Contact us T +32 (0)2 626 07 20 | info@europeangreens.eu

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Flickr

Donate

  • Login to your account
  • User account
  • About Us
    • Organisation
    • People
    • Networks and Working Groups
    • Guidelines
  • Our Positions
    • Positions
    • Resolutions
    • Policy Papers
    • Manifesto
  • Get involved
    • Climate Action
    • European Green Recovery Campaign
    • Green Talking Heads
    • European Ideas Lab
    • The Green Screen
    • Local Councillors' Network
    • Trans-Inclusive Feminist Campaign
  • Member Parties
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Brand Assets
    • Communications Team
  • Events
Home
  • About Us
  • Our Positions
  • Get involved
  • Member Parties
  • News
  • Events

Share
Share on FacebookShare on Twittershare on Linked Inshare on Google Plusshare via email

The world’s eyes are firmly fixed on Scotland, with less than a week to go until the country votes in a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom. The referendum asks, “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Voters aged 16 upwards will answer the question next Thursday, 18 September. The Scottish Greens have called for a Yes.


The debate is one of the most emotional to take place in recent history in Scotland and across the UK, with the very definition of what it means to be Scottish and what it means to be British at its heart. While the question of identity occupies a lot of column inches, practical matters such as what currency an independent Scotland would use, what portion of the British national debt would belong to Scotland, what should be done with Scotland’s oil revenues, where would the UK’s current Trident nuclear arsenal be housed (currently, it’s the Firth of Clyde on Scotland’s west coast) – all are crucial matters for discussion.

The Greens are one of two major parties in Scotland who are backing a Yes vote. The Scottish Nationalist Party, who’s leader Alex Salmond is one of the Yes campaign’s figureheads, have campaigned with a strongly nationalist message that puts anti-British sentiment front-and-centre.

Patrick Harvie, Co-Convenor of the Greens, rejects the nationalism argument. “This debate shoudn’t be about whether Scotland has done better or worse as part of the United Kingdom. It’s not about this narrow definition of nationalism that is a reaction to the UK. Let’s look at what Scotland can be. This is a question about Green politics for us. We think the best way to achieve a Green Scotland is if decisions are made in Edinburgh, rather than London. But it’s not about us versus them. Scotland and Britain can both benefit from this.”

The Greens are the front of what is being called the Radical Yes campaign. “An independent Scotland doesn’t have to follow the plan set out in the SNP’s White Paper [a document produced by Salmond’s party on their vision and expectation for Scotland’s future]. A lot of what’s being talked about is business usual. We can do better than that - Scotland can be a leader in renewable energy. We can put equality at the centre of a new constitution. We can have a truly democratic country where decision making is devolved to communities.”

The Green Yes campaign directly addresses the issues put forward by the No campaign. Instead of keeping the British pound, they want to develop a Scottish currency. Instead of worrying about how long Scotland might rely on oil revenues, they want to make investment in wind and tidal energy a priority. “There’s no reason Scotland can’t be self-sustaining in terms of renewables. And, we may very well be in a position that we can sell energy back to Britain. An independent Scotland could have a real impact on how all of us look at our energy needs.”

Not all Scottish Greens are behind the Yes vote, which is something Harvie doesn’t see as an issue. “I was at a debate the other evening on behalf of the Yes campaign, while one of my party colleagues was speaking for the No side. Both sides of the debate within the party have been very respectful, as we all know that we’re out for what’s best for Scotland.”

The Green Party of England and Wales are also firmly in support of a Yes vote. “Someone said to me the other day, wouldn’t a Yes vote cause a constitutional crisis in the rest of the UK?” said party leader Natalie Bennett. “Yes, I replied! Wouldn’t that be great! The unwritten constitution hasn’t faced any major changes since women got the vote. It’s high time that we looked at it again, and a Yes vote would give us the opportunity.”

When asked about why the GPEW support the Yes campaign, Bennet is clear. “It’s not just about Green solidarity. We firmly support the right to self determination. Political decisions need to be made at the right level. This, to us, is at the heart of the question of Scottish independence.”

Whatever the result, it’s clear that the political landscape in Scotland and the UK will drastically chance on Thursday. The Greens hope to be at the centre of this new reality.


Recent News

Icon:
Title:

The end of Roe vs. Wade in the US must push us to defend abortion rights in Europe

Post date:
30 June 2022
Body:

European Greens Co-Chair Mélanie Vogel (France), and Committee Members Mina Jack Tolu (Malta) and Malgorzata Tracz (Poland) speak out on the current state of abortion rights in Europe. Access to safe, legal and free abortion must be guaranteed across Europe and abroad to create a more humane world for all and protect those most marginalised!

Icon:
Title:

Dritan Abazović, the First Green Prime Minister of Montenegro: ‘Nothing is impossible!’

Post date:
23 June 2022
Body:

Dritan Abazović, president of our member party URA and Prime Minister of Montenegro since April 2022, is driving huge changes in a small Balkan country. URA was established in 2015 and represents all ethnicities and stands for a European, ecological and democratic Montenegro. Abazović's plans for Montenegro include ridding the country of corruption and pursuing a pro-European agenda.

Icon:
Title:

The European Greens welcome new candidate member parties Hållbart Initiativ and Progresīvie

Post date:
17 June 2022
Body:

Åland's Sustainable Initiative (Hållbart Initiativ) and Latvia's the Progressives (Progresīvie) have been accepted as our newest candidate member parties by delegates at the 35th European Green Party Council in Riga, Latvia. We are proud to welcome them into our Green family and to interview them to discuss their priorities in their respective countries.

More News

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Flickr
Tweet Contents:

RT @GreensEFA: #NotMyTaxonomy

"The world is watching us.

If Europe, who is pretending to lead the world on #climateaction, is to label a…

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
39 min ago
Tweet Contents:

RT @GreensEFA: Our vice-presidents @TerryReintke and @jordisolef present our priorities for the week:

✋ stopping #Taxonomy proposal
💻 Digi…

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
40 min ago
Tweet Contents:

RT @GreensEFA: ⚠️EU's addiction to gas from Russia is funding #Putin’s war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian MP @InnaSovsun calls on MEPs to vote agai…

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
41 min ago

Sign up to our newsletter

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Fill in the blank.

Take charge of your future. Donate Green.

Chip in today to help us build a Greener Europe!

Donate

  • Organisation
    • About
    • History
    • Councils
    • Congresses
    • Finance Advisory Board
    • Amendments Committee
    • Conciliation Panel
  • People
    • Committee
    • Team
    • Vacancies
    • Traineeships
  • Networks and Working Groups
    • Networks
      • Balkan
      • Gender
      • tilt!
      • Queer
      • Local Councillors
      • Seniors
    • Working Groups
      • Foreign and Security Policy
      • Future of Europe
      • Trade
  • Guidelines
    • Charter
    • Statutes
    • Rulebook
    • Finances
    • Privacy Policy
  • Our Positions
    • Positions
    • Resolutions
    • Policy Papers
    • Manifesto
  • Member Parties
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Brand Assets
    • Communications Team
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • The Green Screen
    • Climate Action for the People and the Planet
    • Trans-Inclusive Feminist Campaign
    • European Green Recovery Campaign
  • Donate
Home

Rue du Taciturne 34

B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

T +32 (0) 2 626 07 20

info@europeangreens.eu

© European Greens - With the financial support of the European Parliament. Sole liability remains with the author.

cookies