SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY.

May  Local Elections 2008.

 

The SLP will be standing candidates in the May local elections, as it has done in every election since the founding of the Party in 1996.

 

It does so under conditions of capitalism’s increasing economic instability, brought into sharp focus by the nationalisation of Northern Rock. However this is not nationalisation in any true meaning of the word, but an attempt to prevent the financial meltdown of the British economy.

The reason that the major banks will no longer lend to each other is because they are well aware that the collateral offered, the assets, are worthless. Yet the Labour government has agreed to lend vast sums to Northern Rock regardless of this, and thereby raise the danger of national bankruptcy.

 

This approach of bailing out the millionaire executives operating in the financial world is in stark contrast to the government’s attitude to the thousands of working class families who were the victims of the Farepak collapse and is yet one more confirmation that this government only represents the rich and powerful in society.

 

The ‘credit crisis’ will be ongoing and is only exacerbated by recent government actions.

 

The coming period will see whole sections of workers thrown into struggle to defend living standards, welfare and pension rights and it is the SLP that is increasingly being seen as the only viable alternative to the current political and economic crisis which is impoverishing more and more layers of workers and at the same time denying them any political representation.

 

It is therefore the responsibility of our Party to participate in any such election so that workers, students, youth and the unemployed can have the opportunity to consider our programme and realise that it embodies the hopes and aspirations of the vast majority of the people of Britain.

 

Ends.

 

 

 

 

ELECTIONS 2007 HEADLINES.

(PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE)

 

1) POST ELECTION COMMENT

2) SCOTTISH ASSEMBLY ELECTION RESULTS THEN AND NOW.

3) ARTHUR SCARGILL TO SPEAK IN WALES ON MAY DAY and MAY 2nd.

4) SOCIALIST LABOUR SCOTLAND CALLS FOR REAL INDEPENDENCE.

5) WHERE THE SLP IS STANDING CANDIDATES.

6) APPEAL BY ARTHUR SCARGILL PARTY LEADER.

7) YOUR SLP CANDIDATES.

8) RICKY TOMLINSON TO FRONT SLP ELECTION BROADCASTS.

9)  BIRMINGHAM COUNCILOR'S DEFECTION TO SLP ROCKS NEW LABOUR.

10) WHEN AND WHERE TO TUNE INTO SLP ELECTION BROADCASTS.

11) THE GREAT SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE SWINDLE.

12) A MESSAGE FROM BOBBY COCHRANE (IRVINE)

13) LAUNCH OF MANIFESTO FOR WALES .

14) BBC SCOTLAND NEWS REPORT.

15) LAUNCH OF MANIFESTO FOR SCOTLAND.

 

 

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1)

MAY 2007 ELECTIONS – COMMENT

 

 

Join the SLP Now.

 

The 3rd May 2007 elections, covering Local, Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections, saw people vote in their tens of thousands for the Socialist Labour Party, whilst there was a collapse of the Labour Party vote whereby approximately only one in four of the people, who actually voted, cast their support for the Blair-Brown government.

This resulted in no overall majority for any political party either in the Scottish Parliament or Welsh Assembly. The significance of this is that no party could take full advantage of the Labour vote collapse. This is because none of the mainstream parties speak for, nor represent, the interests of the majority of the British people.

Consequently the Labour government can derive arrogance from seeing no opposition to their policies. Indeed, Tory leader David Cameron has already stated that should his party come to power they will continue with the policies of the Blair government.

However such a situation, where vast sections of the population are now politically disenfranchised, opens up tremendous opportunities for the SLP to put forward its socialist policies which do reflect the interests of the majority, as opposed to the existing political situation which favours the multinationals and financial institutions at the expense of the majority.

In the Local elections SLP Candidates scored very well in a number of contests whilst in Wales the May elections saw the SLP receive more votes than any other ‘socialist’ party and in Scotland the SLP beat the Scottish Socialist Party in seven out of the eight regions it stood in - these results demonstrate that support for the SLP is not confined to one area.

