a commitment to cap welfare, while giving increased subsidies to wealthy aviation and oil companies.

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow and Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said:

LABOUR DEVO REPORT: FAILURE OF AMBITION

Tue 18 Mar, 2014

Green Yes, the Scottish Green Party's campaign for a Yes vote in the independence referendum, is describing today's devolution report by the Labour party as a failure of ambition which will disappoint left-leaning voters who seek a fairer and more democratic Scotland.

Greens are campaigning for a Yes vote as they see the opportunities to rebalance the economy, protect public services, develop a written constitution, revitalise rural life and get rid of nuclear weapons.

GREEN YES: HARVIE ON 6 MONTHS TO GO TO INDYREF

Tue 18 Mar, 2014

With just six months until the referendum on Scottish independence, the Scottish Green Party's Green Yes campaign is urging Scots to seize the opportunity to build a more equal and democratic Scotland.

Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said:

PLANNING REPORT SHOWS SNP LACKING ON FRACKING

Fri 14 Mar, 2014

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood's economy, energy and tourism committee, today (14 March) highlighted the threat facing communities from unconventional gas developments such as fracking.

Today the committee published its report into the National Planning Framework, revealing that during a private voting session only one SNP member was prepared to support measures proposed by the Green MSP to protect local communities.

HARVIE DEMANDS ACTION ON "CHRONIC" AIR POLLUTION PROBLEM

Wed 12 Mar, 2014

Demands to tackle air pollution in Glasgow and other Scottish hot spots have been stepped up by Green MSP Patrick Harvie.

Mr Harvie used today's debate in the Scottish Parliament to highlight that the current Scottish Government response to the problem is almost identical to what ministers said a decade ago.

He described the pollution problem in Glasgow city centre locations such as Hope Street as "chronic". The failure to tackle the problem means the UK faces legal action by the European Commission. Limits on nitrogen dioxide should have been met by January 2010.

BUSINESS LENDING: BANKING REFORM CRUCIAL SAYS JOHNSTONE

Wed 12 Mar, 2014

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and a member of Holyrood’s economy committee, is renewing her call for reform of the banking sector as the committee publishes the conclusions of its inquiry into access to finance.

The inquiry heard that access to finance remains a top priority for Scottish businesses, with many SMEs unaware of alternative sources of finance such as crowd-funding and peer-to-peer lending.

Alison Johnstone said: