I can confirm Glasgow’s Green councillors will support the appointment of a minority SNP administration when Council meets on Thursday. Greens will both co-operate and bring constructive challenge for a greener and fairer Glasgow and a Council that responds to people’s needs.
@JimMonaghan10
I have been in touch with police and environmental health about this today and they are liaising over what action can be taken against the landlord responsible. It’s totally unacceptable.
Scenes like this in my ward, as well as what's happened in Niddrie tonight, reinforce why an effective ban on the public sale of fireworks is so badly needed. These are industrial fireworks being used to intimidate people.
I’ve just submitted an objection to Shawlands Arcade redevelopment plans, saying:
🏢 It’s too big
💰 No affordable homes
🥱 Uninteresting design
🅿️ Needs area-wide parking controls
❌ Not what the community needs
You have until Monday to have your say 👉
Best part of the Glasgow South hustings (I paraphrase and summarise):
“Does anyone on the panel think we should do a bit more transphobia?”
“No”
“No”
“No”
“No”.
13th May 2021 was a day that will live long in the memory as a victory for people power. I'm so proud to represent Pollokshields.
My latest Glasgow Times column 👇
Tomorrow Glasgow will make a long overdue step to cleaner, safer air.
City politicians who’ve opposed this modest LEZ need to have a have a word with themselves. The climate crisis demands more radical action in the years ahead, and that needs leadership, not lousy opportunism.
Some
#wildbottlesightings
on the school run. I’ve no idea why Alister Jack thinks this is fine.
We’ve been planning deposit return for a decade and the Scottish Parliament legislated for an all-in scheme in 2020. Disgraceful if the UK Gov sabotages this at the last minute.
“Scotland can choose a different path through independence … a choice to replace hostility with care, compassion and solidarity; to be Scotland of Kenmure Street, not Downing Street.”
In the 2019 European Elections, one British voter wrote 'wank' next to every party on their ballot slip except for the Green Party, which they annotated with 'not wank'. This was deemed acceptable as a vote.
Yesterday I had the great news that funding has finally been approved to repaint these rather beautiful heritage railings outside Pollokshields Primary School, after a campaign by the parent council stretching back several years.
The world’s number one banker of climate chaos being wined and dined in a Council-owned building, while indigenous delegates, whose rights they have frequently trampled on, are in a building occupied by activists to prevent them being on the streets.
A video from the rally outside Kelvingrove Art Gallery where Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (which includes J.P Morgan and Chase & Co) are enjoying a fancy drinks reception! They should not be allowed in our public buildings, or at this conference.
Glasgow doesn’t need a Lord Lieutenant. Collectively, we are better than doffing our cap to hereditary power and privilege. There should be a democratic mechanism which could lead to the title being renounced.
As Lord Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow, I send my congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the occasion of their historic
#coronation
Green councillors will boycott this event on Friday due to the involvement of arms companies. With a Gaza ceasefire in reach, we should be creating platforms for peace, not for those profiting from war. We call on all councillors who voted for a ceasefire to join us.
The 25th State of the City Economy Conference - Glasgow's principal economic event - takes place on Friday, 24 November, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow.
More info, including keynote speakers, panellists and free registration 👉
#SOCE2023
NB: One line, "After successive Tory governments, and the Blair ones before, the UK Home Office is undeniably, institutionally racist," didn't survive editing. But I said it, and I believe it to be true.
“We can’t exempt people from their chronic ill-health. All we can give them is cleaner air that is safe to breathe. They need the LEZ now and Green councillors are proud to have helped deliver it for them.”
This has been a long time coming but thanks to Green councillors, widespread (i.e. on 92% of all eligible streets) 20mph speed limits will cut speeds and vitally reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
To encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling, the speed limit on almost 4,000 Glasgow streets is set to be lowered to 20mph.
These proposed changes support national strategy to roll out this safer speed limit in built up areas across Scotland.
More 👉
Politics is politics but this is pure disrespect.
Cllr
@MarthaWardrop
and I spent hours in negotiations to secure the future of community venues and Tollcross Childrens Farm - as well as delivering *all* our Green spending proposals.
Glasgow Labour were never even in the room.
Our budget proposal was forward-thinking, innovative, and ambitious for Glasgow.
Thanks to our persistent pressure, the SNP has made an embarrassing U-turn, removing the closure the Couper Institute from their budget.
Shocking that the Labour-led coalition in Edinburgh won't allow the genocide in Gaza to even be debated. We will debate this in Glasgow next week and hope councillors will agree to protect the Council from the risk of directly or indirectly supporting genocide.
#CeasefireNOW
I was pleased the Council voted to back a pay rise for key workers today. Immediately undermining that by trying to stoke up ill will towards workers is wrong - and it won't work.
