Greens in Holyrood have had some significant successes recently, from giving councils the power to run their own bus services, to topping up child benefit, funding the development of new train stations and lines, and much more. It’s time we had Greens shaking up Fife Council too.Mark Ruskell MSP
Fife Greens have announced their candidates for the Rosyth and Dunfermline Central by-elections, taking place on the 14th November.
Craig McCutcheon will be standing for the Rosyth seat, whilst Fiona McOwan has been selected to stand for Dunfermline Central.
Craig was born and brought up in Rosyth and now lives back in the town with his wife and young daughter. He works in communications for a major local employer, and said that Rosyth can benefit from a Green New Deal for Scotland.
He said, “I’m delighted to have been selected for my home ward of Rosyth. Becoming a father earlier this year was a huge wake up call for me – my daughter will grow up in a climate crisis, and it’s the duty of my generation to take the urgent steps needed to make the world safe for them.
Fife Council has officially recognised the climate emergency, but they now need to act on that. In Rosyth we need to be investing heavily in good public transport links, so people can leave the cars at home and get to work, school or college on low-carbon trains and buses.
The dockyards could also face a vibrant future decommissioning north-sea oil rigs and building low carbon ferries for Scotland and beyond. A Green New Deal for the dockyards would be far more sustainable and better for the planet than relying on contracts for out-of-date war ships.”
Fiona McOwan is a recently retired science teacher originally from Edinburgh, who has lived in West Fife for over 20 years and brought up her family here. She is a local activist, serves on the board of Challenge Breast Cancer Scotland and was recently selected to stand on the regional list for Holyrood in 2021.
She said, “I am so pleased to be selected for Dunfermline Central as this is a ward that needs Green attention. Too many residents and businesses feel let down by unfulfilled promises, warm words with no backing and poor planning decisions.
The town centre and High Street are in need of attention and revitalisation, and our local Dunfermline and the local Green Party are working with other members of the community to support this. This ward would benefit from greater community participation in local decision making and, if elected, I will work hard to support this.
In this area the Green New Deal would bring improved low-carbon public transport, warm housing for all, and an end to vulnerable work patterns.”
Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell gave both candidates his backing, saying “Fiona and Craig are exactly the voices West Fife needs right now. My Green colleagues in Holyrood have had some significant successes recently, from giving councils the power to run their own bus services, to topping up child benefit, funding the development of new train stations and lines, and much more. It’s time we had Greens shaking up Fife Council too.”
Both Craig and Fiona can be contacted on fife@scottishgreens.org.uk, @fife_greens on twitter, or via facebook.com/fifegreen
