Chamberlain: Scottish Greens' record in government is not one to be proud of

Responding to Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay setting out her red lines for an SNP coalition deal, Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain has reminded voters of the Greens’ terrible record in government and urged them to back her party on the peach regional ballot instead.

The 2021 Bute House Agreement that saw the Scottish Greens enter power with the SNP began with bold promises: a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) to cut litter and boost bottle recycling, a Fair Fares Review to encourage public transport use, a new Scottish national park, and enhanced protection for marine areas. These plans did not pan out:

• The DRS, spearheaded by then-Green co-leader Lorna Slater, collapsed before its implementation in the face of spiralling costs and anger among Scottish businesses.

• After tens of millions of pounds was cut from ScotRail’s budget and the Future Transport Fund, the Fair Fares Review ultimately saw key season ticket proposals unaddressed and ferry users in particular left out.

• The proposal for a new national park was abandoned after years of fraught consultation came to nothing.

• The top-down Highly Protected Marine Areas scheme put the government directly at odds with coastal and island communities. It was ultimately scrapped, but only after damaging jobs and investment in the fishing sector and undermining trust in government.

On the Greens’ record, Wendy Chamberlain said:

“Last time the Scottish Greens went into government they were full of big promises, but they proved completely unable to make them work. It was not a record to proud of.

“The plans they spearheaded were legislative disasters that ended up costing businesses and communities dearly. For coastal and island communities in particular, it felt like an all-out assault on their way of life.

“The last SNP-Green government’s record cost taxpayers tens of millions. Another unholy alliance would just do the same.

“Scotland deserves better. Voters should back Scottish Liberal Democrats on their peach regional ballot at this election for change with fairness at its heart.”