Get the latest from West Scotland Candidate Ross Greer

Scottish Greens call for human rights review of Scottish Government grants

Mon 30 Jan, 2023

Scottish Greens external affairs spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP, has written to the Deputy First Minister to request an urgent review into how public grants are issued and whether this is compatible with the Scottish Government's opposition to trade with Russia. 

Mr Greer, who was sanctioned by the Kremlin last year over his support for Ukraine, has also lodged a Topical Question in Parliament ‘to ask the Scottish Government what action it and its agencies are taking to encourage businesses to boycott trade with Russia?

Action on second homes can start to redress housing inequality

Sat 28 Jan, 2023

A recent increase in a tax known as Additional Dwelling Supplement can help to tackle inequality in housing, address the hoarding of properties by big landlords and reduce the damage caused by holiday homes, say the Scottish Greens.

It comes as Scottish Government statistics confirm that the number of second homes in Scotland increased by 2% (397 homes) from 23,890 to 24,287 in the period between September 2021 and September 2022. There are also 42,865 properties that have been empty for six months or more.

Freeports are mini tax havens, they should have no place in Scotland

Wed 18 Jan, 2023

Freeports are mini tax havens that let big corporations off the hook, risk attracting criminal activity and increase regional inequality, say the Scottish Greens.

This intervention from the Party’s finance spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP, comes ahead of a Scottish Government statement welcoming two new so-called ‘green freeports’ in Scotland.

The cooperation agreement that the Scottish Greens negotiated with the Scottish Government specifically excludes freeports, so all Scottish Green MSPs will continue to oppose them.

Ross Greer said:

Freeports are a failed and dated Tory gimmick

Fri 13 Jan, 2023

Freeports are a failed and dated Tory gimmick that will only benefit the super-rich and major corporations, say the Scottish Greens.

This comes as the UK and Scottish Governments have announced that two new so-called green freeports will be established in Scotland.

Freeports are an excluded area in the cooperation agreement between the Scottish Greens and Scottish Government. This announcement does not affect the agreement. 

The Scottish Greens finance spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP said:

Scottish Government must work with Unions to challenge Amazon corporate greed

Tue 10 Jan, 2023

The Scottish Greens have welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to engage with trade unions such as the GMB to protect Amazon workers in Gourock. This followed an Urgent Question in the Scottish Parliament by Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer about the company’s announcement that it will shut the site.

The Scottish Greens MSP for the West of Scotland, Ross Greer MSP, said:

Independent Scotland could be a beacon for workers rights and environmental justice

Tue 10 Jan, 2023

With the powers of a normal independent country, Scotland can be a beacon for workers rights and environmental justice, say the Scottish Greens. The comments come as the Scottish Parliament debates Scotland’s right to choose its own future.

In today’s debate Ross Greer MSP will say: 

With independence we can do so much more to build a fairer, greener Scotland

Tue 10 Jan, 2023

With the powers of independence we can do so much more to deliver the green, fairer society that Scotland needs, say the Scottish Greens. 

Commenting ahead of today’s parliamentary debate on Scotland’s right to choose its own future, Green MSP Ross Greer said: 

“The people best placed to make decisions about Scotland are the people who live here. Yet, time and again, we have been dictated to by cruel, incompetent and unaccountable Tory governments at Westminster which we did not vote for and have been unable to remove.

Time for Scottish Labour to back Scotland’s right to rejoin Europe

Mon 9 Jan, 2023

It is time for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to support Scotland’s right to rejoin the European Union and stop allowing London to dictate his policy on Brexit, say the Scottish Greens.

Hunt cut to support will be devastating blow to small business & charities

Wed 4 Jan, 2023

The Chancellor's plan to cut energy support will be a devastating blow to small businesses, charities and care homes across Scotland, according to the Scottish Greens.

Scottish Greens hail cancellation of incinerator plan

Thu 22 Dec, 2022

A decision to axe plans for a new incinerator to burn plastic waste for hydrogen in Clydebank is proof that new planning rules are helping deliver Scotland’s climate ambitions, say the Scottish Greens.

Scottish Government Minister for the Circular Economy and Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater announced in June that the government no longer supports the development of new incinerators. 

This decision was reached following an independent review of incineration commissioned by the Minister.