Delete the tweet
@GlasgowCC
.
The community in Pollokshields has been without its library for 40 weeks now. I'm really grateful to everyone who has turned up week after week, to keep up the pressure to try and get it reopened. I'm doing all I can to make that happen.
Today, I helped stop these lamp bases in my ward from being scrapped. I think this is why that Twitter Twin app a few years ago matched me with
@PaulJSweeney
. 😂
On Monday
@GlasgowCC
will finally be able to issue fines for this, four years after it was banned. Except it won't, apparently, because back office systems haven't been updated, and besides, it wants to take an 'ad hoc approach'. 🤯
Councillors should be furious at this intervention from the UK Gov. Not only does it mean industry keeps getting a free pass and Councils foot the bill for their litter and waste, it also means huge uncertainty for plans to try and improve these key local services.
The UK has effectively ripped up Scotland’s devolution settlement with its sabotage of the deposit return scheme.
The whole question of who runs Scotland is now under the spotlight.
🔎
Pleased to confirm today that I'm seeking reselection as the
@scotgp
candidate for Pollokshields ward in the 2022 local elections.
I'm proud of what I've done alongside local communities and intend to build on that, if branch members give me that chance. Ballots out next week.
I’m pleased to confirm that I’ve been reselected as the Scottish Greens candidate for Pollokshields ward in the 2022 local elections. Huge thanks to Glasgow party members for putting your trust in me once again.
Pleased that
@patrickharvie
raised the impact of library closures at
#FMQs
today. Local communities need these lifeline facilities. Glasgow Life needs a full bail-out so they can reopen as soon as possible.
With First Bus selling up there's a chance right now to transform public transport in Glasgow. Councils now have more powers to run bus services, improving reliability and fares, but the SNP is dragging its feet on also giving the practical help needed to actually use them.
.
@patrickharvie
says it is time to end the power of private interests in the public transport sector
@NicolaSturgeon
says action is being taken and pledges "transformational" long-term funding in bus infrastructure
Follow LIVE:
#FMQs
Glasgow's Low Emission Zone is finally delivering cleaner, safer air - 3,913 days after
@glasgowgreens
first proposed it.
📣 My latest
@Glasgow_Times
column.
Also on the Council's lack of Jubilee events, we should think about how we celebrate Glasgow's communities & *their* history more.
The Kenmure Street Festival of Resistance 2 weeks ago is a great example of how we can commemorate strength & unity of our City 💚
This encapsulates a particular artifice beloved of Glasgow Tories which suggests people should put aside their differences over issues, like Monarchy, which are *deeply* political, but then proceeds to denigrate anyone who disagrees with that view.
Glasgow's gearing up for King's coronation.
@CllrTKerr
outlines what city's doing to mark the royal day. He hopes it takes minds off cost of living crisis.
He's also hit out at Celtic fans' anti-monarchy chants that made global headlines, he says they make Glasgow look bad.
I'm so pleased to see hundreds of people come together in Pollokshields this morning, to make clear that climate justice demands migrant justice.
A fitting way to mark six months since an incredible act of solidarity on
#KenmureStreet
.
Meeting of
@GlasgowCC
starting shortly. Green councillors, led by
@CaptainKim
, have a motion on divesting the council’s pension funds from fossil fuels to drive a Green recovery instead. No live webcast, I’m afraid, so I’ll tweet highlights of that debate here later.
Looks like Labour's Scottish campaign is being powered by the billionaire Baron Haughey of Hutchesontown.
Vibes are not so much: "Things can only get better".
Much more: "He lives in a house, a very big house in the country".
To be clear…
Housing: good.
Single tenure build-to-rent, with no affordable provision, despite that being the direction of national planning policy: not so good.
Massively humbled by the generosity of the Pollokshields community once again today, visiting the Bowling Green, whose volunteers who were there until midnight last night taking donations of clothes & essentials for those displaced by the fire, and sorting them to deliver today.
The City Administration Committee today considered proposals for open space protections over various sites in the city.
I’m pleased that my amendment to refer back a recommendation for Barrowland Park, so that it can be considered for protection, was agreed unanimously.
"The harm Tory policies do to working class communities is no laughing matter. (Johnson's) crass-but-telling comments are yet another reason why the people of Scotland must soon ... chart a future away from his brutalising vision for Britain."
Today was my last day working in
@patrickharvie
's local office after three really rewarding and enjoyable years (even the last one!).
Can't wait to see what a bigger Green MSP team (with added
@CaptainKim
) can do for Glasgow after 6 May!
The new Fireworks Control Zones powers in Scotland are welcome, and I want to see them used, but the Police clearly have a hard enough time trying to enforce what's already illegal. We need to stop the general public supply of most fireworks.
