Patrick Harvie MSP

Glasgow

Finance, Economy, Fair Work, Equalities

Patrick is Co-Convenor of the Scottish Green Party and has been an MSP since 2003. He is a member of Holyrood's Finance and Standards committees.

In previous sessions of Parliament he served on the Economy, Communities and Transport committees. He has been involved in a range of issues, from asylum and civil liberties to sexual health and food policy, and was a prominent campaigner for Yes during the independence referendum.

In the last session of Parliament he led the Better Buses public transport campaign, the Rent Rights housing campaign (resulting in rent controls being included in legislation) and he took forward Margo MacDonald’s Assisted Suicide Bill. He lives in Glasgow and is a big fan of craft ale.

FMQs: Keep Scottish Youth Theatre open says Harvie

Thu 8 Mar, 2018

Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens’ co-convener, challenged the First Minister to ensure that the world renowned Scottish Youth Theatre does not close.

Harvie highlighted how the 40 year old theatre group was unable to secure vital funding from Creative Scotland and is therefore set to close in July, even though it plays a role in developing some of Scotland’s best known talent, including Gerard Butler and Karen Gillan.

Harvie pledges amendments to EU Continuity Bill to ensure democratic oversight, safeguard the environment

Wed 7 Mar, 2018

Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, today (7 Mar) pledged that his party will bring forward amendments to the Scottish Government's EU Continuity Bill to ensure democratic oversight, safeguard the environment and maintain high standards of animal welfare.

Ahead of this afternoon's Stage One debate and vote on the principles of the Bill, Mr Harvie revealed that the Scottish Greens are looking to lodge amendments to:

Harvie: Continuity Bill a necessary response to Brexit crisis

Thu 1 Mar, 2018

Green co-convener Patrick Harvie today reconfirmed his party’s support for the Scottish Parliament to create an EU Continuity Bill, calling it an “emergency response, to an emergency situation”.

Without it, Harvie says the UK government would be in a position to enforce its EU Withdrawal Bill on the Scottish Parliament, even though it currently lacks the support of Greens, or any party at Holyrood.

Our MSPs welcome Continuity Bill designed to maintain European standards in areas of devolved responsibility

Tue 27 Feb, 2018

Scottish Green MSPs today (27 Feb) welcomed the introduction to Parliament of a Continuity Bill designed to maintain European standards in areas of devolved responsibility such as agriculture, environment, justice and health, rather than allowing the UK Government to "assault" the devolution settlement with its EU Withdrawal Bill.

Scottish Greens Co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP said:

Scotland can’t remain one of the world's climate leaders if we stand still

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 23 Feb, 2018

“If the world follows the lead of Scotland and makes its claim with these long-term targets and the rallying of business and civic and political leaders, then it's clear which direction we're going.” These are the words of former US vice president Al Gore, whose sobering documentary An Inconvenient Truth laid bare the harsh realities of our changing climate and the impacts on the planet if we don’t take urgent action.

Green budget deals have stemmed local austerity; it's time to empower a fairer system of local taxation

Wed 21 Feb, 2018

With the Scottish Parliament expected tonight (5.15pm, 21 Feb) to approve the Green budget deal, which delivers an extra £170million for local council services, Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP has published a letter he has written to the First Minister, arguing for a step change in local government funding.

Cuts to councils more than reversed as Green MSPs prepare to pass the Budget Bill

Wed 21 Feb, 2018

A raft of proposed cuts to councils in Scotland, totalling £157m, will be “more than reversed” today (21 Feb) says Patrick Harvie, as Green MSPs prepare to vote to pass the Budget Bill.

The Stage 3 debate at Holyrood will see parliament approve the Greens’ deal for an extra £170m for council services and for a fairer system of Income Tax.

Fairer system of Income Tax shows Green influence

Tue 20 Feb, 2018

On the UN’s World Day of Social Justice (20 Feb) and ahead of tonight's vote in parliament to set a fairer system of Income Tax, Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP pointed to analysis showing his party's influence means most Scots (56 per cent) will pay less tax in the coming year, while the richest ten per cent of households will pay more.

It’s time to free up local communities to make their own democratic choices

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 9 Feb, 2018

The polarisation of Scotland’s politics is often frustrating. Some people blame the independence movement for that, but I often notice that some of the people who portray the cause of independence as divisive are the same ones who stubbornly refuse to see beyond that dividing line. The recent antics of Labour, Conservatives and the LibDems passing up every chance for proper engagement in the budget process was a case in point.

Harvie challenges FM to take responsibility for publicly-owned Prestwick airport over US military use

Thu 8 Feb, 2018

Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, today (8 Feb) challenged the First Minister to take responsibility for publicly-owned Prestwick airport after it emerged that it is being used by the US military to service active military operations.

An investigation by the Guardian has found that in 2015 Transport Scotland officials lobbied ministers to meet US Air Force commanders and the Trump Organisation to promote Prestwick, yet in 2016 the First Minister told Patrick Harvie that the government had had no discussions on the relationship between the airport and Trump.

Patrick Harvie MSP Back to greens.scot

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