Tag: Scottish Greens

Holyrood budget: Greens pledge to protect public services

A publication by the Accounts Commission, showing the extent of the financial stress faced by councils, serves as a wakeup call to the finance secretary say the Greens. Local government spokesperson for the Scottish Greens Andy Wightman says the report’s findings make it difficult for Derek Mackay to dismiss key Green demands for the forthcoming draft budget that include protecting public services and a real terms pay rise.

Continue reading Holyrood budget: Greens pledge to protect public services

Homes First: Wightman launches campaign to control short-term lets

Andy Wightman MSP, Housing spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, has today launched his “Homes First” campaign to control the rapid and unregulated growth of short-term lets, where owners of residential properties offer them as holiday accommodation. Continue reading Homes First: Wightman launches campaign to control short-term lets

Harvie: Greens ‘leading the change’ in Scotland

“A vision of what’s possible”

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Patrick Harvie MSP will tell his party’s autumn conference today that Greens are ‘leading the change’ in Scotland, with other parties playing ‘catch up’ in proposing policies for a fairer and greener country. Continue reading Harvie: Greens ‘leading the change’ in Scotland

Gazumped! Green concerns over Sick Kids sell-off

Green MSP Alison Johnstone used yesterday’s First Minister’s Questions to highlight the “gazumping” of one of Scotland’s first major urban community buy-outs, the Sick Kids Hospital site at Sciennes. Green councillor Claire Miller also raised the issue of the Sick Kids sell-off during yesterday’s full council meeting. Continue reading Gazumped! Green concerns over Sick Kids sell-off

Green report shows taxing derelict land could help tackle housing crisis

A new report by Andy Wightman MSP, Housing and Land Reform spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, shows that giving local councils the power to tax the 20,000 football pitches’ worth of vacant and derelict land in Scotland could generate £200 million a year to build affordable homes and tackle the housing crisis. Continue reading Green report shows taxing derelict land could help tackle housing crisis

Affordable homes boost but Greens offer radical alternative

The number of affordable homes approved over the year to the end June 2017 has increased by 30% on the previous year, bringing the total number of approvals over the year to 10,612. The government says the figures show good progress but the Scottish Greens will put forward their own plans to improve housing stock in a Holyrood debate later today. Continue reading Affordable homes boost but Greens offer radical alternative

Greens reveal extent of benefit cap carnage

GREEN REPORT: EXTENT OF HOUSEHOLDS HIT BY BENEFIT CAP REVEALED

The City of Edinburgh Council area has seen a rise of 302% in the number of households being affected by the UK government’s new benefit cap, new analysis by the Scottish Greens has revealed. Continue reading Greens reveal extent of benefit cap carnage

More children on antidepressants: Greens comment

Alison Johnstone MSP, Health & Children spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, has responded to figures showing four times as many children under 13 were prescribed antidepressants last year as just seven years ago. The figures, obtained by BBC Scotland, show that last year 252 children aged 12 and under were given antidepressants while in 2009/10 it was 57. Continue reading More children on antidepressants: Greens comment