SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY.

FAREPAK CAMPAIGN 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Too Little Too Late …

The government today announced the launching of a “Save Xmas campaign” to “to increase knowledge and skills about savings” among “consumers”. The campaign is in response to the collapse of the Farepak savings last autumn. Welcome as this weak and belated initiative may be to some the reality is that of all the people in society potentially in need of such advice, Farepak Victims do not number among them!

The reason working class women saved with Farepak - and it was overwhelmingly women – was precisely down to their “knowledge and skills in savings”. The ill-informed people it turns out were government and its financial apparatus that failed to recognise the need and necessity to regulate organisations such as Farepak. They clearly still have not learnt this most basic lesson as witnessed by the collapse and subsequent legalised theft of those who put their trust in the money transfer company First Solution! Unregulated, of course, as was Farepak.

This initiative by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) does not even wash the filthy face of this government and is tantamount to apportioning the blame onto the Farepak Victims themselves.

Incidentally, for the OFT’s information, its late July … the end of the seventh month of the year! Working class families who saved with Farepak began saving in the December of the year prior to the Xmas the money was for. We’re sure this is not exclusive to savings clubs and therefore most will have amassed more than half their savings by this time!

This initiative is Too Little Too Late!

Louise McDaid,

Chairperson,

Farepak Victims Committee.

26^th July 2007.

First Solution Collapse

My name is Louise McDaid and I am Chairperson of the Farepak Victims Committee. On behalf of the FVC I extend our solidarity and sympathies to the victims of this latest financial disaster. As usual it is those people at the bottom who suffer greatest and bear the brunt. Like Sir Clive Thompson of Farepak I suspect those who operated and profited from this scheme will be immune from both loss and liability. I must say that the example cited by some of the charitable "Farepak Family Fund" being a model to emulate is a poor choice indeed. Farepak victims got a meagre 10% of their savings back - in my own case that meant receiving only £40 for my £400 saved! It also took the heat off those with responsibility for the collapse.

It appears to me that, like Farepak, responsibility for this collapse lies also at the door of government. They failed to REGULATE as it is their responsibility and duty to do so -and in this instance this failure is compounded by their interference in the industry as well as having the experience of the collapse of Farepak (and others).

The Farepak Victims Committee set up in the wake of the collapse continues to call for, among other demands, for full compensation from government due to their negligence in failing to regulate.

All those affected would be welcome to contact me for further information or if there is anything we can do in support.

Louise McDaid,

Chairperson FVC,

Tel: 01294 829688.

Email: james.mcdaid4@btopenworld.com

25th January

Starting today We are serialising a campaign diary of Louise McDaid Farepak Campaigner and one of the founding members the Farepak Victims Committee.

Sunday 15^th October 2006

will be a day that the founding members of the Farepak Victims Committee would never forget.  The day when Agents and Customers all over the country had to phone their family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues to say that their Christmas Savings Club “Farepak” had gone bust.

In West Kilbride our club (£2,750 lost)  had received a phone call from our friend to say that she had read in a newspaper that Farepak had gone into administration and we would not be getting our vouchers.  The rest of the day is a blur.

Monday morning was a different story – every tabloid had covered it.  A few of us had gathered in the middle of the street.  Our first concern was for our friend – soon to be known as “The Agent”.  She hadn’t slept, was distressed and like the rest of us was desperate for someone to say it was a joke – or maybe it wasn’t as bad as we thought.

When it appeared on the news we knew it was true – our money had vanished.  Over the next few days we bought newspapers, those of us that had the Internet scoured it for every piece of info.  There was Directors, a Chairman, a bank, a parent company, no regulations – it went on and on.

We had to do something.  The Socialist Labour Party helped.  We would draft a petition, get the pasting table out and megaphone, go onto the street in Saltcoats on Saturday.  Told members of our savings club what was happening and those that could, would be there.

Saturday 21^st October 2006. 

We had arranged to meet at 12.  Set up the table, had made a few posters, forgot the sticky back plastic and pens so had to go to the shop. Had to get petition photocopied.  Eventually we started. 

It was unbelievable, so many people queuing to sign the petition, telling us how much money they had lost, asking if we knew what had happened.  A young mother with twins in a buggy and a toddler stopped to sign the petition.  She had worked part-time and had used her wages to save for vouchers - £1500 gone.  She didn’t know what she was going to do.  The grandmother, who’s daughter was an agent and had lost £11,000 – she was worried about her daughter and didn’t know what Christmas would be like for her grandchildren – she would help as much as she could.   

