Scottish Greens outline pledges

Robin Harper is eyeing electoral success for the Scottish Greens

The Scottish Green Party has told its spring conference that voters "should speak with their hearts" during the general election.

Addressing delegates in Glasgow, Scottish Green co-convener Robin Harper said it would put people and communities before business interests.

The party's election pledges include plans to cancel debt, halt nuclear programmes and scrap ID cards.

The Greens claim they are the fastest growing political party at Holyrood.

The party said it should be an attractive proposition to voters because it wants to promote peace, end the arms trade, increase aid, abolish VAT, develop renewable energy and introduce a Citizen's Income.

It also pledged to protect civil liberties, control supermarkets and help build local economies.

Who does what - Westminster or Holyrood?

Mr Harper said voters from Skye to Dumfries were being given the chance to vote for "real progress" in a Westminster election.

"Our biggest attraction for the voter will be when they know that the Greens are the only party to connect social justice, the environment and the economy," he said.

"In this campaign Greens will put the public interest and communities first, not big business interests; call for serious action on climate change as the biggest threat facing humanity; and for peaceful approaches to resolving conflict."

'Poor record'

He said the party had made extraordinary progress since 1999.

"We have a fair chance of getting someone elected in Edinburgh North or Kelvin Glasgow," Mr Harper added.

"We really do have a chance, if the people of Scotland realise that a Green vote is not a wasted vote, they have a chance to speak with their hearts."

The Scottish Greens are contesting 20 seats across the country - nearly five times as many as they did in 2001.

Shiona Baird MSP, Green co-convener, said: "Putting the interests of big business and corporations before communities and people has become a hallmark of the Labour/Lib Dem coalition one that will no doubt see them suffer at this election.

"The Lib Dems' poor record on the environment and social justice - GM crops, congestion charging, the Glasgow M74 - shows their true colours, and they could hardly be less green."

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