@jamiegreeneuk
πΆ Liberal Democrat Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West Scotland region. LGBT. Former telly exec, half-Canadian, dog dad, terrible sewing bee and interested in languages, travel and decent people whatever their politics
Scottish Govt health & social care spending is expected to rise to half of all spending, analysts predict. You could argue thatβs good, but it leaves half the pie to fund what keeps people healthy: warm homes, jobs, addiction, education and sport. Prevention better than cure no?
With just weeks till my second term in office ends, I used my last βbusiness slotβ in Holyrood to recap on the decade long ferry crisis which has engulfed so many of my constituentsβ businesses and lives. We can but hope the next Parliament delivers better for our islands.
The world has become a much more dangerous place this past week. History tends to judge those who shape it, for the better or otherwise. Removing oppressive dictators, without a plan, doesnβt seem to end well for anyone.
#politics #trump #iran
Dydd GΕ΅yl Dewi hapus iawn i'm holl ffrindiau Cymru heddiw! πΌ π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ
Last year I forced the govt to accept a change in the law that victims must be notified when a case is dropped or a decision not to prosecute is taken.
We're still waiting for it to be implemented. Not answers. No timelines.
#ukpolitics #justice #scotland
There needs to be a sensible, legally sound, constitutionally solid, and challenging but respectful conversation about the role of the Lord Advocate.
Anything less is irresponsible and politically motivated.
#ukpolitics #fmqs #scotland
Iβm really grateful to the many charities, third sector groups, and trade bodies who've worked with me these last few months to push the govt for more cash/support in the Scottish budget. Weβd all like it to have gone further but I squeezed what I could out of it, in opposition.
A wee look back at our party conference this weekend.
Great event; loads of happy faces. And yes, they even have proper policy debates! Who knew! Winning feels good for a change :)
#politics #ukpolitics #libdems
Thanks to MSP @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social for coming to visit our stand and recognising the case for a Scottish Paths Fund. #SLDconf
Three white women, looking at the camera and smiling. Two of the women (far left and far right) are wearing M E Action t-shirts and lanyards.
Two white women, both wearing glasses, looking at the camera and smiling. The woman in the right is wearing an M E Action t-shirt and lanyard.
A white man (left) and a white woman (right) looking at the camera and smiling. The woman is wearing an M E Action t-shirt and a lanyard.
A productive first day for #MEAction Scotland's volunteers at the Scottish Liberal Democrats Spring Conference.
Today we have engaged with a range of prospective candidates as well as MPs and MSPs @mpsusanmurray.bsky.social @cajardinemp.bsky.social and @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social
#MyalgicE
Holyrood needs new faces and fresh ideas. Our candidates for the 2026 election are top notch. It was great to meet some of them this weekend π π
#libdems #scotland #ukpolitics
People are sick of being told what they want or need by politicians, we're in the business of listening instead.
It was great to see so many campaign groups come to our conference. They know we get stuff done!
#politics #charity #libdems #ukpolitics
Scottish Lib Dem Spring conference kicked off today in Edinburgh with a real buzz in the air. I've honestly never been to a party conference with so many happy faces before. (Trust me!)
We have TEN target constituencies in our sights and all the polls suggest we can smash it.
FREEDOM! You can redact our documents, but you can never hide the truth!*
*small print, they do hide quite a lot actually.
FOI laws need to change, sadly the government didn't agree!
First they came for the Presiding Officer
Then they came for the Lord Advocate
Corrupt judiciary, they cry
Politically biased, they claim
Sack them, they shout
The rule of law doesnβt matter, they rage
Doesnβt all this feel so dangerously familiar?
Conspiracy theories wonβt fix politics!
Residents in my area donβt feel safer, or feel like policing has improved, or that crime is taken seriously. Spouting stats about no. of officers per capita is meaningless if people donβt feel safe
Frontline officers are being asked to do more with with less in the absence of other public services.π
I agree. Creating decent local hob opportunities, particularly for young people, people who have been out of work for a long time, those facing redundancy and those facing barriers to work itβs the KEY to improving lives and the economy. Good local jobs is a must have not a nice have. Iβm trying!
There are three types of political opposition:
- Opposition for opposition sake
- Endless opposition who no one will work with
- Or opposition which gets stuff done.
In my nearly ten years in politics I put myself unashamedly in the third category. π
I spent 9 years on the Tory benches and didnβt extract a penny out of a single Scottish budget. angry press release, social media clip, opposition for opposition sake.
One year on, I led a 3 month negotiation to squeeze Β£300M more out of government. No wonder the Tories are fuming.
#properpolitics
Today Iβve written to key sectors ahead of the Scottish budget outlining my priorities in negotiations.
We need more π· support for:
𧑠Social care providers
π» Hospitality (pubs, hotels and restaurants)
π₯ and our amazing hospice sector.
π
In the stage 1 budget announcements tommorrow I want to see more support for:
π₯ our vital hospice sector
𧑠our social care sector
πΆ π» and our hospitality sector
If the First Minister can rise to the challenge at #FMQs, then thereβs a deal to be done.
Letβs see π
Iβm sad to learn this. No least after my posts this week of cancer awareness. Jeanne and I were part of the 2016 cohort of MSPs. We all lived the Covid days in Parliament together and personally we got on really well. Condolences to her partner and wider family
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Today is #WorldCancerDay2026 I know there many βdaysβ which raise awareness of a variety of causes but this week, for two very personal reasons, I am reminded that someone is diagnosed with cancer every 75 seconds. Be kind to each other, every day counts
www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-aware...
It may not merit top news story on the BBC this morning, but to the TEN and a HALF THOUSAND children in Scotland without a proper home, it is news to them. Itβs a complete national scandal actually. π
π Record number of children in temporary housing π° www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
By anyoneβs standards this is a stonking victory. The Tories went from first to sixth place. The SNP and Reform massively under performed despite the hype. Labour struggled. This is what you get when you knock on every door in the ward, congrats Ben. Next task: May election gain!
Iβve been hosting roundtables with tourism, hospitality and self-catering bodies these past weeks and theyβve been clear: new business rates will send some to the wall.
Iβm pushing the Scottish Government to pass on UK gov relief and go further to take the burden off business π
With so much uncertainty, topsy turvy diplomacy and upheaval Iβve written to the Chancellor @RachelReevesMP calling for a cut to whisky duty to help Scotlandβs finest export (alongside salmon of course) get through these tough times.
I hope the UK Gov will raise a dram and agree to it! π₯
βThe irony is that those who complain most about Britainβs waning influence in the world are the same ones who complain about our development budget.β
Quite right Dave. π π
If economic bullying from Trump messes with Scottish whisky exports, apart from calling him out, the UK government could show solidarity and make an immediate 5% cut to whisky duty to help the industry out.
POTUS might not like a wee dram, but the rest of the world does! π₯ π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
