News from the Scottish Green Party • Summer 2010 20 Graham Street, Edinburgh EH6 5QR • 08700 772 207 [email protected] • www.scottishgreens.org.uk ISSN 2044-7949 (Print) • ISSN 2044-7957 (Online) Cut Carbon Emissions,

used to that after all) but it will also Dexter Geoff proceed to eviscerate the public sector and pursue an economic We Said model more in keeping with the anti-state ideologues of the US After eleven Republican Party. Naturally it will years of Green be society’s poorest people who will representation be hardest hit by this. The failure in the Scottish to create a fairer tax system is only Parliament, and the most obvious injustice – but the a decade in situation which will face millions who the European currently rely on public services will Parliament, this grow steadily more desperate if the year’s general election represents LibDems and Tories press ahead with The 1980s again ... not just on TV. another historic step forward this vicious agenda. parliamentary and local council – the first Green MP at Westminster. They will argue that it’s necessary, teams, but our branches and activists Caroline Lucas’s first appearances in of course. Caroline has been among around the country. We have an ally the Commons have already shown her the highest profile voices challenging of immense value in Caroline Lucas, bringing the Green challenge to the this lie about ‘necessary pain’. Just and I’m looking forward to welcoming forefront of Parliamentary politics, just as she is taking on this role at her to Scotland to help build our as she has done so ably in front of TV Westminster for the first time, we campaign. viewers on Question Time for years. I will need to do the same at Holyrood MSP can’t think of anyone better suited to in the run-up to our own general this groundbreaking role than Caroline, election in May next year. Our or anywhere I’d be happier having Parliament needs a Green voice which excuses to visit than Brighton Pavilion! is radical, not just in environmental The Tory/Liberal coalition she terms, but also in its defence of public faces turned quite a few stomachs in services and their role in safeguarding Scotland in its very first days, as huge the common good of society. numbers of people who had voted Every other political party at tactically watched that nice Mr Clegg Holyrood is either implementing the handing the Tories the key to Number cuts agenda or responsible for the last 10. Initial dismay has now been decade’s failures, and we have a real replaced by outright horror as the opportunity to become the ‘change’ coalition displays its radical right-wing vote of 2011. If we can, we’ll do far agenda in the emergency budget. more than retake the ground we lost Not only will the new Government in 2007; we can confirm our position fail to deliver on its environmental as a crucial and permanent part of rhetoric (no surprise there, we’re Scotland’s political landscape, with the potential to reshape it dramatically. But the lady’s not for cutting! Caroline Lucas That opportunity is there for the took the Brighton & Hove Seat in May with a taking if we are ready – not just our majority of 1,252, becoming the first UK Green MP.

 Election Roundup Capital Overview Edinburgh East The general election was bitter-sweet in Out on the street, lovely sunny day, weekend Edinburgh, as elsewhere. The sweetness came before election. Magnificent placarding effort from Brighton and Hove, of course and, to some evidenced all over Edinburgh East, and in extent, from ’s 5·1% in Edinburgh adjoining areas – any one would have thought East in an election where we were squeezed more that we had a hundred people out rather than a mercilessly than at any time since 1992. few dozen. There was disappointment across the city As ever, all the punters said they were thinking too: in all 4 seats in which we stood, our vote of voting green, and did not, but we did make was down on 2005. Yet this was the biggest some inroads. Pollock Halls. Joan Graham and I effort we’d ever put into a Westminster election leafleting outside the cafeteria – 2000 students in Edinburgh. All our efforts were focused on eat there every evening. We never stopped Edinburgh East where we delivered 40,000 speaking. They responded well – one email special election newsletters, 20,000 eve of poll “thanks for coming to speak to us – the only party cards, canvassed door-to-door, held stalls, hosted that could be bothered”. action days and won friends, if not always votes, Many people however said they were Green at hustings. We gained new members, new voters, but wanted to vote tactically in this volunteers and successfully raised almost £8,000 election, and we should understand and respect to fund the campaign. this – the Scottish Parliament election next Of course, our efforts and resources pale year will not be bedevilled by the same set of beside those of the big party machines and concerns. Green Voters are thinking voters, and even quite monumental local efforts may not be will I am sure flock back to us in ten months time, rewarded. especially Labour voters who, buoyed up by the All too frequent encounters with voters went: extraordinary reversion to type exemplified in “Have you voted Green in the past?” May this year, will see, as they did in 1999 and “Yes, almost always.” 