Scottish Greens debate nuclear energy and Hamas proscription

The Scottish Green Party is facing internal debate over two significant policy issues. At an upcoming party conference in Inverness, members will vote on a motion that could change party policy to support new nuclear power in Scotland, provided the plants are “passively safe and do not produce large quantities of nuclear waste”. Co-leader Gillian Mackay has expressed firm opposition to the motion, citing high costs, long construction timelines, and the challenges of waste disposal and decommissioning.

Separately, Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer has called on the UK government to reverse its 2021 decision to proscribe Hamas in its entirety. While Greer maintains that the military wing of the organization should remain proscribed, he argues that the political wing must be engaged with to facilitate peace negotiations. He compared the situation to the peace process in Northern Ireland, suggesting that banning the political wing of an organization can act as a barrier to stability.