Latest news with #GillianMackay
The National
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Greens Holyrood candidate confirms late bid for party leadership
Dominic Ashmole has entered the contest after being selected as a South Scotland regional candidate for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election, according to The Herald. He joins MSPs Gillian Mackay, Ross Greer and Lorna Slater in fighting for the two co-leader posts. The 58-year-old research and development manager placed third on the South Scotland list behind the party's Laura Moodie and former Hamilton by-election candidate Anne McGuinness. He said his goal was to challenge the party to speak more plainly about the difficult times he believes are ahead, and to demand 'emergency action' at Holyrood and in wider society in response to 'the collapse of climate and nature'. READ MORE: Scottish Greens election 'clusterf***' as key member quits in candidate row 'Some people might assume that only MSPs can stand for this role," he said. "But the Scottish Greens have the luxury of two co-leaders, and this can be turned to our advantage. "With my colleague focused on delivering Green policies at Holyrood, I can work directly with the public, with civic society and with our excellent Green councillors, to help accelerate and scale up the change we so urgently need. 'We have a problem with hope. Everyone craves it – voters perhaps demand it. But 'hope' has also become a cynical rallying cry for vested interests and the super-rich." He went on: 'Tragically, the future is not in fact full of hope. 2.5 degrees of heating is expected by 2040, with 4 degrees probable before 2100 – and scientists warn we'll soon cross multiple 'tipping points' that endanger continued life on Earth. "As Greens, we are rightly proud of our achievements in both local and national government. But the brutal truth is that the situation demands bigger and faster change. Rather than selling 'hope', we should be issuing a call to arms. Let's mobilise civic society to mount a grassroots emergency response, and to empower a bolder politics.' Ashmole contested Conservative MP David Mundell's Westminster's constituency, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale, in 2024. He placed sixth with 3.4% of the vote share. (Image: Christian Gamauf) The list of Green Holyrood candidates sparked controversy earlier this week when MSP Maggie Chapman (above) was not included as a lead candidate in the North East region. Instead, she has been replaced by activist Guy Ingerson, who previously lodged a bullying complaint against Chapman. The National previously reported that the complaint alleged that the MSP contacted Ingerson's place of work in October 2024 to suggest that he was "untrustworthy and should be 'watched'". On Tuesday it was revealeda key member had quit their role after an internal row erupted over the candidate list. Kate Joester resigned from her position as internal elections officer on Monday night. Internal messages seen by The National showed members raising concerns about the selection process for some of the lists, with some members demanding a recount. The National understands concerns were also raised around the selection contest between Harvie and Ellie Gomersall – who placed second on the Glasgow list –particularly around the transferring of votes to Gomersall from candidates who were knocked out in previous voting rounds. READ MORE: Daily Express front page piles pressure on Labour to act on Gaza The party had sought to reassure members on Monday evening, as a spokesperson was quoted saying in the media that the party's internal elections officer (IEO) "has confirmed that the process and the methodology used are compliant with our selections procedure, and the lists published are correct". However, shortly after that comment was published, Joester announced she had quit the role and claimed she had no part in the statement. "To clarify regarding the statement in the press on members' concerns about counting irregularities; this did not come from me as Internal Elections Officer, and I am no longer in that post as of this evening", she told members. Joester then shared with members that she resigned from the role because "I hadn't done a good enough job", adding that she had made an error in "not spotting the anomaly in the results spreadsheets when they were initially sent to me". However, she clarified that she did "not know whether there is a problem with the results".
