97 public libraries in Scotland have permanently closed since 2008.

Libraries are an essential community service, providing far more than just books. We'll ensure councils have the financial backing they need so that no community is left without access to one.

MRPs are basically nonsense as a general rule (looking at you MiC), but JLP are being particularly egregious, publishing totally incorrect numbers for both Scotland and Wales. The Telegraph should be asking for a refund.

New plans to introduce voucher scheme that will help people save money The Scottish Greens want to introduce a repair voucher scheme that will help people save money.

We've all been there, when something breaks and it's cheaper to bin & replace rather than repair it.

The @scottishgreens.org's discounted repairs scheme would be good for buyers, for businesses and for our planet.

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Start of spokes article #Holyrood2026 : Travelling Backwards The Holyrood election on 7 May is critical to active travel and wider transport policies and budgets for the next 5 years. Is there a local project being planned that you’re looking forward to? – in Edinburgh, say Meadows to George Street, or Portobello to Musselburgh? When and if such projects will happen depends largely on the existence and size of the Scottish Government active travel budget. Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis this year’s manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. This article includes an analysis of the various party manifestos, and lots of other relevant info. We will add more as it becomes available.

Table comparing AT investment promises in 2021 and 2026 manifestos. Sorry, tables don't come out well in ALT text! Key to tables below++Very good and/or best+good=mixed, unclear, or less good than other parties-poor (or unrealistic) - -very disappointing NNot in manifesto [N is generally disappointing, but depends on the issue, so think!] Page numbers shown are to pages of each party’s 2026 manifesto 2026 v 2021 comparison of AT Investment manifesto commitments Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis the 2026 manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. Only the Greens, and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, retain positive approaches. Whilst this applies to many policies and promises, the astonishing contrast is seen clearly in this comparative table on the top issue, active travel investment AT Investment Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP 2021 manifestos [AT funding then was approx £116m, roughly 3.5% of total transport] + 10% by 2026 ++ £320m immediately [approx 10%] rising further + 10% [unclear if soon or by 2026] = “aim” to double existing [this would be approx 7%] N/A = 10% of “capital” bgt by 2026 [BUT this is less of the total transport bgt] 2026 manifestos [AT funding is now approx £163m, roughly 3.9% of total transport] - - p35; p75 cut the AT budget; end ring-fenced cash to councils ++ p26 at least 10%; multi-year funding N = p66 “Invest in active travel for the first and last mile” - - p11 End ring-fenced cash to councils = p64 £2.5m for bike repair; new fund for outdoor recreation paths

Table of party manifesto comparisons (page 1) 2026 manifesto overall comparisons Note that the manifestos include more transport policies/promises than are shown here, particularly on walk, bus and rail. We hope this table includes most of the items directly relevant to cycling, as well as some relevant wider transport issues. Also, note that if something is not in a manifesto, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though it is less likely to. Issue Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP AT Investment [from above table] - - ++ N = - - = Extent of cycle/AT routes/networks ambition - - p36 “End the obsession with cycle lanes” Cycle lanes only ok if not using road or pavement space ++ p26 “national blueprint of walking, cycle and wheeling networks“; faster Council AT project delivery N + p66 “Investing in active travel for the first and last mile” = p23 Rural Scotland: “support outdoor recreation ... cycling … with accessible paths” = p64 outdoor recreation paths fund; no Roseburn tram; support Powderhall AT path [see note 3 below] Is AT recognised and supported as a public health measure - p57 Only considers leisure centres & sport + p163 “space to walk, run, play, wheel and cycle is a right not a privilege” N ++ p33 & p61 “Supporting wellbeing by making it easier for people to use active travel” N N Neighbourhoods / Car-free lifestyles N + p118 “Support local living and 20-minute nbd approaches” N + p52 New towns “prioritising features such as rail links.. and 20-minute nbds” N N Disincentivise car use/ Demand management - - p35 “End the war on drivers”; No targets; stop any Workplace Parking levies or congestion charging ++ p22 Seek road-user taxation powers for Scotland ++ p33 Levy on out-oftown retail, to support towns + p89 Business rates replaced by a new levy favouring town centre retail & hospitality = p73 “Moving all forms of transport away from fossil fuels” – But carrotsonly approach - - p21 “End the war on the car“ N 20mph - p36 20mph only ok where locals…