2003, that they can use their redundant second “How likely are you to vote Green this time votes to express their real concerns. then?” Liberal voters may even transfer wholesale “Not this time. I’ll vote Green in council, after voting Liberal to keep the Tories out this last European and Scottish Parliament elections time! though.” Be of good heart – 2011 we have an election We can all take comfort from the last line of which offers a chance to set ourselves up again this exchange. In the elections ahead, in 2011 To our new volunteers and activists: Do and 2012, Green votes will be coming back to us not worry about the generally negative self and they will be all the greater in number for the castigating outbreak on the chat lines – it has unglamorous work we have carried out in this happened after every election for 25 years that most unforgiving election. We can look, I believe, I remember, some kind of catharsis we Greens to the reasonable prospect of between 5-10 MSPs have to put ourselves through after every election next year and 30 or so councillors, spread across we have fought – if we did learn to walk on water the country the year after: in other words, a new we would end up criticising each other for being high water mark for Green politics in Scotland. unable to swim. Still, there’s a danger in simply assuming that We will all be back to working up a cracking these votes will come back to us, as of right. I’d good campaign for 2011 soon enough! suggest 70-80% of our result this year was out Robin Harper MSP of our control – whether the squeeze caused by the absurd electoral system; or the whims of a Dundee East media obsessed by the leaders of the “three main The timing of the election nicely coincided with parties”. Let’s not sweat the stuff we can’t control. the delivery of our second newsletter to our But it does mean looking harder at what we can target Council ward of Broughty Ferry, which control. makes up the central part of the constituency. So We can make our messages sharper; we can we effectively were able to manage two letter box organise canvassing more effectively; we can drops to a large part of the area, though it would marshall our money and our biggest asset of all not have happened without the invaluable help – people – in a more focused way. All to get over of a group of LETS workers to whom we now owe our urgent call for a greener and fairer Scotland. a fair number of “dragons” (the LETS currency). 2011 is not far away. Wearing our rosettes, three of us delivered a heap Gavin Corbett, Edinburgh of newsletters showing a visible presence which



was noted by quite a few members of the public. laugh about the whole thing but at the time my With the other parties contesting both seats in confidence was shaken badly. I felt unprepared Dundee we suspect much activity was focused and out of my depth. I could say the questions on the city centre. were rubbish (or just not what I expected), I As candidate I attended 6 hustings. At most could say that I was out of my depth, I could of them the response afterwards from some of say that I was . . . I could go on and on but you the audience was that they liked what the Greens get the picture. The very nice Chairman did were saying but couldn’t vote for us this time but actually ask me if I was ok – that made me worse come Holyrood . . . – was it really that obvious? Oh dear! I stopped The organisation from SGP was excellent and short of sheer panic. I pleaded with my eyes at as a vintage candidate, I am impressed at how someone who knew me to please let the ground our Party has become much more professional in open up and swallow me. Then it was over. its approach and supportive of candidates. Andrew did offer me the option to pull out of the We have much to do to convince more people next evenings hustings which was in a labour to have the courage and belief in us to give us stronghold are of the constituency. I refused. I their vote. We also have much to do as a branch was determined – never again will I do so badly. to inspire our own members to come out and