This is a platform of support that the SLP will build upon as it develops into a force that can give back a political voice to the millions who are currently faced with the problems inherent in a capitalist society, such as growing personal debt, attacks on welfare rights, pensions, health, education, and civil liberties.

We say no to a society that treats people like a ‘commodity’ and which sees everything in terms of ‘market value’ and we are intent on achieving a social system that truly represents the interests of the majority. Join us.

............................................................................................................................................

2)

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTION RESULTS

 

CENTRAL SCOTLAND

1999

Socialist Labour Party                                                 10,956             (3.32%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                   5,739              (1.74%)

Green Party                                                                    5,926              (1.79%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2003 

Socialist Labour Party                                                     3,091             (1.47%)          

Scottish Socialist Party                                                   19,016             (7.23%)

Green Party                                                                   12,248             (4.66%)

Solidarity                                                                        DID NOT STAND

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                                   2,303              (0.80%)           (-0.7%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                  2,188              (0.80%)           (-6.5%)

Green Party                                                                  7,204              (2.50%)           (-2.1%)

Solidarity                                                                      5,012              (1.8%)

 

HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS

1999

Socialist Labour Party                                                   2,808              (1.39%)

 Scottish Socialist Party                                                     1,770              (0.88%)

 Green Party                                                                     7,560              (3.75%)

 Solidarity                                                                         DID NOT STAND

2003

Socialist Labour Party                                                   1,617              (0.96%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                     9,000              (5.34%)

Green Party                                                                     13,935             (8.27%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                                   1,027              (0.60%)           (-0.4%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                     973              (0.50%)           (-4.8%)

Green Party                                                                  8,602              (4.60%)           (-3.6%)

Solidarity                                                                      1,833              (1.0%) 

 

ID SCOTLAND & FIFE

 

1999

Socialist Labour Party                                                     4,266             (1.40%)          

Scottish Socialist Party                                                       3,044             (1.0%)

Green Party                                                                     11,821             (3.87%)

Solidarity                                                                          DID NOT STAND

2003

Socialist Labour Party                                                   2,273             (0.91%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                   11,401             (4.56%)

Green Party                                                                   17,147             (6.86%

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                                  1,523             (0.60%)           (-0.4%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                    1,116             (0.40%)           (-4.2%)

Green Party                                                                  10,318             (3.80%)           (-3.1%)

Solidarity                                                                        2,468             (0.9%)

 

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

1999

Socialist Labour Party                                                13,887             (4.36%)

 Scottish Socialist Party                                                   3,304              (1.04%)

 Green Party                                                                  9,468              (2.97%)

 Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2003

Socialist Labour Party                                                3,054              (1.16%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                14,228             (5.40%)

Green Party                                                                 15,062             (5.72%)

Solidarity                                                                     DID NOT STAND

 

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                                     1,633             (0.60%)           (-0.6%) 

Scottish Socialist Party                                                    1,114             (0.40%)           (-5.0%)

Green Party                                                                    9,254             (3.30%)           (-2.4%)

Solidarity                                                                        3,433             (1.2%)

 

 

GLASGOW

1999

Socialist Labour Party                                                     4,391             (1.71%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                  18,581             (7.25%)

Green Party                                                                  10,159             (3.96%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2003

Socialist Labour Party                                                     3,091             (1.59%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                                  31,116             (16.02%)

Green Party                                                                  14,570             (7.50%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                    2,680              (1.3%)             (-0.2%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                       2,579              (1.2%)             (-14.0%)

Green Party                                                       10,759             (5.2%)             (-1.9%)

Solidarity                                                              8,544             (4.1%)

LOTHIANS

1999

Socialist Labour Party                                     10,895             (3.30%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                        5,237             (1.58%)

Green Party                                                        22,848             (6.91%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2003

Socialist Labour Party                                      2,181              (0.82%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                       14,448             (5.44%)

