SSP News : News from the Scottish Socialist Party

New move for independence

THE first step towards creating a "national movement" for Scottish independence will be taken at Inverness next month on the fringe of the SNP conference.

Taking as their model the Scottish constitutional convention which led to home rule, the organisers - mainly SNP activists - believe a cross-party coalition could move Scotland on from devolution to independence. Support for an independence coalition has found broad agreement inside the divided SNP, now preparing for a leadership contest amid accusations that it has lost its way.

The idea carries the conditional support of John Swinney, the troubled SNP leader, and the endorsement of Alex Neil, his sternest critic, who sees such a coalition restoring force to the independence cause.

The plan is backed by the pro-independence Scottish Socialist Party and its leader, Tommy Sheridan. John McAllion, Labour's most famous supporter of independence, will address the meeting with Mr Sheridan.

Organisers have also invited the Greens, who say they are open to "a greater level of independence for Scotland", along with other groups and individuals. The move partly reflects the strong support for independence in the second vote at Holyrood in May, where 33.7% of electors backed parties supporting independence, the highest yet in a Scottish election...

Mr Sheridan said: "The SSP will co-operate with all parties to put independence on the political agenda. But, of course, I will be asking for an independent and socialist republic of Scotland and I am not sure how many people in the SNP want that these days." The Herald

Chisholm urged to intervene in maternity row

CONTROVERSIAL proposals to overhaul maternity services along the Clyde coast have caused a storm of political protest.

Malcolm Chisholm, the health minister, has been urged to step into the row over sweeping changes to maternity care which would affect 800,000 women and children from Oban to Campbeltown...

But Frances Curran, the Scottish Socialist Party MSP for West of Scotland, accused the local health board of refusing to listen to the concerns of local people.

"These are life and death issues and local women and their unborn children will pay the price," she said. The Scotsman

Police called after maternity unit is closed

ANGRY protesters jeered health chiefs at a stormy meeting as the axe finally fell on maternity services in Inverclyde. Police were called to the heated Argyll and Clyde NHS board meeting where it was decided to rubber-stamp the closure of the Rankin maternity unit at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock. The meeting was attended by around 100 members of the public as well as MSPs Jackie Baillie, Duncan McNeil and Frances Curran. Tempers erupted when Argyll and Bute councillor Billy Petrie said he would not support the board's recommendations to centralise consultant-led services at Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital. This resulted in a furious outburst from Scottish Socialist Party MSP Ms Curran who interrupted the proceedings to demand that the public have more say in the matter. Eventually police were called to warn her if she did not stop interrupting she would be removed. Evening Times

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Thursday, July 31, 2003