Scottish Greens

Emergency legislation still needed to stop eviction of tenant farmers

Thu 17 Nov, 2016

Andy Wightman MSP, Land Reform spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (17 Nov) challenged Scottish Ministers to act on the need for emergency legislation to stop the eviction of tenant farmers across the country.

A number of farmers face losing their homes, land and businesses due to the Supreme Court ruling in 2013 that elements of the Agricultural Holdings Act 2003 breached landlords' human rights.

Scotland has an opportunity to provide support for Northern Ireland women

Thu 17 Nov, 2016

Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, today (17 Nov) used First Minister's Questions to highlight the plight of women from Northern Ireland who are being denied access to abortion services by the law in Northern Ireland, and are then faced with large financial costs to access services in England & Wales.

During the Smith Commission discussions in 2014 the Scottish Greens successfully argued for powers over abortion to be devolved to Holyrood.

Active Kids report is latest sign we're heading for a public health crisis

Thu 17 Nov, 2016

Alison Johnstone MSP, Health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (17 Nov) called for a physical activity summit after research showed that Scotland's children are some of the least active in the world.

Sad to see others vote against increased funding for fuel poverty

Wed 16 Nov, 2016

Green MSPs tonight (16 Nov) expressed disappointment after Holyrood's other main parties voted against proposals to allocate more than the proposed £125 million per year to eradicate fuel poverty.

An amendment from Andy Wightman MSP, housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, aimed to strengthen Labour's debate motion as it did not call for additional funding. However, SNP, Conservative and Labour MSPs voted it down.

Andy Wightman, housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, said:

Long-term debt held by Scotland's 32 councils is £11.5billion

Wed 16 Nov, 2016

Scottish Green MSPs today (16 Nov) published a report revealing the scale of long-term debt being held by Scotland's 32 local authorities - a total of £11.5billion.

In many cases, councils are spending more than half of the money they bring in from Council Tax simply to pay interest on debts including loans from the UK Treasury and private banks.

The Green MSPs are calling for the debts to be written off, so that local authorities can focus their resources on protecting public services.

Good to see positive ideas coming forward to maintain Scotland's links with EU

Tue 15 Nov, 2016

Ross Greer MSP, External Affairs spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (15 Nov) commented on proposals for Scotland to maintain strong links with Europe after Brexit.

As reported in today's Herald, Scots could be offered tailored passports to allow them to live and work in the European Union if the UK goes ahead with a hard Brexit that ends free movement of people. Experts at the London School of Economics and King’s College London have suggested that a devolved Scotland could issue its own national insurance numbers for Scots to use to apply for jobs in Europe.

Regulators don't have teeth & budget to control fish farm industry

Tue 15 Nov, 2016

Mark Ruskell MSP, Environment spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (15 Nov) challenged the Scottish Government's environmental regulator for relying on data from the fish farming industry that it is trying to regulate.

At the weekend it was reported that the number of fish farms rated as poor by SEPA has risen from 42 to 58.

In evidence to today's meeting of Holyrood's environment committee, SEPA admitted that their budgets have been cut, forcing them to reduce their attention on potential polluters using what they call a risk-based approach.

US election may be legitimate but Trump’s politics are not

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 11 Nov, 2016

It probably goes without saying, but I’d prefer to be writing about almost any subject imaginable today, instead of the election of Donald Trump to the US Presidency.

Legislation needed to stop eviction of tenant farmers

Fri 11 Nov, 2016

Andy Wightman MSP, Land Reform spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (11 Nov) urged the Scottish Government to bring forward emergency legislation to stop the eviction of tenant farmers across the country.

A number of farmers face losing their homes, land and businesses due to the Supreme Court ruling in 2013 that the Agricultural Holdings Act 2003 - which granted tenant farmers the right to stay on their farm in perpetuity - breached landlords' human rights.

Greens urge government to forge climate partnerships with US states

Thu 10 Nov, 2016

The Scottish Government was urged by the Greens today to work with individual US states in a bid to continue the global progress made with the Paris Climate Change agreement.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to “reduce and eliminate” energy and climate change agreements made by the Obama administration.