Scottish Greens

PCS STRIKE: GREENS SHOW SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC WORKERS

Tue 14 May, 2013

As members of the PCS public services union stage a fresh strike over pay and pensions, Green MSP Patrick Harvie is urging SNP ministers to show a different approach to the UK Coalition.

Union members will rally outside the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (15 May) and the Scottish Greens will once more show support for strong public services by refusing to cross the picket line.

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, said:

JOHNSTONE WELCOMES GLASGOW 2014 PLANS ON GAMES TICKETING

Mon 13 May, 2013

Green MSP Alison Johnstone - a qualified athletics coach and former competitive runner - is backing the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games ticketing strategy.

Two-thirds of tickets will be priced at £25 or less with half-price concessions for children. The price of a ticket will also include use of public transport.

Alison, a member of Holyrood's cross-party group on sport and Green MSP for Lothian, said:

RHONDA REEKIE IS ABERDEEN BY-ELECTION CANDIDATE

Mon 13 May, 2013

The Aberdeen branch of the Scottish Green Party has selected local campaigner Rhonda Reekie as its candidate to contest the Aberdeen Donside Scottish Parliament by-election.

INDYREF: GREENS SAY POSITIVE VISION ESSENTIAL

Thu 9 May, 2013

Responding to the latest Ipsos-Mori poll on independence, Scottish Greens are reaffirming their belief that a positive vision of a better society will help persuade undecided Scots to move towards a Yes vote.

The poll puts support for a Yes vote at 31 per cent with a No vote at 59 per cent.

It also shows Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, is the party leader with the highest net satisfaction rating.

Mr Harvie said:

COALITION DANCING TO REACTIONARY TUNE

Wed 8 May, 2013

Responding to today's Queen's Speech, the Scottish Greens said its focus on tougher measures on immigration was a distraction from the Coalition's failure to strengthen the economy and reduce poverty.

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

"The UK Coalition is dancing to a reactionary tune on immigration. They want to distract voters from their failure on the economy and their assault on the poor and the vulnerable.

ABERDEEN BYPASS FIGURES FANTASY SAY GREENS

Tue 7 May, 2013

Responding to the announcement of a funding agreement between the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils for the near-£1billion city bypass scheme, Scottish Greens say ministers' figures are pure fantasy.

Ministers claim the scheme will create 14,000 jobs without saying how that figure has been calculated, and they state that the councils' share of the cost will be capped at £75 million each.

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

REPORT SHOWS EXTRA FORTH CROSSING IS SALMOND'S FOLLY

Fri 3 May, 2013

Scottish Greens say a report by the chief engineer of the Forth Road Bridge, showing that the anchorages of the structure are "in good condition with no real evidence of corrosion", proves that the SNP, supported by Labour, Libdems and Tories, were reckless to blow over a billion pounds on an additional crossing.

The Scottish Greens were the only party that argued in favour of repairing the existing bridge as this would have saved millions and not required its closure.

A report in February of this year showed that dehumidification of the main cables has worked.

HALF A MILLION FOR MEDIA MISSES POINT OF CYCLING CONCERNS

Fri 3 May, 2013

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and co-convener of the Scottish Parliament's cross-party group on cycling, says the government's announcement of almost half a million pounds for a marketing campaign to encourage "mutual respect" between cyclists and motorists misses the point.

Alison said:

“I've long said we need to see a culture of tolerance so we can share road space safely. Mutual respect between people on bikes and people in cars is essential but it needs to be matched with meaningful improvements in infrastructure.

PLANNING PROPOSALS MUST NOT RISK CLIMATE TARGETS

Tue 30 Apr, 2013

Scottish Greens are warning SNP ministers to be careful that proposed new national planning guidelines don't risk Scotland's important carbon reduction and renewable energy targets.

Ministers want to extend the distance between wind farms and communities, and prevent wind farms being built in National Parks and National Scenic Areas.

Proposals also include unproven carbon capture and storage technology, environmentally-damaging airport expansion and fossil fuel generation at Cockenzie and Longannet.

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

NO TO NATO, YES TO THE REFERENDUM

comms Tue 23 Oct, 2012

The government has published analysis of the responses to its consultation on the independence referendum.

This is welcome, as is the deputy first minister's confirmation that her government is seeking legal opinion on the impact on EU membership of a Yes vote. However, it is concerning that she talks of the Edinburgh Agreement providing the context of the process of obtaining independence; it does not.