Then I managed to talk myself round to believing help make that difference. that me on a bad day was better than the other candidates on their best day. I promise that this was achieved only with coffee and chocolate and Ochil and South Perthshire no other type of drugs! With some trepidation, naivety and excitement, I I went from this low point to growing much submitted my nomination form to be a candidate more in confidence – I spoke more strongly at for the Westminster election. The following hustings, I took on the challenge of peoples few months seem to be more of the same – perceptions face to face, I spoke honestly with trepidation, naivety and excitement. This was my those I met and I had a laugh. My key ingredients first experience standing as a candidate at this – integrity and laughter. I learned very quickly level and I would highly recommend it to anyone that if you talked to people and did not bombard who enjoys the rollercoaster of experience with them with facts and stats, they actually connected adrenalin rushes, tummy churning fear and then with you. Making that connection is a great the exhilaration that follows. feeling. With hindsight I recognise that the two main Nominations for Holyrood are now out. I am drawbacks for me were the lack of funds and going to go for it again. There is so much more not being permitted to participate on the same that can be done, so much more to learn and to pitch as the other bigger parties. The lack of teach. There is a whole new challenge that I want funds prevented us from producing more than to embrace and encourage others to share in the just a freepost leaflet and prevented us from experience – integrity and laughter will be a big having more publicity materials to work with part of it and it starts now. on the streets. The playing field is not level Hilary Charles – from not being invited to various hustings to being refused a voice on TV / radio and being Stirling given short space in the press, it proved to be It’s 2·30am, May 7th and I’m waiting on stage frustrating to say the least. I realise many of you for the election result as the Green candidate have known this for a long time but this is my for Stirling. But is it 2001 or 2010? I have first awareness experience of this and I was not certainly been here before as the candidate comfortable with it. – same election, same place, same result, with Having said this, however, there were so many Labour winning by a mile and the green vote more positives than the 2 negatives that the hovering at around 750. First thought was a balance was very much on the positive side. little disappointment tinged with the hope that I worked very closely with Andrew Thompson 500 miles away another Green is on the brink of my election and campaign Agent (unofficially) something remarkable. who guided me with reason, calm and support We did expect a bit more, after all we keep through the campaign. improving our local campaigns every time we The biggest low was at my first hustings. I stand in Stirling. This was no exception – the visits like to think that I appeared to be a cool, calm by Patrick and Robin, the multiple leaflets, the professional. Inside I was, in fact, a blubbering good presence on the street, the big local media jelly fish! I can now look back and smile – even continued over ▶ 

coverage and positive feedback from hustings. voting Green and finally to help raise the party’s But the picture after 10 years of Holyrood is that profile in the lead up to next year’s Holyrood voters are wise and see real opportunities to election – in 2007 we were just 1000 votes short nationally elect Greens in-between those big of re-electing as the Highlands and shifts in government and only when they have a Islands MSP. fair vote to use. Whilst we are unable to predict the result Back to the noughties . . . in 2003 another next May, the campaign succeeded in achieving night saw the Green Holyrood regional vote each of the other aims. A small but dedicated rocket up to nearly 11% in Stirling as the surge band of Argyll Greens handed out leaflets, put spread across Scotland. A great night and one up posters, placards and polling station boards; which followed a Westminster election where at I added something Green, female and fresh to least we had made voters think about the party the hustings meetings and we got pretty good as an option even if they couldn’t quite make that coverage in all the local media. We also gained at choice in 2001. So, a good omen for our party least 3 new members, donations and many warm for Holyrood next year and the chance of greater wishes. MSP numbers. But perhaps more significantly, On May 5th 789 people voted Green