For a just and welcoming Scotland in the heart of Europe, vote Green

Maggie Chapman Mon 29 Apr, 2019

In 2014 Scotland had a vote. No, not that one. Before the independence referendum came the European election. It feels like a lifetime ago. And unlike in 2014, next month’s European elections have a much higher profile. In just under a month’s time, Scots will go to the polls to vote for representation in the European Parliament. It is vital that we have voices who can represent the internationalist, welcoming country that Scotland aspires to be.

Spring Conference Speech

Maggie Chapman Sat 6 Apr, 2019

Good morning friends, and welcome to our Spring Conference, exactly 699 years to the day of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, and just short of 40 years since Thatcher became Prime Minister. I’ll say a bit more about these two historical markers later, but I can assure you I’m still working on detoxifying the name “Maggie” in Scottish politics.

Social isolation is everywhere in society: we need a society-wide response

Maggie Chapman Fri 21 Dec, 2018

The festive season often gives cause to reminisce about the past: happier times, sadder times, younger times. And it has become a seasonal ritual to consider those less fortunate, those for whom this is a difficult time, those who are alone.

Social isolation and loneliness are on the increase. And, according to research from three continents, loneliness is as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Lonely people are will have poorer mental and physical health and are 50% more likely to die prematurely than those with healthy social relationships.

We need a Scottish immigration policy based on our humanitarian & welcoming culture

Maggie Chapman Fri 28 Sep, 2018

Immigration has been central to the politics of the EU Referendum.

People in most political parties supporting the Leave campaign got involved in immigrant bashing. People in most political parties on the remain side talked about “controls on immigration”. We had vans being driven round our cities telling immigrants to “go home”.

Scotland transformed: how we can overcome Brexit

Maggie Chapman Fri 6 Jul, 2018

Sunshine, blue skies, soaring temperatures, Scottish Parliament recess: summer is well and truly here! And we go into the summer with Scottish politics in what appears to be a steady state of turmoil. This turmoil is largely caused by the UK Government and its total inability to deal with the Brexit that it has caused. But Scotland can use its engaged, transformed and progressive public sphere to overcome this turmoil.

How Brexit and Scottish Independence interact: Maggie Chapman's speech to the Radical Independence conference

Maggie Chapman Mon 12 Mar, 2018

Good morning everyone, and thank you very much for inviting me to speak this morning – it’s great to be at another RIC conference, with so many folk eager to discuss how we can build ourselves a better country – one that is equal, peace-making, outward looking, welcoming and just for all.

Scottish Greens - the Quest

Maggie Chapman Sat 21 Oct, 2017

Good afternoon friends.

It really is so good to be here with you all, after quite a year. And it is great to be speaking after Kim and the others who have been so inspiring in their local campaigning. It is good to be reminded that more Council chambers than ever before have Green voices in them.

Women and the redefining of power and politics

Maggie Chapman Wed 8 Mar, 2017

It is usual, on International Women’s Day, to reflect on the achievements and successes of women, on the victories of past campaigners, on the importance of equality and on just how far we have come. Yes, it is important to do all of these things. But it is also important to do more than this. IWD gives us the opportunity to foreground the kind of future we want for our daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters, and indeed for our sons, grandsons, great grandsons, and descendants of neither binary gender.

If they can do a deal for the City of London, they can do a deal for Scotland

Maggie Chapman Tue 7 Feb, 2017

Transcript of speech from 7 Feb 2017

Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for braving the wintry weather and coming along this afternoon to make your voices heard! I am Maggie Chapman, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, and I am pleased to see so many of you here.

We know that 62% of Scots voted to remain in the European Union. We know that many who voted to leave did so on the basis of staying in the single market. We know that many others who voted to leave now wished they had not.

Maggie Chapman: "We are citizens of the world."

Maggie Chapman Sat 22 Oct, 2016

This is the text of my speech to Scottish Greens Conference 2016, Saturday 22nd October. I had the honour of sharing the stage with two great green women: Ska Keller, and Anni Pues.

Good morning friends.