manifesto part one About the Scottish Socialist Party “Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation” Alasdair Gray

e are the Scottish Socialists of life’, across the world people are and we fight in hope. We cut already dying as a result of climate against the grain of the politi- change caused by that same way of life. W cal consensus, refusing to We have only a very short time left to accept that ‘in the real world’, millions stop the Earth from burning because of must live in poverty for a few to live in the destructive waste of capitalism. unimaginable wealth, that weapons of Since the last Scottish Parliamentary mass destruction must be moored in the election in 2003, a brutal war has been Clyde to keep us safe from weapons of raging in Iraq, courtesy of the British mass destruction, that wars mean peace, and American governments. and that a diminishing democracy deliv- Hundreds of thousands of civilians ers us greater security. have lost their lives, and their society has We believe we can make a better been pounded to dust. nation, where every state school child FIGHTING FOR A eats a nutritious, free lunch every day of FUTURE: for a the working week; where pensioners world without receive a decent income with access to poverty, war and well-funded, free public services; where environmental families are housed in warm, secure destruction, for a homes near green spaces and schools world of peace, equality and justice and shops; where refugees are welcomed and given the right to work and make a new life here, to the benefit of us all; PHOTO: where war is an ugly memory; where Craig Maclean energy is sustainable and nationalised; BACK PAGE where we protect instead of destroy our PHOTO: Eddie Truman environment; and where expanded, fare- free and publicly-owned train, bus and ferry services link every community in Scotland, from the heart of Glasgow to the shores of the Outer Hebrides. But we meet you in a dark time. As the British government declares terrorism the greatest threat to ‘our way SSPManifesto2007 1 manifesto part one

END OF THE EMPIRE: by pulling Scotland out of the union, we can drag ourselves out of Britain’s illegal wars and end the tyranny of Trident on our shores

PHOTO: Simon Whittle

The SSP opposed this war long before There is now a consistent trend it started. So too did the majority of towards pro-independence parties. Scot- Scots. land is calling time on the 300-year old Yet the lives of our troops, and billions Union – and for a myriad of reasons, of our tax money, continue to be squan- none of them to do with anti-English dered on this ugly misadventure, this last sentiment. gasp of a dying, discredited empire. We are calling time on a Union that It’s long since time we pulled out of drags us into illegal, immoral wars, from Iraq and handed sovereignty to its peo- Flanders fields to the white heat of Hel- ple. mand. In Scotland, we have no say over this. On a Union that ignores the call for Such is the illusion of devolution. nuclear disarmament and instead An independent Scotland would have dumps its world-shattering arsenal with- full control over its foreign policy and in miles of our biggest city. where and how it deploys its soldiers. On a Union that opens up a democrat- 2 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part one

ic deficit of such proportions that, no We seek an independent, Scottish matter who we vote for, we always get the socialist republic that functions, not as choice of Middle England. an island, but as a part of a living, breath- On a Union that offers tax breaks to ing network of humanity. corporations and the rich, while screw- A network that will recognise that we ing the poor and forcing them into low- are part of nature, rather than masters of wage, short-term, soulless, meaningless nature, and that will build a global soci- jobs. ety that lives within the limits of the We have nearly full employment, yet Earth’s ecosystem. are plumbing new depths of poverty and We seek to reach out to others in strug- all that it entails, even amongst working gle, from the Palestinians in Gaza to the families, from premature birth to pre- trade unionists in Colombia, the politi- mature death, through barely habitable cal prisoners of Burma to the benighted housing, cheap, over-processed, nutri- indigenous peoples of Australia. tion-free food, pollution, crime, isola- We fight in hope, and we work hard. tion and physical and mental illness. In 2003, we returned six MSPs to On a Union so obsessed with fixing it Holyrood; the biggest parliamentary for its corporate friends that we have breakthrough of any left wing socialist badly and inappropriately constructed party in the UK in a generation. schools and hospitals, built for double or We use that parliamentary representa- triple the cost through PFI, to keep us in tion to highlight grassroots campaigns - hoc for decades to come; infants suffer- for free school meals, the scrapping of pre- ing from middle-aged diseases that will scription charges, opposition to the illegal kill them, through the government’s invasion of Iraq. To highlight the plight of refusal to regulate the processed food low-income households, of children industry; generations sliding into growing up in a world of consumerism unimaginable, unpayable debt through and dense traffic and commodified edu- unregulated credit and finance compa- cation, of asylum seekers locked up in for- nies; cities, towns and villages gutted by mer prisons, of all who are left out in the out-of-town retail developments and the cold by the market system that puts a price unstoppable invasion of the big four on everything, yet values nothing. supermarket cartel; and a countryside We seek a We fight in hope, for people every- bulldozed over by developers and Scottish where. agribusiness, at the cost of our rural ways Our MSPs take only the workers’ wage, of life, our indigenous food culture and a socialist donating the rest to the party; we have solid husbandry of the land. republic no career politicians in our ranks. This is no way to live, and wrenching Our focus is always at street-level, our ourselves free of this dysfunctional rela- that aim being to build a mass movement to tionship will do us, and England, the functions, promote and develop the ideas of social- world of good. not as an ism. The bogus ‘British’ identity that To put the idea of real equality, real Labour politicians are currently strug- island, but social justice, back on the agenda. gling to articulate is nothing more than a as a part To make this a better world for the jingoistic relic of the past. In re-estab- upcoming generations and ensure that lishing our identity, as Scots, as socialists, of a living, the Earth is still in a fit state to support as members of an international commu- breathing them. nity that stretches from pole to pole, we Join us in the only war worth fighting enable the English, the Welsh and Irish network of – against poverty and greed, and for to do so too. humanity. humanity and peace. People, not profit. SSPManifesto2007 3 manifesto part two Our six flagship policies The SSP believes in telling the truth to the people. We do not pretend that we will form the next government of Scotland. But we can make a difference.

n Scotland’s multi-coloured political politics. We are a working class party that system, no single party can command stands up for ordinary people against big an outright majority. If opinion polls business and the rich. Our flag is deepest Iare accurate, the Lib-Lab coalition red. could be defeated in May 2007 and a new But we work with other parties on the government formed. Small parties such immediate objective of independence. as the SSP could then punch well above The SSP was the first party in Scotland to their weight politically. sign up to the cross-party Independence The SSP has no intention of selling our Convention, which now draws together principles for a few ministerial seats. We the SSP, the SNP, the Greens and a range will work with other parties on an issue- of individuals. by-issue basis, supporting progressive We also back the non-party Indepen- legislation and opposing regressive legis- dence First campaign, launched in 2005 lation. to fight for an independence referendum. The SSP has its own priorities. In the In 300 years the people of Scotland run-up to May 2007, we will strive to have never been given the chance to build mass public support for six key decide our own future. policies which we believe would trans- Should we remain dependent on form Scotland. pocket money from London? Should we After May 2007 we will seek to build continue to be dragged into the inferno cross-party support inside the parlia- of war by a government which we cannot ment for these six policies. deselect? Should we continue to tolerate in our 1) AN INDEPENDENCE midst a nuclear arsenal capable of wip- REFERENDUM WITHIN ONE YEAR. ing out a million years of evolution? The SSP is striving to create an indepen- Should we continue to accept dawn dent, nuclear-free, multi-cultural, Scot- raids and forced deportation of our chil- tish socialist republic. dren? That is a long term goal. In the short Or should we move forward into the term, we can take a mighty leap forward 21st century as an independent nation towards that goal by breaking free of the state that can engage directly with the suffocating stranglehold of the British wider world beyond the English Channel state. and the North Sea? The SSP has never hidden its socialist For the SSP,the answer is clear. 4 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part two

But we are democrats. It is not for But in the 1930s and 1940s, the idea of a politicians to decide Scotland’s future. It free National Health Service sounded is the people who must decide. like pie in the sky. We are 100 per cent confident that Yet it was turned into a reality by a when the arguments are presented for Labour government within three years of and against independence, the people of being elected in 1945. And that was after Scotland will decide to break with the six years of destruction on a mammoth past and march confidently forward into scale during the Second World War. the future. The Scottish Transport Minister Whatever the balance of forces after admits that a free public transport sys- May 2007, the SSP will seek to build tem would cost just £500 million. cross-party support for a referendum bill It’s a lot of money. But it’s less than one within one year. sixth of Scotland’s share of UK military spending. 2) A SCOTLAND-WIDE FREE It’s half the amount that the Scottish PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK. Tories plan to hand out in tax cuts by It’s an idea whose time has come. Our roads are congested. Our towns and cities are polluted. Scientists are ringing the alarm bells over global warming. Dramatic and radical action is needed Scotland could lead the world in the fight to move hundreds of thousands from against climate chaos by becoming the first private cars to public transport. country in the world to create a nationwide free Scotland could lead the world in the fight against climate chaos by becoming public transport system. the first country in the world to create a nationwide free public transport system. Does it sound too ambitious? Possibly. SSPManifesto2007 5 manifesto part two

in bus journeys and two per cent in rail journeys. Right now, traffic congestion, road accidents and road repairs cost Scottish businesses and taxpayers over £4billion a year, according to the Scottish Executive and the CBI. That figure could be reduced by at least £1billion by making Scotland’s trains, buses, ferries and underground fare-free. For £1billion a year, we could abolish fares, bring Scotland’s buses and railways back into public ownership, massively expand services, and make them fully accessible to all disabled travellers. And by cancelling monstrously expen- slashing basic rate income tax by 3 sive white elephants such as the £500mil- pence; and one third less than the cost of lion M74 extension, the Edinburgh the LibDems’ proposed 2 pence tax cut. Airport rail link, and other prestige pro- And it’s less than half the amount the jects, we could have up to £4billion for SNP plan to hand out to big business in capital spending to bring our public trans- Corporation Tax cuts. port system up to world class standards. Instead of tax handouts which mainly The SSP has already brought forward a benefit the wealthy, the SSP will fight for bill proposal before Holyrood to re-reg- the Scottish Parliament to phase in the ulate Scotland’s buses, which would be biggest pro-environment and pro-social Phase 1 in the creation of free public inclusion measure enacted in Scotland transport system. Phase 2 will involve the for generations – a free public transport establishment of a publicly owned bus system. group sub-divided into ten regional Free public transport has been a companies. resounding success in the Belgian city of Phase 3 will see the removal of all bus, Hasselt, where it was introduced in the underground, and passenger ferry fares late 1990s. Car use has plummeted and (foot and cycle), accompanied by an bus passenger numbers have risen by expansion of services to meet increased 1000 per cent. demand. Compare that with the Scottish Execu- Phase 4 will transfer the Scotrail fran- tive’s target of a paltry one per cent rise chise, when it expires in 2011, to a new publicly owned Scottish National Rail company – and remove fares for all rail Free public transport has been a resounding journeys within Scotland. success in the Belgian city of Hasselt, where it Funding: was introduced in the late 1990s. Car use has Within an independent Scotland, the funding of a free transport initiative plummeted and bus passenger numbers have would be straightforward. risen by 1000 per cent. There would be a range of options available, including oil revenues (the SSP supports extra taxation on oil profits 6 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part two

and, ultimately, public ownership of the Revenue could also be raised by oil industry). imposing a special tax on HGV lorries Hundreds of millions could also be towards the costs of road repairs and generated through higher corporate tax- maintenance. The average juggernaut ation and/or a rise in the top rate of inflicts 50,000 times the road damage income tax. caused by a car. This HGV mileage tax And, by reducing per capita Scottish would be based on annual mileage as defence spending to around the level of registered on tacographs and would the Republic of Ireland, an additional offset the roads budget, allowing tens £2.5 billion could be available for public of millions to be raised towards the services and wealth redistribution. funding of free public transport. Even within the constraints imposed Even if all of these options were to be by devolution, there are various ways of ruled out, the Scottish parliament could funding a free public transport system. use its tax-varying powers and its control Because a new public transport system over business rates to raise additional would mainly come under the control of finance. A one per cent increase in local authorities (and groups of local income tax would generate at least £300 authorities), any funding for public trans- million a year. By imposing a supple- port would be designated a supplemen- mentary local transport tax of three tary local tax, and therefore would fall pence for those earning over £30,000 a within the powers devolved to Holyrood. year, an additional £300 million would Possible funding options under devo- be raised. A further £300 million could lution include: be raised by increasing the uniform busi- A ‘transport payroll tax’ on all busi- ness rate. nesses with more than 10 employees. Such a tax is used widely in France to 3) 100,000 NEW HOMES FOR RENT fund public transport. The Paris Scotland is in the grip of a housing Metro, rail and bus system, for exam- bonanza, according to the property deal- ple, is largely funded through a payroll ers, with house prices soaring through tax of 2.2 per cent, which generates the stratosphere at supersonic speeds. well over two billion euros a year. The Certainly, many homeowners are now tax is set as a percentage of the total in the bizarre position where the annual wage bill and is paid by the employer. rise in the value of their home is out- To raise around £800 million, Scotland stripping their annual salary. would need to set the tax at around 2.5 That might seem like good news for per cent, applicable to all companies in Scotland’s home owners – though bitter the private sector with ten employees experience suggests that housing mar- or more. This transport payroll tax kets can go up like a rocket one year, and could be offset against Corporation Tax, which is paid to the UK exche- quer, effectively transferring up to 30 per cent of the costs to Westminster (ie The SSP wants to redress this imbalance 200-240 million). Free public transport could also be between private and public by building funded by a progressive income-based 25,000 fully accessible new homes for local tax, such as the SSP’s proposed social rent every year. Scottish Service Tax, with bands adjusted accordingly to raise the extra money. SSPManifesto2007 7 manifesto part two

sold off – but there was not a single new council house built in Scotland. There are now approximately 25,000 Scotland today is 100 times richer than the homes built every year. Of these, 90 per pre-war years. It is a myth that we can’t afford cent are private, leaving just 2500 new houses for rent, built mainly by housing high-quality social housing. associations. There is now a desperate shortage of housing for rent. This shortage especially affects larger families, because of the lack down like a stick the next. But for the of four and five apartment houses for million and a half Scots who do not own rent; and young people who are excluded their own home, the housing boom is a from the housing market and cannot cruel mirage. afford the exorbitant costs of private With every rise in house prices, the rented accommodation. more securely they become locked out of The SSP wants to redress this imbal- the housing market. ance between private and public by Scotland is now sitting on a ticking building 25,000 fully accessible new housing time-bomb. The number of homes for social rent every year. first-time buyers is dwindling rapidly – This could be financed by: down from 50 per cent to 20 per cent of Cancelling the housing debt for all the market over the past ten years. Scotland’s local authorities – not just Rather than a genuine growth in home those who have signed up for stock ownership, we have a sellers’ market, a transfer, generating £2billion over four financial merry-go-round with the main years. beneficiaries being the mortgage lenders. Forcing private developers to allocate To make matters worse the social rent- one house for social rent for every ed sector is at the point of collapse. three new houses they build - at rent Decades of government cuts in hous- levels set by the local council or hous- ing support to local authorities, com- ing association. bined with the disastrous right-to-buy Allowing councils to impose a ‘mil- policy, has condemned hundreds of lionaires tax’ on all land and property thousands of families to a life sentence valued at over a million pounds. Even served out in dilapidated, crime ridden a modest land tax of less than one per housing schemes. cent could generate hundreds of mil- Last year 11,200 council houses were lions for new rented housing. Even amidst the poverty and depres- sion of the pre-war years, cities like Glas- gow managed to build elegant tree-lined council estates such as Mosspark and Knightswood. Scotland today is 100 times richer. It is a myth that we can’t afford high-quality social housing. In contrast to the mainstream parties, the SSP believes that high quality, low- rent social housing holds the key to averting a future housing calamity in Scotland. 8 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part two