Table of party manifestos (page 2) Potholes - - p33 Fund pothole filling by cutting (scrapping?) the AT budget N + (or - -) p49 £350m fund [see note 1 below] + p64 “fair funding” for councils; use of new technology + p21 “Fix potholes” + p72 “up to £350m” for potholes & resurfacing Air pollution including Low Emission Zones - - p36 Halt more LEZs and reduce fines in existing ++ p118 expand LEZs, plus stronger monitoring N - - p21 Abolish LEZs N Transport integration, with respect to active travel = p38 Rail, bus & tram integration; no mention of walk/ bike + p22, p26 Better AT links to public transport; All new rail, bus, tram to carry bikes N N N N Road building - - p34 New law to fasttrack trunk road upgrades; dual A9 by 2031; many other trunk projects + p22 Future-proof roads like A83 vulnerable to climate change; no mention of expansion - - p49 Dual A9 by 2035, look into dualling A77 and A75, & create National Roads Plan - - p64 Dual A9 & A96; - - p21 “plan to upgrade major trunk roads” [see note 2 below] - - p71 Dual A9 by 2035, also parts of A96; and consider A75, A77 Air travel taxation ADT= Air departure tax - - p39 oppose any new taxes; reduce long-haul tax ++ p34 frequent flyer levy; private jet tax; more.. N + p66 Higher tax for private jet passengers N + p27 private jet tax; including for ‘ghost’ flights USP – unique selling points (good and bad!) picked out by Spokes - - p33 1. AT schemes are “ideological projects” 2. ban bikes in all pedestrian areas + p16, p156 Universal rail card; £2 max bus fares + p122 Council powers to enforce traffic contraventions + p55 “Crush illegal e-bikes, using drones to track & trace unlicensed bikes” + p64 ”Dangerous Roads Programme“ - - p21 “End the war on the car“ + p38 £2 bus fare cap [1] Labour £350m pothole fund. The manifesto does not say where the money would come from. In early campaign speeches Anas Sarwar had said it would be from cutting Active Travel funding. On our estimate this would mean a 40% cut on curre…

#Holyrood2026 #SP26

Our #manifesto analysis
--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/04/holy...

We looked at #activetravel, mainly 🚲, and some related transport/environment, but not at 🚌🚆

1 Greens, excellent
2 LibDem, positive in a fairly modest way
3= Labour & SNP, poor
5 Reform, bad
6 Conservative, terrible

The demand for 'consensus' comes from parties who know the Council Tax is horrendously unfair, but who don't want to do anything about it and need someone else to blame.

The @scottishgreens.org are the only party to set out plans to scrap and replace CT in our manifesto.

Green campaigners gathered at the anti-racism march in the sunshine, at Kenmure Street.

Thanks to the @scottishgreens.org members who joined us at the Glasgow Southside anti-racism march.

When communities work together to oppose the far right, the tide can be turned.

Register to vote by midnight on Monday. www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Let's demand better. On May 7th vote Scottish Greens.

Your landlord is voting.
Your boss is voting.
Make sure you vote as well.

No matter where you live in Scotland, you can vote Scottish Greens on the peach ballot paper.

👉 www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

It was great chatting to the commuters in Inverness already saving money from the £2 bus fare cap secured by @scottishgreens.org MSPs 🚌

Now we want to go even further! Free bus travel for all is good for family budgets, local economies and our climate 💚

Scottish Government ‘rolling out red carpet’ for UAE despite Sudan war allegations and human rights record Documents show deputy first minister did not raise human rights once on trip to Gulf state accused of fuelling Sudan’s brutal war.

This is a disgraceful way for SNP Government Ministers to operate internationally.
It’s not who we are.
www.theferret.scot/scottish-gov...

Some really interesting conversations in Milngavie this afternoon, with more people committing to #VoteScottishGreens on their regional peach ballot 🗳️💚

Scottish Greens unveil plans for misogyny bill in next Holyrood session The Scottish Greens unveil plans for a Misogyny Bill, accusing the Scottish Government of failing to act urgently on tackling violence towards women.

Violence against women and girls is a national emergency that we all must commit to urgently tackling.

This legislation would be accompanied by funding for violence prevention services in local councils, schools, and community organisations to help end gender-based violence for good.

Photo of the South of Scotland regional ballot paper for the Scottish election on 7th May 2026. Added text identifies the "INDEPENDENT GREEN VOICE" as "NOT the Green Party" and "SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY" as "The actual Green Party".

Anyone who received their postal ballot today in the South of Scotland region, please be aware that "Independent Green Voice", which appears second on the list on the peach regional ballot paper, is NOT the Scottish Green Party. This is in fact a deliberate vote spoiling attempt by right-wingers.

Young people fuelling Greens surge locally, party’s co-leader says Ross Greer says he is ‘proud’ of protests against Nigel Farage

The Shetland Greens have made huge gains in recent years, including electing Cllr @alexjarmitage.bsky.social to an otherwise very independent-minded council.