The National
10-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Ross Greer calls for Scotland to pivot towards wealth taxation
The West Scotland MSP launched his bid to head up the party in Glasgow on Thursday where he insisted it was time for Scotland to go beyond progressive income tax policies and go after the super-rich via different means. He highlighted despite efforts put into progressive taxation in Scotland, some of the richest people in the country still do not pay much income tax because of how they arrange their finances. Instead, he argued Scotland needs to look at abolishing the tax breaks some of the country's biggest landowners benefit from. Greer also argued for the idea of an emissions tax on landowners who are polluting the atmosphere but not looking after their property. READ MORE: More than 1.6 million children hit by two-child benefit cap Asked what taxing the super-rich looked like for him with the powers Scotland has, he told journalists: 'One of the first examples is simply ending the tax breaks the super-rich already have under devolution. 'There are Tory MSPs in Parliament who are some of Scotland's biggest landowners who get tax breaks for their shooting estates, tax breaks that are designed for small businesses. 'The government has a quarter of a billion pound business tax break scheme that their own review found no positive benefits from. 'Imagine if we had spent a quarter of a billion pounds on tackling child poverty or tackling the climate emergency instead? I can't think of anyone in Scotland outside the Tory party who thinks some of their MSPs deserve tax breaks for their shooting estates. 'That's money we could be investing in delivering the policies I'm advocating for like universal free bus travel.' Greer is the third Green MSP to throw their hat in the ring for co-leadership of the party alongside Gillian Mackay and Lorna Slater. Party rules state that at least one of the co-leaders must be a woman. Scottish Green members will elect their co-leaders over the summer. (Image: GordonTerris) Patrick Harvie announced he would be stepping back from his duties as co-leader earlier this year. Asked if he would advocate for higher income tax levels for higher earners, Greer said there was room for the tax system to be more progressive, but Scotland needed to pivot towards going after wealth and taxing big polluters. He said: 'There is a little bit more progress we can make on income tax, but what we need to pivot towards now in Scotland is taxing the wealth of those extremely wealthy people, particularly in relation to property. 'Some of the richest people in this country pay very little income tax because that's not how they arrange their finances, that's why we need to look at wealth taxation and also emissions related taxes, we need to tax big polluters. 'Some of the biggest landowners in this country have allowed their land to get into such a state where it's actually omitting huge amounts of pollution into the atmosphere. 'We can tax that both to raise money and to force them to look after their land.' Elsewhere at his campaign launch, Greer tore into a decision by the UK Government to ditch plans for overhauling the energy market. Ed Miliband has abandoned proposals to bring in zonal pricing which would have given Scots cheaper electricity. Zonal pricing splits the country into different zones based on proximity to energy generation, meaning Scots who live close to windfarms would have benefitted enormously. Greer said he would like to see the UK Government take bolder action to ensure people in Scotland pay a fair price for where their electricity is sourced from. He said: 'The easiest thing the UK Government could do right now is separate the price for gas and renewables. 'Gas is one of the most expensive ways to generate energy right now but people's fuel bills – even if they their energy is supplied by renewables – are far higher than they need to be because it's tied to the price of gas. READ MORE: How Scottish Labour MPs voted on disability cuts bill 'If we separate energy prices for gas from prices for renewables, the vast majority of people in Scotland would see an immediate cut in their bills.' Greer also argued public utilities like energy should be in the hands of the public. 'I think it is outrageous we have tens of thousands of people across Scotland who are in extreme fuel poverty despite this being one of the most energy rich countries on earth," he said. 'That is partly because of a total failure of a privatised energy market and because of opportunities that have been missed over the last 40 years. 'What I want to see is all public utilities like energy that are natural monopolies in the hands of the public, not necessarily all through state ownership – though there is a role for government-owned energy production – but there is an opportunity here for local councils and communities. Communities can own their own wind turbines, they can put solar panels on the roof of a school or town hall. 'We have the opportunities in Scotland to secure our own energy independence.'
Daily Record
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Expansion of free school meals to eight local authorities including South Lanarkshire
Pupils in S1 to S3 whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment are now included. Gillian Mackay MSP has expressed pride in having helped secure the expansion of free school meals for more high school pupils in South Lanarkshire From August free school meals will be extended to pupils in S1 to S3 whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment. This pilot programme was secured by Scottish Green MSPs, including Ms Mackay who is based in Lanarkshire, during recent budget negotiations with the Scottish Government. South Lanarkshire was selected as one of eight areas to pilot the expansion, alongside Aberdeen, Glasgow, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Shetland and the Western Isles. Scottish Green MSPs previously helped secure the expansion of universal free school meals to P4 and P5 pupils, as well as the ongoing expansion to P6 and P7 pupils who receive the Scottish Child Payment. The party also recently helped wipe out the school meal debts which had been built up by struggling families across Scotland following the pandemic. Ms Mackay said: 'This will be a huge boost for young people and their families across South Lanarkshire. No child should ever be too hungry to learn, but that is the reality for many pupils across Scotland. "Free school meals make a real difference to young people's health, wellbeing and their ability to focus in the classroom. 'I'm proud that the Scottish Greens secured this recent expansion, building on what we've already done for children in P4 to P7 and our cancellation of school meal debts. 'There is no age limit to hunger, which is why the Scottish Greens will keep working until every pupil from early years right up to S6 in South Lanarkshire receives a free school meal. 'No child should go hungry in a country as rich as ours. By providing thousands more pupils with free school meals, we will tackle child hunger and invest in the future of our young people." *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Daily Record
