Dundee SSP » European

Euro election result

alangdundee — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:35:20 +0000

It’s a bit too soon to have done any proper analysis of the vote, no doubt we will discuss it at our meeting this Wednesday.

We would like to thank all those in Dundee and beyond who voted for a campaigning Socialist Party.

We saw a modest rise in our percentage both in Dundee and nationally. Clearly it was not as high as we would have hoped but it has been steadily rising in the city for the past 2 years and it is a start of the rebuilding process after the low of the 2007 results.

Unlike most other parties you didn’t only see us on the streets in the run up to the election and we won’t disappear immediately after it. Although at this election the other parties were seen even more rarely than usual. They wouldn’t have something to be embarrassed about would they?

Vote SSP on June the 4th!

alangdundee — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:31:12 +0000

A friendly reminder that tomorrow is the European Election.

Wherever you are in Scotland you can vote for the SSP by marking one cross next to us on the ballot paper.

SSP holds stalls in Tayside and North East

alangdundee — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:34:56 +0000

As well as the regular stalls in Dundee, the SSP have also held a number of stalls over the region in the last few weeks. Activity has included stalls in Aberdeen, Montrose, Arbroath and Perth.

We have managed to dish out thousands of leaflets to passers by to let them know two things that not only are we standing in the European elections but that we are active in the area.

Today was glorious sunshine in Montrose surrounded by the excellent background music of the festival going on behind us. We look forward to our semi regular stalls in Arbroath and Montrose – the SSP, not just on the streets at an election.

Interview with NPA activist

alangdundee — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:24:10 +0000

Joaquin, the NPA activist who spoke at the Dundee rally last night is interviewed on the SSP site.

Extract:

For many socialists in Europe we have been inspired by those recent struggles in France – what is happening at the moment?

Sarkosy came to power partly because opposition to him was so poor. With all the parties pretty much offering the same policies Sarkosy may have appeared decisive and in control and someone who could sort problems out. Particularly with the economic crisis people now just see his government as arrogant and only interested in representing the rich. Worse than that this government is aggressive particularly against young people and is reacting to the increased conflict and tension brought about by increased class conflict by unleashing the police and stepping up surveillance, something I know is happening in Britain too.

From January to March this year there was massive protests across the country and a general strike was a possibility. Partly because of the role of trade union leaders this did not happen and this has meant that perhaps things are bit quieter just now. However I do not believe this will last and more struggle will take place only this time even stronger than before.

SSP Election Broadcast European Elections 2009

alangdundee — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:26:21 +0000

Here is the SSP Party Election Broadcast for the European Elections on the Fourth of June.

The actor is of course Tam Dean Burn

Euro Election Rallies

alangdundee — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:50:31 +0000

There will be a speaker from the NPA, French Anti Capitalist Left, at all of these events.

Glasgow: Tuesday 26th May, 7.30pm, Piper In The Square, George Square

Dundee: Wednesday 27th May, 7.30pm, Queens Hotel, 160 Nethergate

Edinburgh: Thursday 28th May, 7.30pm, The Melting Pot, 5 Rose Street

Speakers in Dundee will be Angela Gorrie (SSP candidate), John McAllion and the visitor from the NPA.

We will also be showing our latest broadcast and various other bits and bobs.

Come along.

SSP Alternative

alangdundee — Sun, 17 May 2009 07:34:02 +0000

Five of the SSPs Candidates in the European Elections discuss the alternative to the boom and bust of New Labour, Tories and the SNP.

Scottish Socialists election guarantee: we won’t play the expenses lottery.

alangdundee — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:59:52 +0000

Scottish Socialist co-spokesperson Colin Fox has repeated the party’s policy that anybody elected under their banner would refuse the “lottery winners” lifestyle enjoyed by other politicians.

Instead he repeated the SSP policy that anybody elected for the party will live on a skilled worker’s wage.

Former MSP Fox is top of the SSP candidate’s list for the European elections on June 4th.

He said:

The Scottish Socialist Party is entitled to have voters reminded that each and every one of their candidates is pledged to refuse the highly inflated salary of an MP/MSP/MEP and live instead on the average wage of the people whose interests they seek to represent.

And since promises in politics today are seen to be usually worthless it is important to remind voters that the SSP MSPs honoured that promise for the entire time they were at Holyrood between 1999 and 2007.

Each one of us lived on the average wage in line with party policy.

