Politicians, experts, trade unions and other organisations give their view on today’s Programme for Government

THE PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT, announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier today, has already provoked much reaction from civic Scotland.

Debate in the Holyrood chamber was led by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, whose warnings against further referendums and constitutional division are by now so familiar that most observers can mouth along with her.

SNP MP questions whether delay in appointing a ‘Recovery Champion’ is due to expert opposition to UK drug policy

FOLLOWING the publication of the latest drug death statistics in Scotland, SNP MP Ronnie Cowan has today (4 July) described the UK Government’s delay in appointing a Recovery Champion for drug abuse as a “disgrace”.

Former Daily Record editor who planned the famous front-page vowing more powers to Scotland says he now backs independence

A BLOW has been dealt to the case for the union as the man behind the “vow” for more devolved powers in the final days of the referendum campaign admits that he now views independence as the only way forward.

Greens urge fellow MSPs to back proposals to overhaul the Council Tax system

MSPS WILL vote on Wednesday 28 March on a motion to scrap Council Tax and convene a cross-party group to establish a ‘fairer’ replacement, put forward by the Scottish Greens.

Greens to put forward motion to ensure Transport Bill reverses decline in bus use

THE SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY will urge MSPs to support a legally-binding target on bus use as part of the Scottish Government’s upcoming Transport Bill.

The motion, which will be put forward for a vote in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, aims to address a decline in bus use, which Green MSPs have linked to falling satisfaction with service provision.

Relative poverty, child poverty and income inequality on the rise, new statistics show

STATISTICS PUBLISHED today by the Scottish Government indicate a continued increase in poverty in Scotland, with a marked rise coinciding with the recession and the introduction of austerity policies.

Around 860,000 people in Scotland each year are living in relative poverty before housing costs, and over one million after housing costs – a fact which campaigners have linked to a lack of affordable housing.

Green co-convener hits out at Labour for failing to offer alternative to Tory Brexit “path to destruction”

SCOTTISH GREENS national co-convener Patrick Harvie used his party conference speech on Saturday to offer harsh criticism of Labour, hitting out at leader Jeremy Corbyn for “blaming foreign workers for low wages”.

Despite recent call for action by Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Government avoids commenting on Scotland’s relationship with the United States under Donald Trump

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its opposition to prejudice and hate crime, saying “they will never be tolerated in Scotland”, but has avoided commenting specifically on the issues raised by Patrick Harvie in his recent call for Scotland to do more in opposing the far right and the administration of Donald Trump.

Green MSP highlights potential dangers of nuclear weapon transportation in Scotland

A CAMPAIGN group has warned that Scotland is totally unprepared for any potential serious accident involving the transportation of nuclear warheads.

Nukewatch UK released a report at the weeknd claiming weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and explosives transported by road pose a serious risk to public safety due to lack of planning by local authorities.

The report was based on data collected by Green MSP Mark Ruskell from autumn 2016 to spring of this year.

Brexit threat justifies giving Scottish people choice, Scottish Greens say (photo above from September 2015 campaigning)

SCOTLAND’S FOURTH MAJOR PARTY, the Scottish Greens, remain committed to a referendum on independence - despite attempts from unionist parties to derail the mandate of the Scottish Parliament. 

Unionist party leaders have continuously called for a future referendum to be blocked, irrespective of the threat Brexit brings to Scotland’s economy and place in the world.