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.

Green budget deal: Immediate boost & long-terms reforms to protect local services

Thu 31 Jan, 2019

The Scottish Greens this afternoon (31 Jan) confirmed agreement has been reached with Scottish Ministers on a significant package of immediate budget changes and bold long-terms reforms to boost the funding of local council services such as schools and social care.

Ahead of tonight's Stage One vote on the Budget, ministers are promising that in return for Green support they will amend their spending plans. Compared with the plans set out in the SNP’s budget in December, local councils will have access to a package worth over £200million to spend as they see fit.

Greens cannot support budget due to SNP stubbornness on council funding

Sun 27 Jan, 2019

Patrick Harvie MSP today (27 Jan) warned that as things stand the Green group of MSPs cannot support the government’s proposed budget at the Stage One vote in Parliament on Thursday (31 Jan), due to SNP Ministers’ “stubbornness” on council funding.

Over the last two years, constructive pressure from the Scottish Greens has resulted in the government cancelling over £300million of planned cuts to council budgets. The 2019/20 budget contains fresh proposed cuts, with councils across Scotland warning of dire consequences.

With bolder action on climate change, Scotland can lead the way & inspire others

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 25 Jan, 2019

The world’s “elite” gathered in Davos this week for the World Economic Forum, with environmental challenges, including a failure to mitigate climate change at the top of their list of dangers facing the global economy.

Without a hint of irony politicians, economists and an assortment of other very rich people arrived at the Swiss ski resort carried by a flock of about 1,500 private jets.

Harvie: Timetable for independence vote essential, even if Article 50 extended

Thu 17 Jan, 2019

Scottish Greens co-convenor Patrick Harvie MSP has said that a timetable for a Scottish independence vote is now essential, even if the Prime Minister agrees to extend the Article 50 deadline.

Harvie used his slot at FMQs today (17 Jan 2019) to restate the Greens’ support for a People’s Vote to remain in the EU, as well as backing the First Minister’s pledge to say more on the timing of an independence vote in the coming weeks.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

Escalating Brexit crisis shows Scotland needs option of independence in EU

Wed 16 Jan, 2019

The escalating Brexit crisis shows the need for Scotland to be given the option of becoming an independent member of the EU, according to Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP.

Speaking in Holyrood this afternoon in response to last night's Commons defeat of the Prime Minister's Brexit deal, Mr Harvie said:

We need to be united in our resolve never to let the far right become normalised

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 11 Jan, 2019

Back in 2016, few people could have predicted quite how chaotic the Brexit crisis would become.

But it’s not only a crisis in parliamentary debating chambers and government institutions. The toxic values which have been cultivated and unleashed by the Brexit cause have been spilling out in far more public ways, and this week many people began to take notice.

Vulnerable children to suffer unless SNP cuts to council budgets prevented

Thu 10 Jan, 2019

Many of Scotland’s most vulnerable children are set to suffer unless the SNP’s proposed cuts to council budgets are prevented, according to Scottish Green MSPs.

It is past time for action on Council Tax

Patrick Harvie MSP Fri 14 Dec, 2018

Derek Mackay has unveiled his tax and spending plans for next year. For a minority Government, that’s only half the story. He must now find a way of securing the consent of at least one other party for the budget to pass at Holyrood.

Harvie accuses Scot Gov of ‘sleight of hand to conceal council cuts’

Thu 13 Dec, 2018

Patrick Harvie has accused Derek Mackay of ‘sleight of hand to conceal council cuts’, warning at FMQs today (13 December) that the Scottish Greens will not enter budget negotiations unless the Government gives councils the tax powers they need.

Harvie criticises SNP Ministers over Budget inaction on local tax reform

Wed 12 Dec, 2018

Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP today (12 Dec) criticised SNP Ministers for failing to use the publication of the draft 2019-20 Scottish Budget to act on the need for local tax reform and the climate crisis.

The Greens have been making the case for meaningful progress on the local tax reform agenda, to enable councils to raise more funds in a fair way to protect local services. The party has set out specific proposals on Council Tax, non-domestic rates and new ideas to broaden the local tax base.

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