Scottish Greens aim for 16 MSPs at next Scottish Parliament election

The Scottish Greens are aiming to elect 16 MSPs at the next Scottish Parliament election in 2021.

At the Scottish Greens’ autumn conference in Inverness today, the party’s co-leaders, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, will tell members they can build support in the next 18 months to win two seats in every region in Scotland.

The party will announce the candidates who have been selected to contest each of the regional lists in 2021 at the conference.

They are expected to say that other parties’ focus on long-term targets for emissions reductions without short-term measures to significantly cut Scotland’s carbon footprint shows why more Green MSPs are needed.

They will also point to the influence that the Greens have had on policies, such as income tax system, local government funding, new powers for councils and the smacking ban, with only six MSPs.

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater will say: “Only the Greens understand the climate emergency, know what needs to be done, and are determined enough to deliver transformative change.

“Every one of the 16 candidates we announce today can be elected in 2021.

“And just imagine the hope this could give us.

“The power to take the action needed to save the planet and build a new Scotland.

“Our time is now. In 2021, we can win.

“We can lead the way with a vision for a green and independent Scotland.”

The party will also debate future of social security at the conference.

A motion will be brought on granting immigrants access to Universal Credit, but the party’s social security spokesperson, Alison Johnstone, has said more fundamental reform of Scotland’s social security system is needed to make it fit for purpose.

Johnstone said: “I look forward to debating the social security system at our conference in Inverness.

“Ensuring that all those who make up our communities, including people who have moved here and made Scotland their home, can receive all the support that they require is vital in a humane system and I welcome the proposition before conference this weekend.

“More fundamentally Scotland needs a social security system that meets the needs of everyone in our society.

“A universal basic income would ensure that absolutely everyone received an allowance to meet their basic needs.

“Greens are proud that we’ve been leading the change in the Scottish Parliament by pushing for the introduction of a more progressive income tax system, which sees all those who earn less than the average wage paying less than before, and those who can afford it paying more.

“It’s clear we can go further in this regard, ensuring a fairer taxation regime, funding a fairer social security system.”