SCOTTISH GREENS HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Scottish Green Party candidates and activists have a full diary of local events over the coming week as the general election campaign goes into its final three weeks, including the launch of the party's manifesto on Tuesday in Edinburgh. Greens will be using the party's successes at Holyrood and in local government to make the case for Scotland to send its first Green MPs to Westminster. The campaign will continue to highlight the need for a fairer and more sustainable economy, and for a cleanup of Westminster politics.
Robin Harper MSP, the party's candidate for Edinburgh East, said:
"Across the country, our candidates are talking to voters in their constituencies and visiting organisations and businesses to highlight the importance of Green votes in delivering a fairer, greener Scotland. Our MSPs and councillors have already shown that elected Greens make a real difference and this election offers us a real opportunity to extend that influence to Westminster. There's a lot of unhappiness with the political establishment at the moment. A lot of people who are considering changing their vote this time have not yet decided who to vote for instead.
"To all those who want change, the Scottish Green Party's message is: 'So do we - and if you find yourself agreeing with the policies we are putting forward during this election, please give us your support on 6th May'."
Media diary to 24th April: if you would like more information or contact for any of these events please contact the press office.
Sunday 18th April
Edinburgh Filmhouse, 'Take One Action' will be hosting the new film from the distributors behind The Age of Stupid & Burma VJ: 'Dirty Oil'. Edinburgh South West candidate Clare Cooney will be speaking about the Scottish Green Party's international development policy, and Cree Tribal elders will talk about Britain's climate impact on the first nations.
Robin Harper (Edinburgh East) will attend a hustings organised by a local churches' association at the Kings' Hall.
Monday 19th April:
Patrick Harvie MSP will be joining Stirling candidate Mark Ruskell in visiting local businesses and initiatives that have taken a proactive approach to tackling climate change. The tour will start at RENSUS, a solar panel installation company, at 10:15am, and will also include a visit to Sustainable Dunblane, which has recently been given over £19,000 by the Climate Challenge Fund. (2)
Patrick Harvie will also be heading to East Kilbride to join local candidate Kirsten Robb for a public meeting focusing on a stable economy and cleaning up politics from 8pm till 9pm at the Murray Owen Centre. East Kilbride's current MP, Adam Ingram, will be retiring this year, and the local Labour party has been mired in controversy over his second jobs and allegations of interference in the planning system.
In Dumfriesshire, local Greens will be campaigning against an existing incinerator in Collin, on the edge of Dumfries.
In the Highlands, candidate Eleanor Scott will be doing the Skye and Lochalsh Churches hustings at the Kyle of Lochalsh Hotel, 7.30pm.
Tuesday 20th April:
Scottish Green Party Manifesto launch, 9:30am sharp at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street, Edinburgh.
Alis Ballance, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale candidate, will be doing a local launch of the manifesto, including her commitment to give back 20% of her MP salary to green causes if elected.
Moira Crawford (Glasgow North West) and Kirsten Robb (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) will both be taking part in evening hustings focussing on disability.
Kate Joester (Edinburgh North and Leith) will take part in a "Ladies Night", a hustings organised by a group of women's groups at 7pm.
Power 2010 www.power2010.org.uk will be posing with their billboards with Green candidates in the following constituencies:
Wednesday 21st April, 10am: Stirling, with Scottish Green Party candidate Mark Ruskell.
Friday 23rd April, 10:30am: Glasgow North, with Scottish Green party candidate Martin Bartos
Friday 23rd April, 3pm: Glasgow South, with Scottish Green Party candidate Marie Campbell.
Saturday 24th April, 10am-12:
Donnie McLeod (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey) will be at the North Kessock market and Eleanor Scott (Ross, Skye & Lochaber) will be campaigning in Ullapool.