4) NUTRITIOUS FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR SCOTLAND’S SCHOOL CHILDREN For six years, the SSP has spearheaded the Eight years after the setting up of the fight for nutritious free school meals as part of a Scottish Parliament, our nation still tops the international league tables for heart serious onslaught against obesity, junk food disease and premature death. culture and child poverty. And still, according to a new report by Save The Children, nearly half of all fam- ilies are living in poverty. Writing in the Sunday Herald (January But this is one campaign that will not 21 2007), columnist Tom Shields offered fizzle out. After May 2007, the Scottish “a wee suggestion (as opposed to an ini- Socialist Party MSPs will push forward tiative, a strategy or an action plan) to this measure, which will have a dramatic address the problems of poverty and low effect on the 100,000 children in Scot- uptake of school meals. Let’s give all our land who live in poverty, but are ineligi- pupils free school dinners. Hearty soups, ble for free school meals. pasta, salads, fruit, even burgers (made It will also remove the stigma of free on the premises).” school meals from hundreds of thou- For six years, the SSP has spearheaded sands more children who do qualify the fight for nutritious free school meals under the degrading means test to assess as part of a serious onslaught against eligibility. obesity, junk food culture and child And by setting minimal nutritional poverty. standards and removing the need for The campaign is backed by a multitude parents to fork out dinner money, it of children’s charities, medical profes- would improve the health of hundreds sionals, education experts, nutritionists, of thousands more who spend their trade unionists and churches. lunch money on junk food and even cig- Even Scottish Labour MPs are arguing arettes. strongly in favour of free school meals – The cost of free school meals is negli- but not in Scotland, unfortunately. gible when set against the overall budget When the new Liberal Democrat council of the Scottish Parliament. in Hull voted to overturn the council’s Frances Curran’s Free School Meals free school meals policy, five Scottish bill would cost just £74million – one Labour MPs signed a motion applauding third of the Scottish Parliament under- “Hull City Council’s three-year pilot spend last year. scheme, combining increased invest- ment in healthier school food ingredi- 5) THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ents with the abolition of charges for COUNCIL TAX WITH A primary school meals.” PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX If it’s right to have free school meals in Back in the early 1970s, a Scottish theatre Hull, it’s right to have free school meals company was launched with the unusual in Scotland. title of 7:84 Scotland. Unfortunately the four main parties in The founder of the theatre group, the Holyrood all oppose the SSP’s free socialist writer John McGrath, had cho- school meals bill. For the time being, the sen the title after reading an article in the free school meals bill introduced by Economist magazine which explained Scottish Socialist MSP, Frances Curran, that 7 per cent of the population owned has been blocked. 84 per cent of the wealth. SSPManifesto2007 9 manifesto part two

tem of taxation that truly reflects income differentials within Scotland. Our alternative is the Scottish Service Tax. It is an unashamedly redistributive tax, the details of which were developed by economists at Paisley University. It would be based on annual personal income, thus shifting the burden of local taxation from low income to high income households. All earnings under £11,000 would be automatically exempt. That was thirty years ago. Since then, Earnings over £11,000 would be taxed the gap between rich and poor in Scot- progressively. land has widened into a vast chasm. Under the Scottish Service Tax,instead Imagine a small child standing gazing of eight Council Tax bands based on up towards the peak of Scotland’s high- property values, there would be six est mountain, Ben Nevis. bands based on income. The breakdown That height gap between the child and of these bands is shown below: the mountain roughly corresponds to Band 1) Gross income under £11,000. the wealth gap between the richest and Every individual who has a gross annual poorest people in Scotland today. income below £11,000 will be automati- A report this year by Save The Chil- cally exempted from the Scottish Service dren showed that one in five families live Tax. below the poverty line, rising as high as Band 2) Gross income between £11,000 62 per cent in some parts of Glasgow. and £30,000 would be taxed at 4.5 per At the other end of the social scale, cent. Fred Goodwin of the Royal Bank of Band 3) Gross income between £30,000 Scotland was last year paid £2.85million and £50,000 would be taxed at 15 per in salary and bonuses. cent. The differential between the salary of Band 5) Gross income between £50,000 Fred Goodwin and the salary of a full and £60,000 would be taxed at 18 per time worker on the national minimum cent. wage? Approximately 250 to one. Band 6) Gross income over £90,000 And the differential between the high- would be taxed at 20 per cent. est and lowest Council Tax band? A max- Under the Scottish Service Tax, over imum of just three to one. three quarters of households would be The Scottish Socialist Party wants to better off. Around in one in ten would replace the Council Tax with a new sys- pay roughly the same as they do now. The rest – the wealthiest 15 per cent of the population – would pay more.

A report this year by Save The Children 6) CARBON RATIONING AS A FAIR ALTERNATIVE TO GREEN TAXES showed that one in five families live below the The Scottish Socialist Party is a pro-envi- poverty line, rising as high as 62 per cent in ronment party which is prepared to face some parts of Glasgow. the truth. We have a responsibility not just to those who inhabit the planet today, but to future generations as yet unborn who 10 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part two

will inherit the planet tomorrow. that the fair and equitable way forward, The natural resources of the earth are nationally and internationally, is to allo- not ours to devour. Nor can we allow cli- cate businesses, organisations and indi- mate chaos to spiral out of control. viduals an annual quantity of carbon We recognize that we cannot continue credits, which can be used to buy gas, as before, sleepwalking towards the electricity, petrol, air flights and other abyss. The SSP is in favour of a political forms of carbon. These could then be war against global warming. used or sold as required. In the long term, a socialist Scotland A carbon rationing scheme, along with could become Europe’s cleanest, green- our other policies, including free public est nation, a model for the wider world. transport, could assist Scotland in meet- We could, for example, close down RAF ing and surpassing an annual carbon bases, whose 121 aircraft are responsible reduction target of three per cent, with- for 40 per cent of all air travel emissions out the need for draconian taxes. in Scotland. And by converting fossil- Carbon allocations should be worked fuelled power stations to renewables, out fairly, taking into account special cir- Scotland’s carbon dioxide emissions cumstances such as climate variation, would be reduced by 35 per cent. poorly insulated housing, and geograph- But the war against global warming ical position. cannot be suspended until we put in Certain caveats would apply, such as place a rational economic system that increased carbon allowances for those in puts people and planet before profit. remote areas with sparse transport links, Immediately, we need to reduce Scot- or 100 per cent grants for insulation for land’s carbon emissions by three per cent those with energy inefficient homes. a year, as part of our national contribu- We do not pretend that there is a tion to tackling the global crisis that ready-made scheme which could be stares us in the face. applied immediately. At the same time, the SSP believes that The SSP will campaign for the Scottish the mission to reduce Scotland’s carbon Parliament to set up, as a matter of footprint must be based on social justice. urgency, a special commission including If resources are finite, they should be experts and representatives from the dif- allocated equally and rationed accord- ferent sectors of society to develop a car- ingly, irrespective of income. bon rationing scheme which have the Many well-intentioned environmen- dual aim of, firstly, driving down green- talists argue in favour of carbon taxes, house emissions by at least three per cent congestion charges, flight surcharges, a year, and secondly redistributing road tolls and fuel price increases as a resources to the less well-off. means of restricting personal carbon use. However, this guarantees that the bur- den of sacrifice will be borne dispropor- tionately by those on lower incomes. Rationing by price will not deter the more prosperous classes from consum- The natural resources of the earth are not ing valuable carbon. Instead, it will ours to devour. Nor can we allow climate increase existing inequalities, and poten- tially even drive those on lower incomes chaos to spiral out of control. into the camp of the anti-environment lobby. The Scottish Socialist Party believes SSPManifesto2007 11 manifesto part three Building a better Scotland

FOR INDEPENDENCE AND There is no doubting that many Scots DEMOCRACY on the make have benefited from the The Act of Union was a travesty from the Union. Indeed, one such is poised to moment it was signed – a stitch-up become Prime Minister. But the people, between the ruling classes of two the ordinary, working people of Scot- nations, designed to further their own land, have gained nothing from the agenda and to hell with the people. Union and lost much. The intervening three hundred years The SSP has been at the forefront of have witnessed no significant redress of the call for independence, as a major this democratic deficit. Scotland remains democratic advance, a means by which, the short-changed northern neighbour: at last, we can decide who, if at all, we go a dumping ground for nuclear missiles to war with, how we treat our workers, yet with no say in defence policy; an how we run our welfare state and organ- underpopulated nation yet with no say ise our energy resources. over immigration. We believe that independence is an Scottish troops are still used as the idea whose time is coming and that the British state’s cannon fodder. 2007 elections will see a further surge in Scottish culture and history are still support for pro-independence parties. largely suppressed in our schools. The SSP was the first party to sign up Scottish votes and voices continue to to the Independence Convention, which be drowned out, unheard. now also involves Scotland’s two other The United Kingdom, this nominally pro-independence parties. We will con- multi-national creation, was, and tinue to support the work of the Inde- remains, nothing less than an Anglo- pendence Convention, whose role is to centric, centralist state with all political promote the cause of independence and power vested in the Crown and West- to provide a forum for all of the pro- minster. PHOTO: independence forces in Scotland to dis- Craig MacLean cuss the road forward. We also continue to back the efforts of the non-party Independence First campaign to bring about an indepen- dence referendum in the shortest timescale possible after the May 2007 elections. If necessary, the SSP will itself intro- duce a bill to hold an independence ref- erendum within the first year of the new parliament. Even the Blair government, which was lukewarm about devolution, managed to call a referendum on estab- 12 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

lishing a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly within six months of coming The United Kingdom, this nominally to power in 1997. We challenge the pro-Union parties to multi-national creation, was, and remains, explain why, if they are so confident that nothing less than an Anglo-centric, they represent the majority of the Scot- tish people, they continue to deny the centralist state with all political power vested Scottish people the right of self-determi- in the Crown and Westminster. nation in a democratic referendum. The bulwark of today’s British state is not the Tory Party, who have long since of Saxe-Coburg, and not the multina- been kicked into touch in Scotland. No, tionals who like to squat on our shores the arch-Unionists in this election are till the government subsidies run out. the Labour government. The ex-party of We seek to throw out the weapons of the working class are now giving it big mass destruction that lurk on the Clyde, guns for Queen and Coronation Street, and bring our troops safely home. We warning that armed guards will surely will fight to become a nation, a beacon, stalk the Tweed and ex-pats will never of peace, not an exploited outpost of the again see their loved ones south of the dying British Empire. border. We will welcome people fleeing But the more ludicrous their argu- oppression, war and poverty, and offer ments, the more surely we all know them full rights and a place in our soci- they’re losing. ety. They are on the run, and the SNP are We will cherish our civil liberties, not the pretenders to their throne. straitjacket them with ID cards and The SSP opposes the SNP’s increasing- Criminal Justice legislation. We will live ly pro-business vision of an independent in real hope, not manufactured fear. Scotland, which promises hundreds of We will look after our workers, repeal- millions of pounds in Corporate Tax ing Thatcher’s anti-trade union laws and cuts to big business. This could only be delivering a fair minimum wage for all, achieved by plundering our public ser- including those under 21. vices. We have a powerful vision of the The SSP is fighting for a different Scot- nation we can be, in which everyone has land. Instead of slashing corporate taxes rights, and democracy is extended and to the level of the Irish Republic, as the extended, from proportional representa- SNP propose, we would slash military tion in all elections to participatory spending to Irish levels. Scotland’s cur- democracy forums at local level, where rent share of the UK’s bloated military neighbourhoods can vote on and veto budget is over £3billion, while the the decisions that affect them. Republic of Ireland spends just £700mil- This is our world, and we will fight lion. We would use the extra billions to tirelessly to bring it into the hands of the transform Scotland. people, to bring socialism into being. Nor do we subscribe to the bizarre idea We harbour no illusions that indepen- that the British monarch should remain dence, in itself, will cause this transfor- the Head of State in an independent mation. But we believe it can help us on Scotland. our way, by delivering massively Our call is for a Scottish socialist increased democracy and making the republic, in which the people are sover- ideas of socialism – equality, wealth eign, not some descendant of the house redistribution, peace and human soli- SSPManifesto2007 13 manifesto part three

sions, but we believe it will serve to end petty divisions. England has much to gain from inde- pendence. National cultures can look genuinely outward. History, art, music, sport from across these islands can cele- brate its diversity, its national identity and its place in the world. The Labour government’s hamfisted attempt to quantify Britishness, and to enshrine it in citizenship tests and ID cards, only serves to emphasise how ill PHOTO: the trappings of the Union become us. darity – more easily achieved. Ian Jacobs Through independence, we become Should the referendum on indepen- ourselves, and enable others to do like- dence be won, and we believe it will, we wise. will argue for the establishment of a The 2007 election marks the 300th Constitutional Assembly, independent anniversary of the Union. Let’s make it of political parties, to draw up a brand the last anniversary, as we unite around a new constitution for Scotland to be rati- vision of a nation at peace with itself, its fied in a further referendum. past, and the world. This would not be an appointed panel Let’s raise the standard of a Scottish of notables and celebrities but a democ- socialist republic, for the people of Scot- ratically elected body, representative of land and the citizens of the world. Scotland’s geographic, ethnic and gender diversity. Scotland and the union That Constitutional Assembly would In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- be given the task of drawing up a consti- ted to implementing the following: tution based on two essential, abiding A referendum on independence with- principles – those of maximum democ- in a 12-month timescale, allowing the racy (eg no hereditary powers; full pro- people of Scotland to decide whether portional representation; no external our parliament should remain subor- military control) and maximum equality dinate to Westminster, or should be (eg full and equal citizenship for all who given full power in all areas of policy. live and work in Scotland; no discrimi- For a Yes vote in any independence ref- nation on the basis of race, religion, gen- erendum. der, sexuality, age or disability). Support for the cross-party Indepen- British unionists claim that indepen- dence Convention and the non-party dence only entrenches nationalist divi- Independence First campaign.

