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.

Refugees set to get the right to vote as MSPs back Green proposal

Thu 21 Jun, 2018

Refugees living in Scotland are set to be given the right to vote after MSPs backed a Green proposal for voting to become an “important component of integration into Scottish society”.

When enacted, the amendment from the World Refugee Day debate at Holyrood will see refugees and asylum seekers who are legally resident in Scotland given the ability to vote in all elections and referendums.

The Greens’ commitment to campaigning for independence could not be clearer

Ross Greer MSP Fri 15 Jun, 2018

“For me, independence is about autonomy, allowing Scotland to meet success and failure on its own merit and not point an embittered finger of blame at anyone else”. These aren’t the words of a dyed-in-the-wool independence supporter, but rather a very recent convert who is no longer able to “tolerate a Tory government prepared to treat devolution with blatant contempt”.

You might recognise these welcome and salient words from the brilliant news yesterday that the former Daily Record editor, Murray Foote will back independence the next time we are asked the question.

Harvie puts forward Green alternative to SNP’s growth commission report on independence

Wed 13 Jun, 2018

Independence will provide Scotland with the opportunity to match the “progressive economic, social and environmental policies” of successful similarly-sized countries, contrasting with the decline of post-Brexit Britain, say the Scottish Greens.

However, Patrick Harvie also used the finance and constitution debate at Holyrood to warn that “growth economics”, which he says dominates the economic analysis in the SNP’s Sustainable Growth Commission report, is not sustainable in a “finite world” with a “fragile ecosystem already under extreme pressure”.

NO MORE DELAY! Ross launches petition to redual Milngavie line

Mon 11 Jun, 2018

Green MSP Ross Greer has launched a campaign and petition to redual the rail line between Westerton and Milngavie and to build the long-proposed Allander Station.

Sign the petition here.

Scottish Ministers agree with our call to extend voting franchise to refugees

Wed 23 May, 2018

Scottish Greens external affairs spokesperson Ross Greer MSP today (23 May) welcomed confirmation from Scottish Ministers that they agree with the Greens' call for new powers over who can vote in elections to be used to extend the franchise to refugees and asylum seekers living in Scotland.

Greer takes Deputy FM to task over crisis in Additional Support Needs in schools

Wed 23 May, 2018

Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP today (23 May) took the Deputy First Minister to task over the crisis in Additional Support Needs in schools and the Scottish Government’s evasive response.

Data recently published by Mr Greer shows that since 2010 the number of specialist ASN teachers has fallen from one for every eighteen pupils to one for every fifty-five.

Greer brands Scot Gov fair work scheme a joke in light of jobs cuts at STV

Thu 17 May, 2018

Ross Greer MSP, Culture & Media spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (17 May) branded a Scottish Government scheme aimed at promoting fair work practices a joke in light of the jobs cuts at STV.

The broadcaster is one of 450 signatories to the Scottish Government's Business Pledge scheme, which encourages the living wage, an end to zero hour contracts and creating opportunities for young people.

Scotland can be a thriving, welcoming and internationalist country

Ross Greer MSP Fri 11 May, 2018

If it wasn’t obvious before, these last few weeks have shown just how rotten the UK government and its immigration systems in particular are for those unfortunate enough to experience them.

They have themselves made a far stronger case for devolving immigration & asylum powers to Scotland than we could ourselves, causing untold damage to families, communities and our national economy in the name of Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ policies and obsession with slashing the number of people coming to this country.

Brexit: Lack of customs union clarity embarrassing say Greens

Thu 10 May, 2018

The appearance of two senior UK government ministers at a Holyrood committee today has been called embarrassing by the Scottish Greens.

Ross Greer MSP, the party’s Europe spokesperson, says the evidence provided by David Mundell and Robin Walker shows they still don’t know what the UK’s post-Brexit custom union arrangements will look like and that the government’s indecision risks damaging the peace process in Ireland. Alarmingly, after repeated questioning, they could not confirm when a decision on customs options would be made.

Hunterston reactor cracks: Green MSP wants public to have a say

Thu 3 May, 2018

A Green MSP is challenging the Scottish Government to give the community living near the Hunterston B nuclear power station a say in any decision to extend the plant’s lifetime after reports emerged today that cracks have been discovered in a reactor.

West of Scotland MSP Ross Greer says the lack of public consultation has been unacceptable while highlighting that European law says all ageing nuclear power stations should have an environmental impact assessment comparing their continued operation against alternative sources of energy such as renewables.