Scottish Labour: We are greener than the Greens
Beamish heralds environment summit
SCOTTISH Labour are aiming to take a bite out of the Green vote by unveiling a radical agenda for the environment.
They have accused Holyrood’s six Green MSPs of sidelining their priorities to focus on independence and helping the SNP force through £170million of cuts.
Labour MSP Claudia Beamish claimed it’s her party who have the real green credentials as she unveiled plans for an environmental summit to harden up their policies.
Their plans for a greener Scotland include a 50 per cent target for renewables in electricity, heat and transport by 2030 and an onshore fracking ban.
The policies are among a raft of proposals Labour are putting forward in the hope of peeling off some radical votes from Patrick Harvie’s Scottish Greens.
Beamish said: “Labour are the only party committed to reclaiming Britain’s leading role in tackling climate change.
“The SNP’s plan to cut taxes on aviation and the Greens’ support for cuts to local services prove Labour are now the true green party in Scotland. Climate change is the great challenge for this generation.
“Scotland must become a zero-carbon nation. This is no time for complacency from the SNP, the Tories or the Greens.”
Scottish Greens climate and energy spokesman Mark Ruskell hit back: “Scottish Labour are a party with an identity crisis..
“This is a party who support tax breaks for the oil industry instead of a divestment programme, support aviation growth, nuclear new-build and are giving up on the EU – the planet’s strongest voice in favour of climate action.”
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “Scotland continues to be a world leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“The SNP’s vision for 2050 is for a modern, integrated, low-carbon energy system.”