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Robust rent controls will prevent Lanarkshire residents from paying 'rip-off' prices
'Homes are for living in, not for grotesque profiteering' Lanarkshire MSP Gillian Mackay is pushing for robust rent controls to prevent people being 'ripped off' and left struggling to make ends meet. The Scottish Greens have published plans to end rip-off rents with their proposals for the upcoming Housing (Scotland) Bill, that will save people living in rented accommodation money. Amendments lodged by the Scottish Greens would allow rents to be increased by no more than the cost-of-living or increases in wages. And in areas where rents are already too high, local authorities could put in place lower increases, freezes or rent reductions. Statistics show that average monthly rent for a two-bedroomed privately rented property in North Lanarkshire rose from £488 in 2019 to £672 in 2024, a jump of 38 per cent. And in South Lanarkshire it went up to £714 from £533 in the same time period, a rise of 34 per cent. Rent caps during this time would still have resulted in rents rising but at a significantly lower level. Gillian Mackay MSP said: 'Far too many people in Lanarkshire are being made to pay rip-off rents. It's leaving them with very little left to pay for food, heating and electricity bills, or to simply enjoy their lives. 'All parties agree that we are in a housing emergency, but we need to start acting like it. The proposals we have published will ensure a robust system of rent controls that will support tenants across Lanarkshire and keep rents lower. 'Our proposals would give stability to households and families on the frontline of the crisis, and make sure rents are fairer across the board going forward. 'By tying rents to average earnings, we are establishing an important principle that rents should not rise faster than renters' ability to pay. 'Homes are for living in, not for grotesque profiteering. The Housing Bill was introduced by the Scottish Greens. It gives us the opportunity to transform the broken housing market and protect renters all across our country.'
Fox News
17-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Grandmother arrested at abortion clinic warns of expanding free speech 'buffer zones'
A grandmother in the U.K. who was arrested for holding a sign outside an abortion clinic is sounding the alarm against further attacks on free speech as lawmakers move to expand so-called "buffer zones" outside such facilities. Rose Docherty, 74, was arrested in Glasgow, Scotland near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in February for holding a sign that read: "Coercion is a crime, here to talk if you want." Docherty was the first person to be arrested and charged under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, which went into effect in September, the BBC reported. The law prohibits any protests or vigils from taking place within 200m or 656ft of 30 clinics offering abortion services in Scotland, but the law specifies that the Safe Access Zone could be extended if considered appropriate. Docherty's arrest came just days after Vice President JD Vance highlighted the law as an example of free speech being under attack in the U.K. Now, Gillian Mackay, the Green Party parliamentarian responsible for introducing the buffer zones legislation, has now suggested that the Scottish government consider expanding the area of prohibition on "influence" outside hospitals, according to ADF International, a Christian legal advocacy group. Docherty has rejected a formal warning from the Crown Office - arguing that it was "unjust" - and is waiting to find out what action may now be taken against her. In her first broadcast interview since her arrest, she told the BBC she had "no reason to regret" the incident, noting it was an "alarming" and "surreal" experience. She said she had read the law and believed her actions did not violate the legislation. "I gave consideration to what I was doing…I looked at the law and saw what it said I couldn't do, and thought, OK, well, this is what I can do…I can offer to listen, and if anyone wants to come and speak to me, they can do so, only if they want to come and speak with me," she told BBC's Scotcast. She said she is prepared to go to prison over the offense. Docherty has also said that the government essentially wants to stamp out any opposition to abortion. "I believe it wouldn't matter where we stood…it wouldn't matter how far they pushed the 'buffer zone,'" she told ADF International, a Christian legal advocacy group. "It wouldn't matter where we stood –201 meters, or 500 meters away – it seems the authorities would still try to crack down harshly and unfairly on individuals because the government simply disagree with their point of view. This is unjust – of course, there should be laws against harassment, and we all condemn such behavior. But merely offering conversations near a hospital is not a crime." Dr Greg Irwin, a doctor at the QEUH, was pictured confronting a group of protesters in February 2023, saying that they "cause emotional upset to patients, but also to staff members," per the BBC. Groups have been protesting outside the hospital for 10 years, leading to the passing of the Safe Access Zones Act. Mackay said patients and staff had told her that they still had to pass the protesters when attending the QEUH leading to distress. "I think it's appropriate that we take those concerns seriously and the government take a look at whether an extension is appropriate or not," Mackay told the BBC. The act allows ministers to extend the size of a buffer zone if it is decided that the existing zone is not adequate, a Scottish government spokesperson told the outlet. Docherty isn't the first person to be arrested outside abortion facilities. For instance, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a prominent pro-life activist, was arrested twice in Birmingham for silently praying without any signs near an abortion facility within a buffer zone. She was arrested under a local law known as a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). She was later awarded $13,000 in compensation for wrongful arrests, according to Christian Today. The U.K. has drawn international attention for its alleged clampdown on free speech. A number of people have been investigated and arrested for social media posts.