Delighted that this includes an increase to half-hourly evening services on the Glasgow to Neilston, Newton and Cathcart Circle services - delivering on a
@glasgowgreens
manifesto commitment and a key priority for a number of local community councils.
Our new timetable will be introduced on Sunday, 2 June.
Improvements for customers include:
• New 08:05 Prestonpans to Waverley service
• Almost 100 additional services each weekday
• Services to new Cameron Bridge & Leven stations, forming part of the Levenmouth rail link
Green councillors secured the independent review that led to Spaces for People being made permanent today. With Greens in Government securing a record active travel budget, we can make this the start of something transformational.
The majority of
#SpacesForPeople
measures are set to stay after an independent review highlighted that much of the infrastructure can deliver lasting benefits, including encouraging active travel & helping us meet wider sustainability goals🌱
More 👉
I find joy passing this cycle counter. These are c44 hours apart. It must be recording around 8k journeys a week right now. Build it and they will come!
I’ve just had the pleasure of visiting
@BlairvadachOEC
.
Thanks to Neil, Andy and the team for showing me around and discussing the future now that it’s been saved from closure. Credit to all who’ve campaigned for that. The job now is to ensure it has a thriving future.
Pleased to have agreed a budget amendment with
@Bell45
which includes investment in vital anti-poverty measures, support for communities and action on a Green recovery from the pandemic. I look forward to presenting full details to Glasgow City Council tomorrow.
I understand that the books uncovered during demolition work after the Albert Drive fire may be recovered by
@GlasgowCC
experts tomorrow and reunited with their owner, who had thought they’d lost everything.
Here’s hoping for a
#BookWeekScotland
happy ending!
That’s official. My name will be on the ballot for Pollokshields ward in the local elections on 5 May.🗳
Before then, I’m looking forward to lots of conversations on the doorstep about how we will make Glasgow greener and fairer. 💚
Not only did the
@GlasgowTories
candidate not bother showing up to the Glasgow South hustings to defend his party's devastating and corrupt record, he didn't even bother to update his bio from when he stood in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.
Finally a timescale for reopening Pollokshields library, and 11 others! Huge thanks to the cross-community campaign, who’ve kept going week after week. Well played
@SaveGlasgowLibs
and everyone who’s joined their efforts! 📚⭐️🎉
The
#ClydeGreenFreeport
bid aims to attract major new investment to the Glasgow City Region, develop global trading opportunities, create thousands of new jobs, and accelerate Net-Zero objectives.
Find out more 👉
(
@GLA_Airport
@MossendPark
@PeelPorts
)
Anti-deportation protest on Kenmure Street in Pollokshields. Immigration van is ringed by police and protesters. “These are our neighbours. Let them go.”
Blooming lovely campaigning in Strathbungo earlier! 🌸🌳💚
Lots of people voting
@scottishgreens
for climate action and social justice. A Greener Glasgow is a Fairer Glasgow. Vote Green
#1
on May 5th.
This is important progress, but it's a shame all Labour and most SNP councillors on SPT voted against a Green proposal to deliver franchising faster, plan a bigger role for municipal ownership, and use parking levy powers to fund this and make bus more attractive vs private cars.
That Glasgow’s Low Emissions Zone is lawful is obviously great news for public health and the environment but the judgement is also a validation of robust, evidence-based policy making. Those who’ve wilfully spread misinformation should be ashamed.
Last Full Council meeting today.
My motion is unlikely to be heard, so I’ll take this chance to say a big happy birthday in 2022 to:
🎵
@JDTwitch
25 years!
🎹
@rubadub_glasgow
30 years!
🕺
@SubClub
35 years!
Incredible longevity. Inspirational legacies. Keep on spinning.
All our elected Glasgow Green representatives in one place 💚
Our 10 councillors are excited to get into that building behind them and start making a greener and fairer Glasgow
No transparency, woeful comms, terrible timing. Glasgow once again showing how not to make changes to people's waste collections.
✍️ My latest
@Glasgow_Times
column. 👇
I asked
@NetworkRailSCOT
a number of questions about this earlier today. I've received a holding reply but have now asked for an immediate suspension of any planned demolition, to allow for engagement with the local community, which has clearly been overlooked to date.
"No one can now argue that Scotland’s interests are best served by this broken Westminster system,"
@patrickharvie
on the UK's democratic failure on Brexit.
Looking forward to
@scotgp
Keep Scotland in the EU event with Patrick &
@MaggieChapman
tomorrow.
Closing public venues without clear reasons is not good enough.
I suspect, in part, venues will be used to entertain visiting elites.
Meanwhile, my request this week to reopen Pollokshields Community Centre as a base for the
@MingaIndigena
delegation was refused. Shameful.