We will also campaign for the following Our call is for a Scottish socialist republic, in measures, which are not within the Scot- which the people are sovereign, not some tish Parliament’s powers: A directly elected Constitutional descendant of the house of Saxe-Coburg, and not Assembly, representative of Scotland’s the multinationals who like to squat on our shores regional, gender and ethnic diversity to draw up options for a new constitu- till the government subsidies run out. tion for Scotland, which would be put to a further referendum vote. 14 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

A nuclear-free Scotland that is outside Participatory democracy in the work- of NATO. place. Military spending to be reduced to no Support for the open source software more than the per capita level of the movement and for all public bodies to Republic of Ireland, which would use open source software where avail- mean slashing the defence budget by able and appropriate. £2.5 billion. Greater use of referenda to allow ordi- A new relationship with the European nary people a say in controversial deci- Union which would safeguard Scot- sions. land’s independence. All individuals living in Scotland to be FOR THE MILLIONS AGAINST THE entitled to full Scottish citizenship, MILLIONAIRES irrespective of national origin. This is the 21st century, yet parts of Scot- A socialist Scotland based on the prin- land remain scarred with near-Victorian ciples of equality, democracy, liberty, levels of poverty. generosity and solidarity. Here are epidemics of malnutrition and advanced dental decay in children, Democracy families living in housing unfit for In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- human habitation, frail pensioners ted to implementing the following: dying alone in the dark from hypother- The introduction of participatory mia, and cancer patients unable to recov- democracy at community level by er because they cannot afford their establishing local assemblies with the medication. power to make and veto decisions that Here are tens of thousands of children affect their community. living on a diet which is less nutritious An increase in the maximum number than the diet of children in South Africa’s of councillors per ward from 4 to 6, to poorest townships, contract cleaners in allow greater proportionality and hospitals buying cleaning fluid out of more representative local government. their own dismal wages because their private employer is cutting costs, shat- We will also campaign for the following tered bus shelters, closed down schools, measures, which are not within the Scot- communities under siege from crime, tish Parliament’s powers: and generations of families who have The abolition of the monarchy and all never worked. its structural and ideological supports, Poverty is spelled out in ruinous drug including the offensive ceremony and alcohol addiction, heart failure and whereby elected MSPs are forced to emphysema, criminal records, trauma swear an oath of allegiance to an and children in care. unelected monarch. No unelected second chamber. All elections to be conducted under a genuinely proportional system, and the scrapping of the anti-democratic This is the 21st century, yet parts of first-past-the-post system. Scotland remain scarred with near-Victorian The reduction of the voting and candi- dacy age to 16. levels of poverty. The extension of the right to vote to people who are homeless and to those who are in prison. SSPManifesto2007 15 manifesto part three

vices, drive our buses, serve in our shops, Around a quarter of all Scots, and a third of that they are, in effect, subsidising the lives of the wealthy. The people who our children, live in low income households. can’t work, those too young, too sick, too Over half of lone parent households are classified dysfunctional, too old, simply fall through the cracks. as poor. A third of all employees earn less than Any attempts by Westminster or Holy- £6.50 per hour. rood to alleviate poverty have amounted to tinkering around at the margins. For all the mainstream parties, there Scotland is not an impoverished third are too many taboos. Progressive taxa- world country. tion is unthinkable. Public spending Scotland’s GDP – in other words the aimed at reducing poverty is ruled out. total amount wealth produced per year – Funding for anti-poverty projects is is estimated by economists to be around being squeezed. £127 billion – or £25,400 for every single Yet an anti-poverty strategy which man, woman and child. There is no excludes these ingredients is mere dab- excuse or justification for poverty. bling. Yet the statistics paint a bleak picture. The SSP is Scotland’s anti-poverty Around a quarter of all Scots, and a third party. of our children, live in low income We believe that ‘wealth creation’ households. Over half of lone parent through a free market, where money households are classified as poor. A third supposedly trickles down from the top to of all employees earn less than £6.50 per the bottom, is a fraud. hour. That locking up people for shoplifting Meanwhile the rich get richer day by or defaulting on a fine does not deliver day. Since the start of the new millenni- justice to a mother whose son has been um, the combined wealth of Scotland’s stabbed to death in the street. ten richest millionaires has more than That short-term contracts and anti- doubled, from £2.5billion in 2000 to trade union laws do not create a produc- over £6 billion today. tive workforce but a debt-ridden This growing gulf between rich and population too riven with anxiety to poor is no accident of nature. Successive have aspirations. UK governments have consciously creat- The SSP recognises the effects unem- ed an army of working poor. People who ployment, job insecurity, job dissatisfac- are paid so little to staff our public ser- tion have. We also want to challenge the damaging and demeaning culture of conspicuous consumption which is widespread in our society and con- tributes to poverty. We aim to lift the burden of debt, low wages and insecurity through wealth redistribution at local and national level, improved rights and wages for workers, and an end to draconian debt laws based on fear. We want to end the pressure on people to work long hours to earn a living wage by introducing a reasonable minimum 16 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

wage and a 35 hour week, which would improve our quality of life, giving us We aim to lift the burden of debt, low wages time to spend with our families and be active in our communities. and insecurity through wealth redistribution at We will also address crime, the brunt local and national level, improved rights and of which is visited disproportionately on working-class communities, by making wages for workers, and an end to draconian debt communities safer and creating a system laws based on fear. that delivers justice for all. Our proposal to provide heroin on prescription, as part of an integrated price index, rose by just 60 per cent. health strategy, was in the past derided as Instead of pandering to big business an irresponsible and provocative slogan. and the rich, the SSP believes that we It is now increasingly recognised, even by should be standing up against corporate sections of the police hierarchy, as a seri- and personal greed. ous, tried and tested solution, which In 1974, the Labour Party manifesto would bring the problem of addiction called for “a fundamental and irreversible out into the open and at the same time shift in the balance of wealth and power reduce crime. to working people and their families”. Most burglaries and muggings in Scot- Since then, there has certainly been a land are committed by heroin addicts fundamental shift in the balance of trying to access money to buy illegal wealth and power. But it has been in the drugs. Removing the need to steal cash opposite direction – away from working to score drugs would remove the impe- people and their families, in favour of big tus towards crime. business and the rich. The SSP is different from the main- We believe that it’s time to swing the stream parties. We see the world from pendulum in the opposite direction: to the ground upwards. We work from the tax the rich, redistribute wealth and ground upwards. income, curb the power of big business We reject the culture of deference and move towards a society where our towards big business which is now ram- wealth and resources are harmonised for pant within Scotland’s four big political the benefit of the people rather than parties. The SNP, Labour, the Liberal plundered by an elite. Democrats and the Tories are now engaged in a frenetic contest to offer Poverty and wealth ever-higher rewards to big business In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- through Corporation Tax and business ted to implementing the following: rates cuts. A new income-based Scottish Service Yet the stark truth is that big business Tax to replace the Council Tax. shareholders are today devouring greater The scrapping of domestic water quantities of wealth than at any time in charges, with household water human history. financed via the Scottish Service Tax. Fifteen years ago, Scotland’s ten most Special funding to enable Scotland’s 32 profitable companies made a combined local authorities to recruit and train a profit of £3 billion. By 2005, our top ten team of welfare rights workers with businesses were able to report combined special responsibility for identifying profits of £13 billion – a 330 per cent and assisting people who are failing to increase. Over the same period, the state receive benefits to which they are enti- pension, which is linked to the retail tled. SSPManifesto2007 17 manifesto part three

Restoration of benefits to 16 and 17 year olds. The restoration of lone parent benefits slashed by Westminster. A progressive tax system which will increase the top rate of taxation and reduce the tax burden on those on low incomes. An overhaul of disability benefits to remove means testing. The increase of all benefits by £30 a week with subsequent annual increas- es in line with inflation. The regulation of banks and building societies to outlaw the practice of charging customers to access their own money, and charging customers who An expansion of locally-based money exceed their agreed overdraft limit, advice centres and credit unions. with refunds backdated five years. A change in debt legislation to remove The protection of public sector pen- the threat of eviction and house repos- sion schemes. session. Carers Allowance to be replaced with The Scottish Executive to launch in con- the national minimum hourly wage junction with Westminster a review of rate. carers’ benefits and financial support. Rigorous new laws to prevent big busi- The extension of concessionary travel ness avoiding legitimate taxation. to carers. A new corporate tax regime which The establishment of a cross-party forces Scotland’s most profitable com- working group, which would involve panies to pay their fair share of taxa- people affected by poverty and anti- tion, at least to Nordic levels. poverty organisations, to address A two tier VAT system, with luxury poverty and inequality in Scotland. goods taxed at 20 per cent and VAT on all other goods reduced from 17.5 per We will also campaign for the following cent to its 1979 level of 8 per cent. measures, which are not within the Scot- Public ownership of North Sea oil with tish Parliament’s powers: the profits used for the benefit of the A basic state pension of £160 a week people rather the profiteers. and the restoration of the link between A socialist Scotland that will stand up pensions and earnings. to the forces of neo-liberalism and the free market.

Jobs and workers rights The SSP believes in a socialist Scotland that In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- ted to implementing the following: will stand up to the forces of neo-liberalism A national minimum wage of £8.00 an and the free market. hour for all public sector workers – two thirds of median male earnings. A 35 hour week for all public sector workers. 18 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

The funding of 5000 new apprentice- Privatisation and social ownership ships in construction-related trades. In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- Confiscation of the assets, including ted to implementing the following: factories, offices and equipment, of An end to all PFI and PPP schemes. multinational companies which shift An end to private catering and clean- production from Scotland to low wage ing contracts in the NHS and educa- economies elsewhere. tion. Full support for trade unionists forced Defiance of European Union laws over to take strike action in defence of their tendering where these laws threaten living standards and working condi- the livelihoods of Scottish workers. tions. Mandatory ethical and workers rights All public sector trainees to be paid provisions to be included in all public trade union negotiated rates of pay. sector procurement agreements. The regeneration of local economies The establishment of a Scottish by returning the Uniform Business national rail corporation to take over Rate to the control of local authorities. the Scotrail franchise when it expires A skills diversification programme in 2011. involving the Scottish Trades Union The creation of ten regional, publicly- Congress, in preparation for the future owned bus companies, accountable to decommissioning of Scotland’s local councils. nuclear power plants and nuclear The reversal of the part-privatisation weapons bases. of water and sewerage and for Scot- The right to jury trials on demand for land’s water supply to be munici- cases involving compensation claims palised and run by groups of local against employers, for example by vic- authorities, along the lines of the tims of asbestos-related disease. police and fire boards. A ‘corporate killing bill’ and other leg- islation that will serve to hold compa- We will also campaign for the following ny executives to account for the measures, which are not within the Scot- actions of their companies. tish Parliament’s powers: The establishment of a democratically We will also campaign for the following run Scottish National Oil Corporation measures, which are not within the Scot- to take over the North Sea oilfields, tish Parliament’s powers: with the profits used for public invest- A national minimum wage of £8.00 an ment, including in renewable energy. hour for all workers and trainees over The extension of public ownership 16, without exception. into profitable sectors of the economy. A 35 hour maximum working week as New forms of public ownership which the first step towards a four-day work- ing week. 12 months’ statutory paid maternity The establishment of democratically leave without loss of rights; and one month’s statutory paternity paid leave. run Scottish National Oil Corporation to take Five weeks’ minimum annual leave for over the North Sea oilfields, with the profits all workers. Free trade unions and the scrapping of used for public investment, including in all laws designed to restrict the rights renewable energy. of trade unionists.

SSPManifesto2007 19 manifesto part three

and vulnerable people. A Scottish-wide strategy to reduce domestic violence, including special domestic violence courts, domestic violence awareness training and reha- bilitation programmes. All convicted sex offenders to be legal- ly required to undergo a sex offender programme either within the commu- nity or within custody, depending upon the level of risk they pose. Increased police resources specifically dedicated to monitoring and supervi- reject top down nationalisation in sion of sex offenders. favour of democratic management The establishment of special secure involving workers, communities, con- units providing intensive rehabilita- sumers and representatives of local tion for sex offenders who are judged and national government. to pose a continuing risk to the public. An end to the practice which allows Safer communities those accused of sex offences the right The SSP will campaign for: to cross-examine their alleged victims Replacement of the toothless Joint in court, and for these principles to be Police Boards with new community, extended into civil litigation proceed- regional and national police boards, ings. which would hold the police to A reduction in Scotland’s prison pop- account and would include elected ulation – already the highest in West- councillors, MSPs and directly elected ern Europe pro-rata to the population community representatives. – by expanding alternatives to custody A new drugs policy which will allow for offenders who are not a danger to free heroin on prescription to regis- the public. tered addicts, under controlled condi- An end to the waste of the police and tions, to reduce petty crime and to legal resources devoted to arresting undermine the lucrative criminal and prosecuting people for the posses- empires which have been built on the sion of cannabis for personal use. illegal supply of heroin. Community youth forums across The expansion of drug and alcohol Scotland to identify what amenities are rehabilitation and detox facilities. needed in each local area. A zero tolerance approach to violence Local youth facilities in every commu- and abuse towards children, women nity, run by young people. Education, prevention and treatment to tackle bullying. A system of accountability over judges A system of accountability over judges and and sheriffs, with the involvement of sheriffs, with the involvement of organisations organisations such as the Law Society such as the Law Society of Scotland and of Scotland and Victim Support Scot- land. Victim Support Scotland. The right of prisoners to vote in elec- tions, in line with recent legal rulings. The restoration of recent cutbacks in 20 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