Standing outside the police station, we took a decision that we would hold a meeting in Irvine and set-up a broad based campaign.

Monday 23^rd October 2006

Telephoned Council Letting Office to arrange Farepak meeting.  Usually 3 weeks notice required but staff were very helpful (turns out some affected by Farepak collapse!), provisionally booked Woodlands Community Centre for Friday 27^th Oct. 

Booking forms being sent, once completed and returned meeting will be confirmed.  This gives us a problem with publicity – local newspapers deadline is a Monday – discussed with others and decided to contact local radio station.

We had e-mailed our local Member of Parliament and today received a reply.  M.P. intends to write to the Administrators, Hamper Industry Trade Association and Secretary of State for Trade & Industry.  Copies of responses will be sent to us.

All of us still reading newspaper coverage on Farepak.  In particular tabloids, which gives lots of details of how people have been affected by Farepak collapse.  There is very little coverage in the broadsheets. Some of the issues being raised by the press:

British Retail Consortium to meet with Trade Minister this weekend with the hope that a “good will gesture” can be organised for Farepak Victims.

Government to probe the Farepak collapse.  Criminal Investigations Branch looking into the circumstances. This report is CONFIDENTIAL.

A number of questions were needed to be answered:

Why Farepak continued taking money when shares in the Parent Company, European Home Retail, were suspended in August ?

Was our money used to pay off European Home Retail’s overdraft with HBOS ?  The bank that had withdrawn financial support.

The Hamper Industry Trade Association urged Farepak to protect our money but it is claimed – protecting customer’s money is not a legal requirement! Apparently Hamper/Voucher Industry does not fall under the regulatory remit of the Financial Services Authority – who’s board is appointed by the Department of Trade & Industry.  Checked Internet.  Other companies similar to Farepak have gone bust.  Red Letter Days (sold vouchers for unusual gifts e.g. trips on hot air balloons, spa weekends, bungee jumps etc), furniture store “Court” and Family Hampers – Why were regulations not put in place when these companies went into administration? The Government should have anticipated and put regulations in place that would have ring-fenced our money.

Trade Minister working with Office of Fair Trading and Christmas Hamper Industry to make sure other schemes are made secure in the future.  This surely should have been done from 1968 (Farepak established) onwards by this Government or previous ones.

25^th October

Received phone call from our Agent  to tell us that confirmation received from Administrators regarding our Claims.

27^th October

Big day - Farepak meeting.  We are unsure about what turnout will be like due to short notice and lack of publicity.  We didn’t need to worry the local radio station had covered it and the room was packed.  The first thing that struck everyone was we were all women who had lost thousands and thousands of pounds.  One lady in particular who was an Agent was so upset she could not speak.  We talked about our own personal circumstances and what we had found out.  We noted that if anyone had paid using their credit card there was a possibility that we could get our money back – WHY – they are regulated!!!  Everyone angry with Directors/Chairman, Bank and lack of regulations.  We all agreed that we should do something to get our money back and ensure that this does not happen to anyone else.  Committee set up and Chair elected.

We decided that our group should be called:

Farepak Victims Committee (FVC). 

Everyone filled in Contact Sheet and agreed to take petition onto the streets in Irvine the following day -Saturday 28^th Oct.

On the way back home we discussed the use of the word Victim and decided to check dictionary definition.

Victim:        A person who suffers some loss, esp. by being swindled.

8th Dec. 2006.

 

 

Farepak Kids to Enjoy a "Fruit Juice Reception"

 

Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) have arranged a "Champagne Reception" at 6.30pm on Monday, 11th December to celebrate the opening of their new premises on The Mound, Edinburgh. Farepak campaigners have organised a demonstration in Edinburgh to coincide with the reception to protest against the role played by HBOS in the Farepak collapse.

 

Farepak Victims Committee (FVC) members in Ayrshire who are unable to make the Edinburgh demo have organised an alternative Fruit Juice Reception for the children of parents who lost out in the Farepak collapse at the Basebowl ten pin bowling alley in Saltcoats. The event and venue has been sponsored by owner of the Basebowl Sean Graham with sweets and goodies donated by Daljit Sanghera of Costcutters of West Kilbide.

