Thursday 18 December 2014

Scottish socialists continue to stand behind the Cuban Revolution

THE decision by the United States government to renew diplomatic relations with Cuba and to ease its illegal blockade represents a triumph for the Cuban people and the Cuban Revolution.

The blockade was designed to isolate Cuba  and strangle the economy bringing an end to the revolution. The volte face by Washington is evidence of the complete failure of this policy.

Today Cuba is less isolated than ever particularly in Latin America and although the blockade has inflicted great damage on the Cuban economy; the revolution stands strong. Despite this welcome step; much more needs to be done.

This includes:

  • The complete lifting of the illegal blockade and discussions around reparations for the damage caused. 
  • The full release of all Cuban political prisoners in US jails. 
  • The ending of US political and economic interference in Cuba’s internal affairs. 
  • The ending of the illegal military occupation of Guantanamo Bay. 
  • The curbing of Cuban terrorist organisations based in Florida. 
  • The tide of history is with the Cuban Revolution as evidenced by the growing number of left wing governments in Latin America which have established close relations with Havana. 

In fact, its stance on Cuba has left the American Government more isolated than ever in the Americas no doubt prompting the American decision. The Scottish Socialist Party stands full square behind the Cuban Revolution and will continue to campaign until all the above demands are met.

Monday 15 December 2014

Murphy election endorses Labour's failed agenda says Fox

THE election of Jim Murphy as Scottish Labour leader is “an endorsement of Labour’s failed right wing policy agenda of austerity, cuts, sacking and nuclear weapons”said SSP national spokesman Colin Fox.

Colin said : “By electing Jim Murphy, an arch disciple of the discredited Tony Blair and policies such as Trident renewal and tuition fees, Labour members have underlined just how out of touch they and their party is with Scottish public opinion.

“Jim Murphy is a supporter of Labour’s austerity policies which will see billions of cuts in public services, job losses and and the squandering of billions on nuclear weapons on the Clyde.

“Despite its dire public standing Labour has simply confirmed what everybody knows that they have lost all contact with the concerns and priorities of working people and opted for more sound bites and spin rather than tackle those concern.

“Labour no longer has any intention of implementing socialist solution such as taxing the rich, implementing--as called for by the TUC--a £10 an hour minimum wade and bringing key industries such as energy and railways back into public ownership.

“Scottish politics is a politics of the left and Labour will find that there po big business , austerity policies will fall on stony ground with Scottish voters.

“For those Labour members genuinely seeking socialist change Murphy’s election surely confirms that today’s Labour party will not deliver that change and the way to win socialist change is by joining Scotland’s socialist party the Scottish Socialist Party.”

END

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT KEN FERGUSON 07925 613145

MURPHY ELECTION ENDORSES LABOUR’S FAILED AGENDA SAYS FOX

Scottish socialists to stand General Election candidates in May

Meeting in Glasgow at the weekend the executive committee of the Scottish Socialist Party unanimously agreed to commence the process  of selecting candidates for next May’s general election.

SSP National spokesperson Colin Fox said: “The preference of the SSP was to field candidates under a ‘Yes alliance’ banner drawn from the three pro independence parties us, the SNP and the Greens which we felt was the best way of harnessing the energy of the broad Yes campaign in a united effort to defeat the unionist parties.

“However since both the Greens and SNP have rejected that approach in favour of standing candidates under their own party colours. The SSP has no alternative but to do likewise.

“In the absence of a united Yes alliance the SSP will therefore field candidates across urban Scotland in May. 

"Our candidates will back independence and also put our own distinctive anti austerity, socialist policies before voters. 

"The centrepiece of our campaign will be a £10/hour living wage and to end zero hour contracts."

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact Ken Ferguson o7925 613145

END

SSP calls on trade unionists to break from Jim Murphy's Labour

THE Scottish Socialist Party is stepping up its appeal to trade unions and their members to break from the increasingly discredited and anti-working class Labour party.

Instead we ask trade union members to help the SSP build a mass working class socialist party, in the wake of Jim Murphy's election as Scottish Labour leader.

SSP national workplace and trade union organiser, Richie Venton, today said: "The election of the boastfully Blairite Jim Murphy as Scottish Labour leader is the latest in a series of landmarks in the degeneration of the party - that was founded by trade unionists 120 years ago - into another pro-capitalist, anti-working class party.

