Scottish Greens on verge of historic result, says Gillian Mackay

The Scottish Greens are standing on the verge of an “historic result” in the forthcoming Holyrood election, the co-leader of the party has said.

Speaking at the launch of the party’s campaign in Edinburgh on Thursday morning, Gillian MacKay said “bold solutions” are needed to tackle problems like the rising cost of living and climate change.

She said her party’s policies will help deliver a “fairer, kinder and more equal Scotland”, which “works for everyone and where everyone is given a fair chance to live a better life”.

These include, she said: a fair wage for care workers; a national rollout of mental health support centres; curbs on how much land any individual or company can buy; and “the biggest expansion of free childcare for a generation”.

“There are more than 10,150 of us, to be exact, with more people joining us every day from all parts of our country,” she said.

“In every community across Scotland, there are people who are planning to vote Green for the very first time.

“That is why we stand on the verge of what could be a historic result and a major breakthrough for our movement.”

She added: “If you want a fairer, greener and better Scotland, if you want green policies that will save you money and tackle the climate emergency, if you want to keep Reform’s politics of hate out of Scotland’s Parliament, then you have to vote for it,” she said.

“Join us in demanding better by voting for the Scottish greens on May 7.”

Her co-leader, Ross Greer, described the forthcoming election as “a choice between a failed status quo, between the forces of hate and the forces of hope”.

“We are the movement that brings hope back to Scottish politics,” he said.

He said the 220,000 people who voted for the party at the last Holyrood election had helped deliver Green policies including free bus travel for young people, and the reintroduction of rent controls into law for the first time in 40 years.

“That was the power of voting Green. That’s what we were able to deliver,” he said.

“Green policies have saved families a fortune, tackled the climate emergency and made this country a fairer place.”

He said if his party is elected it would expand on these by introducing universal free bus travel, leaving no stone unturned in the fight against climate change, and “fairly taxing the super rich”.

“We know that Scotland is a country of incredible opportunities, but we are not able to realise them, because we are also an incredibly unequal country,” he said.

“The top 2% have more wealth than half of the population combined.

“But that’s not inevitable. We can do something about that.

“Greens proved that time and again when we increased taxes on the super rich to fund the public services that everyone else needs.”

He added: “We have the solutions, and we have a plan to deliver them.

“This is a critical moment for Scotland. It’s a critical moment for our planet. So our message is simple to voters across the country.

“If you share the Scottish Greens’ vision, if you believe like us that this can be a better, a fairer, a kinder and a greener country, join our movement today.

“We have 35 days to demand better for Scotland. 35 days to change this country for the better and to change this country for good.”