Scottish Socialist Party Election Broadcast

The SSP Election broadcast will be shown tonight at the following times:

* 5.55pm BBC 2

* 6.55 pm BBC 1

* 11.10 pm STV

Scottish Socialist Party General Election 2005

SSP convenor brands Nationalist campaign 'two faced'

Scottish Socialist Party convenor Colin Fox MSP today branded the SNP's campaign 'two faced', as the Nationalist leader Alex Salmond outlined SNP plans for North Sea oil.

Colin Fox said: "On Tuesday, the SNP are the party of business. They want to slash corporate taxes, boost profit and ape Ireland's Celtic Tiger economy, fuelled by multinationals and low wages. "On Wednesday, the SNP are the party of the trade unions, laying claim to the socialist principles of Labour abandoned by Blair and Brown. "The SNP want to be all things to all people. "Their proposal to create a Scottish Oil Fund would keep billions of pounds in the Scottish economy, but billions more would continue to pour into the coffers of Shell, BP and the oil conglomerates reaping profits from the North Sea. "The SNP would even boost these profits by giving businesses even bigger tax breaks. "The Scottish Socialist Party are 100% committed to our principles. "Our proposals for the public ownership of North Sea oil would see all of the revenue from North Sea oil used for the benefit of the people of Scotland. "We would also ring-fence a proportion of the revenue for research into alternative energy sources, ensuring jobs and energy resources for future generations."

Scottish Socialist Party General Election 2005

Lib Dem Council Tax Fiasco

Scottish Socialist Party national convenor Colin Fox today poured scorn on the Liberal Democrats saying that they could fulfil their election pledge to abolish the council tax tomorrow morning by signing the SSP's bill before the Scottish Parliament.

Colin said; "Is Charlie Kennedy aware of the constitutional arrangements in the UK ? "Local government finance in Scotland is a devolved issue under the control of the Scottish Parliament. "The Liberal Democrats could fulfil their promise to abolish the council tax tomorrow morning if they instruct their MSP's to sign the bill currently going through the Scottish Parliament to abolish the council tax. "Last week the Lib Dems were spouting hot air about the environment, this week they are proving they don't even understand the constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom. "Charlie Kennedy and the Liberal Democrats are practising exactly the kind of two faced politics that is destroying people's confidence in the political process."

Evening Times

THE Scottish Socialist Party today launched its manifesto promising free travel, free heating, free social housing, free phone rental and free TV licences for all pensioners.
Retirement would be at 60 with full pension rights on a basic state pension of £160 a week index-linked to earnings.
The party would also replace the Council Tax with an income-based Scottish Service Tax which it says would benefit four out of five households.
Spending on nuclear weapons would shift to hospitals, houses and schools, the rail industry would be taken back into public ownership and the M74 extension through the south side of Glasgow cancelled.
But the manifesto calls for the extension of Glasgow's underground network to Easterhouse, Castlemilk, Drumchapel and Pollok.
The party's spending plans would be funded by taking full control for Scotland over revenues from corporation tax, income tax and North Sea oil and rises in tax for high earners.

The manifesto pledges to tax the rich to redistribute wealth and introduce a two-tier VAT system.
Luxury goods such as sports cars would be rated at 20% while the tax on all other goods would be slashed to 8%

Party leader Colin Fox said: "Glasgow has some of the worst social problems in Europe. The SSP will increase public spending to start dealing with the social exclusion that blights the city."
Policy co-ordinator Alan McCombes, who admitted the party did not expect to win any seats, said the manifesto was not for the "faint-hearted".

KEY PLEDGES:

PENSIONERS: Retirement at 60, basic weekly state pension of £160, free travel, heating, housing and TV licences
COUNCIL TAX: scrapped, with new Scottish Service Tax to be income-based - those earning under £10,.000 will not pay
NUCLEAR ARMS: scrapped, money to go to hospitals, houses, schools and community facilities
NHS: employing thousands more staff
EDUCATION: reducing class sizes to 20, more teachers to be recruited
TRANSPORT: rail industry to be nationalised, M74 extension to be cancelled
PAYING FOR IT: Increase revenue from corporation tax, income tax and North Sea oil; redistribute wealth by taxing rich - two-tier VAT with 20% for luxury goods such as Rolex watches, private yachts and sports car and 8% for all other goods.

Manifesto & Campaign Launch
Monday 18th April
Glasgow Film Theatre
12 Rose Street,
Glasgow G3 6RB

10.45 for an 11.00am start

BBC: SSP's give-to-the-poor manifesto

The Scottish Socialist Party is launching its general election manifesto with the central theme of the re-distribution of wealth.

It will call for an independent, socialist Scotland and promise enhanced benefits to pensioners

Scotsman - SSP vows to reverse privatisation

Green Left Weekly - SSP gears up for Westminster elections