"The fact that not only most Labour MPs and MSPs voted for Murphy, but that about 70% of individual party members also did, marks the death of illusions in reclaiming Labour for the trade union movement or socialism.

"Murphy openly supported Tony Blair's retention of Thatcher's package of vicious anti-trade union laws, and of dragging working class kids off to the killing fields of Iraq and Afghanistan in pursuit of oil and empire.

"He didn't even bother to turn up to vote for abolition of the Bedroom Tax, but made sure he voted for welfare caps on the poorest of the poor.

"He openly and gleefully campaigned against Scottish self-government alongside Tories, and subsequently had Tories helping him campaign to win the Labour leadership contest.

"Those who clung on to the hope of changing Labour from within, including trade union leaders, need to heed this rude awakening: the left candidates that most Scottish trade unions backed were made most unwelcome by the vast majority of Labour members in the leadership vote.

"Labour has long since ceased to be a home for socialists, but a haven for careerists who put the profiteering of big business before people.

"I have always fought for the release of political prisoners - which is what workers and socialists in the modern Labour party have become!

"They should break from a party that has hammered the trade unions and working class people during 13 years of recent Labour governments, and come home to the one party in Scotland that has consistently built solidarity with workers in struggle; fights for repeal of all anti-union laws; is campaigning for a £10 minimum wage for all at 16; and upholds the genuine socialist principles of pioneers like Keir Hardie, John Maclean and the Red Clydesiders - the SSP. That's what growing numbers of trade unionists have done in recent months."

For more info or comment contact:
Richie Venton, SSP national workplace and trade union organiser

07828278093
richieventon@hotmail.com

Monday 1 December 2014

SSP steps up the demand for the powers to introduce a £10 Scottish minimum wage

THE Scottish Socialist Party is escalating its campaign for the Scottish parliament to have the power to introduce a legally enforced Scottish minimum wage of £10 an hour for all over 16, accompanied by the power to ban zero hours contracts.

SSP national trade union and workplace organiser Richie Venton said: "During the Referendum campaign the SSP held street campaigns calling on people to 'vote Yes for a decent living wage'. 

"Within 36 hours of the No vote we called for the Smith Commission to grant Holyrood the powers to introduce a legally enforceable Scottish minimum wage of £10 an hour for all over 16, with abolition of the lower youth rates. 

"In the weeks since, several Reports have confirmed the crying need for this measure, with scandalous statistics showing the absolute majority of Scots officially classified as poor are working to stay poor! Over one in five Scottish workers are below the so-called Living Wage of £7.85, and that rockets to 43% of part-time workers and 72% of 18-21-year-olds in jobs.

"So long as the minimum wage remains in the grip of Westminster's dictatorship of and for the obscenely rich, it's guaranteed to be a source of poverty pay, not a means of escape from it.

"So the SSP is mounting a sustained campaign on the streets and in the trade unions for Scotland to be granted powers over the minimum wage - and the linked power to outlaw the slave labour system of Zero Hours Contracts. 

"But the SSP is not demanding this power so a Scottish minimum wage stays at its present appalling level of £6.50, nor fail to even match inflation with Labour's 'vow' to raise it to £8 in 6 years' time.

"Nor are we satisfied with the pathetic pittance of a rise promised by the SNP, when they ask for the power to raise the £6.50 by inflation - probably 13 pence at best.

"We want to seriously confront in-work poverty with a Scottish minimum wage of £10 an hour. That is not only the level of wage required to end poverty pay, but is also a very modest demand: it is two-thirds the male median wage in Scotland, as well as being the figure agreed unanimously at the recent British Trade Union Congress. 

"The SSP is unashamedly on the side of working people against the profiteers, who rely on low pay to ratchet up the profits, dividends and bonuses of billionaires, bosses and big shareholders."

For more comment contact:
Richie Venton, SSP national trade union and workplace organiser
07828278093

Scottish socialists to mount Westminster election challenge

THE Scottish Socialist Party executive has agreed to continue to make the case for Yes alliance candidates in next year’s Westminster election whilst starting the process of mounting an SSP challenge showcasing their distinctive policies against poverty pay, austerity and Trident.

Party spokesman Colin Fox said: “The SSP has played a key role in the Yes campaign with its distinctive policies on workers’ rights, equality peace and anti austerity and we are now starting the process of selection, planning and fund raising to put these ideas to voters next May.

“Building on these gains we have proposed a strategy of standing Yes alliance candidates in May and remain open to discussions on how that can be achieved. The SNP’s decisions to move in that direction is very welcome and needs serious consideration.