Legal Aid. suicide are soaring, cancer and heart dis- The extension of legal aid to cover ease are in ascendance, the sick are workplace and consumer disputes. penalised through prescription charges, A new fast track appeals system to deal and life expectancy in some parts of our with suspected miscarriages of justice. country is dipping below that of trauma- The reversal of all privatisation and tised Iraq and Palestine. PFI in the prison service. Scotland’s health crisis has not come The expansion of prison rehabilitation about because people are too ill- programmes, including education, informed to know that a salad is better training, psychiatric and psychological for them than a sausage supper. It has support, drug and alcohol detox, rehab come about because too many of our cit- and abstinence programmes. izens are poor, overworked, isolated and Resistance to all Westminster interfer- badly served in terms of amenities and ence in devolved matters. food-shopping. For the Scottish Parliament to have the Scotland’s health crisis is rooted in eco- right to set its own laws on asylum, nomic inequality. People who subsist on drugs, anti-terrorism and media regu- low incomes, who work in monotonous lation. jobs, who live in dismal housing schemes will always be more vulnerable to the FOR TOP-QUALITY PUBLIC temptations of tobacco, junk food, alco- SERVICES holism and hard drug abuse and will be For decades now, the public sector has less motivated to take physical exercise. been lambasted by governments insis- They are also more likely to suffer tent upon the idea that private equals mental illness. Those living in the poor- good, public equals bad. est areas are nearly three times as likely Who are they kidding? to be admitted to hospital for depres- Privatisation has seen our railways sion, three times more likely to commit decline to a ghost of the service they suicide, over four times more likely to be could have provided, while fares now admitted to hospital for self poisoning, exceed those of air travel. six times more likely to be admitted with Privatisation has seen our medical ser- schizophrenia, and ten times more likely vices shrivel as hospitals close and to be admitted for an alcohol problem. resources dry up. Privatisation has seen The Scottish Executive has wasted our schools rot and our colleges run by swathes of public money on healthy eat- incompetent business people, while stu- ing phone lines and glossy leaflets instead dent loans rocket into the stratosphere of tackling our health emergency with a and education becomes a narrow regime long-term strategy to prevent and treat. of exam-passing and league tables. The SSP will carry on the fight for Privatisation is a blight on our public sector, from the fire service to social ser- vices, housing to hospitals, classrooms to community halls. The mainstream parties may claim Privatisation is a blight on our public sector, that privatisation is the only show in from the fire service to social services, housing town, but the public isn’t buying it, and nor are we. to hospitals, classrooms to community halls. The failure of the privatisation agenda is spelled out in Scotland’s health crisis. Obesity is rampant, mental illness and SSPManifesto2007 21 manifesto part three

to cleaning, back into the public fold. We will call for the abolition of all pre- We want to build a health service that is scription charges, and for the NHS to absolutely free; that is super-efficient; that is purchase and supply cheap, generic medicines which work as effectively as compassionate; and that treats people swiftly, the expensive brand names, except at far and, where possible, locally. lower prices. We want to build a health service that is absolutely free; that is super-efficient; that is compassionate; and that treats people nutritious, free school meals as a first swiftly, and, where possible, locally. step in the battle against obesity and Like health, education should be a poor diet. right rather than a privilege. As things We will also campaign for a ban on stand, inequality runs rife from pre- junk food advertising, and the establish- school right through to post-grad, where ment of free passes to sports facilities for some children are taught in noisy, over- all young people, amongst other initia- crowded classrooms without enough tives to entrench the principles of books to go round, while others are healthy living in our population. taught in classes of ten, with state-of- While prevention is better than cure, the-art resources and access to extra this latter needs attention too. The NHS, tuition. once the beating heart of the welfare The difference is money, and it is a dif- state, is now as badly in need of intensive ference that ensures one child grows up care as many of its patients. to live a broad and prosperous life, while We are not opposed to progressive another sees their future narrow to a changes which are clearly beneficial to vanishing point of unemployment and patients and local communities. Howev- poverty even before they reach their er, we will oppose will gratuitous hospi- teens. tal closures and ‘rationalisation’ of The SSP seeks to redress this seasick services imposed upon communities imbalance in life chances, and to end the against their will. commodification of education by the We will campaign for significant business community, who would boil investment of public money to refurbish down our higher education system into a and extend premises, train and employ thin soup of business studies and man- more nurses, doctors and ancillary staff, agement courses at the expense of lan- and bring essential services, from clinics guages, history and music. We will pull the plug on the public subsidy of private schools, and instead plough money into state education, enhancing resources, taking on more teachers, and ensuring that all children, including those with special needs, have their needs met. The SSP seeks to create a new kind of education system, not one characterised by meaningless testing and homogenised curricula, but one where individual learning styles are recognised and accommodated, where democratic par- 22 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

ticipation and egalitarianism are the order of the day, and where education is not a commodity but a lifelong, life- enhancing passion, accessible to all, at The SSP would cancel all PFI-PPP projects, any age, from any background, at any thus saving the taxpayer hundreds of millions of level. We will also fight to expand provision pounds over the next three decades. across the social services sector, to ensure there are enough social workers and enough of a support network to enable fragile family units to stay together, to themselves become the property of the catch the vulnerable before they fall, to private profiteers. get people back on track before they lose The only beneficiaries are the banks their way completely. and the construction companies who are We will fight for a well-resourced fire enjoying a lucrative bonanza at the tax- service, whose professionals are well- payers expense rewarded and respected, and for an end Our opposition to PFI and other to the ruthless, arbitrary axing of civil forms of privatisation is based on the servants, particularly in the frontline ser- triple principles of democracy, account- vices upon which we depend, including ability and fairness. Our schools and customs, pensions, benefits and tax cred- hospitals are being turned over to private its. directors who are unelected and unac- And we will continue our campaign countable. for the cancellation of Scotland’s local And the deals that are struck between authority housing debt, including the the public and private sector in these debts of councils whose tenants have projects are grotesquely one-sided, and voted against large scale housing stock unfair. transfer. For the sake of a quick fix, and to pro- The SSP will also continue the cam- tect governments from taking hard deci- paign to rid our public services of the sions about taxation, our children are extortionists who would have us in hock now set to inherit a debt millstone for lifetimes to come. totalling billions of pounds. It is a myth that Private Finance Initia- The SSP would cancel all PFI-PPP tive (PFI) or Public Private Partnership projects, thus saving the taxpayer hun- (PPP) is just another method of build- dreds of millions of pounds over the ing. It is actually a method of borrowing next three decades. – and a hugely expensive method, into The SSP is Scotland’s pro-public sector the bargain. party. Other parties, including even the Under these schemes, private compa- SNP, which in the past stood for an nies get the best of all worlds. They expansion of the public sector, are now finance the construction of schools, hos- calling for cuts. pitals, roads and other public building John Swinney, for example, the SNP projects. They charge exorbitant interest finance spokesperson, recently launched rates over decades, which means that the an extraordinary attack on the Scottish taxpayer pays for these projects umpteen executive for “dragging its heels” in com- times over. Meanwhile the financiers parison to England on savings (ie cuts) rake in colossal profits over a fixed and called for a reduction in Scotland’s timescale, usually around 30 years. And public sector. to add insult to injury, the structures “It’s time for the government to help SSPManifesto2007 23 manifesto part three

ple, to serve the people, through libraries, clinics, schools, community halls and other facilities. Instead of slashing the public sector, the SSP is in favour of expanding it, by employing more nurses, more teachers, more workers providing local services for local communities. In direct contrast to the SNP, we want to increase the proportion of the work- force who are involved in helping others, and decrease the proportion of workers whose function is to make money for Scotland’s wealth creators [ie business],” wealthy shareholders. he added. In other words, the SNP,which The SSP would bring the railways, the in the first Holyrood election cam- buses, the hospital catering companies paigned for a penny on income tax to and other privatised industries back into boost the public sector, is now calling for the public sector. resources to be shifted from the public And in a post-independence Scotland sector into the private sector. we would fight to bring North Sea oil The public sector is not some parasiti- and other energy-generating industries cal monster selfishly devouring resources. into the public sector, in order that the It is the opposite. It is the public sector profits can be ploughed into protection which looks after our elderly, our sick, our of the environment, developing renew- disabled. It is the public sector which edu- able energy and creating a world-class cates our children, which empties the fare-free public transport system. bins, which keeps our streets clean, which answers the 999 calls, which provides our General Health water and disposes of our sewage. In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- Moreover it is a myth perpetrated by ted to implementing the following: all four mainstream parties that Scotland Free school meals with milk and water has a bloated public sector. Only 23.3 per for all state school pupils. cent of the workforce is employed in The scrapping of all prescription public services – a substantially lower charges, in line with the Welsh Assem- proportion than in Scandinavian coun- bly. tries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Free nicotine replacement patches and where the public sector accounts for over free stop smoking classes. 30 per cent of employment. All school children to be entitled to The public sector belongs to the peo- receive and be encouraged to take up a minimum of three hours of physical education of their choice, with a range of alternatives for those who are The SSP would bring the railways, the buses, unable to participate in standard PE classes. the hospital catering companies and other Funding to enable local authorities to privatised industries back into the public sector. remove admission charges to fitness facilities, including swimming pools, sports centres and gymnasiums. Free toothpaste and toothbrushes for 24 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

all children and a dental hygiene cam- mental health problems. paign in all schools as an alternative to water fluoridation. We will also campaign for the following The establishment of a network of measures, which are not within the Scot- community-run supermarkets spe- tish Parliament’s powers: cialising in healthy local produce at the A publicly owned Scottish pharma- cheapest possible retail prices, starting ceutical corporation which would sup- with areas of high deprivation. ply a range of cheap generic medicines The establishment of women’s health for the NHS and work with universi- centres providing access to contracep- ties to research new drug treatments. tion and abortion facilities and cancer This corporation would sell generic screening. medicines to third world countries at All women to have the legal right to cost price, to help alleviate suffering receive a triple assessment for breast from Aids and other treatable diseases. cancer, including physical examina- Investment to be directed towards tion, ultrasound and mammogram. promoting health, preventing illness Parents to have the option of separate and curing disease when it does occur vaccinations for measles, mumps and rather than on the profitable symp- rubella as an alternative to the triple tom-control medicines favoured by vaccine, backed up with a high profile the private pharmaceutical companies. publicity campaign to maximise All medical and scientific research to uptake until the safety of MMR is be published and made available for proven beyond all reasonable doubt. free on internet databases such as A ban on vaccines containing thiom- PubMed Central. ersal. A ban on alcohol advertising. Serious resources to tackle Scotland’s A ban on the advertising of junk food. mental health crisis which affects one All alcoholic products to be legally in five of the population, and is dispro- required to label the exact number of portionately concentrated in deprived alcoholic units, calorific value and areas. other nutritional information on the Mental health treatment to be directed label of each container. primarily towards rehabilitation rather than alleviation of symptoms. The NHS People suffering mental illness to have In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- access to a full range of treatment ted to implementing the following: options – modern medication, coun- A fully democratic and decentralised selling, short- and long-term psy- NHS, integrated with social services chotherapy, occupational therapy, within the framework of local govern- diversional activities. Treatment for mental illness to be pri- marily community-based, though We would also campaign for a publicly owned backed up with modern, well-staffed inpatient facilities with single sex Scottish pharmaceutical corporation which would wards. supply a range of cheap generic medicines for Respect for the rights of people with mental health problems, including the NHS and work with universities to research public education to challenge the stig- new drug treatments. ma associated with mental health and derogatory labelling of people with SSPManifesto2007 25 manifesto part three

within a public model. All legislation expanding the role of the private sec- tor in primary care to be repealed. The SSP will fight to secure the funding and A department of alternative medicine resources to create a Scottish NHS which would within the Scottish NHS to develop free access to alternative and comple- match the best in the world. mentary medicines and therapies such as herbal remedies, acupuncture and homeopathy. A free counselling and talking therapy ment. The day to day running of the service. NHS to be supervised by elected The allocation of NHS spending health boards consisting of medical according to health needs rather than professionals, other healthcare work- crude population statistics. ers and local communities. An end to hospital closures except The reversal of all privatisation within with the approval of the local commu- the NHS, and the cancellation of all nity. existing PFI and PPP projects in The phasing out of private health care favour of public investment. and the incorporation of private med- Joint planning committees to co-ordi- ical facilities, services and resources nate health and social services, which into the NHS. would involve the harmonisation of A charge on private medicine wages and conditions, based on level- providers to recoup the costs to the ling up. public purse of the training and edu- A maximum bed occupancy rate of 85 cation of their staff. per cent to ensure there is adequate A ban on consultants working for the capacity to cope with any surge in private sector. demand. Proper funding for physiotherapy ser- Increased capacity in order to achieve vices. a maximum bed occupancy rate of 85 A living income for student nurses. per cent in general wards; and a maxi- Free childcare for NHS shift-workers. mum 75 per cent for intensive care Zero tolerance of violence against units to ensure there are sufficient health workers. available beds to cope with any surge Staff employed by private contractors in demand. to be brought back into NHS employ- An expansion of primary care services ment with NHS pay and conditions. The abolition of hospital parking charges.

We will also campaign for the following measures, which are not within the Scot- tish Parliament’s powers: The funding and resources to create a Scottish NHS which would match the best in the world. The phasing out of all private health- care.

26 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

Additional needs In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- ted to implementing the following: Free care for everyone who needs it, without Free personal care for everyone who means-testing, including those in nursing homes needs it, including those under 65 with debilitating conditions such as demen- and those under 65 with debilitating conditions tia. such as dementia. Free access to autism specific health services which acknowledge that the condition may in some cases be a health problem that can be helped by increased funding for dementia ser- medical intervention. vices and dementia drug treatments to Families of children and adults with be available free on the NHS. autism to have four weeks per year A standard level of free elderly care respite provision. services across Scotland’s 32 local Support, including financial support, authorities. to enable all adults with autism who Central funding to the Care Commis- wish to pursue further and higher sion which monitors elderly care pro- education to do so. jects. As things stand, care More resources to be directed towards organisations are forced to pay the the diagnosis and support of adults costs of inspection. with autism. Carers rights We will also campaign for the following In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- measures, which are not within the Scot- ted to implementing the following: tish Parliament’s powers: Recognition of the indispensable role Free care for everyone who needs it, of Scotland’s half a million carers who without means-testing, including contribute £5.3 billion worth of care to those in nursing homes and those the Scottish economy every year. under 65 with debilitating conditions Investment of at £10 million in carer such as dementia. organisations to ensure a fully func- Increased funding for research into the tioning carer-support infrastructure. causes and the most effective treat- Long term core funding arrangements ments for complex conditions such as for carers organisations that will safe- dementia and autism. guard their existence. People with autism to be eligible for all A cash investment of £135 million a relevant benefits, including those con- year to allow full time carers to have nected with mobility, personal care, guaranteed annual breaks from caring. housing support and independent liv- Free access for carers to suitable train- ing. ing programmes and an extra £1.5 All adults with autism to be given spe- million to be invested in a programme cial support to find suitable employ- of Expert Carer Training. ment. An action programme to ensure that schools, health authorities and social Care and support of elderly people services identify young carers and pro- In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- vide them with effective professional ted to implementing the following: support. Full support for the manifesto of At least £1 million a year to provide Alzheimer Scotland, which includes support services for young carers. SSPManifesto2007 27 manifesto part three

cent business sector representation on college boards, replacing this with rep- resentatives from teaching unions, ancillary staff, students, local councils and local communities. Encouragement of life-long learning by providing equal educational oppor- tunities for mature students based on experience and prior learning. An end to the capping system in Fur- ther Education to enable colleges to meet demand for learning in the com- munities they serve, including evening We will also campaign for the following class provision and ESOL classes (Eng- measures, which are are outwith the pow- lish for speakers of other languages). ers of the Scottish Pariament: Increased provision of adult numeracy Carers Allowance to be replaced with and literacy programmes. the national minimum hourly wage rate. We will also campaign for the following measures, which are not within the Scot- Higher and further education tish Parliament’s powers: In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- Students to be eligible for housing ted to implementing the following: benefit. The reinstatement of student grants as Employers to be compelled to allow a first step towards ending student paid time-off for training and life-long poverty. learning opportunities. Investment in affordable, quality accommodation for students, while Schools ensuring that no guaranteed above- In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- inflation rent increase agreements are ted to implementing the following: reached with suppliers. Maximum class sizes of 20. The abolition of all fees in the higher No school closures except with the and further education sectors. agreement of the local community. The unification of all colleges into a The termination of all PPP and PFI co-operative network of institutions projects and a return to the principle working together rather than compet- that education facilities be publicly ing against one another, under local funded. democratic control. School boards to become fully repre- Removal of the requirement for 50 per sentative of local communities. The opening of all schools and their facilities free of charge for non-prof- itable learning activities outside school The SSP is committed to the reinstatement hours and term time. Enhanced facilities for pupils with of student grants as a first step towards additional needs. ending student poverty. Democratic and egalitarian restruc- turing of schools, with plenary staff decision-making and flattened pay scales. 28 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

