Ross Greer

Delaying the roll out to the rest of the country by up to five years is completely unacceptable though.

If they’re allowed to go ahead, hyperscale data centres will be another case of multinational companies extracting huge profits from Scotland whilst our economy sees next to no benefit and our environment suffers.

These giant tech firms are desperate to get their hyperscale data centres approved before the penny drops and the Scottish Government realises what a disaster they would be.

I hope that the First Minister will ignore these corporate lobbying efforts, hit pause on all applications immediately and protect the interests of people and planet.

The Scottish Government can already borrow through existing routes which are cheaper and lower risk. Why would the SNP choose to issue expensive bonds instead, especially when they put another barrier in the way of Scottish independence?

The richest 2% have more wealth than half the population combined.

The Scottish Government must call time on this idea and start looking towards serious investment plans that are proven to work.

Our country needs investment in transport, in homes, in hospitals and schools, but these bonds are not the way to achieve it.

The Scottish Government needs to drop this bonds plan and use its regular borrowing powers to deliver the homes, rail lines and public services that our communities are crying out for.

Borrowing to meet Scotland’s infrastructure demands isn’t just a good idea, it's crucial.

Rather than wasting time on endless reviews and discussions, the Scottish Government should fix the taxes already under its control.

The super-rich take around 12,000 private jet flights in Scotland every year. That is nothing short of a disaster for our climate.

The public shouldn’t have to pay the price for multi-millionaires and billionaires hopping between their shooting estates and super yachts.

This is a non-answer from the Scottish Government and they know it. When it comes to supporting Palestine and opposing Israel, their actions just do not match their words.

This was a simple test of the Scottish Government’s commitment to boycotting companies complicit in some of the gravest war crimes of this century, and they failed it.

There is no BDS-compliant way to work with Barclays. The bank has financed companies supplying the weapons used in Israel’s genocide against Palestinians and it is a partner in the Israeli government’s own bond scheme.

Companies that profit from apartheid and genocide against Palestinians should not be rewarded with Scottish Government partnerships, it’s as simple as that. Cosying up to Barclays is the opposite of what our Parliament voted for.

My hope is that their party’s national council decision will help to concentrate minds.

We only need to look at the minutes of a recent meeting between the First Minister and industry lobbying group ScotlandIS, which are worth quoting at length for the sheer brazenness of their approach.

Ross urged the First Minister to order an immediate moratorium on all data centre proposals over 50 megawatts, introduce a requirement for all data centres over 50 megawatts to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment, and a clear…

The case for independence must be credible, serious and focused on how we can improve people’s lives with the full powers of a normal nation.

Scotland needs investment in homes, bus and rail services, schools and hospitals.

Governments borrowing to build this kind of infrastructure makes total economic sense, but these bonds are not the way to do that.

Scotland’s public finances are under huge pressure right now. The answer to that challenge must include serious investment plans from the Scottish Government, not risky gimmicks like this.