Green Party                                                        31,908             (12.01%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                        2,190              (0.8%)             (-0.1%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                           1,994              (0.7%)             (-4.7%)

Green Party                                                           20,147             (7.0%)             (-5.0%

Solidarity                                                                 2,998             (1.0%)

 

NORTH EAST

1999

Socialist Labour Party                                           3,557              (1.25%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                              3,016              (1.06%)

Green Party                                                              8,067              (2.83%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2003

Socialist Labour Party                                     2,431             (1.00%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                      10,226             (4.20%)

Green Party                                                       12,724             (5.22%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                      1,331              (0.5%)             (-0.5%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                     1,051              (0.4%)             (-3.8%)

Green Party                                                      8,148              (3.1%)             (-2.1%)

Solidarity                                                          2,004              (0.8%)

 

 

WEST OF SCOTLAND

 1999

Socialist Labour Party                                   4,472              (1.44%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                      5,944              (1.91%)

Green Party                                                       8,175              (2.63%)

Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2003

Socialist Labour Party                                    3,155             (1.23%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                      18,591             (7.23%)

Green                                                                14,544             (5.66%)


Solidarity                                                                      DID NOT STAND

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                   1,557              (0.6%)             (-0.6%)

Scottish Socialist Party                                      1,716              (0.6%)             (-6.6%)

Green Party                                                       8,152              (3.0%)             (-2.6%)

Solidarity                                                           4,774              (1.8%)

 

TOTAL VOTES CAST

1999

Socialist Labour Party                                       55,232

Scottish Socialist Party                                         46,635

Green Party                                                         84,024

Solidarity                                                          DID NOT STAND

2003

Socialist Labour Party                                     20,893

Scottish Socialist Party                                      128,026

Green Party                                                      132,138

Solidarity                                                          DID NOT STAND

2007

Socialist Labour Party                                       14,244

Scottish Socialist Party                                      12,731

Green Party                                                      82,584

Solidarity                                                          31,066

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3)

 

 

 

 

Text Box: SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY WALES

  

STOP PRESS: as in 1999 and 2003, Labour will not win any regional places on 3rd May - all its votes will be wasted because the whole point of having the regional ballot is to increase the number of  non-Labour Party Assembly Members.

By voting Labour for the region, you allow Tories

 to get in.

Instead, you could elect socialists to the National Assembly by voting for the Socialist Labour Party list.

Hear our lead candidates

John Cox and Liz Screen

at the United Reformed Church,

  Van Road, Caerphilly

 7.30pm on Tuesday 1st May

Guest speaker:

Arthur Scargill

 

and on the following evening in Swansea

Hear our lead candidate

Jacob Bowen

at the Unitarian Church,

  High Street, Swansea

7.30pm on Wednesday 2nd May

 

Guest speaker:

Arthur Scargill

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

4)

Press Release – 1st May 2007.

 

Socialist Labour for Jobs and Regeneration

 

Politicians of all the other parties would have us all believe that the coming election is to be an Independence D-day.

 The dictionary defines Independence as “being free from the influence or control of others; self-governing”. Workers desperate for outstanding government contracts that would save jobs and allow government to direct work to maintain essential skills and economic vitality to areas desperately in need of it would welcome that sort of “independence”. However, the British government can’t do this – it would break EU competition rules to do so. Neither could an SNP “independent” Scottish government – nor any envisaged by any other party. Because they ALL support the EU!

Want public investment in schools, hospitals, housing etc? NOT allowed under EU rules hence PPP/PFI under New Labour and the Tories or “public trusts” as proposed by the SNP and Lib Dems. Ask any of them about VAT – the flat rate tax that they ALL support! Fishing policy, agricultural policy? All determined by unelected EU bureaucrats.  Yes it is true - at root these parties are all THE SAME!

Socialist Labour states that there can be NO independence for Scotland or Britain in the EU – that’s why we’re in favour of withdrawal from the big business led EU. If we have MSP’s elected on the 3rd May we’ll propose we have a referendum on public ownership of all our public transport! We’ll follow that up with referenda on nationalisation of our natural energy reserves and then look at taking control of our profiteering banks and building societies! That’s what needs to be done to achieve REAL independence!

