Scottish Greens Announce Major Childcare and Transport Policies
The Scottish Greens have committed to what they describe as the "biggest expansion to childcare in a generation" alongside offering free bus travel for all, ahead of the upcoming Holyrood election.
The party's co-leaders revealed these policies during their spring conference held in Glasgow.
Gillian Mackay stated that the party intends to extend the current funded childcare hours to all children in Scotland starting from the week after they turn two years old.
Ross Greer pledged to raise taxes on the super-rich and corporations to finance free bus travel across Scotland.
Mackay, who became a mother last year, explained that the childcare plan would provide funded places for an additional 43,000 children nationwide.
She emphasized the benefits of this expansion, saying it would lead to "more children learning, more parents back at work, and more money in families' pockets."
Furthermore, Mackay committed to offering 570 hours of funded childcare annually for every child aged six months to two years by the end of the next parliamentary term.
Current Childcare Funding and Proposed Changes
Currently, children aged three to five can access up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare per year.
However, funding for two-year-olds is limited to those whose parents meet specific eligibility criteria.
Mackay highlighted the financial strain on families, stating:
"Too many are being saddled with nursery fees that cost more than the mortgage.
Too many cutting back on essentials and having their choices made for them, rather than having the independence that comes with a fairer system.
That's why, at this election, the Scottish Greens are proposing the biggest expansion of funded childcare for a generation."
She added that the policy aims to eliminate the financial "cliff-edge" families face when maternity leave ends.
Free Bus Travel and Public Control of Transport
Ross Greer addressed delegates, noting the success of the existing scheme that allows under-22-year-olds to take 250 million free bus journeys since its introduction in 2022.
He stated:
"Our manifesto will commit to delivering free bus travel for everyone in Scotland.
And we'll provide it on a bus network that has been brought back under public control - ending that failed experiment.
We will bring to an end the four decades of failure that is the privatisation of the bus network."
Greer had initially announced the free bus travel proposal at the party's Autumn conference the previous year.
Criticism of Government and John Swinney
In his speech, Greer criticized First Minister John Swinney for attempting to "charm" US President Donald Trump.
He accused the Scottish government of an "unwillingness to act if it might upset the rich and powerful."
Addressing Swinney directly, Greer said:
"First minister, your attempts to charm Donald Trump have got you all the way to the Oval office, but they failed.
You've got nothing to show for them, and history will judge us all, especially the recent high office for what we do here and now."
