Greens target city for council election gains
THE Greens are targeting their biggest-ever election success in May’s council elections.
The party met in Maryhill, in Glasgow for its Spring Conference with eight weeks until the poll, confident of electing more Greens that ever.
Green MSP for Glasgow Patrick Harvie said council services matter and the candidates would be focussing on local issues.
He said the SNP would underfund services and the Tories want to privatise them.
Mr Harvie, speaking at Maryhill Burgh Halls, said: “Our focus is clear – our councils and the services they deliver matter to people.
“Don’t let the Tory constitutional obsession give them a chance to take hold of your local services, these are the people who would privatise the lot.
“Our call, for investment in our local services, for the building of strong local economies, and for a renewed local democracy that puts power in people’s hands represents a warning to the SNP.
“They too need to recognise that our councils matter, our public services matter.”
The conference heard that the campaign must not be allowed to develop into a vote on a second referendum or be dominated by independence.
Co-convenor, Maggie Chapman said Greens would focus on the local issues and better democracy for communities but other parties had a different agenda than council services.
She said: “We want more Green councillors across Scotland. Greens who will listen to the people they represent. Greens who will put power back into people’s hands.”
She said the poll could see a huge success for Greens who increased their MSPs last year from two to six.
Ms Chapman added: “When all the votes and transfers are counted on May 5th, we hope to have more Greens elected than we have ever had in Scotland.”
She said: “The Tories and others are desperate to turn this election into an independence referendum. We want to talk about local issues. If we want to turn it into an independence referendum, let’s have an independence referendum.”
Kim Long, Green candidate in Dennistoun Ward, said she wanted more facilities for young people and less attention on anti-social behaviour, which she was a “construct to demonise young people for complex social problems”.
She said: “Young people are citizens, and we should work with them to create spaces and opportunities that are accessible, sustainable, and long term.”
The Greens are standing a candidate in each of the 23 council wards in Glasgow. It currently has four councillors in Glasgow.