Lorna Slater
Lorna Slater writes political opinion columns for the Edinburgh Evening News that argue for structural change in how Scotland is governed, how its economy works, and how it treats the environment. Her pieces are rooted in her role as a Green parliamentarian, using the column to translate parliamentary debates and party priorities into clear arguments about power, fairness and long‑term sustainability. She focuses less on day‑to‑day political tactics and more on the choices that shape constitutional futures, living standards and environmental limits.
Independence and constitutional change
Much of Slater’s writing centres on the constitutional future of Scotland and the wider UK. In her independence columns she treats the issue as an ongoing democratic conversation rather than a single event, arguing that Scotland has chosen to revisit its constitutional position and that this debate is a normal consequence of political change.
She frames independence around the principle that the future of each nation should be decided by the people who live there, linking voting intentions, parliamentary arithmetic and public opinion to questions of democratic legitimacy. Her language is direct and values‑driven, but she grounds it in current events such as election results, party strategies and shifts in Westminster and Holyrood.
She does not approach independence as a symbolic cause; instead she treats it as a practical route to deliver specific policy outcomes on climate, equality and economic justice. Her columns connect constitutional change to concrete levers of power, arguing that the ability to design tax, welfare and industrial policy is central to meeting environmental and social goals.
This gives her independence coverage a distinct character compared with generic political commentary, which often treats the issue as a polling story or party contest.
Economic justice and housing
Slater regularly writes about the cost of living and housing, with a focus on renters’ rights and protections against sharp rent increases.
In columns on city renters, she argues that tenants need stronger safeguards from unfair rises, aligning local housing conditions with national debates over rent controls and regulation. She links household pressures on rent, energy and food to wider economic structures, making the case that government should intervene to redistribute costs away from those on lower incomes and toward wealthier individuals and corporations.
Her economic writing is grounded in her Green politics portfolio, including party roles on economy and fair work, and it carries over to her commentary in the paper. She sets out measures such as expanding free bus travel, strengthening workplace standards and taxing the richest in society, but explains them through the lens of everyday impact rather than abstract fiscal tables. This gives her coverage a campaigning tone, yet her arguments are structured around specific policy instruments and legislative pathways, not general sentiment.
Technology, climate and infrastructure
Another strand of Slater’s work examines the intersection of technology, energy and environmental policy. In columns on AI and data centres she warns about a “gold rush” driven by Big Tech, arguing that rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres risks overwhelming local energy systems, water supplies and communities if not properly regulated.
She calls for a national strategy before approving new developments, tying together planning law, climate commitments and community protections.
Her perspective is shaped by her time as a minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity, and this experience shows in the level of detail she brings to environmental infrastructure. She writes about recycling systems, nature restoration funds and restrictions on problematic single‑use plastics, not as technical footnotes but as core elements of a fair and sustainable economy. By treating technology infrastructure as part of a broader circular economy, her coverage stands apart from more generic tech commentary that focuses only on innovation or investment.
Voice and format
Slater’s Edinburgh Evening News pieces are opinion columns rather than straight news reports, and she writes in the first person from the vantage point of an elected representative. Her tone is assertive and values‑based, but she anchors her arguments in current parliamentary activity, party debates and specific legislative proposals. She often uses upcoming opposition debates, committee work or party campaigns as hooks, then sets out why these moments matter for independence, renters, workers or the environment.
Across her body of work, the through‑line is consistent: she treats politics as a tool to deliver social and environmental justice, and uses the column to explain how constitutional choices, economic rules and technology decisions fit together. Communications professionals can expect her to engage with stories that touch constitutional change, climate policy, regulated industries and the distribution of economic power, especially where they intersect with Green priorities and long‑term structural questions.
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