66 Years To Insulate The Country

Way back in the mists of time...well, okay, the start of this year, the Scottish Government were trying to get their budget through parliament. Because they are a minority government this means some horse-trading with the other parties, some give-and-take.

Except at some point, they forgot that they had to give-and-take and decided that instead they would swat the Green Party like an annoying fly that can't find the open window.

The Greens were willing to close their eyes and pretend that money wasn't really going to road projects, if the government would pay to insulate every home in the country. The project would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by almost 6% a year, and would have saved every family over £300 a year in heating costs.

The government got annoyed when the budget failed on the first attempt at getting it through parliament, and so went cap-in-hand to the other parties while blaming the Greens for the whole thing and refusing them something they had previously been warm to. Instead, they went for a poorly-funded alternative scheme.

It's no surprise that they've now admitted that the scheme is failing. They reckon that it will now take 66 years to insulate all of Scotland's homes to a basic standard.

It's yet another example of the SNP government talking the talk but not walking the walk. I'm sure they found it funny to cut the Green Party out of the budget back in February. I'm not sure future generations will find it so hilarious.