Scottish independence ‘for fairer, greener Scotland’

Environmentally friendly Scots have been urged to vote Yes for a “fairer and greener” future.
Green leader Patrick Harvie. Picture: Jane BarlowGreen leader Patrick Harvie. Picture: Jane Barlow
Green leader Patrick Harvie. Picture: Jane Barlow

The Green party has been a key member of the Yes Scotland campaign and its supporters are being urged to “inspire” undecided voters with the prospect of a more sustainable country after independence.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone said yesterday: “The Scottish Greens will be using the final 100 days to reach out to everyone concerned about a fairer and greener future, making the case that Scotland can achieve far more with a Yes vote.

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“We know though that not all of our supporters are convinced about independence yet, and many are rightly just as critical of the SNP as they are of the parties campaigning for No.

“This isn’t a choice between utopia and disaster, it’s simply a chance to take responsibility for ourselves. We believe it’s an opportunity we can’t afford to miss.”

The Greens launched their pro-independence campaign last November and have since set out proposals for a fairer economy after independence, as well as digital rights, local democracy and banking.

But the party warned at the time it has a “very different mindset” to the SNP’s vision for Scotland. Among other things which diverge from SNP thinking, co-leader Patrick Harvie backs a separate Scottish currency as a “Plan B” to keeping the pound, with Greens also wanting to block North Sea oil and gas extraction and ditch the Queen as head of state.

People should be given a “citizens’ income”, guaranteeing a wage for everyone regardless of what they do, under the Greens plans. Although no figure is contained in the document, it could be up to £15,000.

A policy document to accompany the launch stated that the SNP government’s forthcoming white paper on independence will be the “starting point” for the transition after a Yes vote.

But it warns: “They [the SNP] must recognise that as yet they have no mandate for their policies in reserved areas.

“They should not lock Scotland into their preferred policies.”

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