Participation in decision-making by day pay or the entitlement to claim pupils, so as to embed the practice of benefits outside term times. democratic principles at the earliest age. Special education Support for the Parent Involvement The staffing, resources and facilities to Network as part of a national forum, make it easier for children with special involving parents, teachers and school needs to integrate into mainstream students, to help shape and monitor education, while maintaining existing the school curriculum and ensure its special education units to allow par- relevance to the needs of 21st century ents to choose what is in the best inter- Scottish school students. ests of their child. Bilingual education to be available for A 1:1 student-teacher ratio for chil- children from ethnic minorities. dren with classic autism, and a system Promotion of Gaelic and Scots, with of regular three-month re-assessments all their diverse dialects. of the effectiveness of teaching strate- Nutritious free school meals with milk gies. and water for all primary and sec- Smaller class sizes for children with ondary pupils and replace the private Aspergers. sponsorship of school meals with An expansion in the number of speech freshly prepared meals. and language and language therapists A desegregated education system that in schools. allows for the rights of religious obser- Closer involvement of parents in the vance by all denominations. This education of children with special would be implemented by consent and needs. agreement rather than by compulsion The integration of the children of asy- and enforcement. lum seekers and travelling families The recruitment of specialist teachers into mainstream education, backed up to support existing teachers in the by specialist language teachers and areas of PE, Art, languages, Music and child support workers. IT to enable class teachers to focus on The fast-tracking of Additional Sup- core skills. port Needs Tribunals. A long term solution to staffing short- The development of an anti-bullying ages that does not rely on supply strategy within schools, which would teachers. include training teachers in how to A broadening of the criteria of assess- deal with bullying, and educating ment in schools to ensure league tables pupils on human diversity, including are not just exam-based. conditions such as autism and Asperg- Free publicly funded pre-school edu- ers. cation for all three and four year olds in place of nursery vouchers. Quality pre-school care for babies and toddlers up to the age of three. Free after-school care for all primary and secondary school pupils. In a devolved Scotland, the SSP is committed to Clean and well-supervised toilet facili- implementing a maximum class size of 20. ties in all primary and secondary schools. An £8.00 an hour minimum wage for all education workers with either holi- SSPManifesto2007 29 manifesto part three

A review of all other new road-build- ing projects, with priority given to Immediate free rail, bus, underground and road safety improvements and better ferry travel for all pensioners, schoolchildren, road maintenance rather than bigger and faster roads. students, people with disabilities, carers and The scrapping of expensive white ele- benefit claimants. phants such as the proposed Edin- burgh and Glasgow airport rail links. All money raised by government and local authorities from parking meters, Transport and car parks to be ring-fenced for In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- public transport. ted to implementing the following: A system of ferry pricing based on the Free bus, rail, underground and ferry Road Equivalent Tariff which success- travel within four years. fully operates in Norway. This means Re-regulation of Scotland’s buses. that the cost of a ferry journey for a The establishment of a Scottish bus, lorry or car and occupants should National Bus Corporation, publicly be no more than the cost of a road owned and democratically run by journey over the same distance. regional boards. The abolition of all bridge tolls. The transfer of the Scotrail franchise 20 mph zones (around schools for to a publicly owned and democratical- instance) with traffic calming in all ly managed Scottish National Rail residential streets where requested by Corporation the local community to cut the unac- Immediate free rail, bus, underground ceptably high number of child deaths. and ferry travel for all pensioners, Expansion of the provision of low-cost schoolchildren, students, people with park-and-ride schemes to reduce con- disabilities, carers and benefit gestion in major towns and city cen- claimants. tres. The scrapping of the £500 million A national cycle strategy worked out M74 extension and other expensive with cycling organisations to develop and controversial road-building pro- an extensive network of safe, well- jects such as the Aberdeen Orbital maintained and well-lit cycle tracks; bypass, the A701 “realignment” and high quality cycle training for all through Midlothian, and the Dalkeith primary 6/7 pupils. bypass. The development of a similar strategy to encourage walking, including the funding of well-lit, properly main- tained pavements and footpaths. The phasing in of alternative fuels (eg. electric motors, H fuel cells) for public service vehicles. The bringing back into public owner- ship of trunk road maintenance.

We will also campaign for the following measures, which are not within the Scot- tish Parliament’s powers: Special road tolls for heavy goods vehi- 30 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

cles, based on annual mileage as regis- tered on tacographs. A shift of heavy goods from road to rail The building of 100,000 fully accessible wherever feasible, facilitated by the new homes for rent over four years, bringing building of new dedicated freight lines. public sector house building into line with Housing the private sector. In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- ted to implementing the following: The cancellation of Scotland’s local authority housing debt with no strings those in the private sector, to be guar- attached. anteed secure tenancies in line with The building of 100,000 fully accessi- the new Scottish secure tenancy agree- ble new homes for rent over four years, ment. bringing public sector house building The transformation of the appearance into line with the private sector. of our housing schemes, employing The right of local authorities to environmental artists, landscape gar- impose a land value tax on land and deners and others with relevant skills. property worth over £1million to help Council and housing association ten- finance the building of social housing ants to be involved in all strategic plan- for rent. ning decisions. A new minimum housing standard in The extension of the Scottish Secure both the public and private rented sec- Tenancy to private sector tenants. tors, with central heating, double-glaz- All homes identified as ‘below tolera- ing and high standards of insulation. ble standard’ in the private sector to be A major renovation programme to brought into public ownership if the include all stock, except where tenants landlord fails to bring them up to stan- themselves favour demolition. dard within a six month deadline. The replacement of the ‘right-to-buy’ A national construction apprentice- policy with a graduated rents discount ship scheme to turn around the skills set at the same level as the discount shortage in the building industry. This available for tenants to buy their coun- would aim to train 5,000 new appren- cil homes. After 25 years, tenants tices each year. would pay zero rent until their tenancy The establishment of council tenant is terminated or transferred to another forums with real powers at neighbour- member of the family. hood and city-wide level, along with An end to all wholesale housing stock similar forums for housing association transfers and a reversal of those which tenants and for those in the private have already taken place. rented sector. Construction companies to be Each tenant forum to be allocated £5 required to build one new home for for every house that they represent. rent for every five new homes built for This will generate at least £4-5million sale. These new homes for rent would for the re-establishment of the tenant be owned and managed by the rele- movement in Scotland. vant local authority or community- Council and housing association ten- based housing association and would ants to be involved in all strategic plan- contribute towards the target of ning decisions. 100,000 new homes for rent. Homeless organisations to be provid- All tenants, including new tenants and ed with the resources they require to SSPManifesto2007 31 manifesto part three

renovation as well as to reduce rents.

Sport culture and entertainment In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- ted to implementing the following: Free access to all publicly-owned cul- tural and recreational centres includ- ing art galleries, museums and sports centres. A commitment to revitalise the Gaelic language, including setting a four-year target of making available Gaelic lan- guage lessons to all children and adults end rough sleeping, including hostels who wish to learn the language with as an interim measure until proper Gaelic and Scots to be given equal legal homes are available for everyone. status with English. Safe housing for women/families who Support for the Gaelic Digital Service, have suffered domestic violence or and for the necessary infrastructure other forms of abuse. and coverage to make the service avail- An end to the public funding of pri- able on all media platforms including vate home ownership. the internet. Legislation to give local councils the Encouragement of the various ethnic power to ban holiday homes in their cultures that have enriched Scotland area where they believe there is a local over the past half-century. housing shortage. An end to the sell-off of football pitch- es and other sports facilities (such as We will also campaign for the following Meadowbank Stadium) to property measures, which are not within the Scot- developers. tish Parliament’s powers: Senior football clubs to distribute a Public ownership and democratic portion of their seats, free of charge, to management of the construction pensioners and benefit claimants via industry. local community councils. The reinstatement of housing support Free football coaching schools in local grant from central government back to communities open to girls and boys. local government, based on pre-1980s Coaching and training facilities to levels, increased in line with the retail- allow Scottish athletes to compete at price index. This would provide Scot- world class levels. land’s councils with sufficient funding A national film studio in Scotland to to carry out repairs, house building, develop the outstanding acting, writ- ing, and film-making talent that has emerged over the past decade. A national project aiming to trans- Free access to all publicly-owned cultural and form the drab appearance of our towns and housing schemes through recreational centres including art galleries, murals, ornamental gardens, sculp- museums and sports centres. ture, fountains, monuments, mazes, performance areas and architectural restoration. The replacement of the Scottish Arts 32 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

Council with a more open, democratic that surrounds those projects which and representative body. are funded on a year-to-year basis. More investment in community-based Reduced water bills for voluntary arts ventures. organisations. The doubling of Scotland’s overall arts The funding of training programmes budget. for independent community represen- Action to ensure that all publicly- tatives, which would be conducted via owned sporting, leisure and recre- the Scottish Council for Voluntary ational facilities are fully accessible to Organisations. disabled people. The democratisation of local planning by ensuring that elected and account- We will also campaign for the following able community representatives have measures, which are not within the Scot- at least 50 per cent representation on tish Parliament’s powers: all planning forums. A Scottish Six O’Clock news broadcast The nurturing of grassroots democra- on BBC. cy by working with the Scottish Coun- The responsibility for broadcasting to cil of Voluntary Organisations and the be transferred to the Scottish Parlia- existing network of community ment. groups to train independent commu- nity representatives. Local government All publicly funded projects to provide In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- trade union rates of pay and condi- ted to implementing the following: tions to all paid employees. An end to the Uniform Business Rate, Investment in not-for-profit commu- with local councils given back control nity transport by funding an increase over non-domestic rates subject to an in services and routes. equalisation mechanism to ensure that Increased funding for youth work and all local councils get a fair deal. a reform of the funding allocation sys- An income-based Scottish Service Tax tem so that national youth and sport- to replace the Council Tax. ing organisations are not forced to A fully proportional electoral system, negotiate with 32 separate local to be achieved by reinforcing the new authorities. STV electoral with larger multi-mem- bers wards of seven or eight members. An end to privatisation, PFI and PPP in the provision of local facilities and services. A gradual decentralisation of powers to local councils, for example in trans- port and health, backed by additional funding. (see appendix: SSP local gov- ernment manifesto) The democratisation of local planning by

The voluntary sector ensuring that elected and accountable In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- community representatives have at least 50 per ted to implementing the following: cent representation on all planning forums. A four-year minimum funding period for all publicly funded projects, to reduce the atmosphere of uncertainty SSPManifesto2007 33 manifesto part three

We no longer have the luxury of wait- ing and seeing. If we fail to take steps, Through massive over-consumption, reckless radical and urgent steps, the game’s up industrialisation and chronic inability to face and there will be no future. Apocalyptic? We all hope so. But the the truth, we have brought our planet to this consensus of opinion amongst the impasse. Now we must act to save it. world’s leading climatologists would suggest not. They say the clock is ticking and we should heed them. So what must we do? FOR A CLEAN GREEN SCOTLAND The solutions are hard ones, so hold tight. “It’s hard enough to watch the news If the earth warms up by 2 degrees Let alone, explain it to a child, centigrade above pre-industrialisation To cast your eyes across nature, levels, we reach what becomes uncon- Over fields of rape and corn, trollable. No-one really knows what hap- And tell him without flinching, pens next, but one possibility is a planet Not to fear where he’s been born.” no longer able to support life. The Night I Heard Caruso Sing The best scientific evidence suggests (Ben Watt) we have about twenty years in which to make the difference, no more. In that The signs are everywhere. In the creep- time, we must drastically reduce the car- ing rise of the oceans and the low lands bon emissions that fuel global warming. that slip beneath them. In the monstrous To facilitate this, we would establish an hurricanes that lay waste to everything independent, expert body, an audit com- they touch. In the chunks of ice that mission, to set and enforce annual emis- break free from the evaporating ice sions targets, and coordinate the changes fields. In the heatwaves and howling that would need to take place. storms, the flooding and famine. Our A free, fully integrated and expanded world is in turmoil and we, humankind, public transport network would be one are the architects of this destruction. of the first and most important steps, Through massive over-consumption, and would see car usage plummet and reckless industrialisation and chronic cities and towns become places for peo- inability to face the truth, we have ple rather than traffic, for markets and brought our planet to this impasse. Now shops and parks and playgrounds, not we must act to save it. car parks and ring roads. Cancelling all out-of-town retail developments and promoting a system whereby local produce is sold locally, and where the supermarket giants whose aggressive pricing forces down the quali- ty of farming are challenged by sub- sidised food and farming cooperatives, would further reduce our national car- bon footprint. And greatly improve our quality of life. Through the establishment of a pub- licly-owned and publicly-accountable energy utility, we could formulate a 34 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

nationally coordinated energy plan, involving heavy investment in sustain- able energy, notably wind and wave farms, solar power and biomass, and We seek a world that is sustainable, energy conservation, including 100 per cent grants for home insulation. forward-looking and in which people can thrive. Where would the money come from? Scotland is a rich country, an oil rich country. We’ve got the money. Unfortunately, it’s tied up in nuclear weapons and unnecessary, unwanted them the room to simply buy their way road building plans. out of trouble. Through cancelling Trident and the We understand that environmental- M74 extension, we would save billions. ism cannot happen in a vacuum. If we Unlike the other political parties, we establish ourselves as a living, breathing don’t focus solely on individual actions, example of sustainability, we would which account for less than half of all serve as an example to the whole world, carbon emissions. and help to exert pressure on other gov- Yes, we want to liberate people from ernments to do likewise. their cars – the nurses who have to drive Someone has to go first – why not us? to their jobs at the Edinburgh Royal We seek a world that is sustainable, Infirmary despite the heavy parking forward-looking and in which people costs because the public transport is so can thrive. poor; the workers who have to commute A world where the gross imbalance of 50 miles a day because they cannot 80 per cent of our land being owned by afford a place to live in the city in which 0.02 per cent of the population is they work – and we will. redressed, where a countryside turned Yes, we want to ensure that everyone into a playground for second home own- can recycle their waste and act responsi- ers and 4-wheel drivers is returned to the bly with regard to precious resources – people who work and live and raise their and we will. children there. Yes, we want to wrest back control of A world in which children eat locally the food we eat, casting out genetic engi- grown produce in the school canteen. A neering and other pollutants, and the world where toxic waste, the vile detritus land, casting out the systems of land from our industrial past, no longer ownership that have beggared us all for haunts us in cancers and respiratory dis- centuries. And we will. ease, but is fully and safely contained or But we need to do more. And we will. destroyed. And unlike other political parties, we A world where cities ring with the don’t pretend that lobbying corpora- sound of people, not the drone of traffic, tions to behave more responsibly with where wilderness is intact and hedgerows regards to the environment is anything thrive, where farming is a life for families but futile. not a profit margin for distant corpora- Corporations have one priority – prof- tions, where we all enjoy a sense of roots, it. Until they can make money through of land, of belonging and being. cleaning up their act, they won’t. So let’s So that we have a future. give them no choice, let’s demand rather So that we can tell our children, with- than ask, through carbon capping and out flinching, not to fear where they’ve toxic waste legislation that doesn’t give been born. SSPManifesto2007 35 manifesto part three

