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Greens seek to boost life quality Greens seek to increase MSP tally
(about 14 hours later)
The Scottish Greens will launch their Holyrood election manifesto, claiming that lower carbon emissions could boost the economy and quality of life. The Scottish Greens said they hoped to return 10 or more MSPs to the Scottish Parliament after the election.
The party said it believed Scotland's natural assets of wind, wave and tidal energy meant it was ideally placed to benefit from a low-carbon economy. The party launched its Holyrood election manifesto, saying climate change was a key election issue.
The Greens also pledged £100m to support local schemes designed to cut emissions and boost local economies. The Greens said they would not rule out co-operation with any other party under a system of "stable minority government" in the next parliament.
But they said they would refuse to get round the table with any parties which backed new nuclear power stations.
The party's election campaign slogan, "For a Better Scotland - first vote Green", aims to attract the top list vote in the election.
The Greens, which had seven MSPs in the last parliament, also moved to show they were serious election contenders by claiming backing them was not protest vote but a "progress vote".
We intend to campaign throughout the election on the massive economic opportunities that are ready to be taken across Scotland Shiona BairdScottish Greens co-convener Have your say on the Greens manifesto
They said Scotland's natural assets of wind, wave and tidal energy meant it was ideally placed to benefit from a low-carbon economy.
Among their key policies was a £100m pledge to support local schemes designed to cut emissions and boost local economies and generating 100% of electricity generated from renewable energy by 2050.
It would also bring in legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions and bring in a pollution tax.
Non-environmental policies included integrating state-funded religious schools into nondenominational education, although party co-leader Robin Harper denied it was a move to "abolish" Catholic education.
Other pledges included replacing council tax and uniform business rates with a Land Value Tax, boosting the student nurse bursary to £10,000 and raising the minimum age for buying tobacco to the age of 18.
Co-convener Shiona Baird said her party put the environment first.Co-convener Shiona Baird said her party put the environment first.
"Moving to a low carbon economy is not just good for the planet, it's also good for jobs," she said."Moving to a low carbon economy is not just good for the planet, it's also good for jobs," she said.
READ THE MANIFESTO Scottish Greens manifesto [2.84 MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
"We intend to campaign throughout the election on the massive economic opportunities that are ready to be taken across Scotland."We intend to campaign throughout the election on the massive economic opportunities that are ready to be taken across Scotland.
"We have a history of success in both heavy engineering and high tech industries and both will have a crucial role to play, especially in the development of renewables.""We have a history of success in both heavy engineering and high tech industries and both will have a crucial role to play, especially in the development of renewables."
Although the Greens have not ruled out being in coalition government, they have favoured a system of "confidence and supply", where they would back a first minister and a budget, while dealing with other issues on a case-by-case basis.