“The key issue in May will be to build on the Yes vote in Labour’s heartlands last September and expose the sham idea that voting Labour is a vote for change when in reality it is a vote for more cuts, austerity and weapons of mass destruction.

“The SSP has a clear set of proposals such as a £10 per hour minimum wage and replacing the council tax with an income based Scottish Service Tax to protect jobs and services which we will put to voters.

“The SSP has emerged from the referendum campaign with a bigger membership and a revitalised party with new branches and renewed confidence in our ideas which we look forward to putting to Scotland’s voters.”

End

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
Media Release
Contact: Ken Ferguson 07925613145



Smith Commission fails to give powers to tackle low pay or fuel poverty

SSP national spokesperson Colin Fox said  that the Smith proposals were “underwhelming” and did nothing to tackle key problems facing working people.

He repeated his view that excluding the SSP from the commission was and is undemocratic and left a significant strand of Scottish opinion unrepresented.

Colin said : “As tax raising powers are devolved the block grant to Holyrood will fall leaving power still very much in London’s hands.

“On key problems facing thousands of Scots it has no real answer. No new power to tackle fuel poverty, introduce a desperately needed wage of £10 an hour or tackle the scandal of zero hours contracts.

“What the commission shows is the stark reality between its tinkering and spin and the failure to address the crying needs for jobs, fair pay and real change.

“It will not settle the increasing demand for independence reflected in public opinion since September 18th and underlines the SSP’s view that independence has not been defeated but deferred.”

End

SSP Media Release
Contact Ken Ferguson: 07925 613145

Monday 17 November 2014

Are the Tories making you poorer? Unite and demand a decent living income

THE Ayrshire SSP is holding its latest in a series of public meetings, on the theme of uniting to fight for a decent living income.

SSP regional organiser Richie Venton said: "It only took a week after constantly telling us we are all 'better together' for the Tories to unleash a war on the incomes of working class people. 


"Benefits, jobs, pay and public services are being slaughtered so that the richest company director in the UK can earn £31million last year! 

"That means he can earn the equivalent of a whole year's wages for a worker on the so-called Living Wage in the space of a mere 49 minutes! Inequality is at its worst ever.


"With benefit cuts set to drive an extra 100,000 Scottish children into poverty, and a new a report from KPMG confirming that 43% of all part-time workers are earning less than the Living Wage, we need to organise, fight back, and demand our share of the alleged economic recovery.


"This meeting will hear from the front line of campaigning for a decent living income for all - from an Irvine school student on the stark future she faces unless we defeat these attacks; from NHS worker and Unite trade union officer Jim McGinn; and from myself as a retail workers' union convener and the SSP regional organiser.


"Whether it's fuel poverty, food poverty or poverty pay, we need to unite in action to demand the fabulous wealth of Scotland goes to the millions who create it, not the parasites and millionaires.


"We appeal to local people to come and air their opinions about their own situation, and hear the case for measures like a decent, £10-an-hour Scottish minimum wage."


Ayrshire SSP public meeting:
Thursday 27th November @ 7.30pm
Vineburgh Community Centre, Quarry Rd, IRVINE


Speakers:
Richie Venton, SSP regional organiser;
Jim McGinn, local NHS Unite union chair;
An Irvine socialist school student.


For more info, comment, contact:
Richie Venton
07828278093
richieventon@hotmail.com
END

Sunday 16 November 2014

SCOTTISH SOCIALISTS TO MOUNT WESTMINSTER ELECTION CHALLENGE


 


SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT: Ken Ferguson 07925 613145

SCOTTISH SOCIALISTS TO MOUNT WESTMINSTER ELECTION CHALLENGE

THE Scottish Socialist Party executive has agreed to continue to make the case for Yes alliance candidates in next year’s Westminster election whilst starting the process of mounting an SSP challenge showcasing their distinctive policies against poverty pay, austerity and Trident.

Party spokesman Colin Fox said: “ The SSP has played a key role in the Yes campaign with its distinctive policies on workers’ rights, equality peace and anti austerity and we are now starting the process of selection, planning and fund raising to put these ideas to voters next May.

“Building on these gains we have proposed a strategy of standing Yes alliance candidates in May and remain open to discussions on how that can be achieved. The SNP’s decisions to move in that direction is very welcome and needs serious consideration.