All rented housing to have compulsory insulation and double-glazing. Investment in sustainable energy tech- nologies. The replacement of overhead pylons with underground cables where envi- ronmentally beneficial. The cancellation of all airport expan- sion projects, and the Edinburgh Air- port rail link, which serves only to increase air traffic. A ban on the transportation of nuclear materials on Scotland’s roads and rail- Energy, pollution and the ways. environment The protection by law of ancient In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- forests. ted to implementing the following: An expanded, fully integrated, publicly Responsibility for energy to be trans- owned, fully accessible and free public ferred from Westminster to the Scot- transport network. tish Parliament. The cancellation of new road-building An independent audit commission, to projects. enforce Scottish climate emissions tar- A reduction in urban traffic by extend- gets of at least three per cent a year, ing pedestrianisation of town and city with an accelerating rate of reduction centres and halting all further develop- in the future. ment of out-of-town shopping malls. The tightening of building regulations A Marine Bill for Scotland, which to compel construction companies to would prioritise sustainability and the use sustainable sources for their con- preservation of precious marine habi- struction materials and to ensure that tats and wildlife. energy efficiency is built into the design Diversification and alternative of buildings and the appliances fitted. employment opportunities for fishing Every new building, including private communities. homes, to be carbon neutral by 2011 at Urgent action to protect our remain- the latest. ing green spaces. Every new building to be required to A conservation scheme to protect meet at least 25 per cent of their ener- wildlife habitats and parkland from gy needs from renewable sources. industrial development. 100 per cent grants for insulation and An audit of all contaminated land to double-glazing in private homes. identify areas that may pose a potential health hazard and embark on a safe and comprehensive containment or clean-up programme. An independent audit commission, to enforce Environmental education to be incor- Scottish climate emissions targets of at least porated into the curriculum of prima- three per cent a year, with an accelerating rate ry, secondary, further and higher education. of reduction in the future. Expansion of the provision of recy- cling bins to ensure that every house- hold in Scotland has easy access to one. 36 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

Kerbside collection of materials for energy, including oil, windfarms, elec- recycling, including glass, from every tricity, coal and gas, with a proportion household in Scotland. of all profits ring-fenced for invest- Recycling bins in every public building ment in alternative energy. and workplace. An end to the imposition of pre-pay- All suppliers of goods to the public ment meters on those who owe debts sector to be legally required to use bio- to gas and electricity companies. degradable and recyclable packaging. Refunds backdated by five years to A ban on any release of genetically households which have been forced to modified organisms into the environ- pay the higher charges associated with ment and effective testing of food and pre-payment meters. animal feed imports from countries Increased taxation on aviation fuel, which do grow GM crops to ensure with revenue used to improve high that food and feed imports are not speed rail and ferry links between contaminated. Scotland and mainland Europe. A ban on the sale of GM food prod- Resistance to the building of any new ucts. nuclear power plants in Scotland, and Public contracts to be refused to any the setting of a clear timetable set for company with a record of dangerous the decommissioning of existing work practices or polluting the envi- nuclear power stations. ronment. A target date for all public service vehi- Local communities to be provided cles to be carbon-free. with information about any plan to A target date for all private vehicles to construct a mobile phone mast within be carbon-free. a one mile radius and to have the right Stronger regulation of timber imports of veto. in order to prevent unsustainably and No new incinerators. illegally logged timber entering the Serious waste reduction targets to be country. set every local authority area, backed All biofuels to have sustainability and by whatever resources are necessary to greenhouse gas certification. deliver these targets. The establishment of elected anti-pol- £1 million a year to be set aside to pro- lution boards at national and local mote environmental justice within level to monitor and enforce pollution communities, as promised previously controls, and for these boards to have by the First Minister. the power to impose penalties. A ban on any release of GMOs into the We will also campaign for the following environment and increased testing of measures, which are not within the Scot- food and animal feed imports from tish Parliament’s powers: An international 90 per cent reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide by the year 2030 together with significant reductions of other greenhouse gas An end to the imposition of pre-payment emissions. meters on those who owe debts to gas and Investment in alternative energy tech- nologies, including community- electricity companies. owned wind farms, tidal power and clean coal technology. Public and community ownership of SSPManifesto2007 37 manifesto part three

Local and regional initiatives to bring performing artists and productions to rural areas, and encourage the devel- We want to see the building of 20,000 fully opment of sport, drama, live music accessible new homes across Scotland’s rural and the performing arts. The release of funds to increase the communities for low cost rent to local people. numbers of mobile and small cinemas serving isolated areas. A halt to the closure of small rural schools. countries which do grow GMOs to The setting up of a network of com- ensure that food and feed imports are munity post offices to replace those not contaminated. lost through UK government cuts. A shift of focus away from pure eco- Increased funding to the Rural Trans- nomic growth as measured by gross port Community Initiative to allow domestic product, in favour of a more people living in remote and isolated balanced measurement of the quality areas access to social, leisure, shop- of life. ping, health and other services. Government grants to enable small Land and rural regeneration farmers to establish farming co-opera- In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- tives, where they can agree prices for ted to implementing the following: produce and thus resist the power of The building of 20,000 fully accessible supermarkets to drive down prices. new homes across Scotland’s rural Government grants for local food communities for low cost rent to local cooperatives, selling local produce in people. town centres, villages and housing Public and community ownership of schemes at reasonable prices. Scotland’s vast landed estates and cor- Grants and assistance to help farmers porate farms. convert to organic farming. Local councils to be allowed to set spe- Free school meals with the ingredients cial local taxes on second homes. purchased from local farmers. Extra funding for public amenities and Financial assistance for farmers/small public transport in sparsely populated landowners who plant new hedgerows areas that lack social facilities. instead of wire fencing. The shop in single shop villages to be The expansion of the number of allot- exempted from business rates. ments in Scotland and the protection of existing allotments from the infringement of developers in recogni- tion of their important environmen- tal, health and recreational role in our communities. The establishment of a national body along the lines of SportScotland to promote and support gardening in all its forms. ‘Road-equivalent-tariff’ on island fer- ries based on the Norwegian model. This means that the cost of a ferry journey for a bus, lorry or car and 38 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

occupants should be no more than the cost of a road journey over the same distance. The SSP will campaign for government grants to Elected and accountable River Boards enable small farmers to establish farming to remove fishing rights in rivers and lochs from the control of private co-operatives, where they can resist the power landowners and bring them under of supermarkets to drive down prices. public control, thus allowing the rele- vant authorities to keep control of fish stocks. port of live animals over long dis- We will also campaign for the following tances. measures, which are not within the Scot- Animal welfare to be incorporated tish Parliament’s powers: into the the curriculum of primary Full trade union rights and protection and secondary schools, as part of per- for farm workers. sonal and social education. The rural economy to be geared towards providing quality local foods We will also campaign for the following for regional markets, rather than measures, which are are not within the exports. powers of the Scottish Pariament: Immediate withdrawal from the EU A ban animal testing for cosmetics, Common Fisheries Policy with a 25- household products and military mile offshore limit within which only research. Scottish fishermen and women can A ban on unnecessary use of animal fish. testing in medical research. Local management of sea fisheries, The replacement of the ineffective based on the Finnish model, where Dangerous Dogs Act with new non- environmental sustainability is a key breed based legislation which recog- priority alongside community sustain- nises the responsibility of owners for ability. aggressive behaviour by their dogs.

Animal welfare FOR DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- Welcome to Scotland. ted to implementing the following: The country where families are Full support for the ban on foxhunting dragged from their beds in the darkness and resistance to any future moves to of dawn, and dispatched back to torture water down the legislation. and murder on a flight paid for out of A ban on the abuse of animals in our taxes. entertainment and sport. Where you can join the army and raise An end to battery farming, factory a family at 16, but are not entitled to farming and other forms of intensive income support, a living wage, or the farming. vote. Stringent new legislation for zoos to Where prominent members of the ensure that animals held in captivity establishment can still stand up with do not suffer ill-treatment. impunity and declare gay men and Similar legislation to prevent cruelty women to be unfit parents on account of to animals at market and at slaughter. their sexuality. Financial support for co-operatively- Where the generations who built our owned local abattoirs to avoid trans- health service and welfare state are paid a SSPManifesto2007 39 manifesto part three

underpaid and undervalued, through low wages and a failure to recognise the importance of child-rearing and caring for elderly relatives, the burden of which falls disproportionately on women. The debacle that followed the Single Status Agreement highlights the fact that discrimination against women also blights the lives of men. Female council workers should have had their pay increased and been compensated for years of underpayment. Instead, male workers’ wages were dragged down to humiliating pittance of a pension, and the level of their underpaid female col- where disabled people are means-tested leagues. and marginalised. Meanwhile, a culture that portrays Where battles of centuries gone by are women as sex objects, and in which fought out on our streets with broken working in the sex industry has been bottles and knives in the name of reli- allocated a certain raunchy glamour, gious allegiance. degrades everyone’s sexual identity. And where racism flourishes like a The SSP believes that decent wages weed, fed and watered by tabloid editors and working conditions, including a and government ministers. working wage for women or men who Since the last election, Scotland has choose to be full-time parents, can go a moved forward in some areas. Civil part- long way to redressing the balance, nerhips for same-sex couples have been restoring the dignity and respect which introduced in a far calmer atmosphere women have an unalienable right to. than that which accompanied the pro- We further believe that it is time to posal to scrap Section 28 in 2000. stop criminalising prostituted women And such has been the power of and to start helping them to access protest that government in Scotland has routes out of prostitution – punishing been forced to admit that locking chil- instead those who utilise sexual services dren up in Dungavel is unacceptable. and keep alive this vile industry in But much, much more is needed to human beings. make this a tolerant, welcoming nation Young people also deserve respect. in which people, not prejudice, can Instead, they are ruthlessly exploited as flourish. cheap labour and targeted by loan- Women, who comprise slightly more sharks masquerading as respectable high than half the population, continue to be street banks and credit card companies. And blamed for rising crime and disinte- grating communities. The SSP will fight to establish a decent The SSP believes that decent wages and working minimum wage for all, including 16 to conditions can go a long way to redressing the 18 year olds. We will campaign for the balance, restoring the dignity and respect which restoration of student grants to guaran- tee educational opportunities for every- women have an unalienable right to. one, from any walk of life. Further, we seek to place young people at the hearts of our communities, 40 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

through youth forums and youth cen- The SSP welcomes the legal rights won tres, school student unions and the right by our lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans- to vote at 16. This will deliver both rights gendered citizens, but will continue the and responsibilities to our greatest asset fight for pension rights, and to protect – our future. LGBT asylum seekers who face deporta- At the other end of the scale, our elder- tion to countries where they will be per- ly people are being put out to grass and secuted because of their sexuality. forgotten after a lifetime of hard work Refugees come here seeking sanctuary. and service. We will campaign for free In too many cases they find only degra- access for pensioners to sports, leisure dation and persecution. They are victims and educational facilities designed at the hands of a chaotic asylum system specifically for pensioners. which crushes hopes and atomises fami- We will campaign to restore the link lies through seemingly arbitrary deporta- between pensions and earnings, to abol- tion, insensitive interviewing processes, ish rents for pensioners in social and and lack of support. On top of that, they sheltered housing, to end the insulting are barred from working and forced to practice of means-testing for benefits endure the stigma of a voucher system. and to provide free fuel and phone facili- We will campaign to close down Dun- ties during the often deadly months of gavel detention centre (ie prison) for winter. asylum seekers. We will oppose dawn The bullying of old people is matched raids, and fight for the right to citizen- only by the government’s bullying of dis- ship to all who seek sanctuary in Scot- abled people and those with long-term land. We need their skills, their culture illnesses, through trying to confiscate and their companionship every bit as their benefits and force them into much as they need us. unsuitable, low-paid jobs. In years to come, we hope to welcome This is no way to treat people, especial- people to a Scotland where people flee- ly those already struggling to cope with ing persecution find peace; where young health problems. people are recognised, not as cannon The SSP recognises that disability is an fodder, but as citizens in their own right; important political issue. Disabled peo- where women workers, including those ple experience disadvantage and oppres- in the home raising kids, enjoy high sta- sion, not due to their impairments, but tus and good pay; and where pensioners as a result of discrimination and barriers are rewarded for their lifetime contribu- erected by the society we live in. The SSP tion to society. considers disabled people as equal citi- Where families, be they traditional zens who are entitled to participate and nuclear units, lone parent families, contribute to society. same-sex couples with adopted children, We will never let up our struggle to provide equality of opportunity, and the means to access those opportunities, through financial, legislative and practi- We will never let up our struggle to provide cal support. That support should include disabled equality of opportunity, and the means to access to public buildings and public access those opportunities, through financial, transport, increased support for person- legislative and practical support. al assistants/carers – including respite – and financial support to facilitate inde- pendent living within communities. SSPManifesto2007 41 manifesto part three