Tackling Unemployment – the root cause of society’s ills

Rebuilding and restoring our economy can only b done by regenerating our deep mine coal industry, re-developieng our battered steel industry and ending all coal and steel imports into Britain. 

We have to rebuild – again, from the perspective of social need - our engineering industries, and restore the mighty ship building industry which was once the envy of the world and support our farming and fishing industries.

Unemployment – even under this unjust capitalist system – could be wiped out virtually overnight.  It requires just three basic measures:

·        A four-day working week;

·        A ban on all non-essential overtime;

·        Retirement on a voluntary basis with full pay at age 55.

 

These steps would create jobs for all who are able to work, but they must be real jobs – whether full-time or part-time (for those who cannot work full-time).  They must be permanent jobs (no more short-terms contracts) and they must be jobs paying a decent wage.

The introduction of a four-day working week, a ban on all non-essential overtime and voluntary retirement on full pay at age 55 would actually save money.  The vast majority of this cost could be met out of the billions currently paid out in unemployment and related benefits and by National Insurance contributions that would flow from the increased number of people in work.

 Money lost through unemployment – lost through lack of purchasing power and income tax revenue - costs taxpayers billions a year.  Our employment policies would not only mean jobs for unemployed workers but a better deal all round for Scotland’s taxpayers.

Only the SLP has the policies capable of bringing about a fundamental change in our society.

Lead Candidates:

 

Linda Sheridan                   JimMcDaid      Brian Corbett                     Katharine McGavigan

Central Scotland                 Glasgow         Highlands & Islands         Lothians

 

Ian Johnson                         Billy Kelly       Bobby Cochrane                Louise McDaid

Mid Scotland & Fife           North East       South of Scotland             West of Scotland

 

Picture attached shows Ricky Tomlinson with SLP candidates for Glasgow, West of Scotland and South of Scotland.

 

1st May 2007.

 

The full SLP Scotland Manifesto can be viewed a www.socialist-labour-party.org.uk

 

5) WHERE THE SLP IS STANDING CANDIDATES

 

 THE SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY IS STANDING CANDIDATES IN ALL REGIONAL LIST ELECTIONS IN WALES AND SC0TLAND AND IN LOCAL AUTHORITY ELECTIONS IN ENGLAND.

WE URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR OUR CANDIDATES AND SUPPORT THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP  WITH THE CAMPAIGNS PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL OFFICE.

DONATIONS TO THE PARTY FIGHTING FUND ARE PARTICULARLY WELCOME AT THIS TIME.

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6) APPEAL BY SLP PARTY LEADER  ARTHUR SCARGILL.

"The record of the Labour Government during the last 10 years is quite frankly appalling with cut-backs in health, education, pensions, housing and care for the elderly. At the same time as these cut-backs have been implemented, this Government has spent billions on an unlawful invasion and occupation in Iraq, an invasion and occupation which to date has cost over 700,000 Iraqi lives and over 3,000 US and UK lives.

In the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election, Welsh Assembly Election and local authority elections in England, voters will have a chance to register their protest against the Government’s privatisation programme and the unlawful war in Iraq. The Socialist Labour Party is the only party with a clear-cut socialist policy which demands that all transport, electricity, water, telecommunications and other industries and services privatised by the Tories and/or Labour must be taken into public or municipal ownership.

We are the only socialist party which wants a complete withdrawal from the capitalist European Union.

I urge people to vote for the Socialist Labour Party."

*******************************************************************************

7) YOUR SOCIALIST LABOUR CANDIDATES .

 

 SOUTH WALES EAST

John Cox

----------------------------------------------------

Sue Deare

Glenn Eynon

Cerian Screen

Joyce Giblin

--------------------------------------------------------

SOUTH WALES CENTRAL

Liz Screen

Harry Parfitt

Ina Marsden

Rob Hawkins

------------------------------------------------------

SOUTH WALES WEST

Jacob Bowen.