 

Chairperson of the FVC Louise McDaid said, "we are very appreciative of the kind contributions of both Mr. Graham and Mr. Sanghera to help make the occasion an enjoyable one for the children involved. We understand that only a few of the Farepak Victims  whose children were affected can be catered for but it is important to remember that the party is also taking place as an 'activity' in the on-going campaign to ensure a full refund for all those who have lost monies in the Farepak collapse. The fight to ensure that all  those responsible for this situation occurring are held accountable. That includes Sir Clive Thompson, the directors of Farepak and HBOS. We also intend to continue to maintain pressure on government to accept their role in the affair by virtue of their failure to ensure that regulation was enacted to prevent such a catastrophic collapse taking place at all in this type of financial undertaking - the only constituent part of the finance industry NOT covered by legislation."

 

The event is scheduled to take place on Monday, 11th December at 5pm.

 

For more info contact Louise McDaid on 01294 829688.

THE FAREPAK RIP-OFF

DOES THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT ONLY REPRESENT MILLIONAIRES?

On the 13th October 2006 savings club Farepak Food and Gifts Limited (Farepak Hampers) a subsidiary of European Home Retail plc (EHR), ceased trading and was "unable to honour its commitments to make deliveries of any vouchers, hampers or other items" to its approximately 350,000 customers, 40,000 of whom reside in the North West.

Customers have been paying into the Farepak saving scheme all year, expecting hampers or vouchers they can spend in the high street to help them through Christmas. Farepak also announced that no money would be available for refunds. The company is now in administration.

Also now in administration is the parent company EHR.

Chairman of European Home Retail is Sir Clive Thompson, and he has an interesting history.

Thompson was knighted in 1994 for his ‘services to industry’ and by 1998 he was appointed President of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) having impressed his colleagues with his fierce opposition to the introduction of a minimum wage. In his maiden speech as President of the CBI he compared the task of controlling trade unions with ‘pest control’ a comment that was apparently well received by his audience and his speech was reported to be one which Margaret Thatcher would have wholeheartedly approved. In the audience that day, as guest of honour, was Tony Blair. (BBC News 21st July 1998).

Clive Thompson was chief executive of Rentokil Initial from 1983 and its chairman from May 2002. However, by May 2004 the company’s shares had collapsed and wiped out £436 million off the value of the company. Following this disaster Rentokil dumped Thompson yet incredibly he walked away with a pay-off of more than £13 million and more than six million share options! (London Evening Standard May 19th 2004).

He currently lives in a £2 million mansion.

Subsidaries of EHR include Farepak, Kleeneze Kitbag, and I Want One of Those.com. All were put up for sale and all were sold exceptionally quickly to the Findel Group, except for Farepak.

Included in the subsequent statement from the Findel Group is this paragraph:

"On 30 June 2006 EHR announced that as a result of the placing in administration of the voucher provider to its subsidiary Farepak it would face a peak borrowing requirement above its bank facilities. On 23 August 2006 EHR announced that it had requested suspension of its shares as no conclusion had been reached with its bankers over the provision of additional finance. On 13 October 2006 EHR announced the Appointment of an Administrative Receiver to European Home Retail plc, noting that this had been as a result of the appointment of an Administrator by its subsidiary Farepak, and an inability to reach a funding agreement with its bankers. Findel is confident that the businesses which are being acquired, are strong and can flourish under Findel's management and contribute to the overall strength of the Findel Group. Findel is not acquiring the Farepak business."

This statement reveals that European Home Retail continued to allow its customers to pay into its savings club even though it was in trouble back in June 2006 and the stock exchange had suspended its shares last August!

This raises the question of whether it is too much to expect that companies act responsibly and are held accountable if they do not? And should such irresponsible companies be allowed to hide behind completely one-sided company laws?

If the situation was reversed and for instance workers took out bank loans or other credit facilities, knowing full well they would never repay those loans, would a statement from the workers concerned saying they cannot repay be the end of the matter, would such a statement suffice? Indeed not! The full force of the courts would be brought against those workers and they would lose their homes or have their furniture repossessed to cover what they had taken.

Yet the multi-millionaires who run Farepak and EHR can walk away facing no similar penalty.

Therefore there is absolutely no moral reason why the Labour government should not immediately refund all of Farepak’s victims in full and then pursue recompense themselves from the companies involved. No reason at all……except if there is one law that applies to the vast majority of us and another law that applies solely to a few elite millionaires.

We do not believe that this Labour government should protect people like Sir Clive Thompson and his fellow directors but on the contrary should intervene on behalf of the 350,000 workers and refund all monies owed. However the Financial Services Authority (FSA), are saying that their remit does not cover companies like Farepak – yet the board of the FSA are in fact appointed by the Treasury Department so it is perfectly within the power of this Government to make it their remit.

