Budget: Greens are negotiating for people and planet
The Scottish Greens will continue to negotiate for a budget that truly delivers for people and planet, says the party’s finance spokesperson Ross Greer MSP.
Mr Greer’s comments come as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar confirmed that Labour MSPs will abstain on the budget vote. This is despite Labour making no attempt to negotiate with the Scottish Government to improve the spending package, in contrast to efforts by the Scottish Greens which have already resulted in significant funding for climate action, for local services including schools, and for affordable housing.
Mr Greer said:
“The Scottish Greens have spent months negotiating to improve this budget, to increase action on the climate emergency and to lift more children out of poverty. In contrast, Labour MSPs have thrown in the towel without even trying to secure any improvements.
“Green MSPs will continue to engage with the Scottish Government to make the budget as progressive as possible. We are building on a strong record of previous Green achievements, including free bus travel for young people, free school meals for all P4 & P5 pupils and establishing Scotland’s first Nature Restoration Fund.
“More can still be done to tackle child poverty in particular, which is why we have called for the SNP to accept Green proposals to provide more children with free school meals and to cap the price of a bus ticket at £2.”