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Daily roundup: Scottish Greens, 11 April

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greens2The Scottish Greens yesterday wrote to BBC and STV setting out the party's objections to the current Liberal Democrat party election broadcast, and insisting it not be shown again in its current form. In the broadcast, Tavish Scott states that "every other party in this election want to close down your local police force", clearly misleading viewers given that the Scottish Greens oppose plans to centralise Scotland's police forces. Patrick Harvie said: "It's a shame to see the Lib Dems lying to the public again so blatantly. We agree with them on the policy they're promoting - it is indeed essential to protect local police services from the other parties' centralisation agenda - but it is simply dishonest to claim that they're the only party putting this policy forward. Greens have been consistent supporters of local services, and I have personally debated this issue with their former justice spokesman, so they cannot claim ignorance. "The public has come to expect spin in election broadcasts, but this outright dishonesty is unacceptable. It's time for the Lib Dems to do the right thing and admit their mistake. There's also no way BBC and STV can let them air this broadcast again unless it's re-edited to set the story straight." Greens welcomed yesterday's BBC poll asking Scots what issues are most important to them in this election, and that the results show strong support for public services and free education, but noted that the poll did not ask how additional funding should be raised. The Scottish Greens are the only Holyrood party campaigning to raise revenue from the better off and from big business. Neither Labour, the SNP nor the Lib Dems are prepared to identify plausible sources of revenue, a position when Greens argue undermines those parties' claims to be able to protect public services.

Want to discuss other issues? Join in the debate on our new Scottish Voices forum

The Greens launched their pledge to insulate every home in Scotland yesterday, on the same day that John Swinney visited a home being fitted with loft insulation, and a day after the Greens released figures showing that the SNP's unambitious and flawed Home Insulation Scheme cost a staggering £1,600 per insulation job done, almost five times more expensive than a universal scheme delivered by Green Councillors in Kirklees, Huddersfield. The Greens also pointed out that it would take more than 200 years to insulate every home in Scotland if it was left to the SNP. The Scottish Greens are instead proposing a £100 million a year universal home insulation scheme, fitting loft and cavity wall insulation on a free-of-charge, area-by-area basis, as well as soft loans for more expensive work on hard-to-insulate homes, repayable only when the property is sold. Scottish Government figures show that the Green scheme could deliver £340 a year savings on heating bills for the average Scottish household. It would also boost jobs in the construction sector and cut Scotland's carbon emissions by more than 6%, making a substantial contribution to the 42% reduction target for 2020. Overall household savings once the scheme was completed would stand at £782 million a year, every year, even assuming no energy price rises. Cllr Alison Johnstone, the Scottish Greens' top candidate for the Lothian region, said: "We're pleased to see the other parties starting to see the importance of insulation, but not one of them are yet proposing either the scale or type of scheme that is required. Insulating every home in Scotland area-by-area, street-by-street, and door-by-door remains the most cost-effective way to cut fuel bills, to tackle climate change and fuel poverty, and to create thousands of new jobs in the construction sector.

Related posts:

  1. Daily roundup: Scottish Greens, 6 April
  2. Daily roundup: Scottish Greens, 5 April
  3. Daily roundup: Scottish Greens, 8 April

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