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Our Common Future | Our Place in the World

Independence and Scotland's Future

The Scottish Greens believe that independence in Europe would allow us to build a fair and green Scotland. We want to build a truly democratic nation state where everyone is empowered and where all elected representatives are truly answerable to the public. Independence is now our route back to EU membership, delivering Scotland our own seat at the European table and giving us back the right to work, travel and study across Europe. As an independent nation, Scotland would have the powers and potential to be a leader in the transition to a zero-carbon economy, working with the EU, the UN and our partners across the world to lead the change.

Green Impact

Scottish Green achievements in the last 5 years include:

  • Voted in support of a second independence referendum after Brexit
  • Secured Parliamentary support for giving EU nationals and 16-17 year olds a vote in a second independence referendum
  • Green MSP Ross Greer led a successful legal challenge in the high courts that meant the UK Government could have unilaterally revoked Article 50 and cancelled Brexit

AN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM SHOULD BE HELD DURING THE NEXT PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

The legislation covering all aspects of the referendum, including the question and the timing, should be decided by a simple majority of the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Greens will campaign and vote for a referendum within the next Parliamentary term and under the terms of the Referendums Act (2020). We believe that the UK Government’s refusal to respect a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament would not be politically sustainable and could be subject to legal challenge.

BUILD THE CASE FOR INDEPENDENCE

The Scottish Greens played a key role in the 2014 referendum, making the progressive case for independence. We relaunched our Green Yes campaign on the day that Scotland was forced out of the EU without our consent. We will continue to build the Green Yes campaign, reaching and inspiring more people with the Green vision for independence. We consider this to be critical both to winning the next referendum, and to laying the groundwork for an independent nation which is genuinely progressive, compassionate and built on the principles of radical democracy, equality and respect for the planet.

THE SCOTTISH GREENS ARE COMMITTED TO EU MEMBERSHIP FOR SCOTLAND

EU membership has enriched Scotland culturally, socially and economically and given us all invaluable opportunities to travel, work, live and love across the continent. There is no democratic mandate for Brexit in Scotland given we overwhelmingly voted to Remain in the 2016 referendum. The Scottish Greens believe Scotland’s future is best served as a full member of the European Union, collaborating with our European neighbours to build a green, prosperous and fair Europe. We will therefore campaign, with the support of theEuropean Green Party and its many elected representatives, to re-join the EU as an independent nation as soon as possible.

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Manifesto Chapters

Our Economy and Infrastructure

Our Land, Seas and Environment

Our Place in the World

Our Public Services

Our Society