Scottish Greens conference comes to Inverness
The Scottish Greens autumn conference will arrive in Inverness this weekend.
Members from across the country will gather at Eden Court on Saturday and Sunday.
Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie will open the conference, highlighting the impact the Scottish Greens have had on the region since the 2016 election.
A spokesman said Greens have delivered tens of millions of pounds extra to local councils in the Highlands and Islands by engaging in budget negotiations, protecting vital local services.
"They’ve stood alongside communities to put an end to environmentally damaging plans like the proposal to undertake ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Cromarty Firth, and the threat of mechanical kelp dredging off the west coast," he said.
Conference will also hear from party leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater who will discuss plans for a Scottish Green New Deal as a means of tackling the climate emergency by moving to a cleaner, greener economy and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Mr Finnie said: “I’m delighted to be welcoming party members from across the country to my home town of Inverness for the Scottish Greens autumn conference. Unlike other political parties it is our membership who decide our party policy, so I look forward to engaging in and listening to many constructive and robust debates over the weekend.
“We urgently need a Scottish Green New Deal to tackle the climate emergency, create jobs and transform our economy so it works for people and planet. The Highlands and Islands will be at the forefront of this deal, acting as the engine room of Scotland’s brighter future. Greens will ensure that communities throughout the region see the economic and social benefits that come with that.
“Over the years the Highlands and Islands has seen a lack of investment in major infrastructure projects, so this weekend I’ll be calling on the Scottish Government to address that oversight by committing to dualling and electrifying the Highland Main Line by 2025, as a precursor to delivering transformative, sustainable and fare-free public transport services in the north.”