While the Government stands idly by on this issue other vultures have begun to emerge. Regional papers in the North West are now publishing articles featuring loan companies who are offering the Farepak victims ‘comfort and joy’ by supplying ‘ affordable loans’ and ‘reasonable rate borrowing.’

So not only have people been ripped - off by Farepak, they are now expected to go further into debt by taking out loans from these financial parasites. Yet these 350,000 people have acted honourably throughout, have dutifully paid into a savings scheme, and have every right to demand they receive what they have paid for or be fully recompensed financially. Nothing less is acceptable.

In Ayrshire Scotland the SLP has already initiated the founding of the ‘Farepak Victims Committee’ to demand justice for all those people affected by yet one more example of a corrupt and rotten system.

And a system that protects only millionaires is a system with no future and must be challenged.

The SLP North West Region together with the SLP National Campaign Committee call for the establishing of Farepak Victims Committees in all areas of the country. 

For further information on this issue please contact the SLP North West Region on slp.mail@lineone.net or Telephone 0870 850 3576.

Ends.

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'Tragedy linked to Farepak collapse'

By Graeme Hetherington

DEMANDS for the Government to bail out families who lost their savings with the collapse of Farepak grew stronger last night amid fears that the death of a North-East man may have been linked to the crash.

Campaigners fighting for compensation for families up and down the country say the death of Riku Shah could be just the tip of the iceberg as people struggle to make ends meet over the festive season.

Mr Shah, of Westerdale Avenue, Stockton, was discovered in the River Tees, near the town's Victoria Bridge, early last Wednesday.

Now the 29-year-old's wife, Debbie, also 29, has said she believes he may have taken his own life after the pressure of finding new cash for Christmas presents became too much for him after he lost £600 in the venture

The couple were among 150,000 families who lost their Christmas savings when the company went into administration last month.

Sharon Grahamslaw, campaign co-ordinator for unfairpak.co.uk, warns the knock-on effect of the company's demise could lead to significant problems for many families this Christmas.

"This could be just the tip of the iceberg," she said.

"Who knows how many other people are in the same position and what more tragic news is to come?

"We have heard stories from a number of nurses and hospital staff that they are having to treat people who have been affected by this scandal - but this tragedy has certainly brought the problem to the forefront of everyone's mind."

Although it is not known for certain that Mr Shah, a driver who worked for Royal Taxis, took his life as a direct result of Farepak losing his savings, his wife believes it is a major factor.

Mr Shah, who helped bring up Debbie's three children - Daniel, 14, ten-year-old Kane, and Bradley, six - had begun to worry over how the couple were going to pay for Christmas.

"I'm not saying it's down to Farepak, it is one of the factors of it," she said.

"He had been a lot quieter since the collapse. He always had to make sure everything was perfect, and he will have worried how he was going to get the kids the things they wanted."

The couple, who had been married for three years, were planning to buy the children a laptop computer and a pair of games consoles.

When they heard the firm had gone into administration, Mr Shah was deeply affected.

His wife said: "I rang him at work and he just kept saying 'what are we going to do?'

"I can't say it was or wasn't Farepak, but apart from that he had no other worries. I think it played a part in it, but how much I'm never going to know."

Cleveland Police are not treating Mr Shah's death as suspicious.

Farepak customers are being warned they could get as little as 4p back for every £1 they saved, after the company collapsed, taking £40m of customers' cash with it.

John Taylor, the Socialist Labour Party's North-East regional chairman, is calling on the Government to intervene.

He said: "The Government constantly says it wants to encourage us all to put money aside and save regularly.

"If it is really serious about this, it should intervene now and ensure full compensation is paid, before Christmas, to the thousands affected by this latest rip-off."

Some of Britain's biggest retailers have rallied round to donate more than £1.5m for customers who lost their savings.

Aggrieved customers set up a website - www.unfairpak. co.uk - to air their views and swap information.

The Department of Trade and Industry's Company Investigations Branch is investigating Farepak, which was established in 1969, and its parent company, European Home Retail.

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THE CASE AGAINST FAREPAK, HALIFAX BANK SCOTLAND, AND GOVERNMENT

DEFENDANTS:  

European Home Retail, Farepak, Halifax Bank of Scotland,         Government.

PROSECUTION:       Farepak Victims 

Defendants:        

European Home Retail (previously known as Kleeneze plc) Parent Company off  Farepak. 

Chairman: -  Sir Clive Thompson 

1996       Knighted Dec 1996 for Services to Industry. 

1998       President CBI.  Opposed National Minimum Wage. 

2004        Left his post as Chief Executive of Rentokil with a pension pot of £14M.  Paid up to £1.4M a year and had £11.4M in shares. 

