MAGGIE Chapman says she is “delighted” about being elected as a Green MSP – and that the party has now overtaken the LibDems.
The North East region, which is an area dominated by oil and gas, elected Chapman as its first Green representative since the 2003 parliamentary election.
Chapman, who ran on the same list in 2016 but missed out on a seat, said she believes the Green Party’s vision for moving past oil and gas had struck a chord with voters in the region.
Speaking to the National, she said: “I’m delighted and really pleased with the result, I’m quite humbled by the faith the people of the North East have placed in a Green given everything that the North East faces in the coming wee while.
“I think it’s a signal that maybe there’s a recognition that we need to be clear about the plan we have for the just transition, the last thing we want to happen to all of the workers in the oil and gas industry is for them to be out of a job without their being any thought or clear plan for their futures and for the future of the communities that they live in and support them.
“I think we saw quite clearly the consequences of de-industrialisation and the shift away from coal as an energy supply and the destruction that did for the communities of the central belt and elsewhere.
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“We need to be very clear that we have to be implementing the plan for the future now so when those jobs do end there is something for them and that plan involves investing in jobs of the future, in renewables, public transport and warm homes.”
Chapman added that the Greens “uniform growth” across the country showed that the climate crisis was beginning to hit home with voters.
She added: “They want to see the government pushed to be more progressive, more radical I think and that’s reflected in the uplift of the Green vote across the country and the number of seats we hold. We do hold again the balance of power with a minority SNP government, the Greens can be a real influence for good in the coming parliamentary term.”
And on overtaking the LibDems, not only in the North East where they didn’t win a regional seat but countrywide, Chapman added: “We’ve had that target in our sights, and I mean it’s great, it cements the Scottish Greens position as a very clear voice in the Scottish Parliament, that the pro-independence opposition voice in Parliament, but also the fourth party in Scotland which is I think is very positive for us. Obviously I would say this but I think it’s very positive for Scotland as well.”
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