‘WILL you be doing any deals or standing aside for other candidates?”
It’s a question that Scottish Greens are asked all the time.
It only ever seems to be our party that gets it. In fact, it took the BBC less than five minutes to ask it in a radio interview only yesterday.
Our answer will always be the same. No. We are a national political party and we stand in elections. We want as many people as possible to have the opportunity to vote for Scottish Green candidates and for Scottish Green values.
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How could we do otherwise? We’re at a historic tipping point for our country and our climate. This is exactly the time for the Green movement to be shouting from the rooftops, not standing aside.
We desperately need to be rid of this terrible Tory government. But what we replace it with matters. I don’t have any confidence in Keir Starmer’s Labour Party to deliver the change that is necessary, and
I doubt many National readers will either.
Our climate has to be at the heart of the election. Extreme weather events are becoming even more common, and our communities are paying the price. We saw that in the terrible wildfires that have hit our Highlands and the flooding that forced people from their homes in Angus. We can’t let that be our future.
The next five years will be utterly critical to our planet and our survival. This is our last chance to save our nature and climate from the Tories, to put an end to their planet-wrecking policies and to protect future generations from the harm being inflicted upon them.
Yet, for all the progress we have made in Scotland, most of the powers that we need to act lie with Westminster.
It is only Westminster that can halt the drive for fossil fuels and only Westminster that can ensure the scale of Green investment that is so necessary.
That is why we need to make sure that every single party and every single candidate is asked to explain what climate action they will take.
I know from experience that all too often if the Scottish Greens aren’t in the room, then these issues simply don’t get discussed.
Whether it is in a local hustings, in a media debate, in our parliament or even in government, it is Scottish Green voices who are putting our climate on the agenda and leading the call for change.
When there aren’t Green voices around the table, a lot of the most important questions simply don’t get asked.
I see it in our parliament all the time. When it comes to our environment, there is often a cosy consensus that sees MSPs from across the chamber in a lockstep refusal to do things differently.
It is the MPs we elect on July 4 who will have to lead on our shift from fossil fuels to renewable and a fair and just transition for our communities.
Yet there is no other party proposing to take the action that is necessary.
The Tories have committed to doubling down on oil and gas by drilling even more of our North Sea. Meanwhile, Labour have scrapped their flagship £28 billion renewables programme and refused to cancel a single licence.
The SNP have gone back to their old habits of trying to face both ways, with caveats replacing the certainty that was in place only a few months ago when the Scottish Government took a position of presumption against new oil and gas licences.
We can’t afford a climate climbdown. If we want to see green solutions and green change, then we need as many votes as possible for Green candidates.
I joined the Scottish Greens in the aftermath of the 2014 referendum. I did it because I had been inspired by the campaign, and I wanted to be part of building the next chapter in our journey.
At that point, I worked in the renewables industry. I worked with talented teams all across Scotland. I loved what I did, but I knew how much more we could do if we had a government that was prepared to support our industry.
I could see that it was only with the powers of independence that we could make the changes that would best protect our planet.
All of these frustrations were hugely amplified in my time as a Scottish Government minister.
It felt like every day we were finding new limitations to
devolution and more hurdles and barriers. Whether it is the inadequate powers that come with devolution or the increasingly brutal financial constraints we were being forced to work within.
Independence is much bigger than any party or any politician.
If we are to build the strongest possible independence movement then it will need voices and
visions from across the political spectrum. The Scottish Greens are committed to providing the radical pro-planet voice.
Over the weeks ahead, I will be travelling the country and campaigning with Scottish Green candidates and activists.
We will be working for every vote and sending the strongest message we can for our climate.
There won’t be any pacts or deals. We are offering a bold, positive and unique voice that is more important and more necessary than ever.
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We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
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The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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