Leading indy figures write for the Voice: John Finnie MSP, the RIC’s Jonathon Shafi and the SSP’s Sandra Webster share their indy visions • see pages 7 ,10& 13 £1 • issue 440 • 13th –26th June 2014 facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice As the campaign enters its last 100 days, Jim Sillars says... by Jim Sillars IT’S NOT sensible to ignore polls, but they have one glaring fault – they examine opinion at present, but cannot now measure opinion on polling day as it lies in the future. My experience over a very long time is that the present can be very different from the future, with the future being dependent on things that no pollster can measure. Mislead Polls at present show a gap between Yes and No. They have a methodology I am not equipped WE to challenge. What I can do from experience is show that polls can mislead if construed as the present representing the definite future. • continues on page 4 facebook.com/ScoCttishSocialistAVoice @N ssv_voice NEWS Thousands attend late night anti-rape ‘peace walk’ PHOTO: Amanda Johnston IN GLASGOW, after a spate of thousands more supporting the event Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recent sexual assaults and rapes online, was billed as “a call to action; to and Glasgow City Council leader across the city, Govanhill women encourage more police presence and Gordon Matheson, calling for answers Amanda Johnston and Ashley Crossan support in this area and to make sure to public safety concerns. “The walk organised a peaceful midnight walk at that these kind of attacks...never was just the start,” they added. “This Queen’s Park on Monday 9 June as a happen”. does not end until our streets are safe.” “show of solidarity, in support of the Amanda and Ashley said they were victims of rape”. “tired of harassment and fear of assault • All donations to Rape Crisis Scotland The march, which attracted being part of our daily lives” and they at: rapecrisiscentre- thousands on the night, with tens of vowed to write to Police Scotland, glasgow.co.uk/index.php?id=149 FOR A MODERN DEMOCR ATIC REPUBLIC The brand new pamphlet by SSP co- spokesperson Colin Fox. Order your copy: scottishsocialistparty.tictail.com Or send £5 (includes p&p) to: Scottish Socialist Party, Suite 370, 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD Please make cheques payable to ‘Scottish Socialist Party’ ALSO AVAILABLE... BUY ALL THREE FOR £10 OR ANY TWO FOR £5 £4 £8 (inc. p&p ) 2 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 440 COLIN FOX by Colin Fox Holyrood in the event of a No vote. This point illustrates well THE INDEPENDENCE Stepping up the Yes why this referendum is still debate passed another there for the winning. milestone on 9 June. With campaign with less Another important feature of less than 100 days to go now, this debate not being picked the debate will intensify as up by the polls is the impact September’s crucial vote than 100 days to go that the hugely impressive Yes approaches. And Scottish Scotland grassroots political Socialist Party activists will campaign is having. Tens of continue to be at the forefront thousands of activists are of the campaign, organising a working away in more than series of public meetings 250 local Yes groups up and across the country on the down the country, canvassing, socialist case for conducting stalls in streets independence. and town centres and The polls currently suggest organising hundreds of public the No side has a lead of meetings to reveal the breadth between 6-20 per cent and of support now being won to this in itself reflects the great the pro-independence camp. degree of uncertainty in the Yes Scotland is the biggest result. Whilst John Curtice political grassroots from Strathclyde University, organisation seen in Scotland the pre-eminent psephologist since the anti-Poll Tax in the country, points out that campaign 25 years ago. GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN : of the 65 polls conducted tens of thousands of activists are since this campaign began in working away in more than 250 local Merits of indy June 2012 only one has put Yes groups up and down the country The task for all of us in the the Yes side ahead, both PHOTO: Craig Maclean Yes camp and the Scottish sides recognise there are no Socialist Party over the next prizes for leading at this are fit to do so. And we will be But the fact remains they three months remains to stage in the debate. The only better at it than Westminster, are offering Scots the chance persuade everyone we can of ‘prize’ that matters is the vote the City of London and the to control just 40 per cent of the merits of independence. on 18 September. Bank of England who run it as our own budget (the other 60 The SSP will be stepping things stand. per cent will be retained by up our activities across the Volatile polls Furthermore, with Westminster). I likened their country over these final few Underneath the headline independence, we can avoid proposals on BBC Radio months to raise the socialist figures however, the polls still the £25billion of public Scotland’s Big Debate last case for independence, reflect a certain volatility. Many spending cuts heading our week to walking into a car particularly with the country’s No voters for example admit to way as part of the austerity dealership to buy a new car working class majority. They being ‘open to persuasion’ still measures intended for us by and being offered one with will be the ones who determine and 20 per cent of voters as a both the Coalition only two wheels. ‘It has 40 the outcome of this vote. whole remain ‘undecided’. Government and ‘Her per cent of the power you There are thousands of The Yes side has ample time Majesty’s Opposition’. need,’ says the salesman! potential new members out therefore to secure the support Independence also means Of course any new powers there for the Scottish necessary to win. there is no risk of another Tory such as these need to be Socialist Party. We intend to The task facing the Yes government being elected to agreed by a Westminster recruit as many as we can side is clearly considerable rule over Scotland next May. Parliament packed full of over the next few months by but our message remains “A No vote is not a vote for hostile Tory and Labour MPs, explaining the SSP’s popular and inspiring. no change,” announced the repelled by the idea of impeccable record in Our vision for Scotland is of united forces behind Better handing any more powers to advocating an independent a country economically Together/No Thanks/United Holyrood. socialist Scotland – a modern wealthier, socially fairer and With Labour somewhat The Labour Party and the democratic republic. politically more democratic confusingly this week. Tories know this mood at And I particularly look than that offered by the No They intend to offer more Westminster but they prefer to forward to outlining the SSP’s side. And none of us should powers to Holyrood in the keep that information from work in building up the Yes lose sight of how attractive event of a No vote, they say, Scots voters ahead of vote over the past two years that message is. with income tax powers and September’s vote. So the when I address the Yes We are perfectly entitled to control of some welfare likelihood is even these limited Scotland lead volunteers run our own country and we responsibilities mentioned. new powers will not arrive at convention in Stirling. issue 440 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 3 JIM SILLARS by Jim Sillars IT’S NOT sensible to ignore polls, but they have one glaring fault – they examine opinion at present, but cannot now measure opinion on polling day as it lies in the future. My experience over a YES HE DID: in the 1988 Govan by-election, not face of the polls at present very long time is that the one poll showed that Jim Sillars would win but which show the No camp he won the Westminster seat comfortably present can be very different ahead. What you get out of a from the future, with the future Yes we ccampaaign is relaten d to the being dependent on things energy and the worth of the that no pollster can measure. cause you put into it. Polls at present show a gap In campaign terms, of being between Yes and No. They in touch with people on their have a methodology I am not doorsteps and at meetings, the equipped to challenge. What I Yes side is away ahead. There can do from experience is is a charge of energy in the show that polls can mislead if Yes campaign, a confidence in construed as the present what we can do with the power representing the definite future. of independence to transform Polls cannot take account of the lives of the working class. the impact of a campaign results were announced by Edward Heath. Labour lost. There is no such vision which takes place between the pollsters, media and In February 1974, the Tories from No. Just a dirge about present and the future. Johnston were stunned. were so far ahead of Labour at what we cannot do. There is, McCarthy got 42 per cent to the start of the campaign, it however, something missing Below the radar Johnston’s 49 per cent. The was to be a walkover.