“The key issue in May will be to build on the Yes vote in Labour’s heartlands last September and expose the sham idea that voting Labour is a vote for change when in reality it is a vote for more cuts, austerity and weapons of mass destruction.

“The SSP has a clear set of proposals such as a £10 per hour minimum wage and replacing the council tax with an income based Scottish Service Tax to protect jobs and services which we will put to voters.

“The SSP has emerged from the referendum campaign with a bigger membership and a revitalised party with new branches and renewed confidence in our ideas which we look forward to putting to Scotland’s voters.”

END

Tuesday 11 November 2014

GLASGOW SOUTH SSP TO CAMPAIGN ON 'YES ALLIANCE' FOR GENERAL ELECTION 2015

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY: GLASGOW SOUTH
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT: Alan Ferguson 07930668771 and Richie Venton 07828278093

GLASGOW SOUTH SSP TO CAMPAIGN ON 'YES ALLIANCE' FOR GENERAL ELECTION 2015 

SOCIALIST party campaigners in the southside will be campaigning for a pro-independence alliance in for the General Election.

Having been agreed at the national conference, the Glasgow South branch of the Scottish Socialist Party are now planning on spreading the word to voters in the south of the city.

A branch spokesman said: "The Glasgow South branch voted to pursue the idea of a 'Yes Alliance', or what ever name it may take.

"Given the display of unity we saw in the southside with all the different cohorts of the Yes Campaign, we think it's a winning formula for the Westminster Elections.

"We'll be out encouraging all people of the southside of Glasgow that a union of pro-independence parties is the way forward to get the Red Tories, or Labour Party, out of this great city."

On the wider activities of the SSP in Glasgow, West of Scotland organiser Richie Venton told how the party is mobilising to fight for powers to transform the lives of workers below the river.

He said: "The SSP is conducting a systematic campaign - in the streets, communities, workplaces and through local public meetings - for powers for the Scottish parliament to transform our lives.

"These include the ability to set a £10 Scottish minimum wage for all at 16, establish a benefits system that supports people instead of demonising them, to ban fracking and take the Big Six energy giants and the green energy sector into democratic public ownership, to banish profiteering and fuel poverty, to repeal all the Thatcherite anti-trade union laws; and to implement progressive taxation of the very rich and big business to fund decent public services."

"We have these distinctive policies, often radically different from those of the SNP. For that reason alone, we are not prepared to give a blank cheque to the SNP in the 2015 elections. 

"We will not be calling on people in the southside of Glasgow to just vote SNP and forget their differences with them on key matters of policy."

The next SSP branch meeting is on Sunday November 23 at 2pm - there has been trouble with the venue so please check their Facebook 'Glasgow South SSP' for updates.

ENDS

ATTACHED:
Richie Venton after the referendum at the STUC organised rally in Glasgow last month.
Glasgow South branch members on September 25, 2014.
Glasgow South officers address a meeting in Govan on October 21. Speaking is Alessio Gentile, a branch organiser for Govan.

SSP calls for pro-independence, anti-cuts 'Yes Alliance' for 2015 Westminster elections

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT: Richie Venton 07828278093
SSP calls for pro-independence, anti-cuts 'Yes Alliance' for 2015 Westminster elections 
THE Scottish Socialist Party is campaigning for a Yes Alliance to contest the Westminster elections next May. This was agreed at the recent SSP national conference.

SSP west of Scotland regional organiser Richie Venton said:"The savage cuts to benefits, pay, jobs and people's basic democratic rights announced in the wake of the Referendum has driven increased numbers of Scots to favour independence. And even those still unconvinced of full-scale self-government are strongly in favour of vastly increased powers for Scotland over benefits, taxation and measures to protect Scotland from the Twin Tory Coalition onslaught.

"Many of the same people want to punish Labour for their collaboration with the Tories in blocking independence, leaving us at the tender mercies of Cameron's dictatorship of and for the obscenely rich.

"The SSP is conducting a systematic campaign - in the streets, communities, workplaces and through local public meetings - for powers for the Scottish parliament to transform our lives, including the ability to set a £10 Scottish minimum wage for all at 16; establish a benefits system that supports people instead of demonising them; to ban fracking and take the Big Six energy giants and the green energy sector into democratic public ownership, to banish profiteering and fuel poverty; to repeal all the Thatcherite anti-trade union laws; and to implement progressive taxation of the very rich and big business to fund decent public services.

