Get the latest from West Scotland Candidate Ross Greer

Fight for the planet: Greens applaud climate strikers

Fri 24 Sep, 2021

The Scottish Greens have encouraged young people to 'fight like hell for the planet' at today's global climate strike rallies.

Scottish Green MSPs attended strikes across the country, with Maggie Chapman speaking in Edinburgh and Ross Greer in Glasgow. Gillian Mackay attended a protest in East Kilbride, Ariane Burgess in Forres and Mark Ruskell was in St Andrews.

Greens: exam appeals system must not embed inequality

Thu 16 Sep, 2021

The system of appealing exams should not give those at wealthy private schools an unfair advantage, the Scottish Greens have said.

At FMQS Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer raised the issue after exams body the SQA published plans for next year’s assessments, which suggested direct appeals would remain in place if exams were again disrupted by COVID. 

The pre-COVID system of appeals saw schools charged a fee by the SQA if they wished for a pupil’s exam paper to be remarked. This led to private schools appealing grades far more than state schools. 

Polling analysis puts Scottish Greens on record high

Wed 15 Sep, 2021

Analysis of Holyrood polling shows the Scottish Greens on record high popularity following the cooperation agreement with the Scottish Government.

Polling research site Ballot Box Scotland has analysed stats from the Holyrood polling figures in the latest ComRes polling for the Scotsman, which put the Scottish Greens on 13 per cent for the regional list vote.

The analysis suggests this would elect a record 13 Scottish Green MSPs if an election were held today, up from the 8 seats the Greens secured in May.

Schools need clarity to mitigate COVID surge

Wed 8 Sep, 2021

Clearer guidance for schools to manage covid outbreaks may be needed, Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer has said, after reports of widespread absences amongst pupils and school staff across the country and instances of Test & Protect failing to contact pupils who have been in close contact with a positive case.

In her statement, the First Minister acknowledged the role of schools in the rapid spread of the virus, with 9,000 positive cases in the last week and 11,000 in the previous week amongst 15-24 year olds.

Independent Scotland must be free of nuclear weapons

Thu 2 Sep, 2021

Turning the Faslane naval base into a nuclear armed Gunatanamo Bay style British enclave once Scotland becomes independent would be completely unacceptable, Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer has said.

The Financial Times has reported that this is one of the contingencies drawn up by the Ministry of Defence should Scotland become independent.

Ross Greer, Green MSP for the West of Scotland region which includes the Faslane and Coulport facilities, said:

OECD exams report endorses Greens approach

Tue 31 Aug, 2021

A review of Scotland’s s

Green deal will deliver 5000 new teachers

Tue 24 Aug, 2021

The delivery of 5000 new teaching posts as part of the co-operation deal between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government will go a long way to tackling unsustainable teacher workloads, Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has said.

The agreement would go well beyond the SNP’s manifesto commitment of ‘3500 additional teachers and classroom assistants.’

Ross Greer MSP said:

“The commitment to an additional 5,000 teaching posts in this co-operation agreement is a real statement of intent on the part of the Scottish Greens.

Greens call for emergency funds for Afghans

Mon 16 Aug, 2021

The Scottish Government has been urged by the Scottish Greens to use its Humanitarian Emergency Fund to aid Afghans fleeing the Taliban.

The Humanitarian Emergency Fund was established in 2016 to provide effective assistance to reduce the threat to life and wellbeing in emergency situations.

Exam results marred by attainment gap growth

Tue 10 Aug, 2021

The moderation system used to arrive at this year’s exam results has entrenched the attainment gap, the Scottish Greens have said.

Initial results show that the pass rate fell and the attainment gap widened in the second year of the pandemic-hit qualifications system, whilst the proportion of A grades at Higher increased.

Responding, Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer said:

Greens: vaccinate teenage workers

Wed 21 Jul, 2021

The Scottish Greens have called for 16 and 17-year old workers to be offered the vaccine to mitigate against the heightened risk they are being put under as workplaces reopen.

The call follows a letter from the Chief Medical to the JCVI, calling for guidance on vaccinating people over 12 to be reviewed. [1]

Current guidance says under 18s will not be offered the virus, apart from those with pre-existing conditions or who live with vulnerable people.

Commenting, Scottish Greens spokesperson for young people Ross Greer said: