Scottish Greens

We challenge other parties to be bold on environment & say Climate Bill should include target of zero emissions by 2040

Wed 16 Aug, 2017

Scottish Green MSPs today (17 August) challenged Holyrood's four other parties to be bold on the environment by proposing that the forthcoming Climate Bill includes a target of zero emissions by 2040.

Current targets under the 2009 Climate Act are for greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by 80 per cent by 2050. The Scottish Government proposes increasing this to 90 per cent but does not propose bringing forward the target date, despite the urgency of the situation.

Post-Brexit customs arrangement 'contradictory' and ‘embarrassing’ say Greens

Tue 15 Aug, 2017

The UK government’s proposed “new customs arrangement” announced today has come under fire from the Scottish Greens, with an MSP for the party calling the plans “contradictory to the point of being embarrassing”.

Ross Greer MSP, the Greens’ external affairs spokesperson also says the plan would leave the UK with a relationship with the EU that’s “weaker” than what Turkey currently has. The European Commission has already confirmed that the proposals are impossible, stating that “frictionless trade is not possible outside of the Single Market and customs union”.

Rail fare rise unacceptable say Greens

Tue 15 Aug, 2017

It’s too soon to ask rail passengers to pay a fare rise say the Scottish Greens, especially for a ScotRail service that “rarely impresses”.

Green MSP John Finnie says the increase in regulated rail fares from January 2018 announced today is another example of why privatised railways are “an enormous failed experiment”.

John Finnie MSP, the Scottish Greens’ transport spokesperson, said:

Animal welfare standards better in England say Scottish Greens

Fri 11 Aug, 2017

A Green MSP has slammed the Scottish Government’s commitment to animal welfare after the UK government introduced an abattoir policy rejected by Holyrood ministers in June.

We need to take action to regulate short-term let market

Andy Wightman MSP Fri 11 Aug, 2017

This week, I was fortunate to catch-up on a film, which celebrates the life of one of America’s greatest urbanists, Jane Jacobs. In a similar vein to Sir Patrick Geddes, Jacobs’ revolutionised how we think about cities as living organisms. Moreover, her pioneering spirit and acute observations brought together policy and practice and it got me thinking about how we manage cities in Scotland.

We need to have zero tolerance for those who discriminate

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 4 Aug, 2017

Much has been made this summer of the 50^th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act, which began to partially decriminalise same-sex relationships. Those caveats are important of course: the Act didn’t apply in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or indeed to a great many people beyond a precisely defined exemption from prosecution.

Short-term lets in ten million pounds a year tax break

Fri 4 Aug, 2017

New analysis by Andy Wightman MSP shows that as visitors descend on Edinburgh for festival season, £10.6million of taxes are being avoided this year due to the boom in private homes being let out as holiday accommodation.

Win for Ross Greer MSP over Arms Dealing Lessons

Wed 2 Aug, 2017

After pressure from Ross Greer, Education Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education, John Swinney have agreed that a lesson plan which involves pupils role-playing as arms dealers is inappropriate for use in Scottish schools. This lesson plan involved a Dragon’s Den style scenario where pupils would compete as arms dealers to sell weapons during World War I, coming up with battle plans and justifying the ‘effectiveness’ of their weapons, including bayonets and flame-throwers.

Green MSP wants answers on Ajax hooligans decision

Mon 31 Jul, 2017

A Green MSP is seeking answers from the Scottish Government as to why visiting Dutch football fans, accused of attacking supporters and vandalising pubs prior to a match in Glasgow in 2015, will not be prosecuted.

John Finnie MSP, the Scottish Greens’ justice spokesperson, has lodged a number of parliamentary questions to find out why the decision was taken not to charge suspected Ajax supporters accused of rampaging down the Gallowgate area of Glasgow prior to a Europa League match with Celtic two years ago.

Indefensible that we are still allowed to assault our children

John Finnie MSP Fri 28 Jul, 2017

"There are some things where Scotland is doing very, very well and there are some things that are absolutely shocking, where Scotland is coming last in the world. We still in Scotland say that it's okay for a parent or carer to assault a child for the purpose of physical punishment. I think it really goes against the basic values that we hold in Scotland in terms of human dignity and respect for children.”

These recent comments by Bruce Adamson, Scotland's new children's commissioner, underline the need to revisit our outdated attitude towards smacking.

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