"We have these distinctive policies, often radically different from those of the SNP. For that reason alone, we are not prepared to give a blank cheque to the SNP in the 2015 elections. We will not be calling on people to just vote SNP and forget their differences with them on key matters of policy.

"However, we are stepping up our appeal to the SNP, Greens and people of no political party who made up the very successful Yes campaign to sustain that united front in the Westminster elections. That's what our recent SSP national conference agreed unanimously.

"We want a pro-independence, anti-cuts alliance that agrees one candidate in each constituency, to challenge the Tories and Labour, appealing to not only the 45% who voted Yes, but to the No voters who want a radically fairer distribution of wealth and power.

"We believe the beauty of such an alliance is that it would appeal to outraged, disenfranchised Labour voters in a way that the SNP on its own never will, with socialists, greens, SNPers and independents standing as candidates in an agreed allocation of seats.

"And my message to the forthcoming SNP Conference is that they need to recognize the growing support for this idea at grassroots level. For instance, I have spoken at several local Yes groups that support such a multiparty alliance, including many people who have joined the SNP recently.

"The SSP will never drop its commitment to an independent socialist Scotland, but we are eager to reach agreement with others in the interests of resisting Tory attacks on the working class, and of keeping the flames of social justice and independence alight, through a pro-independence, anti-cuts alliance for May 2015."

For any further info or comment contact:
Richie Venton, SSP west of Scotland regional organiser

07828278093
richieventon@hotmail.com

Thursday 6 November 2014

Glasgow South SSP membership each more than 200

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT: Alan Ferguson 07930668771

MEMBERSHIP OF GLASGOW SOUTH SSP SOARS TO 200

GLASGOW South SSP announced their post-referendum membership surge saw them bolster their ranks to more than 200 members.

Around 2,600 applied to join nationally and with many of the applications processed Glasgow South SSP are planning on organising their newstarts for campaigning on local issues.

The grand total for Glasgow South SSP is now above 200 — with 150 of them joining after the referendum.

With more signing up almost daily the branch is drawing up plans to subdivide into areas of the south side such as Greater Govan, Shawlands, Gorbals and Pollok.

A spokesman said: "We pride ourselves in being the voice of the working people of Glasgow - and this has been shown by the increase in good working class people joining the Scottish Socialist Party in our branch here.

"Like all other former industrial heartlands in Scotland, the city of Glasgow voted for independence. The fact that people are joining us in their droves below the river displays how they're convicted to continuing the fight to build a better society here.

"Our new members in the south side don't want 'business as usual' anymore, as the dominating political dinosaurs in the city would have them. 

"We're organising to help make Glasgow a more progressive and socially just city for everyone - be they gay, straight, black or white."

The next branch meeting is on November 6 at 7pm in Langside Hall, Shawlands (opposite the Corona pub). Those interested in joining the Scottish Socialist Party are urged to attend, branches are open to all.

Planned branch meetings:

Thursday 6th November 7pm 'Socialist Critique of SNP' Sunday 23rd November 2pm 'Socialist Independence' 
Thursday 4th December 7pm 'The Threat of UKIP' 

Updates can be found on facebook.com/glasgowsouthssp

ENDS

Wednesday 22 October 2014

New SSP branch formed in Perth


NEW SCOTTISH SOCIALIST BRANCH FORMED IN PERTH

The Scottish Socialist Party have announced that a new branch of the party has been formed in Perth. This follows a post referendum surge in membership for the party across Scotland which has seen some 3,000 joining. 

SSP national spokesman, former  Lothians MSP Colin Fox said: “I am delighted that we now have an SSP branch in Perth and warmly welcome our new members there to the party.”

“I look forward  to working with them on key issues from winning maximum powers for Holyrood to fighting poverty pay a fuel poverty.”

The branch are planning regular street stalls and will host a public meeting with Colin Fox in late November.

END 

Labour for Independence leader Allan Grogan joins Scotland's socialist party

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Ken Ferguson 07925 613145

 

LABOUR FOR INDEPENDENCE LEADER JOINS SCOTLAND’S SOCIALIST PARTY

THE founder of ‘Labour  For Independence’ , Allan Grogan , has joined the Scottish Socialist Party.


He will be a guest speaker at the party’s annual conference in Edinburgh this Saturday (25th October).

Allan Grogan said: “As LFI predicted Scottish Labour’s decision to join the Tories, big business and the Lib Dems in the anti independence camp has backfired spectacularly and it now threatens the party’s very existence.”

