The Greens have set their sights on winning at least two Scottish Parliament seats in Lothian in this May’s Scottish elections.
Sitting MSP Alison Johnstone is standing in the hotly-contested Edinburgh Central seat as well as topping the Green list throughout Lothian. Number two on the Green list is well-known land and democracy campaigner Andy Wightman. Around 12% of list votes would see both Alison and Andy elected, repeating the Green performance of 2003 when both Robin Harper and Mark Ballard were elected in Lothian.
Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Scotland needs more Green MSPs who can act as a spur for the Scottish Parliament to be bolder on issues like affordable housing, care for young and old, access to land and an energy future, free of the threats of fracking and nuclear power. Scotland can be greener and Holyrood can be bolder.
“At the moment the opinion polls look promising across Scotland as a whole and here in Lothian we are well on track for at least two Green MSPs to be elected. Also, with 15-20% of voters in Edinburgh Central signed up as Greens, we’re very much in the race for the seat vacated by Marco Biagi.”
“But, of course, we are taking nothing for granted. We will be working harder than ever before to earn every single vote.”
Alison added: “I’m sure that even people who are not yet fully signed-up Green voters will be enthused by the prospect of Andy Wightman as an MSP. In a Parliament which has too many who simply nod along to the party line, Andy is a genuinely radical and challenging voice, with a 20-year track record of high-profile campaigning on land, housing and community control. A Green vote on the Lothian list will bring his voice into the heart of the Parliament.”
The Greens’ Lothian campaign will move up a gear tonight (Thursday 28 January) as the Edinburgh Greens meet for their annual general meeting.
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