Welcome to conference. It’s exciting to see so many of you here, ahead of such a key election for our party: elections which will be the culmination of four extraordinary years in Scottish politics. My original speaking instructions were…
Category: Green Politics (page 3)
No detriment and the weakness of Smith
We’ve heard much about no detriment this week, with the Scottish Government and most members of the Smith Commission being at odds, unsurprisingly, with the UK Government, about the design and impact of the new Fiscal Framework for Scotland given…
100 days to go: why you should #VoteGreen2016
In 100 days, Scotland will be voting for its next parliament, and choosing its next government. I have the huge honour of being the lead candidate for the North East of Scotland region, and I hope that, come 6th May,…
After the Co-Convener Election – what is to be done?
Well that was quite a campaign! I’m very grateful to the Scottish Green Party for re-electing me as co-convener. My quest to reclaim the name ‘Maggie’ for all-that-is-good in politics continues! I’d like to thank everyone who voted for…
Scottish Green leadership positions should not reduce gender to two boxes
This was first published on Kaleidoscot: The Scottish Green Party has two co-conveners of different genders. I am currently one of these, and am running for re-election. This attempt to balance is based on an important principle. We don’t…
Speech to South of Scotland Greens conference
I was asked to speak at the South of Scotland Greens conference, here’s what I said: I joined the Green Party in 2004, convinced by the last mass movement – that against the Iraq War – that we needed a…
My manifesto to #ReelectMaggie
I’m ambitious for the Scottish Green Party. Scotland needs us to be successful, and we must aim to fulfill that ambition. By 2021, I want us to be in position to be the main party of opposition. It’s not only…
How Greens can be the Holyrood opposition by 2021
An edited version of this article appeared in The National on the 28th October: The Scottish Greens today have around the same number of members as the SNP had in 2003. I see no reason why our party can’t grow…
Fighting cuts to Tax Credits is the first step to true social security
It’s no wonder the Tories waited until after the election to announce their tax credit cuts. The brutal impact will be felt by huge numbers of people who thought that when Osborne promised to slice ‘benefits’, he meant someone else’s.…
Vote Maggie Chapman #1 for Holyrood 2016
I am standing for selection to the regional list of the Scottish Greens for next year’s Holyrood elections. Here’s why. I think this election is vital: it is important that we use the next Holyrood session to shape our economic,…