Full transcript of Patrick Harvie's election webchat

Published on Monday 18 April 2011 14:51

Patrick Harvie, co-convenor of the Scottish Greens, took part in an online debate on scotsman.com today. Here is a full transcript of the questions asked and the answers he gave.

The next election webchat on scotsman.com is on Friday from noon, with Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray.

Comment From Malcolm Cole:

Straight after the 2007 election you signed an agreement with the SNP. And then you went around saying you were trying to broker a coalition between them and the Liberal Democrats. But ten months later you were standing in the Scottish Parliament Budget debate virtually crying because you had been betrayed by the SNP. How did you get it so wrong?

Patrick Harvey:

I didn't get it wrong. We were being sold a pup b the SNP on their home insulation programme, and we weren't going to fall for it.

Comment From Guest:

The Land Value Tax, how does it work?

Patrick Harvey:

LVT details can be found on our website, but in general it's a straightforward tax on the value of land, not the buildings which stand on it. It creates incentives for sustainable development, and reduces housing costs too.

Comment From Bill Dondaldson:

Why should anyone vote Green when only the SNP will bring Scotland independence?

Patrick Harvey:

Bill, people should vote Green if they support our policies on a wide range of issues, not just the constitution. If you support the roadbuilding programme, new coal fired power stations, and deepwater oil drilling, then the SNP will get your vote.

Comment From John McKay:

What is your target for seats in this election, realistically?

Patrick Harvey:

John, we don't have a straightforward target, but there's no reason why we can't get a seat in each of the eight regions of Scotland... and even two in the Lothians region.

Comment From Niki Brown:

Why would you rather put up taxes than deal with the deficit by cutting back the size of the state? Either option will be difficult, but history has shown that while spending on services will recover, taxes will not go back down. Aren't you going to hammer working families just as much by raising tax?

Patrick Harvey:

Niki, nothing that a devolved Parliament can do will cut back the size of the state. Not that I'd support that anyway. But we can protest public services and the investment which we need for a low-carbon Scotland, if we raise tax from the wealthy. By asking richer people to pay more, and poorer people to pay less, we can close the gap between rich and poor and make a better society, as well as investing in the things we need to lower household bills, like home insulation, public transport, local food networks and so on.

Comment From Jonathan:

You've just promised 940m of spending on affordable housing. And you oppose any cuts anywhere. How are any of your promises affordable? It's easy to be the protest vote isn't it?

Patrick Harvey:

Jonathon, our commitments are costed, and are based on a proposal to raise revenue from the wealthy. We're publishing our manifesto tomorrow, and you can see all the detail then!

Comment From Bill Dondaldson:

So the Greens would sacrifice their position on Independence for a coalition with Labour?

Patrick Harvey:

No Bill, we wouldn't.

Comment From Robert Kelso:

If I used my second vote for Green what are the key differences you would be looking to achieve?

Patrick Harvey:

Robert, our top priorities will be opposing the cuts through fairer taxes, keeping education free to access, and cutting energy bills by insulating every home that needs it, and by things like microrenewables. If you want a government that stands up to the UK cuts, then regardless of who you want as First Minister you need to make sure they're not dependent on the votes of the UK coalition parties.

Comment From Fiona Lochead:

If land is more expensive in city centres, doesn't that punish people who want to live near to where they work to avoid causing pollution through commuting? Why do you plans make it harder for them to afford to live close enough to walk to work?

Patrick Harvey:

A lot of land is more expensive in cities, but this is already reflected in housing costs. The effect of LVT would be to reduce the huge gap in land prices, and also to recoup the uplift in land values which arises from public investment.

Comment From Alasdair M:

Do you support what your Green Party colleagues did in Ireland, voting through the harshest cuts budget in history? That had a disproportionate impact on the poorest people in society - I thought the Greens were supposed to stand up for vulnerable people.

Patrick Harvey:

Alastair, no I didn't support what the Irish Greens did. No more than I could support what the LibDems are doing right now.

Comment From Daniel J:

Councils are already cutting back essential services, my step mother works for a disability charity aided by the council which has seen it's funding halved. Surely it is worth tax increases to protect the most vulnerable?

