Scottish Green party launches 2016 election campaign

The Scottish Greens have launched their election campaign with pledges to create 204,000 new jobs in green industries, improve Scotland’s housing and ban fracking.

Using the slogan ‘Scotland can’, the party centred its Scottish Parliament election campaign on six key policies.

The party promised to push more radical land reform, increase community energy ownership, and change planning rules to give communities the same rights as developers.

RELATED CONTENT

Stop Climate Chaos delivers election demands to Parliament

UK greenhouse gas emissions fell by almost eight per cent in 2014, says DECC

The Greens announced plans for a ‘Carers Wage’ and guarantee a job, training or education for every school-leaver in Scotland.

Green co-convener Patrick Harvie said: “We believe that Scotland can be a better country for everyone who lives here and for a better Scotland, we need a bolder Holyrood.

“We believe that Scotland can unlock the power of our communities to invest in jobs, health and the economy.  We believe that the Scottish Parliament can be so much bolder in meeting the ambitions of the people of Scotland.

He added: “We bring fresh, new, bold ideas to Parliament. We will work constructively with others who share our aims. Holyrood - and Scotland - needs a diverse politics and progressive champions to hold the Scottish Government to account.”

Sarah Beattie-Smith, the south of Scotland Green candidate, said: “We are really excited about the momentum that is already building around our election campaign, and look forward to expanding on our key campaign themes in the coming weeks.

“With our top team of MSP candidates, local co-ordinators, hundreds of branch volunteers and canvassers already active in every region of Scotland, we're determined to get out the vote for a Greener Holyrood.”