Greens are not just about protest, we are about delivery - Lorna Slater
As this parliamentary term draws to a close on Wednesday, there is a natural moment for reflection. Five years ago, few could have imagined the role that the Scottish Greens would go on to play in shaping Scotland’s future. Today, that record speaks for itself.
I had the privilege of serving as one of the first Green ministers anywhere in the UK, a milestone not just for our party, but for the wider green movement. It showed that Green politics is not just about protest, it is about delivery.
From inside government, we proved that our values can translate into real, tangible change for people across Scotland.
One of the clearest examples of Green influence in Scotland is free bus travel for everyone under 22. Through the co-operation agreement between the Scottish Greens and the SNP back in 2021, which saw Patrick Harvie and I enter Nicola Sturgeon’s Government, it has transformed how hundreds of thousands of young people move around our country. It has opened up access to education, work and social opportunities, while cutting emissions and easing pressure on family finances.
Since its launch, hundreds of millions of journeys have been taken, a lasting legacy of what electing Green voices to Parliament can achieve.
But that is only part of the story. In government, Scottish Greens pushed for action to support tenants during the cost of living crisis, helped scrap peak rail fares, and drove forward investment in walking, wheeling and cycling.
Crucially, we changed the conversation. For the first time, environmental responsibility and social justice were not side issues, they were central to how Scotland is governed. That shift matters and it would not have happened without Green MSPs at the heart of Parliament.
Now, as we approach the Holyrood election on May 7th, the question is what comes next.
The challenges we face are urgent. Families are still feeling the strain of rising costs, our climate crisis is accelerating and too many people are being held back by a lack of opportunity.
That is why the Scottish Greens are setting out bold, practical solutions, expanding free childcare, strengthening environmental protections and giving people a real say over Scotland’s future, including the choice of independence. We can and should extend the free bus travel to people of all ages and bring in similar schemes for rail and ferries too.
This election is a chance to build on the progress we have made. With more Scottish Green MSPs, we can go further and faster, delivering policies that improve lives and protect our planet.
The past five years have shown what is possible. The next five can go even further. It would be my honour to represent the people of Edinburgh again in doing so.