Martha Page-Harries

Miriam Scale

Howard Rees

-------------------------------------------------------

Mid and West Wales

Alun Davies

Luke Hume

Trish Bowen

Maggie Davies

--------------------------------------------------

NORTH WALES.

Bob English

Dave Roberts

Judith Sambrook

Paul Liversuch

--------------------------------------------------

 

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS 2007

SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATES

REGIONAL LISTS

 

SLP Scottish candidates Jim McDaid , Louise McDaid and Bobby Cochrane with Ricky Tomlinson.

 

CENTRAL SCOTLAND

Linda Sheridan

George Rose

Ronnie Sinclair

Perry Lomas

 GLASGOW

James McDaid

 

Doris Kelly

Paul Hardman

Patricia MacInnes

HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS

 

Brian Corbett

Claire Watt

Colin Muir

Dorothy Entwistle

LOTHIANS

Katharine McGavigan

Kai Anderson

James Herriot

Sarah McGrogan

MID SCOTLAND & FIFE

Ian Johnson

Amanda Rose

Michael Lynch

Howard Broadbent

 

NORTH EAST

Billy Kelly

Lynne Lowe

Jim Berrington

Lesley Lomas

 

 SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

Bobby Cochrane

Linda Muir

Rose Ann Rose

Alan Jones

WEST OF SCOTLAND

Louise McDaid

Sarah Murdoch

Theresa Byrne

Hazel Gallagher

 

LEAD CANDIDATES IN THE ENGLISH LOCAL AUTHORITY ELECTIONS INCLUDE.

JOHN TYRELL - HANDSWORTH WOOD BIRMINGHAM

SHEERA JOHAL - SOHO WARD BIRMINGHAM

 

 

SITAL SINGH GILL  CHARNWOOD WARD LEICESTER

 

CHIMANBHAI PATEL  CHARNWOOD WARD LEICESTER

Professor Ian Smalley - Westcotes ward  Leicester

Val Smalley - Westcotes ward Leicester

Bill Bull Lewes - Bridge ward in Lewes east Sussex.

 

John Mcleod - East Brighton ward in Brighton.

 

Phil Chambers - Molsey ward East Surrey. 

 

Kai Andersen - Norris Green Liverpool.

 

 

Jim Flannery - Davyhulme East Trafford .

 

Steve Whatham -  Prescot West Knowsley.

 

Ron Waugh - St Helens.

 

Lynton Bennett - Stone Bench Buxton

 

8)RICKY TOMLINSON TO FRONT SLP BROADCASTS

Actor , author and veteran political campaigner  Ricky Tomlinson is to front the Socialist Labour Party television broadcasts in Scotland and Wales.Ricky a socialist since his unjust arrest and imprisonment on conspiracy charges  during the 1972 builders strike, has been a life long campaigner for an open public enquiry into the arrest trial of the Shrewsbury pickets and  the subsequent jailing of the Shrewsbury Three. See below for details of election broadcasts. Vote New Labour ...my arse !

 

Party Leader Arthur Scargill, Scottish SLP candidate and Farepak campaigner Louise McDaid with Ricky Tomlinson.

9) Birmingham Councilor's defection to Socialist Labour rocks New Labour.

 

Former Birmingham cabinet member John Tyrrell, who quit the Labour Party is to stand for the Socialist Labour Party in next month's city council elections.

John Tyrrell will be a candidate in Handsworth Wood ward, in a move that will attract the support of traditional Labour voters.

He resigned from Labour's ranks after more than 40 years' membership, blaming his decision on "right-wing policies" and heavy-handed control by the party's West Midlands regional office.

Although Labour had a majority of just over 1,000 in Handsworth Wood in the 2006 council elections, Mr Tyrrell is a well-known figure who served as a councillor for nine years and could attract support.

