Countdown to Holyrood: Ariane Burgess

With Scotland's parliamentary elections just around the corner, we're bringing you Countdown to Holyrood—our take on the 2026 campaign.

In this series, we sit down with politicians from across the independence spectrum to discuss their vision for Scotland's future. From policy priorities to campaign strategies, hear directly from the candidates and party representatives shaping the conversation leading up to May's election.

Our guest tonight is Ariane Burgess, Scottish Green Party who has been MSP for Highlands and Islands region since 2021.

Key themes:

00:01:10  Campaigning in Highlands and Islands region
00:01:45   Free bus travel
00:05:00   Childcare
00:06:09   Solve rural issues first
00:07:08   Housing
00:09:54   Community confidence building
00:12:28   Local decision making
00:15:10   Who owns the land?
00:21:57   The extractive model
00:23:19   Community energy, community benefit
00:27:38   Ardrossan Harbour example
00:29:41   Scotland's innate sense of community
00:31:36   Achieving our independence

Find  Araine's podcast Regenerative Scotland here https://open.spotify.com/show/7BuUGJkSa4oZRF1lFrxQE1

Find out more about the Scottish Green Party election manifesto here :
https://greens.scot/collections/2026-holyrood-election

Whether you're passionate about Scottish independence, curious about the key issues, or simply want to understand what's at stake, this series offers  in-depth interviews with the voices driving Scotland's political debate.

New episodes come out regularly throughout the campaign. Subscribe to stay updated as we count down to one of Scotland's most significant electoral moments.

#holyrood2026 #scottishgreenparty #scottishindependence

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Music:

Inspired by Kevin MacLeod

Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.