28 August 2021
The Green Party of England and Wales has expressed delight and excitement at the news that their sister Party, the Scottish Greens, are to enter into a cooperation agreement with the SNP. The arrangement – which will see Partick Harvie and Lorna Slater take up ministerial positions in the new Scottish government – has been confirmed following a substantial vote in favour by Scottish Green members.
Sian Berry, acting leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said:
“This is a hugely exciting moment in British politics. It will be the first time Green politicians have taken a role in government anywhere in any of the UK nations. Just at a time when we urgently need more Greens in power.
“With Patrick Harvie and Lorna Stater both taking on ministerial roles, green priorities and policies on social and economic justice will be at the heart of the new Scottish government. They will be empowered to deliver bold plans on decarbonising transport, homes and buildings, restoring the natural environment, creating a fair deal for tenants, and focusing on equipping people with the green skills they need for jobs in a green economy [1].
“Cooperative arrangements of this nature are common in countries with a fair and proportional electoral system. And despite our unjust and unrepresentative first-past-the-post electoral system at Westminster, Greens are working cross-party at all levels, reflecting a growing appetite for cooperation.”
Notes
[1] The agreement between the Scottish Greens and the SNP will aim to deliver a shared broad policy agenda that will tackle the climate crisis, create thousands of quality jobs and make Scotland fairer. Priorities will include:
- Decarbonising the transport network and investing in active travel and public transport
- Expanding and creating thousands of new jobs in Scotland’s renewable energy industry
- Legislation to grow onshore wind, and a green industrial fund
- Bringing in new protections for nature, including the establishment of at least one new national park
- Providing a new deal for tenants, including a national rent control system and better rights for tenants in the private rented sector
- Bringing forward overdue equalities and land reform legislation
- Preparing a joint bill on a new referendum on independence for Scotland.
Further details: https://greens.scot/news/climate-action-central-to-greens-and-government-deal
Follow this news feed: Green Party