The chance to push the Government beyond its safe comfort zone
A bolder Scottish Parliament with more Green voices is needed to push the Scottish Government "beyond its comfort zone", Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP will say today (Saturday) in his keynote speech at the party's pre-election conference in Edinburgh.
The Scottish Greens have been polling strongly on the regional vote, suggesting Green MSPs will be elected across the 8 parliamentary regions in May. The party's membership has surged since the independence referendum to over 9,000. In public polling Patrick Harvie is rated the most popular of the Holyrood opposition leaders.
In his speech, Mr Harvie will highlight the party's lead MSP candidates for the 8 regions, who all have a strong track record both inside and outside of parliament.
He will argue that the SNP and other parties are helping make the Greens' case for the clear and constructive opposition his party already provides on issues ranging from the Council Tax and fracking to housing and new devolved powers.
Speaking exactly two months before the election, Patrick is expected to say:
"We’ve been telling voters that a better Scotland needs a bolder Holyrood, but nobody’s been making that case more clearly for us than the SNP. Ahead in the polls and with nine years’ experience in government, they still seem set to make only the most timid of changes to the local tax system. They need to be pushed.
"Labour and the Lib Dems aren’t doing much better – how can we leave it to them to hold the SNP to account on an issue like fracking, when they seem to swap policies on it by the week? Holyrood needs better, bolder, more coherent opposition than that.
"Greens know that Scotland can be better, but we need a bolder Holyrood to make that happen. With Green MSPs representing every region of the country, we’ll have the chance to push the Government beyond its safe comfort zone, and win progressive change for Scotland."
The Scottish Greens' Spring Conference, at Paterson's Land in Edinburgh this Saturday and Sunday, will also hear from leading MSP candidates about their priorities, will feature workshops and fringe events for members, and will host a discussion on Europe.
Scottish Greens Spring Conference brochure
Scottish Green MSP candidates for 2016