In the forthcoming European elections in June we will once again pledge to live in a skilled worker’s wage and shun the millionaire lifestyle beloved of MPs which has rightly outraged the public.

The entire sleazy episode nullifies any credibility ‘career politicians’ have about their motives for going into politics. It’s a funny way to ’serve the public’ stealing from the public purse and the SSP will have none of it.

SSP meetings – Speaker from NPA

alangdundee — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:02:52 +0000

A wee reminder about meetings.

This Saturday we have an open meeting with Raphie de Santos leading us off on the crisis of capitalism, the recession, the credit crunch and economics.

In two weeks time we will be having a meeting as part of the election campaign. Speakers to be confirmed but we will have a candidate over from Frances new NPA – the New Anti-Capitalist Party. It will be at the ~~DVA, 10 Constitution Road~~ Queens Hotel on Wednesday 27th May at 7:30.

More details will be posted once confirmed..

Interview with Colin Fox

alangdundee — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:57:57 +0000

The Daily (Maybe) has posted an interview with Colin Fox.

They discuss the SSP campaign for the European Elections on June 4th.

Interviews with SSP candidates 3 – Johanna Dind

alangdundee — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:37:52 +0000

Johanna Dind is our third candidate for the SSP list for the European elections on June 4th 2009.

Interviews with SSP candidates 4 – Nick McKerrell

alangdundee — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:27:07 +0000

Nick McKerrell is number 4 on the SSP list for the European elections on June 4th 2009.

Snouts in the trough

alangdundee — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:54:45 +0000

The media for a week has been full of stories of the outrageous expenses claims by MPs.

From tampons (for a man) to moat cleaning there is seemingly no receipt these parasites will not claim for at taxpayers expense.

This is not democracy.

David Cameron: Quick, someone grab a receipt, the peasents can pay for this meal

Democracy is not just crossing a box once every four years, it is also about transparency and accountability.

If the police won't get involved we'll have to catch the leaker ourselves.

The Scottish Socialist Party has a policy we call the Workers Wage. Our elected representatives take home no more than an amount linked to the average wage of working people. This helps keep your elected representatives linked to the life you lead – they know how much a council tax rise affects you because it affects them too.

There is no chance of any of our elected representatives having you pay for their chandeliers or moat cleaning and most don’t own their first home never mind second, third or gated estate.

Come June the 4th vote for a representative who will be representative of the lives of most people in Scotland – vote Scottish Socialist Party.

Interviews with SSP candidates 2 – Angela Gorrie

alangdundee — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:22:49 +0000

Angela Gorrie from Dundee SSP is number 2 on the SSP list for the European elections on June 4th 2009.

Interviews with SSP candidates 5 – Raphie de Santos

alangdundee — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:30:57 +0000

Raphie de Santos is number 5 on the SSP list for the European elections on June 4th 2009.

Raphie is leading a discussion in Dundee on the economy on Saturday – come along!

Interviews with SSP candidates 1 – Colin Fox

alangdundee — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:22:27 +0000

SSP Co-National Spokesperson is number 1 on the SSP list for the European elections on 4th June 2009.

Open Meeting: 16th May

alangdundee — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:02:18 +0000

Scottish Socialist Party Open Meeting

Capitalism in crisis and the socialist alternative

Speaker: Raphie de Santos

12.00 Saturday 16th May

Abertay University
Kydd Building
Bell Street
Dundee

Respected economist and writer, Raphie de Santos was an advisor on derivatives and financial markets to several financial institutions including the Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange and the Italian Ministry of Finance.

He has been a guest lecturer on derivatives and financial markets at Harvard and New York universities and the London School of Economics and has spoken at the annual Nobel Foundation conference in Stockholm.

Raphie is co-author of recently published Socialists and the Capitalist Recession which will be available at the meeting. He is also a committed socialist and a member of the SSP and is a candidate in the European elections in June.

Make Greed History

agorrie — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:38:35 +0000

Please visit our Euro Elections campaign site, www.makegreedhistory.org, and sign our petition to tax Europe’s ‘High Net Worth’ individuals.

We, the undersigned, support the call by the Make Greed History campaign for a one-off, 10 per cent wealth tax on every millionaire across the EU to create jobs and end recession.

According to the World Wealth Report 2008, Europe’s ‘High Net Worth Individuals’ (those with at least 1 million in cash assets) last year owned a total of trillion. Last year, a ten per cent levy would have raised 1 trillion dollars.