Longest serving board member of EHR (1991) paid £100,000/year consultancy fee for his part-time role.  His consultancy fee is dwarfed by the £894,000 he was paid last year as Deputy Chairman of investment firm Strategic Equity Capital. 

In 1999 was the best paid FTSE 100 Chief Executive in the country, with a basic salary of £890,000. 

European Home Retail used Farepak Victims money in 2000 to buy DMG a book sales firm for £35M then borrowed the same amount from HBOS bank to replenish the Farepak account.  DMG made huge losses and was later sold for £5M. 

In August 2006 the Stock Exchange suspended EHR shares but Farepak continued to take money for a further 3 months. 

Farepak:                   Established in 1968 by Bob Johnston.  His son

            Nicholas Gilodi-Johnson was the Director of Farepak.  The Johnson family were the majority shareholders with a fortune of at least £15M, including Mr. Gilodi-Johnson’s £1.5M home in Fulham, his mother’s £3M mansion in West London and a holiday villa in Sardinia.  The Johnston family are reported to have much of their wealth in offshore trusts and a fund in the tax haven of Liechtenstein. 

             Farepak Company Pension Scheme has an estimated shortfall of £500,000 and will be underwritten by Government’s recently introduced Pension Protection Fund.  As well as Sir Clive Thompson, Mr. Gilodi-Johnson, former Managing Director George Pollock who was given £680,000 when he left Farepak and Director Chris Hulland who walked away with £250,000 – the Government will underwrite all their pensions. 

THE FAREPAK VICTIMS COMMITTEE ACCUSE EUROPEAN HOME RETAIL AND FAREPAK OF STEALING OUR MONEY AND CONTINUING TO COLLECT MONEY AFTER SHARES WERE SUSPENDED. 

HALIFAX BANK OF SCOTLAND: 

2005 profit £4.6Billion.  Called in European Home Retail’s overdraft after refusing to accept new borrowing/business plan.  They knew that Farepak Victims money was being used to pay overdraft. 

THE FAREPAK VICTIMS COMMITTEE ACCUSE HBOS OF LINING THEIR OWN POCKETS WITH OUR MONEY AND FAILING TO NOTIFY THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY/DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY. 

BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM: 

In Feb 2006 Family Hampers went bust (other retail companies Red Letters Day and furniture company Court also went into administration).  When Family Hampers went bust they owed £7M to Choice Gift Vouchers (vouchers used by Farepak), Choice went into administration and consequently could not pay High Street Retailers £55M.  As a result of this high street retailers changed the credit facilities offered to Hamper/Voucher companies. 

What happened before this was a Farepak customer would receive their vouchers end of Oct/beginning of Nov.  High Street Retailers waited until Feb of the following year and issued invoices to Farepak for payment.  As a result of Family Hampers/Choice Gift Vouchers going bust they changed credit terms and asked for money up front.  Of course Farepak could not pay money up front because our money had been used to pay off HBOS’ overdraft. 

THE FAREPAK VICTIMS COMMITTEE ACCUSE THE BRC OF ONLY BEING CONCERNED IN LINING THEIR OWN POCKETS AND FAILING TO CONTACT THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY. 

MORALLY, EHR, FAREPAK, HBOS AND BRC ACTIONS WERE REPUGNANT.  

LEGALLY THEY DID NOTHING WRONG!!!! 

GOVERNMENT: 

Unlike Banks/Building Societies, Hamper Clubs and other Savings Schemes that take monthly contributions in return for vouchers/goods do not fall under the regulatory of the Financial Services Authority.  The FSA Board is appointed by the Treasury Department.  The Department of Trade and Industry said, “What that sector needs is proper scrutiny and that’s up to the DTI”. 

Farepak’s millions were used as a piggybank for the rest of the company.   

BECAUSE THE SECTOR IS NOT REGULATED THIS IS ENTIRELY LEGAL.

Government have established the Farepak Response Fund (helped out by York based Charity Family Fund).  So fare it has £4.25M (£2M from HBOS) in it.  Farepak Victims will be lucky to get their Christmas dinner out of it.s 

Ian McCartney, Consumer Affairs Minister called the Farepak situation a “national tragedy and emergency”. 

Government have not paid a single penny into Fund.