Patrick Harvey:

Daniel, you're quite right that there are cuts already happening, and people in services which our whole society depends on are facing redundancy. Our society is a better place if we pay for these services collectively, and that's what our manifesto will deliver.

Comment From Dave:

Do you honestly believe Scotland can produce 100% of it's energy needs from renewable sources by 2010 and what is your safety net should this prove unworkable?

Patrick Harvey:

Dave, yes Scotland can meet its electrical need from renewables, and we think it can happen by 2020. We'll need more than just renewable generation though - we'll need more transmission capacity, and more storage on the grid.

In the longer term we need to deal with other energy use too - transport is the tricky one. I'm still concerned that the Government's ambitious plans for rapid uptake of electric cars are unrealistic, so there will still be a need to keep demand management on the agenda.

Comment From Claire:

With Alex Salmond already setting out plans for 100% renewable energy in Scotland, is there any need for a Green Party?

Patrick Harvey:

Claire, Green politics is about far more than renewables. The SNP has backed the roadbuilding programme, back deepwater oil drilling, and backed a narrow GDP-based measure of how the economy is doing. So do all the other parties! Not so long ago they were all over the likes Fred Goodwin like a rash, before he became a pariah.

Comment From Douglas McLellan:

Why do you want to insulate the homes of people like Fred Goodwin for free? There is legislation that can force them to pay to raise their homes to any new required standards.

Patrick Harvey:

Douglas, we'd be taxing the likes of Fred Goodwin far more, so he'd be paying for the cost anyway. But the mass delivery of a door-by-door programme to cut energy use is simply the most efficient way of doing it.

Comment From Gregory Jones:

How will you be celebrating the Royal Wedding?

Patrick Harvey:

Gregory, wedding or no wedding I'll be at the Paisley Beer Festival that night!

Comment From Brian Livingston:

Why is it that when the UK Government does cuts i you say it is "idealogically driven" but when the Irish Greens choose to cut the minimum wage it's suddenly nothing to do with YOU?

Patrick Harvey:

No Brian, I'm not in Ireland and I'm not in the Irish Greens.

Comment From Jonathan:

Don't you think "the wealthy" already pay their fair share through higher rates of income tax? Why should they pay even more?

Patrick Harvey:

Jonathon, no I don't think that very wealthy people pay their fair share of tax in this country. Looking at all taxes across the board, most rich people pay a smaller proportion of their income in tax than some of the poorest people do. The gap between rich and poor has got consistently wider - even in the recession the very wealthiest got richer still.

Comment From Scotsvote2011:

The Greens campaign is based on people voting for the Greens in the regional ballot. you call it '2nd vote Green' So would you recommend green voters support in the constituency ballot?

Patrick Harvey:

Scotsvote, I can't endorse any of the other parties, but if someone supports the Greens and wants to decide how to use their constituency vote, I'd say try to meet the candidates and judge them as people, not just as elements of a party machine.

Comment From Rhona:

Heard you like good beer - what's you favourite Scottish pint and what do Greens have anything different from others to say on supporting local food and drink?

Patrick Harvey:

Rhona, yes I'm a fan of real ale (or craft beer as someone told me to call it yesterday!) and our manifesto will address the need to support small independent producers and retailers. Our local pubs are important businesses and important parts of our community. Too often in the alcohol debate we only focus on the harm done by the booze culture which the big multinationals promote. We forget that we didn't need to hand the alcohol industry over to them in the first place, and we *can* get it back!

Comment From Andrew:

would students be exempt from LVT?

Patrick Harvey:

Andrew, students wouldn't be exempt from LVT but they'd pay less than they do under CT. It would also reduce housing costs quickest in the private rented sector, so they'd certainly be better off than under the current system.

Comment From Anna Robertson:

Do you agree with the idea of a "Robin Hood Tax"

Patrick Harvey:

Anna, yes I was out on the streets yesterday with the Robin Hood Tax campaigners, and the idea is one which should be taken up by Government right away. They, along with UK Uncut and some in the trades union movement have a serious left of centre response to the economic situation, based on building a better economy for the future, not just re-floating the failed free market model. It's depressing that the so-called "mainstream" parties can't seem to do this.

