Ross Greer MSP

West of Scotland

External Affairs, Education & Skills, Culture & Media

Ross was Communities Co-ordinator at Yes Scotland, helping to develop the movement for independence. He is a member of Holyrood's European and Education committees. Ross is an active community campaigner on issues ranging from school closures to supermarket expansion and opportunities for young people. Upon election in May 2016 at the age of 21, Ross became the youngest MSP in the history of the Scottish Parliament. He was formerly a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Clydebank & MIilngavie constituency and led on the successful campaign to give 16 & 17 year olds the vote in the independence referendum.

Greer calls for urgent statement on Education stats

Fri 21 Feb, 2020

The Education Secretary must make an urgent statement to Parliament and answer questions from MSPs following his department’s shambolic handling of a report on the 2019 exam results, which was eventually published late last night, says Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP.

Ross Greer MSP said:

“Publishing this report at 8pm on a Thursday night, after MSPs have returned to their constituencies, is a blatant attempt to avoid scrutiny.

Scottish Greens response to Tory immigration plans

Wed 19 Feb, 2020

Ross Greer MSP said:

“The racist immigration plans outlined by the UK Government today are appalling and will simply devastate the Scottish economy. Immigrants enrich our communities, they are our friends and neighbours, they staff our public services, and keep sectors like tourism and agriculture going. Yet again the Tories seem to have chosen a policy almost tailor-made to damage Scotland.”

SQA move quickly on human rights checks after Green concerns

Thu 23 Jan, 2020

Scotland’s exams body has moved quickly to clean up its overseas business after pressure from the Scottish Greens, it has emerged.

At the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee, the SQA confirmed a new system of human rights checks and appraisals would be in place from April. [1]

This comes after Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer repeatedly raised the agency’s relationship with government departments in Saudi Arabia.

Scottish Greens back curriculum review

Thu 16 Jan, 2020

Scottish Greens have welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s call for a review of both phases of Curriculum for Excellence.

MSPs voted for a review of the whole curriculum, defeating the SNP amendment to restrict the review to only the senior phase.

The national curriculum must be judged on whether it has fulfilled its original aims, the party’s education spokesperson Ross Greer has said.

Commenting, Ross Greer said:

Bombs factory funded by Scottish Government

Fri 6 Dec, 2019

A factory to make munitions has been partly funded by the Scottish Government through its agency Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Greens have revealed. This is despite the First Minister’s repeated insistence that the Scottish Government ‘does not fund the manufacture of munitions’.

FOIs by the Scottish Greens revealed that in 2009, Chemring Energetics successfully applied for Scottish Enterprise funding to invest in site expansion to, in their own words, “take advantage of market moves that have resulted in gaps in the manufacture of explosives".

UCU strike reveals SNP poor record on industrial relations

Wed 27 Nov, 2019

The Scottish Government’s response to the UCU strike has revealed its poor record at industrial relations, the Scottish Greens have said.

Scottish Green education spokesperson Ross Greer today called on universities minister Richard Lochhead to respond to the strikes, who described them as “unwelcome”.

Scottish Greens welcome NUS Scotland manifesto

Thu 7 Nov, 2019

The Scottish Greens have welcomed the NUS Scotland ‘When Students Lead’ manifesto for the general election.

Commenting on its publication, Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer said: Whether through their climate activism or opposition to Brexit young people are leading the debate in Scotland, and the NUS manifesto is a clear example of that.

“Cut your losses and jog on”: Greer tells Flamingo Land

Thu 7 Nov, 2019

Green MSP Ross Greer led a debate in Parliament this Tuesday in which he called for Flamingo Land to give way to a community buyout. The motion he proposed celebrated the success of Save Loch Lomond. The community campaign, working with the Green MSP, forced a series of setbacks for Flamingo Land, resulting in their application, lodged jointly with Scottish Enterprise, being withdrawn just a week before it was widely expected to be rejected.

Government haven’t brought an education debate in two years

Thu 7 Nov, 2019

The Scottish Government haven’t brought forward an education debate in over two years, despite claims that it is the First Minister’s ‘defining mission’, according to the Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP.

Mr Greer raised the matter at First Minister’s Questions today, asking whether there would be a debate before the end of the year, a question the First Minister failed to directly answer. This follows a similar refusal to answer from the Education Secretary during an opposition-led debate yesterday.

Ross Greer MSP said:

Greer to bring Loch Lomond debate to Holyrood

Tue 29 Oct, 2019

Green MSP Ross Greer is to lead a debate in the Scottish Parliament next week on the future of Balloch & Loch Lomond following the withdrawal of Flamingo Land’s controversial resort plans.

The members debate is scheduled for Tuesday 5^th November at 5pm and will allow MSPs to discuss a range of issues related to the Flamingo Land plans, the Save Loch Lomond campaign, the expressions of interest in a community buyouts and alternative ideas for the land in question. The debate will end with a response from a Scottish Government minister.