His resignation followed a bitter three-year tussle with the regional party, which approved the deselection of Mr Tyrrell and fellow left-wingers Phil Murphy and Gurdev Manku in 2004.
Announcing his decision to stand as a Socialist Labour candidate, Mr Tyrrell said he would fight on a platform to support people from all sections of the community who found difficulty in accessing council services.

He said: "I think people made it abundantly clear that an imposed candidate will not get support in a campaign. The view is 'let the Birmingham Labour Party fight the campaign' if they wish to decide who represents the ward."

He said it was a "possibility" that, by standing, the Labour vote could be split. He hit out at the regional office, which failed to respond to a series of angry letters and emails. Mr Tyrrell said: "Members of this ward are extremely angry at the discourteous way they are treated. Members are beneath contempt in the view of the regional office.

"Party members don't have a say, aren't allowed to meet or to put resolutions forward. Many people I speak to, long standing party members, have simply had enough."

West Midlands Labour Party was unavailable for comment.

Dave Roberts, Vice president of The Socialist Labour Party and midland regional secretary welcomed John to the party saying “John Tyrell represents a whole layer of discontented former   Labour  Party supporters in Birmingham. The Socialist Labour Party remains the natural and only home for all socialists in the labour movement, I urge others to follow John’s lead and to support him and the Socialist Labour Party in the coming election.”

 

10) Where and when to catch SLP election broadcasts

 

SCOTLAND

STV-  Broadcast slot is Tuesday 17th April 2007 @ 11p.m. 

Border Television-  Broadcast slot is Tuesday 17th April 2007 @ Midnight 

BBC Scotland- Broadcast slot For BBC One is Tuesday 17th April 2007 @10.35pm.

BBC Two slot is Tuesday 17th April 2007 @ 11.35pm. 

Radio Scotland broadcast slot is Tuesday 17th April 2007 @ 4pm. 

WALES

ITV Wales- Broadcast slot is Monday 23rd April 2007 @ 6.25pm.

BBC Wales- Broadcast slot for BBC One Wales is Thursday 26th April 2007 @ 10.35p.m..

 

BBC Two Wales- Thursday 26th April 2007 @ 11.20p.m. 

.

BBC Radio Wales

13.00 - 13.30 on Monday 23rd April SLP candidates to participate in Phone in programme- Richard Evans presents debate on the stories that matter to Wales in the Radio Wales Phone In with Richard Evans.

Call the show on 08700 100 110 (local rates apply)
Or text 07786 201040 (network rates apply).

BBC Radio Wales on Thursday 26th April 2007 @ 9.55p.m.

BBC Radio Cymru on Thursday 26th April 2007 @ 2.05p.m.

 S4C Wales -Broadcast slot is Thursday 26th April 2007 @ 11.30pm.

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11)THE GREAT SCOTTISH "INDEPENDENCE" SWINDLE

Politicians of all the parties (at least those we get to see and hear frequently on TV and radio) and pundits in all the news media outlets would have us all believe that the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary poll is to be the great Independence election. Will the people opt to stay within the union or go it alone they ask? Do the Scots wish to determine their own destiny or continue to be represented at Westminster? And so on and so forth.

Serious questions one might say – that is if one ignores the massive, great EU elephant in the front room! What about the European Union? Where does it fit into the equation? Lets look at some facts.

Firstly, lets start with a benchmark. A dictionary definition of Independence might come in handy. Here’s one. Independence: being independent, free from the influence or control of others; self-governing. The workers of Ferguson’s shipyard on the lower Clyde desperate for outstanding state contracts to build ferries and fishery protection vessels would have an interest in the sort of independence that would allow government to direct work of this sort to indigenous industry to maintain essential skills and economic vitality to areas desperately in need of it. However, our mighty British government can’t do it – it would break EU competition rules to do so. Know what? Neither could Salmond’s "independent" Scottish government – nor any envisaged by either the Greens or Tommy Sheridan’s previous or current "socialist" parties!

