Sadly, I still hear a lot of people say yep, Greens, nice policies, but you're not going to get elected are you? Well, Greens are getting elected and the video below shows the difference a group of Green councillors can make. In Kirklees, Green councillors have implemented the first universal free insulation scheme in the UK. They've also been instrumental in increasing the amount of renewable energy generated in the area. The video below explains the impact much better than I could, and shows what Greens can achieve when they get elected in large enough numbers.

It's great to see Leith Walk councillor, and candidate for co-convenor of the Scottlsh Green Party, Maggie Chapman, making moves to implement a similar scheme in Edinburgh. Are there enough Greens in Edinburgh to push it through? Not yet perhaps, so if they're going to get the go ahead, it will require the support of some of the other parties. These proposals will act as a real test of the environmental credentials of the other parties in Edinburgh. I have to say, on their current track record I'm not optimistic of their support. The seem more concerned with increasing investment in roads. But when unemployment is rising, inflation is going up, energy bills going up even more, and ongoing climate change concern it's hard to think of a project that would address these issues in a more simple or effective way.