“Voters who backed independence in Labour areas in September remain committed to social democratic and socialist change and values which put people before profit. 


"Those values are no longer held by Labour. They are held above all by the SSP in this country and I was really impressed by the party’s conduct and distinctive role in the ‘Yes Scotland’ campaign these past two years. 
"
I am a socialist and the place for socialists is in Scotland’s socialist party. That is why I have decided to join.”

Welcoming Allan to the party SSP national spokesperson Colin Fox said: “I warmly welcome Allan into the SSP and look forward to the positive contribution he will undoubtedly make to the party. 


"I have enjoyed working alongside him in the ‘Yes Scotland’ coalition for many months.

"To him and the thousands of other people who have joined Scotland’s socialist party in recent weeks I say welcome. And I can assure them all the SSP is all the stronger for their membership. 

"We continue to be at the forefront of the campaign for policies which put the interests of working class people before those of merchant bankers and fat cats pampered by both Labour and the Tories.

“These are really exciting times in Scottish politics and the need for the SSP in offering people a political alternative to all the pro business parties has never been more vital.”

ENDS

Note: The SSP annual conference takes place in Augustine’s United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh on Saturday 25th October 10am-5pm. You are invited to be represented, please contact Ken Ferguson for details.

Monday 20 October 2014

SSP launches series of public meetings to demand Holyrood powers to resist Tory class war




SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
MEDIA RELEASE 
20 OCTOBER 2014
CONTACT: Richie Venton 07828278093Alan Ferguson 07930668771/press@scottishsocialistparty.org


SSP launches a series of public meetings to demand £10 Scottish minimum wage and Holyrood powers to resist Tory class war

THE Scottish Socialist Party has launched a series of public meetings throughout the West of Scotland in the aftermath of the Referendum.

Billed as ‘Unite Against the Tories’ war on the working class - demand the powers to transform our lives’, the public meetings have so far been scheduled in Govan, Greenock, Shawlands, Dumbarton, Easterhouse  and the Three Towns.

SSP West of Scotland regional organiser Richie Venton, who is speaking at many of the meetings, said: “During the Referendum the SSP warned of the horrendous consequences of continued Westminster rule, by and for the rich. 

"But the Tories didn't even wait a week before launching all-out class war on workers and communities through cuts to benefits, pay, jobs, services and human rights. 

“So, we need all those who engaged in the mass movement around the referendum to unite against this onslaught.

"And one vital part of that resistance has to be the demand that the Scottish government be given the powers to transform our lives through measures like a Scottish £10 minimum wage for all over 16; reversal of the assault on welfare and benefits; abolition of all anti-trade union laws; and taxation of big business and the rich to use our national wealth for the millions, not the millionaires.

"We are furious at the undemocratic exclusion of the SSP from the Smith Commission on extra powers for the Scottish parliament - being the only one excluded of the six parties that took part in the Referendum campaign. 

“But we refuse to be denied the opportunity to voice the demands of working class people for powers that could begin to combat the obscene poverty and inequality that scars the face of Scotland. 

“Whilst most of the other five parties disappear from the streets after the Referendum - and in most cases were never there anyway - the SSP will continue to open our doors to people in working class communities across the country. 

“This series of public meetings is the next phase of empowering ordinary people to organise and change the face of Scotland."

For more information or comment, or dates and venues of public meetings, contact:
Richie Venton, west of Scotland SSP regional organiser on 07828278093 or richieventon@hotmail.com.

END

Wednesday 8 October 2014

Scottish socialists oppose private Scotrail franchise

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
Media Release

Contact Ken Ferguson 07925613145

SCOTTISH SOCIALISTS OPPOSE PRIVATE SCOTRAIL FRANCHISE 

Colin Fox, national SSP spokesman, today echoed union criticism of the Scottish government’s decision to award the Scotrail franchise to Dutch firm Abellio rather than taking it back into public hands.

He said: “Like the rail unions we believe that Scotland’s railways should be in public ownership and public investment in them devoted to improved services rather than private profit whether Scottish or Dutch.

“We now have the increasingly bizarre situation that key public services such as energy and railways can be run by public companies based in France, Holland or China but not Scotland.

“In the light of the prospect of increased powers for the Scottish Parliament this decision to press ahead with a private franchise flies in the face of demands for key Scottish services to be democratically controlled in Scotland.”