Greater funding for Women’s Aid and other agencies which provide refuges, We want to see a Scotland where colours and helplines and drop in centres for creeds unite, to form a diverse and dynamic women who have experienced vio- lence, abuse, rape and child sexual nation in which our differences do not divide us, abuse. but render us stronger. Free environmentally-friendly sani- tary protection for all women. The expansion of initiatives such as ‘Routes Out of Prostitution’. or any other combination of adults and The decriminalisation of women children are supported and nurtured. involved in prostitution and increased Where colours and creeds unite, to police resources to enforce a clamp form a diverse and dynamic nation in down on kerb-crawlers in red light which our differences do not divide us, districts. but render us stronger. The closure of saunas and massage What a Scotland that would be. parlours which operate as legalised brothels. Women’s rights In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- We will also campaign for the following ted to implementing the following: measures, which are not within the Scot- Free, publicly funded nursery places tish Parliament’s powers: for all pre-school children. A minimum 12 months maternity A minimum 12 months’ maternity leave on full pay, for all workers, with leave, on full pay for public sector the right to return part time if pre- workers, with the right to return part ferred. time if requested. The average worker’s wage for any par- After-school, weekend and holiday ent, male or female, who chooses to clubs in every locality for school age care full-time for their children or any children. other dependants. The ‘morning after pill’ to be available Equal representation for women at all free of charge via NHS outlets, phar- levels of government. macists and women’s centres. Equal access for all women to abortion Youth rights services regardless of where they live in In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- Scotland. ted to implementing the following: A maintenance grant for all college and university students. The abolition of student fees. The funding of 5000 new apprentice- ships. Community youth forums across Scotland to identify what amenities are needed in each local area. Funding to set up local youth facilities in every community, run democrati- cally by young people. Free access to all publicly owned cul- tural and recreational centres includ- 42 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

ing sports centres, arts galleries and museums. Free bus and ferry travel for school, The SSP will campaign for an end to college and university students. discrimination against young workers The right to vote and stand for office at 16. by establishing a uniform national minimum Support for current initiatives to wage for all workers over 16 years establish a national school students union to support and represent school students facing bullying, harassment and discrimination. The union would also represent students on new demo- cratic school boards. verted to ensure access for disabled We will also campaign for the following people. measures, which are not within the Scot- Increased resources to promote and tish Parliament’s powers: provide training in British Sign Lan- An end to discrimination against guage, for assistants, public sector young workers by establishing a uni- workers, education employees and form national minimum wage for all others. workers over 16 years. (The SSP would BSL to be taught in all schools, with set this figure at two thirds the median free courses in BSL at all levels for any male earnings, currently £8 an hour). adult or child who wishes to develop (Note: The SSP has an active youth their skills in the language. wing, Scottish Socialist Youth.Visit their Reduced waiting lists for Community website at www.ssy.org.uk) Care Assessments, rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy services. Disabled people’s rights Mandatory parking fines for those In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- non-disabled badge holders who mis- ted to implementing the following: use disabled parking bays. These fines A network of staff to be employed and to be ring-fenced for disability support trained specifically to provide full sup- services. port and assistance to those applying A consultation with disabled people or being reassessed for disability living and their personal assistants or carers allowance and incapacity benefit. on the provision and location of more Full funding for community care. disabled parking bays close to shops, ncreased support for those who care cinemas, hospitals and other facilities. for or assist family or friends with dis- Free access for all disabled people to abilities, including education, respite educational, sporting, cultural and and counselling services. other leisure facilities. Comprehensive and enforced stan- Increased funding to allow local dards of accessibility on all public authorities to meet the demand for transport. Direct Payments, which allow disabled Housing to be adapted to meet the people to receive the assistance neces- needs of disabled occupants on sary to allow them to live fulfilling request. independent lives in the community. All new public housing and buildings The guaranteed right of disabled peo- to be barrier-free. ple to autonomy, including the right to Existing public buildings to be con- choose where to live and to plan their SSPManifesto2007 43 manifesto part three

legislation as demanded by the dis- abled people’s movement. This legisla- tion will be backed up by heavy fines and even imprisonment for the bosses of organisations that do not comply with it. Such rights will include: access to information in appropriate formats; full access to education at all levels; the right to employment for all disabled people and fair treatment at work; equal access to all goods, facilities and services. Full accessibility to all goods, facilities and services including public trans- port, public buildings and the majori- ty of housing stock. This would own packages of personal assistance include wheelchair users, those with and/or care through local authorities. mental health impairments, autism The guaranteed right of disabled peo- and Aspergers syndrome – which may ple to be treated with dignity, includ- include the need for quiet, unstressful ing at the end of their lives. and uncrowded environments. Disabled children and old people to A total reform of the benefits system to have the same right to life and medical remove all barriers to disabled people treatment as non-disabled people; no moving in and out of work; and to disabled people to be starved to death provide all disabled people with an because the medical profession con- income equal to at least the minimum siders them untreatable. wage plus additional allowances to Adequate resources, advice and sup- take account of the additional costs of port for disabled adults to obtain suit- being disabled. able employment which they find Resources to enable all disabled people enjoyable and fulfilling and which has the opportunity of to living indepen- a career structure. dently in a fully accessible and attrac- tive house with appropriate personal We will also campaign for the following assistance. measures, which are not within the Scot- Free care without means testing for all tish Parliament’s powers: those who could benefit from it, with Replacement of the Disability Dis- freedom of choice over the means of crimination Act with fully compre- obtaining this personal assistance hensive, enforceable civil rights and/or care. The right for disabled people to partic- ipate fully in all aspects of society British Sign Language (BSL) to be Adequate resources, advice and support for recognised as an official language of an disabled adults to obtain suitable employment independent Scotland, as it currently is which they find enjoyable and fulfilling and which in the UK. has a career structure. Elderly people’s rights In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- ted to implementing the following: 44 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

The scrapping of rents for pensioners LGBT officers for local authorities, who are housing association or coun- with secure funding for LGBT pro- cil tenants, including for those who jects. live in sheltered housing. Full implementation of anti-discrimi- Free access for pensioners to sports, nation laws in provision of goods and leisure and educational facilities services. designed specifically for pensioners. Forums which bring together elderly We will also campaign for the following and younger people to exchange expe- measures, which are not within the Scot- riences and break down age barriers. tish Parliament’s powers: Equal immigration rights, ending the We will also campaign for the following two year co-habitation rule and grant- measures, which are not within the Scot- ing leave to remain to LGBT asylum tish Parliament’s powers: seekers. The basic state pension to be increased Equal pension rights, including sur- to £160 a week and linked to prices or vivors’ rights for all pension schemes. earnings, whichever is the higher. Reduction of the retirement age to 55, Racism and sectarianism for men and women. In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- Retirement to be genuinely voluntary, ted to implementing the following: with the right of workers to continue A nationwide anti-racist roadshow to whether part-time or full-time beyond go into schools and community cen- retiral age. tres throughout Scotland. This would The pension industry to be taken into aim to involve well known actors, foot- the public sector and to be adminis- ballers and musicians in an ongoing tered transparently and democratical- project designed to ridicule racism. ly. An immediate end to dawn raids. Free heating, phone rental and TV All public information to be provided licenses for all pensioners. in the main languages of Scotland’s ethnic minority communities. LGBT rights (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, Full support for organisations chal- transexual) lenging racism and sectarianism, In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- including Show Racism the Red Card ted to implementing the following: and Nil By Mouth. Guaranteed long term funding for Work with football clubs, in particular community projects such as the Glas- the Old Firm, to eradicate sectarian- gow LGBT Centre and the develop- ism from our culture. ment of similar facilities in other Recognition of travellers as an ethnic towns and cities. group. Educational projects in schools and colleges aimed at eradicating homo- phobic and transphobic bullying and isolation. The strengthening of civil partnership The SSP is committed to implementing an legislation to full equality with mar- immediate end to dawn raids riage, including religious ceremonies. Measures to tackle rural LGBT isola- tion through funding outreach and support projects across Scotland. SSPManifesto2007 45 manifesto part three

FOR PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION This is the second Scottish Parliamen- For Dungavel Detention Centre for asylum tary election fought in the shadow of the seekers to be turned into a museum of Iraq war. In 2003, the Scottish Socialist Party anti-racism and multiculturalism. went to the polls on an uncompromising anti-war platform. We never flinched from that stance. We have always remained firm in our publicly repeated conviction that invad- We will also campaign for the following ing a sovereign state that posed no threat measures, which are not within the Scot- to us, particularly one so impoverished tish Parliament’s powers: by international sanctions as Iraq, would The granting of Scottish citizenship to lead, not to justice and peace, but to all people residing in Scotland at the untold bloodshed and endless recrimi- time of independence, including asy- nations. lum seekers and so-called “illegal resi- Tragically, those who opposed the dents”. invasion of Iraq have been proven 100 Incorporation of the European Con- per cent right. To date, according to vention on Human Rights and the UN research published in the esteemed med- Declaration on Racism into Scots Law. ical journal, The Lancet, 655,000 civilians A warm welcome to any asylum seek- in Iraq have died as a direct result of the ers who come to Scotland in the US/UK invasion and occupation, as a future, and the offer of Scottish citi- result of bombing and gun battles, or zenship to those who want it. from the disease and starvation For Dungavel Detention Centre for unleashed by the shattering of the civil asylum seekers to be turned into a infrastructure and the national economy. museum of anti-racism and multicul- Iraq is so badly damaged it can scarcely turalism. function. People are streaming from its borders, to anywhere that will take them. Others are hanging onto life, and sanity, by their fingertips. Others have been sucked into the bloody morass of the conflict which only escalates with every sunset. Meanwhile, US business interests are looting with impunity. In the guise of reconstruction, contracts were handed out like sweets by a US-appointed inter- im administration; these have proven to be nothing more than a license to pick- pocket money from the body of Iraq as it bleeds to death. The case for going to war was never made. In the US, the Bush administra- tion fabricated a lie across the raw wound of 9/11. Here, the Labour government shifted 46 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

and shifted the goalposts. First, it was Weapons of Mass Destruction; a claim shored up by little more than hot air and The SSP will work with others across the UK, a plagiarised student essay dressed up as across Europe and across the Atlantic for the a dossier. Then it was Saddam Hussein, the mur- immediate withdrawal of all troops from derous dictator and – though this was Afghanistan and Iraq... rather more underplayed by government – former ally of the West. This supposedly humanitarian war, fought to ‘free’ the Iraqi people from the ment officers banned from our schools yoke of repression. In practice, their lives and colleges. We will also campaign for a are now worse, more dangerous and des- pardon for those who have ‘deserted’ and perate, than ever they were even under for all soldiers returning from war to be the man who was gorily executed in the given the medical/psychiatric attention closing days of 2006. they need plus the opportunity to retrain Finally, we were told, the war was to in a civilian career. stabilise the Middle East; a tinderbox to Because, if we have our way, they will which the US and UK have now applied be returning from war, forever. a match. The SSP will work with others across George W Bush was trounced at the the UK, across Europe and across the US mid-terms over Iraq, and is bullishly Atlantic for the immediate withdrawal of trying to push through further troop all troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, commitments to Iraq before his party and for an end to our involvement in this loses control of Congress. and any further imperialist adventures Here, the Labour government is losing abroad. hearts and minds as surely as it has done In a pattern that has been repeated across the Middle East, and more and over and over again during the past 300 more Scots are looking to independence years, Scottish regiments have been cata- as an escape hatch from a foreign policy pulted to the frontline of these wars. so brutal and unthinking it has brought Our Parliament in Holyrood had no us unimaginable shame and rendered us say in these invasions. However, it is still a major target for terrorist attack. the Scottish regiments which are being Not only that, it has dragged off sent to the frontline in Iraq, as they have legions of our young men and women to been in other conflicts over the past 300 a war zone they neither desire nor years. This further underlines the need deserve to be in. Empires need their can- for true self-determination and for Scot- non fodder, and the British Army sets land to unshackle itself from a union out to find it in schools in working-class that still apes its days of empire. housing schemes, amongst unemployed We seek a relationship with the wider and disaffected youth, wherever there is world based on cooperation, peace and a bleak future and a paucity of life solidarity with our fellow human beings. chances. We will campaign for socialism in Many of these young people have been Scotland and offer friendship and sup- killed. Others are traumatised, or port to those working to the same ends injured. Some have gone AWOL, drop- across the world – to those resisting neo- ping off the face of the earth rather than liberalism, military occupation, geno- returning to its furnace in the Gulf. cide, national and cultural oppression. We will fight to have the army recruit- We fully support the Palestinians in SSPManifesto2007 47 manifesto part three

their struggle for self-determination We will also campaign for the following against US-sponsored brutality; the measures, which are not within the Scot- Colombian trade unionists in their bat- tish Parliament’s powers: tles for justice against against Coca-Cola; No Scottish involvement in US-led the left wing governments in Venezuela, military action in Iraq, or against Iran, Cuba and other Latin American coun- Syria, North Korea or anywhere else. tries which are standing up to the might The removal of all nuclear weapons of the USA; the indigenous peoples from Scotland – with no loss of wages across the world fighting back against for workers employed in the industry, racism; the anti-war and pro-peace Scotland’s overall military budget to organisations; the green groups and co- brought into line per capita with that ops; all those whose tireless fight against of the Republic of Ireland, saving £2.5 injustice forms a string of lights across billion for pensions, housing and free the world that will one day illuminate it public transport. whole. Guaranteed employment and/or We fight for peace and for the people retraining with no loss of pay for to inherit the earth. workers who would no longer be employed in the defence industry and War and peace special funding earmarked for local In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- communities currently dependent on ted to implementing the following: defence spending. A declaration by the Scottish Parlia- A complete ban on the use of Scottish ment calling for the immediate with- airports and airspace for CIA “rendi- drawal of UK troops from Iraq and tion” and secret torture flights, or for Afghanistan. flights transporting US troops or mili- A declaration by the Scottish Parlia- tary hardware. ment opposing any UK involvement in US or NATO led military action International co-operation against Iran, Syria, North Korea or In a devolved Scotland the SSP is commit- anywhere else. ted to implementing the following: A declaration from the Scottish Parlia- Solidarity with all those resisting glob- ment opposing the use of Scottish air- alisation and neo-liberalism world- ports and airspace for US “rendition” wide, including trade unionists, and secret torture flights, or the trans- anti-poverty campaigners, national portation of military personnel and liberation movements, environmen- hardware. talists, and small farmers’ and peas- The transportation of nuclear war- ants’ movements. heads on Scotland’s roads, railways Ethical procurement policies by all and waterways to be prohibited. public bodies, and opposition to the award of contracts to companies who fail to observe basic ethical standards on child labour, poverty pay and envi- We will also campaign for the removal of all ronmental degradation. Support for the stance of those gov- nuclear weapons from Scotland – with no loss of ernments resisting globalisation and wages for workers employed in the industry. imperialism, such as in Cuba and Venezuela and for the peoples around the globe struggling for self-determi- nation. 48 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part three