Even allowing for reductions in personal wealth of up to one third as a result of the global financial crash, a ten per cent wealth tax on the rich could create at least 5 million new jobs. That in turn would boost the wider economy and lift Europe out of recession without any extra government debt or spending cuts.

Big problems need big solutions. A European-wide wealth tax is a big idea whose time is long overdue.

Sign online at http://www.makegreedhistory.org/sign-our-petition/

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SSP Announce European Candidates

agorrie — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:39:34 +0000

SSP co-national spokesperson Colin Fox will head the party’s list for the European elections on June 4th closely followed by Dundee SSP member Angela Gorrie.

1. Colin Fox (Edinburgh South)
2. Angela Gorrie (Dundee West)
3. Johanna Dind (Edinburgh South)
4. Nick McKerrell (Glasgow Shettleston)
5. Raphie de Santos (Edinburgh North)
6. Felicity Garvie (Central Fife)

European Anti-capitalist left

alangdundee — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:14:06 +0000

The Scottish Socialist Party have signed up to a joint European wide declaration for the European elections on the 4th of June.

Read the statement here. Parties signed up so far are from Belgium, France, Germany : England, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spanish State, Sweden and Switzerland.

SSP to stand in European elections

alangdundee — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:36:33 +0000

Originally from SSP website

The Scottish Socialist Party is to take the message that the answer to the gathering crisis is to work for an alternative socialist society into the European elections in June.

The party took its decision at its annual conference in Arran at the end of March.

Amidst growing concern at the gathering economic crisis, rising unemployment economic insecurity and concerns over climate change delegates gave a firm yes to the need to put socialist solutions to voters.

As in Scotland with New Labour, former mass socialist parties in the EU are now involved with saving the existing order with, for example German social democrats in coalition with right wing Chancellor Angela Merkel and most others adopting a pro capitalist line.

In opposition to this a range of new formations such as Das Link in Germany and the New Anti Capitalist Party in France are staking out the ground for socialist ideas and policies which also draw on the growing concerns on environmental questions.

The SSP also rejected a call for a withdrawal from the EU at its conference and will aim to campaign for radical change on a socialist programme and will co-operate with comrades across the EU sharing that view.

Delegates clearly believed that an approach of fighting with other left forces for demands across Europe such as a European minimum wage was the way ahead.

The fact that a large number of the voices calling for EU withdrawal come from right wing forces such as UKIP, the BNP and far right Tories clearly further made the demand unattractive to delegates.

The party now faces a major battle to raise the resources including a deposit of £5,000 which are needed to fight an all Scotland election and are a major barrier to smaller parties putting their case.

Massive demonstrations in France, riots in Greece and unrest and questioning across the EU grows daily as factories close, dole queues grow and threats of wage and benefit cuts loom.

For the first time in many years the elections to what many see as a toothless European parliament will have a sharp relevance for voters who see the illusion of market capitalist prosperity evaporate like the mirage it was.

In such a situation there is a vital need to put the alternative of a socialist society based on need and not profit to voters.

Alongside comrades and allies in Europe the Scottish Socialist Party will ensure hat case is put to Scottish voters.

SSP co-spokesperson Colin Fox said;

The Scottish Socialist Party will contest the European elections on our unique anti-capitalist programme, as we have done in all elections in the 10 years of our existence.

The SSP looks forward to our part in a European wide protest by the left, socialist and anti capitalist parties at the terrible consequences for working class people of the financial catastrophe that the banks and big business have brought upon us.

In the forthcoming European elections the SSP will be once again ask voters to mark their cross beside the SSP, for socialism, independence and internationalism.

Victories for left candidates and parties would indeed be a spectre to haunt the cosy coterie of capitalist politicians facing the crisis.

Labour tamper with ballot boxes

alangdundee — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:18:17 +0000

If they can’t even be trusted to not tamper with the boxes in their own internal elections how can we trust them not to do the same with ballot boxes at local and national level?

SSP members are reminded that the elections for the European candidate list will be taking place over the next week or so. The regional hustings in Dundee and Edinburgh are taking place this Sunday – contact your branch or branch secretary if you have not received details.

Open Branch Meeting Saturday 16th May

alangdundee — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:32:04 +0000

Saturday 16 May 2009, 12noon-3 at Abertay Uni, room to be confirmed. Raphae de Santos speaking on the economic situation plus European Election Candidates (To be confirmed).