Politics / Local Greens announce new leadership and invite public to meeting discussing council finances
SHETLAND Greens have elected Amy Garrick-Wright and Rod Read as the party’s co-conveners for the isles.
The local branch of the Scottish Green Party has also selected a new committee in the hope of building on its general election campaign which saw candidate Alex Armitage come third with just over 10 per cent of the vote.
Garrick-Wright, from Cunningsburgh, said many people are turning to the Greens for a fresh perspective in a political landscape that feels increasingly stagnant.
“They’re drawn to progressive social policies that offer real relief for those impacted by the cost of living crisis – policies that prioritise taxing wealth, not workers,” she said.
“We’re calling for a pragmatic approach to the climate crisis, one that begins by avoiding decisions that would worsen the situation. It’s time to invest in solutions that secure a sustainable future for everyone”
Read, an engineer based in Nesbister, described himself a tech positive guy “brought up in engineering and the wind”.
He said: “I’m confident that Scotland can abolish fuel poverty while building an energy independent country, which exports only 100% renewable energy to the benefit of all.
“I’m also confident in the opportunities and benefits AI computing can bring as we design an abundant and low impact future.
“I’m all for improving outdoor access. We all need time in nature to understand how special our place on earth is and how much we should work to defend it.”
The party’s new committee is made up of Martin Randall as welfare and conduct officer, Alex Armitage as press officer, Debra Nicolson as elections and campaigns officer, Selina-May Miller as events officer and Joanne Thompson as trade union liaison officer.
The Greens also said they would be holding regular meetings for local party members, including bi-monthly policy and ideas meetings, at which members of the public are also welcome.
The first such meeting will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) at 7.30pm in the Islesburgh Community Centre when councillor Alex Armitage will facilitate a discussion on the financial situation facing the Shetland Islands Council.
“The SIC is in a perilous financial situation, with spending on our vital services outstripping funding from central government by tens of millions of pounds a year,” he said.
“We know that going down the road of more cuts to vital services will end up pushing ordinary folk deeper into poverty.
“In Shetland, we have significant reserves; it’s vital that we make the right decisions about how our resources are best invested for the future – for people and planet. All are welcome to join the discussion tomorrow night”
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