Father’s Day: Green candidates inspired by their children to run for office

Niall Christie and Gordon Miller are both running for the first time in the Westminster seats of Glasgow South, and Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke respectively.

Speaking on National Father’s Day Sunday, both reflected deeply on the extent to which their children had transformed their outlook on life and inspired them to fight for a healthier, fairer planet on which they could grow.

Christie – who recently became a father to 12-week-old Noah – has been a member of the Scottish Greens for many years, but until now has not felt compelled to throw his hat into the election ring.

“I was looking at the potential ballot in Glasgow South and thinking there is no one there who represents what I think or who offers a future for my children and my family,” he said.

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The 31-year-old added that his frustration was caused by a seeming lack of discussion about building a better world for generations to come.

“I’ve always been a progressive socialist, but since we found out we had Noah, I think I may have been more radicalized into thinking that it takes action rather than just words,” continued Christie.

“We are witnessing, for example, a real fight for the climate in this election. As for the future, there is no big conversation right now.

“As a new father, if I didn’t feel strongly about it, I wouldn’t run. I wouldn’t spend many of my son’s formative months on the campaign trail if I didn’t think it was essential that we try to ensure he had a livable planet.

“Everyone knows someone in this (next) generation and we need to think about that first rather than just the shame of the last 14 years of the Tories. The other parties are not doing so at the moment.

Miller – who previously stood in local elections in North Lanarkshire – also said his two-year-old twins, Blair and Hamish, had radically changed the way he saw the world, with his ambitions to go into politics now fueled by making a difference in their lives. future.

He said: “When you don’t have children, you have the privilege of not having to think about what your future will look like in 40 years.

“You can focus only on what matters to you, your immediate family and your friends, but you don’t need to think about how we build the foundation for our children to reach their potential in everything they do. ‘they choose.

Gordon Miller (left) with his twins Blair and Hamish, and Niall Christie (right) with his son Noah (Image: NQ)

“For me, it’s now about what the next 80 years have in store for Blair and Hamish and then their children after that and their children after that.”

Christie and Miller insist the Tories and Labor have taken and will continue to take a “disgusting” approach to supporting young people, with the Tories apparently continuing to believe Universal Credit is enough for families can live, while Labor has shown no sign of wanting to. to get rid of their rivals’ two-child limit and “rape clause.”

At the same time, while much can be said for progressive policies such as the baby box and the Scottish Child Payment, candidates say they do not go far enough to protect children’s futures and that politicians should constantly be thinking about how they can be more radical to ensure that the needs of families are met.

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Miller, 40, said: “When we look at the future basis of policy-making in Scotland, it needs to be more progressive, it needs to be more than what we see now.

“The Scottish Greens in government have managed to secure some phenomenal budget positions, such as free bus travel for young people. This is the real challenge for me now, how to go further?

“When we talk about the cost of living crisis and global crises around the world, we need to be clear about whether we are now meeting the needs of families. Is this the most progressive we can do or can we go even further?

There are a number of policies that both men want to fight for in a bid to create a more level playing field for all and Christie believes this can start with the Greens fighting for more progressive policies at Westminster, such as a universal basic income.

“Labour has been saying for some weeks that all roads lead to Westminster, and the overall payment we receive in Scotland is massively affected by what happens at Westminster,” he said.

“Westminster policy can radically change the way Scotland is funded, for the better, and that could mean better schools or safer homes for people.

“I think there are ways to do this, like a universal basic income. This is not just about reducing inequality – which it will – but it also means that people on maternity or paternity leave receive a basic income while they are on leave.

“I think about things like a wealth tax; more progressive taxation at Westminster would complement the already progressive taxation we have at Holyrood and we could go further and it would mean that local services like councils which are being abolished can thrive in the coming years. Otherwise, they will wither.

Better support for new parents is also a top priority for Miller, whose children were born prematurely.

He and his wife Fiona had to spend four to five months with them in hospital, which could easily have left the mother with almost no maternity leave.

The generosity of his wife’s employer, who reset her maternity leave, meant that didn’t happen, but Miller is well aware that most others aren’t so lucky.

“There are a disproportionate number of people who are affected by poor regulations that don’t give them the same time with their children as others,” Miller said.

“We have a clear commitment that there will be statutory maternity and paternity leave covering 52 weeks of full pay. This commitment to the value of having a child with their parents for the first year without having the stress of financial burden is essential.

Christie added: “Increasing shared parental leave makes a big difference.

“You may be faced with either going broke or spending time with your family. We should not tolerate these kinds of choices in society.