in the a base for 2012 and the council elections where biggest squeeze seen for a long time in Argyll we can compete on a more level field with the politics. Many had emailed or spoken to me at big parties and build that long term stable hustings to say they would vote for us next year representation that was such a decisive factor in on the list but not for Westminster – wanted to Brighton. keep the Tories out. So they voted Lib Dem and Next action is to find those 750 voters and get guess what – they got Tories as part of the deal them to join! – the same the country over. We have since had a first members meeting and BBQ and have agreed to form a sub-branch Ross, Skye and Lochaber of the Highlands and Islands branch to be co- In Ross Skye and Lochaber I stood as a candidate ordinated by Dunoon-based Marij van Helmond. with the intention of profile-raising for Holyrood There is tentative interest amongst members and support for our target ward of Black Isle, in standing for the regional list for Holyrood which is where we concentrated our activity. and definite interest in standing for the council The campaign was a bit low-key in some elections in 2012 and starting that work now. It ways with only 2 hustings – I believe because has been a really positive outcome for all of us and organisations that might have run hustings had a I suspect the political future of Argyll and Bute will problem with Charles Kennedy’s availability. have a bit more than a smattering of Green. We did some doorknocking for the first time Elaine Morrison for several elections (not a proper canvas) and found a lot of goodwill towards the Greens and East Kilbride, Strathaven promises of a vote in the future when they have a and Lesmahagow second one to spare. So our task for Holyrood is This was the second time I have stood for East to make sure that happens! Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow in the On election night we joined the SNP’s ballot General Election as part of Target to Win. As ever, box sampling team and I have the results though we learned loads for next time when people will at time of writing haven’t studied them. hopefully feel that their Green vote will count. Support from the SGP centrally in terms of We got a few new volunteers, did some great press and resources was good. fundraising and told people about our principles Lessons for next year – more doorknocking so (particularly our anti-poverty angle). On the more helpers needed! media side, I enjoyed working to support other Eleanor Scott candidates’ media work in my temporary job with the Greens – hopefully we’ll be rolling out Argyll and Bute more media support for future elections. But This was the first time that had the undoubted highlight of the election came at stood in the Argyll and Bute constituency. It 6am on the Friday morning – our first Green MP! seemed to me that it was fertile ground for us Thanks to everyone for their support to all the long term and in the meantime my campaign candidates. had the following aims: to mobilise and energise Kirsten Robb existing members; to increase our support and Lanarkshire Branch membership base; to give people the option of

 Election – Full SGP Results

Seat Candidate Vote 2010 Vote 2005 ± Rhonda Aberdeen South 413 1·0% 768 1·9% -355 -0·9% Reekie Elaine Argyll & Bute 789 1·8% 789 1·8% - - Morrison Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale Alis 510 1·1% 510 1·1% - - and Tweeddale Ballance Shiona Dundee East 542 1·3% 542 1·3% - - Baird East Kilbride Strathaven Kirsten 1,003 2·0% 1,575 3·3% -572 -1·3% and Lesmahagow Robb James East Lothian 862 1·8% 1,132 2·5% -270 -0·7% Mackenzie Robin Edinburgh East 2,035 5·1% 2,266 5·7% -231 -0·6% Harper Kate Edinburgh North and Leith 1,062 2·2% 2,482 5·8% -1,420 -3·6% Joester Steve Edinburgh South 881 2·0% 1,387 3·3% -506 -1·3% Burgess Clare Edinburgh South West 872 1·9% 1,520 3·5% -648 -1·6% Cooney Alastair Glasgow Central 800 2·6% 1,372 4·9% -572 -2·3% Whitelaw Martin Glasgow North 947 3·2% 2,135 7·7% -1,188 -4·5% Bartos Moira Glasgow North West 882 2·5% 1,333 3·9% -451 -1·4% Crawford Marie Glasgow South 961 2·4% 1,303 3·4% -342 -1·0% Campbell Sue Gordon 752 1·5% 752 1·5% - - Edwards Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch Donnie 789 1·7% 1,065 2·4% -276 -0·7% and Strathspey Macleod Ian Midlothian 595 0·9% 595 0·9% - - Baxter Ochil and Hilary 609 1·2% 978 2·1% -369 -0·9% South Perthshire Charles Eleanor Ross, Skye and Lochaber 777 2·2% 1,097 3·1% -320 -0·9% Scott Mark Stirling 746 1·6% 1,302 3·0% -556 -1·4% Ruskell Totals 16,827 2·1% *

* The average vote in the 20 seats we stood in was 2·1%; the rate of the overall vote was 0·7%.

Meanwhile Down South . . .