To support the delivery of
#COP26
, a small number of our venues will temporarily close. In the other venues we have reopened it will be business as usual. For our latest COP26 updates, visit . For info on how COP26 will impact Glasgow, see
@GetReadyGlasgow
Zone Card price hikes - which are set by operators with no democratic oversight - are outrageous when many are still struggling and we need to encourage more people onto public transport. This decision must be reversed and operators held to account.
This budget wasn't easy, but after a lot of graft I'm pleased it:
🏠 Taxes second homes & empty buildings using powers won by Green MSPs
💰 Starts work on new powers including a Tourist Tax by 2026
🦙 Saves community venues & a children's farm
💚 Invests in a greener, fairer city
It’s Budget day in Glasgow. Inflation, Brexit & austerity have made it increasingly difficult for councils to set their budgets
@glasgowgreens
councillors have agreed a Green budget agreement with the SNP which raises more revenue & prioritises spending on a fairer, greener city
THREAD:
This morning I moved a joint Green-SNP Glasgow City Council budget to help people with the cost of living crisis and deliver a fairer, greener city. Here's what it will achieve if it is approved by councillors today.
The Labour selections stitch-up should concern us all, because the clearest indicator of how they'll use the power they're about to get is how they use that which they already have. On this evidence that's needlessly cruel, punching down on minorities, & shattering more promises.
“Honestly I’m so shocked right now, to be treated this badly”
Faiza Shaheen, who was set to stand for Labour, describes hearing that her candidacy had been pulled over liking a series of Tweets which she claims Labour said would frustrate its campaign
#Newsnight
Hearing from lots of folk who've applied for postal ballots, not received them and are heading away with schools finishing today. It's now too late to switch to a proxy, so they're disenfranchised thanks to the Tories' contempt for Scotland. Still, some folk made a few quid eh.
I’ve written to
@Hutchesons
today urging them to drop late-notice plans to fire teachers who don’t sign up to downgraded pensions. They should instead negotiate with
@EISGlasgow
and other unions. I hope parents and school alumni will also oppose this damaging plan.
The EIS has given notice to Hutchesons' Grammar School of a Statutory Ballot for Strike Action, after teachers were effectively threatened with losing their jobs if they don’t sign up to an inferior pension.
Further info can be found on the EIS website:
Glasgow's Labour and Conservative groups refusing to scrap a £60m plan to bulldoze a four-lane flyover, through a public park, on the eve of COP26. 🤦♂️⬇️
Pleased to have reached agreement with
@Bell45
on priorities for the Council budget. We made progress on all our priorities - helping people with the cost of living, reopening more local venues and accelerating climate action. I look forward to outlining plans in detail tomorrow.
I planted the first of 25 new Sakura cherry trees in Bellahouston Park this morning. I'm looking forward to watching them grow, thrive and support greater biodiversity. Think global, act local is still a good mantra to live by.
@JapanUKSakura
@GlasgowCC
“I would dispute the use of the internal market act”
Wales FM
@MarkDrakeford
says he’s considering the implications of UK decision to exclude glass from Scottish deposit return
UK ministers have written to him stressing need for “alignment” across UK nations
"Getting one Green MEP elected will transform our politics in a way that getting a third or a fourth SNP MEP probably won’t. It would be a statement of intent that Scotland is serious about being a world leader in tackling the climate crisis."
#VoteGreen
Disgraceful and untrue remarks from Tory councillors. The chamber did unite to speak with one voice against extremism. Extraordinary too that they claim to stand by Jewish communities, whilst not listening to or debating with Jewish councillors.
We're extremely disappointed that Glasgow City Council has not united with one voice in condemning the situation in the Middle East.
It is horrifying, and we stand with those against Hamas' brutal terrorism.
Statement from
@CllrTKerr
and
@CllrJohnDaly
below 👇
So pleased for
@lornagreens
tonight in her first TV debate.
Yes, she had a positive message, delivered with clarity and passion, but she also listened, answered questions directly, and debated respectfully.
Holyrood will achieve so much more with more
@scottishgreens
in it.
It’s inspiring how much
@BikeBusShaw
continues to grow! More and more schools are looking to start their own bike buses too. It’s the future, happening right now. 💚🚴♀️🚴
Just look how many people were on the
#bikebus
today! More asking for details in the playground too. Turns out if you show it’s possible, others will join, even in Glasgow! Big thanks to
@GlasgowSEPolice
as always & a special thanks to
@GlasgowCC
for giving us… 1/2
#bicibus
As I understand it, there was no concession from
@ukhomeoffice
. The decision to free those detained was made by Police Scotland under public order powers, overruling the immigration service.