General election manifesto: Scottish Greens plan to tackle inequality and climate emergency

Based on the party’s ‘Green New Deal’, the manifesto proposes an accelerated transition to a zero-carbon economy which it claims could create up to 200,000 jobs

The Scottish Greens have published their general election manifesto, pledging to launch a sweeping programme to reduce inequality and tackle the climate emergency.

Based on the party’s ‘Green New Deal’ approach, the manifesto proposes an accelerated transition to a zero-carbon economy which it claims could create up to 200,000 jobs.

This would involve policies such as a government-funded support scheme for the renewables sector, the nationalisation of public transport and energy companies and changing the way city deals are delivered to make them more climate focused.

The party, who are contesting 22 seats across Scotland, also says it wants to introduce a four-day working week and to enforce a pay ratio ensuring CEOs never earn more than ten times what their average employee earn.

The manifesto makes clear the Greens’ support for remaining in the EU and for holding a Scottish independence referendum before the end of any Brexit transition period in 2021.

Writing in the manifesto introduction, co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvey described the general election as occurring at a time of “unprecedented threats to our democracy, our environment and our future.”

They wrote: “We face a government, a Prime Minister and a Brexit, none of which were backed in Scotland. The Scottish Green Party will stand up against those in Westminster who want to deny the right of people living in Scotland to decide our own future.”

In addition to climate and economy related reforms, the Greens also say they would overhaul the electoral process to make it more representative, by introducing the proportional representation voting system and lowering the voting age to 16.

The party also suggest treating drug use as a health issue, rather than a criminal one.

Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater said:  “Our Scottish Green New Deal reports have revealed the urgent action the Scottish Government could do now to tackle the climate emergency, to secure thousands of jobs, an integrated public transport system and warm homes for all.

“But with the powers held by Westminster, we could do so much more. This election is an opportunity to push for a written constitution and citizen’s assemblies, but as an independent European country, Scotland could be an agile leader in the global effort to tackle the climate emergency.”

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “Other parties have made commitments to address this crisis in their manifestos, but their actions do not match their words. Labour, for example, have already dropped their 2030 net-zero promise and have recently opened a coal mine in Cumbria.

“The Liberal Democrats talk about giving councils new powers to lower emissions, just a month after they voted against exactly that in Holyrood.

“Meanwhile, the SNP are claiming leadership on this issue while taking money from the oil and aviation giants.

“The clearest way to demand climate action in this election is to vote Scottish Green on December 12.”