Comment From Tony Lang:

"I'm not in Ireland and I'm not in the Irish Greens." If this is the case then why do you attack the Scottish Liberal Democrats for the votes of MPs in Westminster? Why the double standard?

Patrick Harvey:

Tony, the Scottish Liberal Democrats are *in* the UK Government. They are propping it up, and backing its programme.

Comment From Daniel J:

Social networking sites are dominated by talk from SNP activists of a Green/Labour coalition and how you would rather suck up to Labour. Where did this come from?

Patrick Harvey:

Daniel, I'm sorry to say that this kind of talk is coming from SNP activists only. I get on pretty well with the likes of Swinney, Crawford and Sturgeon, just as I do with some in the Labour Party. But I won't be in anyone's pocket after the election whatever the result is - I will argue clearly and consistently for Green policies. We have a good track record of getting results from Government both while the SNP were in minority, and while the Labour/LibDem coalition had a majority.

Comment From Daniel J:

Am I right in thinking that as opposed to Local Income Tax with LVT we still get council tax benefits from Westminster?

Patrick Harvey:

Daniel, yes LVT would be able to keep the benefit from Westminster, largely because it is property based. Property is an important form of wealth, and it must be kept in the tax system. But LVT would do it far more fairly than Council Tax.

Comment From Daniel J:

Patrick, Students don't pay Council Tax.

Patrick Harvey:

Daniel, Andrew, most students don't live in student-only accommodation, which loses them the exemption.

Comment From Murphy:

Your Land Value Tax doc says it would raise 1bn. Who would be paying this - pensioners and students and single people? Sounds really fair to me.

Patrick Harvey:

LVT would raise more money because it applies to land which is currently untaxed, including empty and derelict sites which are held back from development by landbankers and speculators. The big landowners blocked its introduction way back in the 1909 'People's Budget', the first real attempt to redistribute wealth in this country. It's an idea whose time has come.

Comment From Miriam McInnes:

Your land value tax proposals say that single pensioners "would see LVT bills above the current council tax level". How can the tax be fair if you have to set up a new system to take the money off pensioners when they die?

Patrick Harvey:

Pensioners who live in very big houses would pay more than under CT. So would everyone in very big houses! But they would have the option to defer payment and have the LVT taken from the estate, or from the proceed of the house when they move.

Comment From Fraser Crawford:

Patrick, I was a student sharing with non-students and in private accommodation- students do not pay council tax. I'm pretty flabbergasted you've got this basic point of legislation wrong.

Patrick Harvey:

Fraser, sorry if I'm working on previous rules here - drop me an email and I'll check it out.

Comment From Douglas McLellan:

Can you not separate the benefits LVT offers when it is applied to landowners who use their land for business from people who have low incomes and thus an inability to pay a tax that is not linked to income?

Patrick Harvey:

Douglas, there are lots of taxes which are not linked to income. VAT, for example. In fact income tax was supposed to be temporary when it was first introduced, as it acts as a disincentive to work. Property wealthy is hugely unequal in our society, and it's fair that it is included in the overall tax mix. But under our proposals, people in bands A-E would be better off.

Comment From George Paterson:

If the greens get fewer msps than you did in 2003 will that be a major failure given the current circumstances and your poll results etc?

Patrick Harvey:

George, I'd be very happy with any increase! Running a parliamentary group with just two has been pretty tough.

Comment From Andrew Russell:

How much will rents go up? Your LVT document on your website says that "rents may well increase". But it says that rents are "a function of supply and demand and rents cannot increase to a level where people cannot afford them". Surely this is ultra market forces gone mad? That just means that only rich people can live in city centres.

Patrick Harvey:

Andrew, LVT would help to close to huge gap in land values, and therefore housing prices, between different areas of the country. It would prevent the kind of property bubbles we've seen in recent years and help to make sure that young people can get started in their first home. The issue about rents going up is about whether landlords would add the LVT bill to the rent. Since most tenants currently pay CT, they'd still be better off than at present. There's also good reason to think that not all of the LVT would be added to rents, because landlords still need to offer a rent that people will pay.