The same is true with regard to support or development aid to existing or new industry. Public investment in schools, hospitals, housing etc? NOT allowed under EU rules hence PPP/PFI and housing stock transfer under New Labour and the Tories, "public trusts" as proposed by the SNP and Lib Dems or whatever ruse or subterfuge tactic currently being suggested by any of the others. And these things are only the tip of the EU imposed iceberg! Ask them about VAT – the flat rate rich mans’ tax that they ALL support! Fishing policy, agricultural policy, proposals for new workplace laws and so on. Yes it is true, at root all these parties are ALL THE SAME! And the only conclusion that can be drawn is that whatever it is that is being offered in the name of Independence it can not by any reasonable definition be called INDEPENDENCE!!

Why then, given the above, do all the parties focus so much on this one almost irrelevant question? Are they ignorant of reality? Possibly, try asking a candidate of any of these parties about any of the matters outlines above; chances are their eyes will glaze over within seconds. Perhaps it’s a case of them all being in cahoots and pulling the wool over the peoples’ eyes. Sounds a touch irrational maybe but, then, some of those same politicians DO know of these matters and when challenged, tacitly admit the points made above are true but say that that they’re not that significant. You make up your own mind.

Referendum

The SNP want a referendum on their independence proposals within the lifetime of the next Scottish Parliament. The other pro-independence (sic) parties are all attempting to "out-nationalist" each other by out doing each other on the same question. The Socialist Labour Party in Scotland states unequivocally that there can be NO independence for Scotland or Britain while we remain in the European Union – that’s why we’re in favour of withdrawal from the big business led EU. However, we’re interested in referenda too. If we have MSP’s elected on the 3rd May we’ll propose we have an immediate referendum on public ownership of all our public transport! We’ll follow that up with referenda on nationalisation of our natural energy reserves of oil, gas and coal and then look at taking control of our profiteering banks and building societies! We’re confident that the Scottish people will support those sort of policies and know what? That’s what needs to be done to achieve REAL independence!

Vote SOCIALIST LABOUR on 3rd May 2007.

 

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12)

Election Special

A message from

Bobby Cochrane

Irvine West council candidate

The Socialist Labour Party candidate for the new Irvine West council ward is to be Irvine man Bobby Cochrane. Bobby is a Plasterer by trade and is well known as a campaigner on a range of issues through the years. He is a former Labour councillor who was not afraid to stand up for people and causes whether popular or otherwise. Unlike some others Bobby does not have to invent a track record as a working class fighter! He promises, "if elected, as well as holding regular surgeries, I will organise frequent open meetings to allow constituents to propose and express views on matters before they are decided by the council. This would be a simple, straightforward but unique development that would encourage greater community involvement in council activities!"

 

Issues that deserve far greater priority within North Ayrshire Council are:

 

*  strategies to tackle unemployment particularly youth unemployment.

 

*  facilities for young people to engage their interest in constructive areas.

 

*  better provision for our senior citizens.

 

*  a call on government for more resources for local schools and services.

 

 

If elected I will be a strong voice for Irvine and I will not shrink from doing what is necessary to improve the lives of all our citizens."

ON POLLING DAY VOTE

 

Bobby Cochrane

 

 

 

 

1
 

 

 

 

 

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13) LAUNCH OF  MANIFESTO FOR WALES.

PRESS RELEASE
SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY
WALES
 
 
The Socialist Labour Party will launch their manifesto on
Monday 23rd April at 2.30pm
in the Butcher's Arms, Llandaff, Cardiff.
 
 
Lead candiates John Cox and Liz Screen will be present to answer questions as well as other candidates and party members.
 
For further information contact:
Liz Screen on 07866 045 765 or at lizscreen@onetel.net
 
Please go to Welsh regional page for the SLP Manifesto for Wales.

 
14)  BBC SCOTLAND NEWS REPORT
 
to view click here

15) SLP Scotland has launched it's manifesto please go to regional page.

Scottish regional page click here

 

-------------END .
 
 
 
 
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