M.P.’s have been asked to donate a days salary £168 (add another £10 and that is what I earn in a week as a Home Carer) which will, if they all pay, amount to £150,000 

FAREPAK VICTIMS COMMITTEE BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE.  THEY DID NOT ENSURE HAMPER/SAVINGS CLUBS WERE REGULATED.  THEY SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THE FAREPAK COLLAPSE AFTER FAMILY HAMPERS/CHOICE GIFT VOUCHERS WENT BUST.  FINANCIAL REGULATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE THAT RING FENCED OUR MONEY AND STOPPED OTHERS FROM STEALING IT. 

FAREPAK VICTIMS 

No one knows how many are involved, figures given so far range from 100,000, 150,000 and today it was said to be 300,000 but of course that is just the customers and if you take into account children/family you could be talking about one million Farepak Victims.  Those affected have been low to middle income families. 

Our savings club lost £2,750 with many of the Victims being pensioners.  When FVC was in Saltcoats I met a single parent with 2 children in a buggy and a toddler, this woman worked part-time and had used her wage to save £1500 with Farepak in return for vouchers; she was in tears and at a total loss as what to do.  In Ayr an Agent who signed our petition, had run a savings club, which totalled £20,000.  Yet like the numbers involved we do not know how much money is involved.  Figures quoted so far have been £40M, £68M, £75M and today £130M. 

FAREPAK VICTIMS COMMITTEE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING: 

1.                  THOSE RESPONSIBLE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

2.                  GOVERNMENT TO FULLY COMPENSATE FAREPAK VICTIMS.

3.                  FINANCIAL REGULATIONS ARE PUT IN PLACE IMMEDIATELY TO ENSURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. 

Louise McDaid

Chair

Farepak Victims Committee

Tel: 01294 829688.

James.mcdaid4@btinternet.com

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FAREPAK SLP PUBLIC MEETING

North Ayrshire Public Meeting tonight, 27 October, in Irvine. Organised at very short notice with minimal publicity. Subject: the Farepak Rip-off. Meeting was packed, standing room only, people attending from all over Ayrshire (a big county). Agreed the following: 1. to continue the campaign initiated by SLP Scotland under the new auspices of the Farepak Victims Committee; 2. to attend and participate in the SLP street petition activity tomorrow (Sat. 28th Oct) in Irvine town; 3. to call a further meeting next week in Saltcoats and work for a massive turnout of people affected; 4. to organise a rolling programme of meetings and street activity all across Ayrshire; 5. to elect Louise McDaid Chairperson of the FVC committee.

The more we hear about this company, the governments' precipitous involvement etc. the more it stinks and raises further questions - Kai was right in his initial comment made last week.

Can other comrades get involved?

North Ayrshire SLP took the fight against the "farepack" rip-off to
the streets today in Saltcoats, Ayrshire. We produced a petition
condemning the actions of the company and demanding government
action to compensate fully the people affected. The response from
people was tremendous with people queuing up to sign. We will follow
up with a public meeting this week with a view to widening the
campaign with more action next Saturday -possibly earlier in Irvine.
Many of the people who signed the petition today indicated their
willingness to become more involved in the campaign. We'll also
present the petition in due course. Local radio covered our activity
and Bobby Cochrane was interviewed, an excerpt from which was
carried as the second lead item on news bulletins all day ahead of
George Bush! Radio and Press have told us they will advertise our
meetings and will attend to report on proceedings.
I've included a few photos of the action today in the "photos"
section.

This is potentially a massive issue and no-one is proposing offering
the working class people (mostly women and mothers)anything but hand
outs and platitudes. Can SLP members elsewhere get active on this
issue?

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The Socialist Labour Party launches a national campaign to call on the Labour Government to compensate all those low and middle income families who have been ripped off by Farepak. 

Dave Roberts SLP Vice president and local community activist said that

“Under New Labour we have seen people ripped off by  insurance companies mis- selling  endowment policies , Pension companies ripping off employees and now people ‘s Christmas club monies being stolen. The government must act and it must act now to ensure that the estimated £68 million pounds (and rising) ripped off by Farepak is returned to the low and middle income families who have used these schemes to provide for their families at Christmas.

The government constantly says it wants to encourage us all to put money aside and save regularly If it is serious about this it should  intervene now and ensure that full compensation is paid before Christmas to the 100.000 thousands effected by this latest fat cat ripp-off. The Socialist Labour Party is organizing a petition and  A public meeting  in Leicester following successful street meetings and petitions in other parts of the Country” Anyone effected by the Farepak rip off or who wishes to join the campaign should ring the SLP on 08708503576

Dave Roberts

Vice President

Socialist Labour Party

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Arthur Scargill

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