Scottish Greens

It’s right that MSPs are consulted before Article 50 is triggered

Tue 8 Nov, 2016

Responding to news that Scotland's Lord Advocate is to argue that the consent of the Scottish Parliament should be sought before Article 50 is triggered, Ross Greer MSP, Europe spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said:

Action needed on housing as figures show rent rises

Tue 8 Nov, 2016

Andy Wightman MSP, Housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (8 Nov) urged action on Scotland's housing crisis after new figures showed that between 2015 and 2016, 17 out of 18 areas of Scotland saw increases in average rent levels.

From 2010 to 2016, Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Aberdeen City and Shire all saw 2 bedroom average rents increase above the rate of inflation.

Lothian has seen the highest increase, with average monthly rents rising by 25.1 per cent over 6 years. Lothian has the highest average monthly rent for a 2 bedroom property at £831.

Continuing rise in people stuck in hospital is deeply concerning

Tue 8 Nov, 2016

Alison Johnstone MSP, Health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (8 Nov) expressed concern as figures showed a continuing increase in the number of people stuck in hospital waiting for social care support.

There were 1,524 people who experience delayed discharge from hospital in September, a rise from 1,472 in August and a rise from 1,258 in September last year.

70 per cent of people experiencing a delay were aged over 75.

Greens call for Scotland games to be shown free on TV

Mon 7 Nov, 2016

A Green MSP is campaigning for all of Scotland’s qualification football matches to be made available to watch on terrestrial television.

Ahead of Scotland’s game against England on Friday (11 Nov), Alison Johnstone MSP is calling for the SFA to sign a deal with a free-to-air broadcaster to allow more fans to watch Scotland attempt to qualify for a major tournament. Matches involving Gordon Strachan’s team are broadcast exclusively on Sky until 2018.

We must prevent police withdrawal from communities

Mon 7 Nov, 2016

John Finnie MSP, Justice spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, has today (7 Nov) written to the Chief Constable after it emerged that dozens of police stations are under threat of closure.

Buildings in 58 locations are being reviewed.

Details have emerged in response to a Freedom of Information request from BBC Scotland.

John Finnie, Justice spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said:

Minority government could mean better dialogue, law & budgets

Patrick Harvie MSP Sat 5 Nov, 2016

Many people in Scotland will be disappointed with the modesty of reforms to the council tax agreed by MSPs this week.

The Scottish Government often talks about how decisions on Scotland’s future would be best taken at the Scottish Parliament rather than at Westminster – and Greens agree.

Greer: Concerns for safety of arrested Turkish MP

Fri 4 Nov, 2016

Green MSP Ross Greer has raised concerns for the safety of a Turkish MP he sponsors after it emerged she was arrested last night.

Level heads prevail over Council Tax

Thu 3 Nov, 2016

Andy Wightman MSP, Local Government spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, welcomed tonight's vote in Parliament which enables changes to Council Tax and saw the Scottish Government forced to accept widespread concerns about their approach to local taxation.

Ministers had attempted to amend Mr Wightman's amendment to the Government motion, in a bid to delete modest criticisms of the Government.

On Council Tax changes, the ball is firmly in the SNP’s court

Thu 3 Nov, 2016

Andy Wightman MSP, Local Government spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (3 Nov) questioned the behaviour of the SNP minority Government for attempting to delete criticism of their plan to adjust rather than scrap Council Tax.

GP practice payments for deprived areas not enough say Greens

Wed 2 Nov, 2016

The difference in payments per head to GP practices in the most and least deprived areas does not do enough to tackle health inequalities says a Green MSP.

Alison Johnstone, health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, believes the difference of £3.97 per person should be considerably more, considering that practices in areas listed as Scotland’s most deprived by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation see significantly more patients than in less deprived areas.