Support for the Palestinian people in Tobin-like tax on all cross-border their just fight for an independent commercial transactions, reducing a homeland; and for Israeli dissidents major cause of economic instability and peace campaigners. and providing a fund for international Support for all other peoples strug- development. gling for national self-determination. A new and radical style of open and The incorporation of the European transparent diplomacy, with all nego- Convention on Human Rights within tiations and deliberations to be held in Scots law. public. Agricultural and industrial subsidies The abolition of all perks and privi- and grants distributed in Scotland to leges for diplomats – Scottish diplo- be vetted to ensure they do not con- mats to be drawn from among tribute to increased impoverishment ordinary working people and to or environmental degradation over- receive the average wage of a skilled seas. worker. A truly internationalist Scotland that We will also campaign for the following welcomes refugees and supports all measures, which are not within the Scot- those struggling worldwide against tish Parliament’s powers: political, economic and national Fair trade country status for Scotland, oppression. The immediate and total cancellation The withdrawal of Scotland from of debt from the poor countries of the NATO and the initiation of an interna- Third World to the rich countries of tional campaign for its abolition. the First World. A referendum to allow the people of International pressure to close down Scotland to decide whether to remain the United Nations’ Security Council within the European Union, or to and to democratise the General move towards Norwegian-style inde- Assembly – the sovereign body of the pendence from Brussels. UN. The funding of schemes to encourage The refoundation of the World Trade young Scots to teach and work on Organisation (WTO) as a Fair Trade overseas development projects. Organisation (FTO) – ensuring mini- A worldwide alliance of socialist and mum environmental and social stan- progressive political parties, trade dards are met in internationally traded unions and grassroots organisations. products. This new organisation Scotland to be an international force would be democratic – and the system for peace not war, for social justice not of ‘green room’ decision making, corporate profit. where more powerful countries plan strategies in private – would be banned. The replacement of international lending institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary The SSP is committed to solidarity with Fund with an international clearing all those resisting globalisation and organisation – to ensure debts are written off and reparation paid to neo-liberalism worldwide... countries who have suffered at the hands of the current system. Full support for the introduction of a SSPManifesto2007 49 manifesto part four Making a difference: the SSP in Holyrood With the election in 2003 of six MSPs and two councillors across five regions of Scotland, a new era opened up for the Scottish Socialist Party.

oing from a new party with a sole MSP to a team of eight public representatives, the SSP now had Gthe opportunity to prove itself a real ‘party of the people’ in action. Everyone remembers the buzz of excitement when Rosie Kane held up her palm with “My oath is to the people” on her induction into parliament or when Colin Fox leapt over the barriers in Meadowbank Stadium on election night on hearing that he had won the Lothians seat for the SSP. These were the first signs that this party would be different. Our MSPs have been the conscience of the parliament. It was the SSP which turned the spot- light full glare on the unjust Council Tax, which hammers low income households and barely tickles the rich. It was the SSP which forced politicians to start to address the junk food culture in our schools by campaigning for nutritious free school meals. It was the SSP which, by pushing for free prescription charges, forced the government to extend free medicine to tens of thousands of chroni- cally ill patients. The SSP has also gone where other parties fear to tread. Before 2003 the treatment of asylum seekers was no-go area for the career politicians of other parties. Through practical work in Glasgow 50 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part four

with refugees fleeing persecution, and talking honestly about their plight, Rosie Kane and Pollok Councillor Keith Bal- dassara have held up a mirror to both the All of the SSP MSPs and councillors have parliament and Glasgow City Council been involved in local campaigns to and forced them to acknowledge the truth about the brutal immigration poli- stop school and hospital closures. cies of the British government. Other politicians, including in Glas- gow where most asylum seekers are con- centrated, wash their hands of the the machinery of a private members bill problem by hiding behind Westminster to ensure that the attempted of privatisa- legislation that denies MSPs power over tion of GP services can never be repeated ‘reserved matters’. In contrast, the SSP elsewhere. has successfully used the machinery of Carolyn has also highlighted the scan- government at local and national level to dalous treatment of our elderly people in challenge dawn raids, the incarceration private care homes that are more inter- of children in Dungavel and prejudices ested in profit than people. about asylum seekers. Frances Curran and councillor Jim As New Labour in the Scottish Execu- Bollan occupied Leven Cottage, the only tive and local councils have pushed a pri- council-run care home in Alexandria, in vatisation agenda in education and a six-month long battle to keep it open, health, SSP MSPs and councillors have extending over Christmas 2004. By aligned themselves unequivocally on the mobilising mass support in the commu- side of workers in struggle and commu- nity, the campaign was successful and nities faced with cuts in social budgets. the elderly residents were able to remain All of the SSP MSPs and councillors in what had become their home. Jim and have been involved in local campaigns to Frances also helped, along with the local stop school and hospital closures. A community and SSP members, to ward number of these campaigns have been off attempts to close the Vale of Leven successful: the campaigns to save Lis- Hospital in a campaign which has been more Primary School in Edinburgh; ongoing for six years. Renton and Christie Park primary Wherever workers have been forced to schools in West Dunbartonshire and strike or demonstrate in defence of their Howford special needs school in Glas- jobs and conditions, the SSP’s public gow. representatives have been with them on Carolyn Leckie, as a former health the picket lines and in the streets. They professional, has been at the forefront of the Lanarkshire Health United campaign to save Accident and Emergency depart- ments in three hospitals in Central Scot- Wherever workers have been forced to strike land. She has consistently fought the or demonstrate in defence of their jobs and creeping privatisation of the NHS. This has included campaigning against a PFI conditions, the SSP’s public representatives contract for the new Larbert hospital have been with them on the picket lines and opposing Lanarkshire NHS Board’s attempt to install the first private GP and in the streets. surgery in Harthill. She now has begun to set in motion SSPManifesto2007 51 manifesto part four

thousands of chronically ill people Over the last four years, SSP MSPs have presented would still be paying exorbitant pre- scription charges for vital medicines. three bills to the Scottish Parliament, each of The ‘Abolition of Council Tax and which was aimed in its own specific way at Introduction of a Service Tax Bill’ was also defeated on the parliamentary vote redistributing wealth from the rich to the rest. with all main parties, including the SNP and Liberal Democrats – who claim to be in favour of scrapping the Council Tax – ganging up to prevent a very popu- have always considered it more impor- lar bill becoming law. tant to spend their time with workers in This bill would have scrapped the struggle, listening to them and encour- Council Tax entirely for all those on an aging them to hold out for victory, than annual income of less than £10,000 and sitting on the cosy parliamentary bench- levied a progressive charge on people’s es sheltered from the harsh realities of personal income to fund local govern- working class life. ment jobs and services. Instead they have used the parliament It would have immediately benefited to highlight the justified grievances of most pensioners and low-income fami- working people; they have brought nurs- lies, improving their disposable income ery nurses, public sector and council by hundreds of pounds annually. At the workers right into the heart of the parlia- other end of the scale, the rich would ment, allowing their voices to be heard in have had to pay progressively more the corridors of power. which they can easily afford. Overt the last four years, SSP MSPs The SSP’s second Free School Meals have presented three bills to the Scottish Bill won the backing of a truly impres- Parliament, each of which was aimed in sive range of organisations and individu- its own specific way at redistributing als from across civic society, including wealth from the rich to the rest. trade unions, teaching and health pro- Colin Fox’s ‘Abolition of Prescription fessionals, anti-poverty networks, chil- Charges Bill’ would have scrapped the dren’s charities and single parent groups. £6.35 tax on ill health. Despite winning A national consultation received one of the backing of the powerful Health the highest response rates of any bill with Committee, the bill fell at the first vote. over 500 responses, 97 per cent of which However, on the very day of the vote, the were in favour of giving all Scotland’s Scottish Executive published a review of primary school children a free and prescription charges which promised to healthy school dinner. update and extend the range of exempt- Disgracefully, the bill was blocked by a ed illnesses. Without the SSP, tens of parliamentary committee before the full parliament had an opportunity to dis- cuss or vote on the bill. It has now has been put on ice until after the election The SSP’s five-year campaign to get free school when the SSP will bring the fight for free meals in Scotland has had a major impact on school meals back into Holyrood. public health awareness and won the argument Nevertheless, the SSP’s five-year cam- paign to get free school meals in Scot- many times over. land has had a major impact on public health awareness and won the argument many times over. Concretely it has 52 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto part four

pushed the Executive into providing free fruit and milk for all P1 and P2 school- children and influenced many local councils to introduce free breakfast clubs. SSP MSPs have consistently used par- liament to voice their opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Britain’s very own Weapons of Mass Destruction, Trident. All of our public representatives and hundreds of grassroots party members have regularly joined the CND and Tri- dent Ploughshares protests at Faslane nuclear base. Many have been arrested and impris- oned for their actions, as part of a wider campaign of direct action against Britain’s nuclear weapons in which every public representative of the SSP is oblig- ed to participate. Rosie Kane even spent seven days in Cornton Vale women’s prison for her involvement in protests against the weapons of death and destruction that have been imposed on Scotland against the will of the Scottish people. With the support of the SSP’s case- workers, regional organisers, research and administrative staff, and the party membership, the SSP’s public represen- tatives have reached out to thousands of ordinary people across Scotland strug- gling with everyday problems, including workers facing redundancy, Farepak cus- tomers, disabled people, communities fighting to save green spaces and resist- ing phone masts, waste dumps, private housing estates and motorways. The Scottish Socialist Party with its direct campaigning approach has suc- ceeded over the past four years in mak- Our MSPs and councillors have not just ing a real difference to people’s lives in big and small ways. talked the talk; they have walked the walk. Our MSPs and councillors have not They deserve to be re-elected, along with a new just talked the talk; they have walked the batch of Scottish Socialist MSPs and councillors. walk. They deserve to be re-elected, along with a new batch of Scottish Socialist MSPs and councillors. SSPManifesto2007 53 manifesto appendix SSP local government manifesto Socialists set to storm the town halls

INTRODUCTION councils like Glasgow being dominated by For 30 years, local communities across Labour, having 94 per cent of councillors Scotland have experienced local services but with less than half of the popular vote. and facilities suffering through neglect, But just as the Lib-Lab Executive in the under-investment, closures and cuts at Scottish Parliament has failed to stand up the hands of the Tories and New Labour. against the cuts and privatisation agenda New Labour has been responsible for cuts of New Labour at Westminster, none of and privatisation schemes even more the establishment parties will even try to severe than under the Conservatives. work for real change in local communi- When the SNP get influence in the ties. In contrast, Scottish Socialist council- council chamber their record is little bet- lors have a proud record of participating ter – PFI privatisation in Perth and pay in successful community action to protect cuts in Falkirk. Local communities are and promote local services. crying out for change and for a real say in local decision making. ACTION IN THE COMMUNITIES On May 3rd, the same day as the Holy- At the last local authority poll, two SSP rood elections, many councils across the councillors were elected – Keith Baldas- country will face a long overdue shake-up sara in Pollok and Jim Bollan in Renton, with the introduction of elections using West Dunbartonshire. the Single Transferable Vote. Even with The SSP in Pollok were at the centre of the limited proportional nature of this the community fightback that saved the particular system – multi ward seats of Jack Jardine Centre, with an occupation only 3 or 4 – the political make up of of the community centre when the many councils could be very different. Labour council threatened closure. Gone will be the days of ‘one party state’ SSP Councillor Keith Baldassara has recently been at the centre of campaigns to preserve bus routes and for locals to have a say in the sighting of mobile phone masts. Keith works closely with the community in trying to improve ser- vices and give local people a real say in the local issues that affect their everyday lives. Last year in West Dunbartonshire, SSP Councillor Jim Bollan joined residents of Leven Cottage in a successful 24-week occupation. As a result, the closure- threatened care home for the elderly won 54 SSPManifesto2007 manifesto appendix

a reprieve. The local SSP actively sup- ported the occupation of the centre for nearly six months and the people of Ren- ton have been able to secure the facility. Local communities are crying out for change All SSP council candidates elected in May pledge not only to take the interests and for a real say in local decision making. of their local communities into the coun- cil chamber, but also to campaign along- side the communities, including taking part in direct action when necessary. All SSP councillors pledge to hold at association tenants and for those in least weekly surgeries and to participate the private rented sector. in as much local community activity as Allocate each tenant forum £5 a year possible. for every house that they represent. This will encourage the re-establish- POWER TO THE PEOPLE: FROM ment of the tenant movement in Scot- COMMUNITY PLANNING TO land. COMMUNITY DEMOCRACY Involve council and housing associa- People across the country have experi- tion tenants in all strategic planning enced the Scottish Executive, quangos, decisions. NHS Trusts and local councils imposing Give community councils and com- cuts on community services that local munity forums consultative votes at people vehemently oppose. For example, local authority area committees, which motorways can be bulldozed through meet throughout the year. communities despite local opposition. How often have people voiced the exas- Nationally, we will campaign to: perated cry ‘who decided this?’ as yet Move towards a system of local partic- another hospital, school, playing field or ipatory community democracy along bus route is axed. the lines of the successful model that The Scottish Executive is aware of the operates in Southern Brazil. This deep disquiet over this democratic would involve creating local neigh- deficit. But their response to the wishes bourhood assemblies, open to all resi- of people to have a real say in issues dents, with the power to make and directly affecting their communities is veto decisions affecting their commu- almost literally paper thin – policies on nities. community planning that sound grand The provision of new powers to allow on paper but in reality amount to little community councils, community more than locals being given the oppor- forums, tenants and resident organisa- tunity to question council officials on tions consultative votes annually on a plans that the council will press ahead local authority’s budget and service with regardless. There are plenty of proposals. token attempts at consultation in an The right of local people to have the attempt to create an illusion of commu- final say over local spending decisions, nity planning. school closures, traffic schemes and policing. The SSP will campaign to: SSP councillors have already been Establish council tenant forums with championing the right of local commu- real powers at neighbourhood level nities to own and run their own services. along with similar forums for housing All SSP councillors elected in May pledge SSPManifesto2007 55 manifesto appendix

Equal pay for female council workers by levelling up, not down Community democracy – including the right of local people to have the final say over spending decisions Improved facilities for young people to reduce crime, drug abuse and anti- social behaviour

FOR GREATER DEMOCRACY WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS It is to the detriment of democratic scrutiny that, for the third set of elections in a row, New Labour has arranged for council elections to be held on the same to fight for a major shift towards genuine day as the Holyrood poll. This allows community ownership and control of many councils to avoid the increased local facilities and for local communities scrutiny that would inevitably follow if to have a real say in decision making. council elections were held separately. We will campaign for local authority POLICIES TO TRANSFORM LOCAL and Scottish Parliamentary elections to COMMUNITIES be held on different days. The SSP have a wide range of radical The new Single Transferable Vote policies of direct relevance to local com- (STV) election for councils is a step for- munities (more detail on these can be ward from the old unfair ‘first past the found elsewhere in the manifesto): post’ voting system. But it is a very limit- Free school meals for all schoolchild- ed step forward. With only three or four ren seats per ward, this will be one of the A maximum class size of 20 in all least proportional of any proportional schools voting system operating worldwide. Free childcare The SSP supports proportional repre- An end to the backdoor privatisation sentation for all elections. We favour the of our services introduction of the Single Transferable 100,000 new homes for rent Vote system for council elections, with The cancellation of council housing large wards of 7 or 8 councillors to allow debt to free up funds for repairs, for greater proportionality. This would upgrading and new building help local councils to reflect the breadth No Housing Stock Transfer of opinion in the area. If there can be multi-ward seats of 7-8 in Northern Ire- land, why not in Scotland? SSP Councillors have already been championing Vote for a councillor that will stand up the right of local communities to own and run for local communities! their own services. All SSP councillors elected in On 3rd May, remember that the ballot May pledge to fight for a major shift towards paper for local councils will use the STV voting system. Place ‘1’ beside the name genuine community ownership and control... of your SSP candidate. Put people, not profit, first! 56 SSPManifesto2007