Scottish Greens

Record drug deaths - a public health crisis

John Finnie MSP Mon 1 Apr, 2019

There were 934 drug deaths in Scotland in 2017. This shocking statistic, around eight times the EU average, shows that our current approach to the drugs crisis is not working. By way of comparison, there were 146 road traffic deaths in the same year.

There would understandably be widespread concern if almost one thousand lives were being lost on our roads, yet some appear considerably less concerned about Scotland’s drugs deaths crisis.

FMQs: Johnstone calls for radical action on child poverty

Thu 28 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP this afternoon (28 March) said that radical measures to boost the incomes of poorer Scots households are needed, as Scottish Government figures showed a rise in the estimated number of children living in poverty.

At FMQs Ms Johnstone highlighted the new statistics, which show a rise in estimates the number of Scots children living in Relative Child Poverty, measured after Housing Costs, from 230,000 to 240,000. In percentage terms, this is a 1% increase using 1-year figures (23%-24%).

Parliament fails declares a climate emergency

Wed 27 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Environment and Climate Spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP has expressed his disappointment after the Scottish Parliament failed to declare a climate emergency this evening.

The Greens brought forward a motion noting the need to act in the face of the climate emergency, but every other party in parliament voted it down.

Mark Ruskell MSP said:

“It is hugely disappointing that the Scottish Parliament has failed to face up to the climate emergency.

MSPs issue call to stop Brexit

Wed 27 Mar, 2019

MSPs issue call to stop Brexit

The Scottish Parliament has said that Brexit should be stopped by revoking article 50, if there is not time to hold a People’s Vote with an option to remain in the EU.

The call from Holyrood comes just hours before MPs in Westminster will vote on a range of possible Brexit outcomes in so-called indicative votes.

Greens to declare climate emergency

Wed 27 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Environment and Climate Spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP will today (27 March) lead a debate calling on the Scottish Parliament to declare a climate emergency.

Mr Ruskell will highlight a recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shows that we have just over ten years left to take the bold and urgent action required to keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius, and he’ll praise the work of the young people in Scotland and beyond who have been taking part in school strikes to highlight the issue.

Harvie: Scotland needs Brexit escape

Mon 25 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co Leader Patrick Harvie MSP will bring a vote to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, calling for the UK’s notification under Article 50 of the treaty of the EU to be withdrawn, unless Theresa May secures a longer extension to the Brexit process and organises a people’s vote.

A cross party group of politicians led by Green MSPs Andy Wightman and Ross Greer won a case in the European Court last year, which ruled that the UK could unilaterally withdraw its Article 50 notification at any time prior to its exit from the EU.

Scotland needs the freedom to take a different direction

Patrick Harvie MSP Mon 25 Mar, 2019

This time last week, we woke to horrific news from Christchurch. Since then people have come together to express shared revulsion at the actions of the white supremacist terrorist, and concern for the bereaved and injured in New Zealand. I’ve also been inspired by New Zealand’s wider response – they are recommitting to the values of their inclusive society, refusing to placate the far right, and taking urgent action on gun control.

Progress on land reform has been made but there is much further to go

Andy Wightman MSP Mon 25 Mar, 2019

Land reform is difficult. It involves challenging a range of fiscal, legal, and political issues that are deeply entrenched not only in our law but in the history whereby men who owned land and property had the exclusive right to sit in the Parliament that made the laws governing the ownership of that land.

Additional Needs: Pupil to Teacher Ratio Worst Ever

Fri 22 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has today revealed figures showing that the number of additional support needs teachers has plummeted by 400 since 2010.

This alarming statistic comes at a time when the number of pupils identified as having an additional support need has rocketed by over 130,000 during the period.

When looked at alongside the recently published pupil census these figures reveal that for every 58 ASN pupils there is just one specialist teacher, an increase from one to fifty five in 2017 and one teacher to every 18 pupils in 2010.

Harvie: Scotland must be given a way out of Brexit crisis

Thu 21 Mar, 2019

Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co Leader Patrick Harvie has today (21 March) called on the First Minister to reveal her preferred timing for an independence referendum, in light of the impending Brexit disaster.

In January, the First Minister advised that she would update the people of Scotland in a matter of weeks. Two months later, no announcement has yet been made. In light of the crisis brought about by the Prime Minister, Scotland needs the opportunity to take a different decision.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

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