Zack Polanski in Scotland a ‘real boost to campaign’, Scottish Greens say

The Scottish Greens have said that having Zack Polanski in Scotland will be “a real boost to our campaign”.

The leader of the Green Party is expected to visit Scotland this week ahead of the Holyrood elections on May 7.

Scottish Green Party co-leader Ross Greer said Mr Polanski has set out a vision of the UK that can be “fairer and greener”.

Mr Greer said: “It’s going to be brilliant having Zack on the campaign trail here in Scotland. He has really taken Green politics to the next level across the UK.

“I think so many people enjoy seeing a party leader who knows what they stand for, who’s willing to stand up to the super-rich and powerful, who’s willing to take on the nonsense that other parties keep spouting in defence of these very powerful people who’ve caused so much damage.

“Zack has very effectively articulated a vision of a UK that can be fairer, that can be greener, that can be kinder, where we stand up for our neighbours, where we reject division.

“We saw in the Manchester by-election what happens when that vision of hope and solidarity across communities goes up against the kind of hate and division that Reform are spouting.

“Labour were left behind in a distant third place, but the Greens comfortably beat Reform in that by-election, having Zack up here is going to give us a real boost to our campaign as we enter the final two-week stretch.”

Mr Greer made the comments while visiting a reuse centre in Stirling where the Scottish Greens have pledged to introduce a repair voucher scheme.

The scheme would allow people to get a discount on repairing household goods at participating manufacturers and retailers.

The party’s scheme would include a requirement on some product manufacturers to take back used products, such as mattresses and textiles, at the end of their life.

Mr Greer said: “Everybody has the same experience of goods that we’ve bought, usually electronic goods breaking, and us finding that actually it’s more expensive to get them repaired than to replace them completely.

“The Greens are proposing a repair voucher scheme for Scotland, like the voucher scheme that operates in parts of London, where you would be able to get a discount on getting the goods repaired, so you don’t have to keep buying new stuff.”

He continued: “This is also really good for the businesses who would get involved as well, because it increases trade for them.

“People are more likely to shop at a business that they know they can go back to and get something fixed if the product breaks.

“It’s a win, win for businesses. It helps people save money and it helps them keep using the products they’ve already been using, so it reduces the impact on the environment.”