Scottish Greens

Green proposals will be at the core of Scotland's social security system

Wed 26 Sep, 2018

Scottish Greens social security spokesperson Alison Johnstone today (26 Sep) welcomed a new approach to assessments for disability benefits under Scotland's devolved social security system.

Earlier this year, Alison successfully amended the Social Security Bill to do away with assessments of people’s health or disability in order to claim for a devolved benefit, unless the information cannot be obtained through any other means.

Today the new Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville confirmed that this principle will be at the core of the new system.

Food insecurity must prompt SNP Ministers to think again about top-up of Child Benefit

Tue 25 Sep, 2018

Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone MSP is calling on SNP Ministers to rethink their refusal to top-up Child Benefit and to fully mitigate the Benefit Cap after new research showed almost one-in-ten Scots are worried about running out of food due to lack of money.

For the first time the Scottish Health Survey has asked people about food insecurity.

Lack of money meant 8% of adults worried about running out of food, 7% ate less than they should, and 4% did run out of food.

Safer streets a step nearer as Ruskell publishes member's bill

Mon 24 Sep, 2018

Safer streets are a step nearer after Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell published his member's bill, which aims to lower the speed limit in built-up areas from 30 to 20mph.

The proposal, which enjoys strong public support and received over 2,000 responses in a consultation last year, is backed by a range of health experts, safety campaigners and record-breaking Scots cyclist Mark Beaumont. It is also supported by the leaders of Glasgow and Edinburgh city councils.

Greer welcomes judgement from Court of Session on Article 50 case

Fri 21 Sep, 2018

The Court of Session today issued an opinion in favour of a group of politicians, which means that they can ask the European Court of Justice to rule on whether Article 50 can be revoked, stopping Brexit.

The group includes Scottish Green MSPs Andy Wightman and Ross Greer, Labour MEPs David Martin and Catherine Stihler and SNP MEP Alyn Smith, and was represented by Aidan O’Neill QC and Elaine Motion of Balfour Manson law firm.

Ross Greer MSP, Europe spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said:

Anti-fracking campaigners who exercise their democratic right to protest are heroes

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 21 Sep, 2018

What does a “domestic extremist” look like? Someone wearing a red baseball cap emblazoned with slogans claiming to make their country “great again”? A far-right thug who uses the threat of violence in an attempt to intimidate anyone who looks different from them? Or members of a community peacefully waving home-made placards, campaigning to protect themselves from pollution?

20mph speed limit in built-up areas would save the public up to £40m a year

Thu 20 Sep, 2018

A 20mph speed limit in built-up areas, as proposed by Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, would save the public between £7.8m and £39.9m per year, a new report by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) has estimated.

An analysis of cost savings was carried out by the GCPH adapted from a model used in an equivalent study in Wales.

Greens vote to scrap p1 standardised testing

Wed 19 Sep, 2018

The Standardised Testing of primary one pupils faces an uncertain future after Greens and other opposition parties at Holyrood voted to scrap them.

Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens’ education spokesperson says the Scottish Parliament can now be added to a long list of those calling on the method of testing to be stopped, a list including Scotland’s largest teaching union and education experts.

Plans for public toilets and water fountains backed by MSPs

Wed 19 Sep, 2018

Councils could soon be obliged to consider how the provision of public toilets and water fountains could be improved after a Green MSP’s amendments to the planning bill were backed by a Holyrood committee today.

Greens progress seaweed dredging ban at Holyrood

Tue 18 Sep, 2018

A ban on the dredging of seaweed around Scotland’s coastline has become more likely after a Holyrood committee today voted in favour of a Green MSP’s amendment to the Scottish Crown Estate Bill.

The amendment from Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Greens’ environment spokesperson, will outlaw any form of kelp harvesting which prevents the plant from re-growing, if voted on at Stage 3.

We cannot sweep food ethics under the carpet or consumers will take their money elsewhere

Mark Ruskell MSP Fri 14 Sep, 2018

As Scotland’s annual Food and Drink Fortnight comes to a close this weekend, the past two weeks have left us with plenty of food for thought about how we produce, consume and market our food.

This year’s event has been themed around the future of Scotland’s food and drink industry, but for many we have been given a stark warning about what that future could look like if we fail to take animal welfare concerns seriously.

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