As well as the success of Caroline Lucas, the We see no sign of a move to actual proportional Green Party of England & Wales achieved some representation at this point, whether or not the particularly high results in Norwich South (14·5%) present coalition survives. and Cambridge (7·6%). As in Scotland, the Green Still, Greens have now share of the vote was squeezed down by tactical demonstrated clearly that voting ... which probably seemed a better idea at we can win under the old the time than it does to many voters in retrospect. system, and we can surely Hopefully we will be able to bid farewell to do better in future, with any the old voting system before the next election. kind of voting.  Letters Views

Growth governed by entropy is a system of Caroline Lucas described the 2010 collective masochism in which the Westminster manifesto as “left-wing poorest suffer first. Social justice plus”, an apt description of a boldly and sustainability are two sides of redistributive platform, causing the same coin. some to compare the party to a There is more to the Green watermelon: green on the outside Party, but I would be content if but deep red where it matters. we defined our core distinctive as Some have murmured their this simple, sellable and sensible discontent: “what about the belief in the limits of growth. It environment?” – as if this could is a genuinely countercultural Art and Ecology be separated from the economy; economic position, and one which but our party’s contribution is requires wholehearted advocacy. The Work of SGP Member to be concerned with the most Mark Calder, Aberdeen Alexander Hamilton sustainable solution to the basic No-one viewing Alexander Hamilton’s economic problem of scarce Democracy sensitive cyanotypes of flowers and plants resources and (supposedly) limitless When I see the Queen on our (shown above and at the Fruitmarket demand. If we lose sight of the television screens or in the Gallery) can doubt his empathy with materialist grounds of politics newsapers, or the House of Lords, I nature. At the age of 12, his family moved there is the danger of becoming always think: Do we really live in a from Northampton to Caithness, and in the dangerously authoritarian or democracy? Flow Country he began a love affair with quixotic and irrelevant. The House of Lords is an the natural environment which was to be Of course, our opposition to unelected, completely un- the focus of his life’s work. capitalism should not be articulated democratic branch of law-making, Raised near Dunnett Head, he spent his in 19th Century terms, such that so is the Monarchy. And really, youth scrabbling up and down cliffs. He we reincarnate rhetoricians of what have either of them was fascinated by the fossils and plants class struggle, of big, centralised contributed to our society? How collected by Thurso baker Robert Dick in statism, and of bureaucratic have they helped us and how do the 1850s, displayed in the local museum. unionism. We should not be a they benefit us? At Edinburgh College of Art, Alex hoped party that despises markets, neither The Monarch still has an to explore his interest in viewing the should we deny the elegance of incredible amount of power, she essence of nature through the human spirit, the price mechanism, even if we can dissolve Parliament, choose but found his tutors were only interested in are rightly suspicious of their use new Prime Ministers, sack Prime depicting nature from behind an easel. It in capitalist quasi-libertarianism. Ministers (which she has done was only with the advent of Joseph Beuys But it is possible to articulate our previously in Australia!) grant in the 1970s that Alex found another artist aspirations in terms libertarians clemencies; she even controls the who shared his way of looking at nature. understand, because there is army. The House of Lords is equally Beuys had trained as a botanist and had a nothing neutral or natural about powerful as the lower house. deep emotional connection to landscape the disconnect of people from Yet Her Majesty cost us £40 and a commitment to social engagement land, of wealth from resources. Any million in 2008, £12 million of through art. interventions to restore this link that coming straight from the Alex moved out of Edinburgh and went could even be viewed in terms of public purse. The Lords cost us a to live in a caravan in the Pentland Hills. responding to market failure. staggering £121 million between He started to work with installations of Importantly the shared core 2007-2008. plants and water. He wanted his tutors to of Green politics is actually quite This combined total of around travel out to Ninemileburn to see them, simple: a belief in entropy, a belief £160 million could build 5 Large but they insisted that he brought work into that growth is far from an adequate secondary schools with £10 million the college. It was only the intervention indicator of prosperity, that we now left to spare, or a hospital to save of the external examiner, who spotted the have to refuse to keep growing lives. When the government make potential in Alex’s vision, which resulted in and growing if we don’t want their cuts, the first place they his successful graduation in 1972. to undermine the ability of our should look should be the House In 1973, he went to live on the deserted species to live freely and securely of Lords, and close behind it, the island of Stroma to work with plants rather on planet earth. The manifesto Monarchy. than imposing his own view of them. He was exciting precisely because it So when it is said that we live in came across the work of Anne Atkins, who took such a broad view of freedom, a democracy, I always ask myself, is had used cyanotypes to record seaweeds, understanding that sanctifying that really true? and began to explore this medium. economic growth in a world Luca Scarabello In the 1990’s, Alex worked with scientists