It's been great chatting to people today about the reasons for that growing support, like our work to tackle the shortage of housing.

Scottish Greens will deliver free flexible childcare for all children aged 6 months to 2 years. Let's demand better. On May 7th vote Scottish Greens.

We shouldn't have to cut our working hours or cut back on essentials to make ends meet.

By expanding childcare we can save families £10,000 per child.

We're pledging:
🟢570 hours of funded childcare for every child from 6 months to 2 years
🟢1140 hours for all 2 year olds

All across the UK, Greens are working to bring hope back to politics.

With just 3 weeks until the election, the leader of the Green Party of Northern Ireland Mal O’Hara joined us to campaign on our shared vision for a fairer, greener future. 💚

The Labour spin machine is out in force tonight to deny this.

That's the same Labour spin machine who briefed journalists weeks ago that this is indeed their strategy 👇

Home Background Petition Holyrood '26 Holyrood '21 Press and Policy Candidates 2026 Inclusive Ban In Manifesto Scottish National Party Scottish Liberal Democrats Scottish Labour Party ?❌❌ Reform Scottish Conservative Party Scottish Green Party ✅?+✅ Alliance To Liberate Scotland Scottish Family Party ✗ Scottish Socialist Party UKIP Workers Party Alliance For Democracy and Freedom Advance U K IFSP IGV Scottish Common Party Scottish Libertarian Party TUSC Socialist Labour Party Animal Welfare Party Heritage Party Equality Party Christian Party Edinburgh East Lothian People Scottish Rural Party The Liberal Party Abolish The Scottish Parliament Party Communist Party Of Britain Freedom Alliance Party Pledge Tracker (19 pledged) SNP 5/97 pledged LibDems 2/77 pledged SGP 11/58 pledged Independent 1/32 pledged Labour 0/75 pledged Reform 0/71 pledged Conservatives 0/63 pledged Alliance To Liberate Scotland 0/35 pledged Scottish Family Party 0/34 pledged Scottish Socialist Party 0/21 pledged UKIP 0/

Better news with the next major party manifesto launch today - with nearly full marks to the @scottishgreens.org.

The Scottish Greens are also the leading party for candidate pledges, with nearly 20% of their candidates backing the campaign!

Contact your candidates and ask them to pledge.

Labour have repeatedly briefed the press on this strategy themselves

🚨 Reform confirmed it on live TV tonight - Labour have already approached them about working together in Scotland!

To stop that nightmare scenario and maximise the number of pro-independence MSPs instead, vote @scottishgreens.org on your regional (peach) ballot paper 💚🗳️

I know passionate supporters of LGBTQ+ equality in Labour who have felt increasingly marginalised in the party and unable to support the leadership's view.

But to see the manifesto include anti-trans policies rejected by their own party conference must surely be the last straw for many.

Learning doesn’t just happen behind a desk. Countries like Finland have shown that outdoor and play-based learning is better for young children.

Scottish Greens will:
🟢Raise the school starting age to 7
🟢Introduce a play-based kindergarten stage for 3 to 6 year olds

The fact the Labour Party, Tories and Reform all have specific policies to make it harder to come here and be a social care worker is absolutely disgraceful when this country is going through a social care crisis. #bbcdn

With enormous regret, SLAB is today advising supporters not to vote for ANY Scottish Labour candidate in this election. There are several pro-trans Labour candidates standing on 7 May, but a vote for them would now sadly be an endorsement of explicit transphobia. #NoVotesLabourInMay #TransRightsNow

BallotBoxScot's profile - Liberapay Ballot Box Scotland is already the leading Twitter source for all things elections in Scotland, but I need your help to keep growing!

Do you enjoy Ballot Box Scotland output? Find it useful in navigating the tricky waters of Scottish politics? Somehow have some spare cash lying around? Not already donating? Support always very gratefully received and with less than 4 weeks until the election, BBS is working my fingers to the bone!

Join the Scottish Greens Join the Scottish Greens today and be part of our growing movement. Why should I join?  We are always told that the system is broken, but it’s not. It’s rigged. It's rigged in favour of corporations, ...

If you share our vision for a fairer, greener, kinder Scotland, join our movement today 👇
#BBCDN

Absolutely dread to see what MIC's Holyrood MRP is going to spit out when their Westminster version is doing utter bollocks like this. Yes sure the Scottish Greens are polling on average double their 2024 result which is why their vote is going to half in their best constituency

Still smiling at this @ballotbox.scot projection of yesterday's Yougov poll.

Just two seats and 2% in it between the @scottishgreens.org and Labour.

Join our movement and help us beat them this May. Together we can change Scotland for the better 🥀💚

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