We held the fourth event in our ‘Moving the Vote: Transport Conversations with the parties’ series on Friday 9 Mar, a recording of which can be found here.
In a last minute change, Alison Johnstone MSP was unfortunately no longer able to join us for this event. However, we were excited to welcome Mark Ruskell MSP, the Scottish Green Party’s Spokesperson on environment, energy, climate, and agriculture in lieu of Alison, alongside Alastair Dalton, Transport Correspondent for The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday, as chair.
For details of the other events in this series please visit our ‘Moving the Vote’ webpage.
The event began with introductions from Transform’s Policy Officer, Marie Ferdelman, and Alastair Dalton. Following this, Mark gave an outline of the Scottish Green Party’s vision for sustainable transport. Noting:
- The vital importance of sustainable transport for creating a more accessible, fairer and healthier society
- The need for the next parliament to make a ‘step change’ in order to meet the emission reduction targets set by the Scottish Government for 2030
The event was live-tweeted from the Transform Scotland account and can be summarised by the tweets below:
Getting set up now for 1pm kick-off for 4th in our #Holyrood2021 #SP21 series.
We've already heard from Tories, Lib Dems & Labour. Now it's the turn of the @scottishgreens.@AlastairDalton chairing
Feel free to chip in using the hashtag #MovingTheVote.https://t.co/A5tsRu1aw5
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
In a late change, @AlisonJohnstone is unfortunately unable to join us today.
However, we're pleased instead to welcome @markruskell, the @scottishgreens spokesperson on environment, energy, climate, and agriculture.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Mark was MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife from 2016-21, and was also an MSP from 2003-07.https://t.co/kUi8A2uz3T#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
On our panel today, we're pleased to be joined by:
* @ElinorRoss of @FirstGroupplc
* @HelenRambler of @ramblersscot
* and @Paultetlaw & @RojH123 from the @TransformScot Policy Forum#MovingTheVote— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Transform policy officer Marie Ferdelman is starting our #MovingTheVote event just now.
Welcomes our speaker today @markruskell and also @AlastairDalton, Transport Correspondent for The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday, who we're very happy to have chairing our election event series.
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
.@AlastairDalton flags the @scottishgreens success in winning additional funding for #ActiveTravel, and their recent #RailForAll plans.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Mark flags @scottishgreens successes in @ScotParl as #ActiveTravel funds increased to £115m, Local #Rail Development Fund, and free #bus travel for under-22s.
Next Parliament needs to see swifter progress. Criticises @transcotland £6bn road-building programme.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
First question from @TS_Director:
Will @scottishgreens support for @theSNP in the next Parliament be contingent on halt & review of the existing roads programme?@Paultetlaw follows up, asking if there is support from other parties for this.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
In response, @markruskell says that @scottishgreens will work with other parties in the Parliament insofar as they can.
Would like to see #A96Dualling abandoned.
But not a clear 'no' to the question from @TS_Director.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Next question from Chris Day of @EdinburghBUG:
Would the @scottishgreens pursue a ban of #SUVs in urban areas?#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Ian Budd of Friends of the Far North Line says that free bus travel for young people will divert passengers away from rail which will in turn reduce passenger numbers and weaken the business case for any improvements.
Asks how @scottishgreens will mitigate this.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Now on to free public transport.@ElinorRoss of @FirstGroupplc says that move to free bus travel is to be welcomed, as long as the cost of this is covered in full by government.@markruskell agrees that bus companies can't be expected to run services at a loss.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Good to hear @markruskell committing to our ask on investment for the @scottishgreens on #MovingTheVote with @TransformScot
— Walk, Wheel, Cycle, Vote (@walkwheelcycle) April 9, 2021
Now on to #ActiveTravel, and Q from @ianmccall49 of @PathsforAll.@markruskell indicated @scottishgreens support for 20% of transport spend for walking, wheeling & cycling.@HelenRambler welcomes comments, but raises concern about pace of rural implementation.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Now on to 20% #TrafficReduction commitment.
Sally Hinchcliffe of @POPScotland asks how next @scotgov will meet this target.@markruskell questions whether current direction will work. At the moment, it's "more of everything": more bus, more rail, more roads.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Question from Tricia Fort on #buses, asking for the extension of bus lanes, perhaps 24-hour operation.@ElinorRoss says that more #BusPriority is essential.@markruskell says that municipal ownership could be part of the mix for certain parts of the country.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
.@Paultetlaw of @TransformScot asks whether @scottishgreens would support separate transport committee in the next @ScotParl, or grouped with a topic such as #climatechange.@markruskell agrees that scope of @SP_RECcttee in Session 5 was too large.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
.@AlastairDalton wrapping up now.
Thanks @markruskell for answering the questions raised. Says that #SustainableTransport lobby must have been pleased to see @scottishgreens influence in recent years, so it'll be interesting where this sits after the election.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Ending the call, @TransformScot's Marie Ferdelman welcomes the @scottishgreens commitments on #ActiveTravel spend, and @markruskell's position on road-building.
She hopes that the Greens will hold to account whatever party holds power in the next @ScotParl.#MovingTheVote
— Transform Scotland (@TransformScot) April 9, 2021
Our thanks again to Mark Ruskell MSP for joining us for the event and to Alastair Dalton for chairing.