 News & Campaigns from Edinburgh University to produce a series of images Glasgow Supports Our of the pollution found on tulip petals from Princes Street Indigenous Film Industry Gardens. The stunning images, shown at the Fruitmarket In May 2010, Glasgow Green Councillors were able to gain Gallery, showed that this pollution was caused by cross-party support to ensure that film-making can secure microscopic particles from the diesel used by buses and its future as part of Creative Scotland. A motion was put taxis, causing up to 300 deaths a year. forward to acknowledge the changing landscape for arts More recently, Alex was awarded a Leverhulme and culture due to the establishment of Creative Scotland Scholarship to study at John Ruskin’s house at Brantwood in June. We have noted the new era with Scottish Screen in the Lake District. Ruskin was interested in the plants and the Scottish Arts Council being brought together as which are generally overlooked, wild flowers, those which one entity. Now, communities will have an opportunity grow by the side of the road or on wasteland. In Proserpina, to promote their cultural life, artists, writers, film-makers, published between 1875 and 1882, Ruskin had explored musicians and world class cultural facilities to Andrew the relationship of people and nature, drawing on Goethe’s Dixon, the new Chief Executive of Creative Scotland. great book, The Metamorphosis of Plants. Ruskin’s idea was The history of Scottish film-making is a remarkable story. to try through practical experimentation to illustrate the In the 1980s, Bill Forsyth’s films Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero interconnectedness of people and plants. He established challenged the ‘mystical’ view of Scotland. They provided small-scale orchards and wheat fields to show that it invaluable experience for Scottish crew and established was possible to produce food on a small scale in a way the idea of a viable Scottish film industry, though it was sympathetic to the environment, working with nature. to be another decade before the idea really took root. It Ruskin was also one of the first writers to draw attention to is only in 1994, when Shallow Grave broke through that a the effects of pollution and the loss of connection to the native industry started to emerge. It brought together the natural world. notable talents of John Hodge, Andrew Macdonald and A British Council Darwin in 2009 award will allow Alex Danny Boyle. The Scottish Film Production Fund put public to continue to explore hidden phenology, working with an money into Shallow Grave at the script stage. institute in Poland and culminating in an exhibition at the At this time Glasgow was in the process of setting up Royal Botanic Gardens in May 2010 and a further exhibition the Glasgow Film Fund to attract film-makers to the city. called Natural Magic, at the Museo Bilotti in Rome in 2011. Shallow Grave was the first film to get support from the For further information on his latest projects, see: fund, which in turn was able to redirect its share of profits www.alexanderhamilton.co.uk into other films. Trainspotting, made by the same team, Rosemary Burnett followed in 1996. Unlike Shallow Grave, it became a hit in the United States. The cast included the nucleus of what House Banks would be a new wave of “Scottish” international stars. In Norway at the end of the war, the German troops Since 1997, much has been achieved on the back of these adopted a scorched-earth policy, pursued by the Russians successes with encouragement and backing from Scottish on their way South. There wasn’t much left of the towns Screen; most recently Peter Capaldi and Armando Iannucci and homes, and it gets chilly over here. in The Thick of It. The State created Husbanken (The House Bank). We have to thank the many inspiring figures involved The bank provided cheap loans to groups of neighbours in the short film schemes, the lottery funds, Glasgow getting together as work teams to build up their ruined Film Fund as well as Scottish Screen who have played homes again. The result? It worked like a dream, creating important roles in developing an indigenous film industry. a highly trained national work force and a harmonious As Creative Scotland takes over, it is understood that society. legislation makes it clear that it will honour all existing As a direct consequence Norway developed from the funding arrangements. The retention of the Scottish poorest country in the world to the richest in just 25 years, Screen offices provides a base in Glasgow from which able to take over their oil industry within just 10 years from Creative Scotland can fulfil its commitment to continue to the start with a fully trained national work force. assist the development of the City’s arts and cultural sector. Perhaps the government could establish a similar House Bank under the same conditions; convert the homes of Support for Nuclear Weapons Abolition today