Comment From James Cunningham:

Is the Scottish Parliament reaching its green targets.

Patrick Harvey:

James, the long term CO2 targets are set for 2020 and 2050. The annual targets which were set last year are very unambitious, so I'd be very surprised if this year's figures show we're not reaching them. The important thing is to raise the ambition level, and also to start counting consumption-based emissions - those which are associate with the production of good and services we import.

Comment From Gavin:

I'm 25. Are you really going to allow me to defer all LVT payments until I die? Wouldn't this cause a bit of a cash flow problem for the government?

Patrick Harvey:

Gavin, the deferment is for pensioners.

Comment From Alastair:

You'll be getting my second vote (Highlands and Islands): as someone relatively well-off, I can see that the public services I enjoy need better funding and that the amount of tax I'm asked to pay is surprisingly small. Are there any Scottish seats where you might consider standing for the constituency poll in the hope of emulating the excellent Caroline Lucas?

Patrick Harvey:

Alastair, thanks for your support. We're not fielding constituency candidates in this election, since the cost would be some 50k extra, which is no problem for the parties which have the backing of multi-millionaire tax exiles, but it's a big deal for us.

Comment From megz:

do you think there is apossibility of ending up with more msp's than the libdems?

Patrick Harvey:

Megz, one or two polls have shown us ahead of the LibDems, which is exciting. But of course there's no point taking any of that for granted - the important thing is just to keep making our case as well as we can, and there's a lot of work to do!

Comment From George Paterson:

If you got yourred lines agreed with other parties would you consider taking up a ministerial position eg as environment minister? The snp ministers have shown just how much power ministers have without recourse to parliament so couldn't you get more done as environment minister even if you didn't have a large group of green msps?

Patrick Harvey:

George, we've not ruled our a coaltion, though it would need to be approved by our members if we were to consider it. But the other parties seem unwilling to raise any revenue to stop the cuts, so it's hard to see them coming far enough toward our position. However a strong group of Green MSPs would be able to use our influence with a minority government, just as we have done with only 2.

Whoever people want as First Minister, anyone who's against the Tory agenda from London should make sure they use their second vote to make sure that the new government isn't dependent on the votes of the Tories and LibDems.

Comment From Nat:

You said you got "sold a pup" by the SNP on insulation, so what has your party actually achieved in the last four years?

Patrick Harvey:

Nat, the increased activity on home energy use is welcome, but it's nowhere near what we need to see. We'll keep making the case for the national programme we were pushing for.

But over the last four years we've achieved new legislation on hate crime, we've had aviation subsidies scrapped, and negotiated spending commitments on the Climate Challenge Fund, marine renewables, public transport and more!

Comment From Kenny Chapman:

Your Land Value Tax document says that "there will be some properties where the level of LVT will be three, four or even five times the existing Council Tax. Who will face these crippling increases?

Patrick Harvey:

Kenny, it will be the very wealthy who pay more. We think that's as it should be.

Comment From Douglas McLellan:

If a homeowner becomes unemployed they can apply for Council Tax Benefit. What happens to their LVT bill?

Patrick Harvey:

Douglas, since LVT is still property based we wouldn't lose Council Tax benefit. This is one of the big advantages over LIT.

Comment From James Cunningham:

Hi Patrick I pass the Scottish Parliament each night. Lights seem to be left burning in most rooms constantly.Who is responsible for this and it must be costing a fortune.Talking about 9pm 10 pm 11pm sometimes later.

Patrick Harvey:

James, yes we've pressed the Corporate Body (which runs the parliamentary estate) repeatedly on this. It's a ridiculous situation!

Comment From Billy Broxburn:

You lost most of your seats last time even though you said you would make gains. And Robin Harper is standing down. Isn't he the only recognisable face you have?

Patrick Harvey:

Billy, Robin is still with us and helping our on the campaign with his usual enthusiasm! But I don't think politics is all about recognisable faces - it's about the policies and the direction the country is going in.

Before the crash all the others were gung-ho for the deregulated, free market model, where the bankers are hedge fund managers were king. The attempt to re-float this failed model needs to be opposed, and this is far more important than the recognition value of a face... or even a scarf.

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