into places of pride, creating neighbourhoods based On Saturday 5th June 2010, thousands of people gathered on respect and harmony and the creation of thousands at nuclear weapons bases to call for the abolition of nuclear of jobs; a massive activity and demand for all required weapons. Martha Wardrop joined members of Womens products and a massive boost to industry. International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Scotland The new areas to be designed as places of great beauty and Scottish CND at North Gate of Faslane Trident base. and harmony. Every house, a different design – plants, Further information at: gardens, food allotments and workshops, to mention just a = http://www.ukwilpf.org.uk/ few opportunities. = http://www.lionaid.org/ John Herron, [email protected] Martha Wardrop  (continued) Campaigns Greenprint welcomes submissions on any topic, but reserves the right to edit Land Tax – Basic Points Other Assets Taxes or reject submissions. The date for first Fair Taxes Capital gains tax and inheritance submissions (which can include outlines) tax leave any capital gain untaxed for the next edition is 30 August 2010. The housing market is like a until the sale or transfer of the The mailing date will be around compulsory lottery, with relative property. So they punish mobility 27 September 2010 (subject to events). poverty as the punishment for and collect less revenue than a failing to participate. Greenprint is available from Party tax at the same rate on the annual Most landowners got huge Branches, or by email (in colour). value of the property. Large Format paper versions are unearned gains between 1997 Wealth will be also be available on request. and 2007, but a land value tax redistributed unfairly and (LVT) would also affect recent first- Contact investment decisions distorted if time buyers, who have already [email protected] residential property is not taxed. paid the full price for their land. or phone 08700 772 207. Only irreplaceable essential Unfair taxes are demoralising assets, such as land, should be in the old-fashioned sense of taxed. Manufactured assets, with lowering the moral tone of prices approximately equal to the society. MPs’ expenses claims cost of replacement, have limited Advertise in Greenprint for second homes are a recent speculative potential. Speculation example. Greenprint goes out to around in luxury goods only affects 1,200 Scottish Green Party Capital Value connoisseurs and gamblers. members and to the public The annual value of a property Local Tax is equal to its capital value in both print and electronic If local LVT, paid by owners, multiplied by the interest rate plus (colour) formats. replaced Council Tax, paid by the property tax rate. The annual occupiers, rents would increase. Contact value of land is determined But subsequent variations in LVT [email protected] by its earning potential. The couldn’t always be matched by or phone 08700 772 207 capital value of buildings and variations in affordable rents. So for details of pricing. other manufactured assets in the long term LVT wouldn’t is determined by the cost of always be passed on to tenants. replacement. So any increase LVT is financially equivalent to in property tax is balanced the planning gains sometimes elsewhere in the equation, with demanded from developers by an increase in the annual value The Scottish Green Party is local councils. With local LVT, of buildings or a decrease in the the council effectively becomes affiliated with other Green capital value of land. owner of part of the capital value Parties in the UK, Europe and The tax rate on the capital increase, and collects the rent on around the World. Currently value of land should be kept it as LVT. within the same range as interest we have two MSPs and rates, so that no more than half Speculative Bubbles eight Councillors elected in of the annual value is collected The average UK house price Scotland, with more joining us as tax. Pressure for maximum increased by about 170% as the basic integrity of Green exploitation of land would be between 1997 and 2007. That’s avoided, and there would still about 10·4% per year, giving politics becomes ever clearer. be reliable market information an annual gain in capital value For more news about Green Party about capital values. Effectively, approximately equal to the activities around Scotland, in half of the land would have been average (median) income. Councils, at Holyrood, and on nationalised. The purpose of land tax is the Streets, visit: LVT should be phased in slowly the prevention of bubbles and so that future capital gains are speculation, and the collection www.scottishgreens.org.uk reduced, rather than current land of some of the unearned value. I Or subscribe to the SGP’s prices. Ancient woodland and don’t think a logical fair economy News email list at: wetlands should not be taxed. can be achieved without it. www.scottishgreens.org.uk/news Alison Marshall Edinburgh Green Party.

Greenprint is the Scottish Green Party’s journal, published roughly quarterly in paper and electronic versions, by the Scottish Green Party, 20 Graham Street, Edinburgh EH6 5QR. This edition is edited by Rosemary Burnett ([email protected]). This edition’s paper version is printed on recycled paper by Cowan Print, 23 Brougham Street, Edinburgh EH3 9JS. Views expressed in articles herein are not necessarily those of the Scottish Green Party or its members.