At a meeting 100 strong with representatives from 80 branches, the National Council of the Scottish Socialist Party voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to back the idea of an Independence Convention of all organisations and individuals working towards an independent Scotland.

SSP National Policy co-ordinator Alan McCombes said;

“We will be asking all those interested in an Independence Convention to begin discussions on how this initiative can be brought to life, an initiative which has come from the grassroots of the independence movement.
“We will certainly be seeking meetings, formal and informal, with all those looking at the possibility of establishing an Independence Convention.
“We know that there are many in the SNP who are in favour of this bold initiative and we would appeal to the SNP leadership to reconsider it’s initial rejection of an Independence Convention.
“The events of this year alone have shown that Scotland has no control over critical aspects of our lives.
“We were dragged into a war with Iraq that the Scottish people were overwhelmingly opposed to but could do nothing about it, the Ay children were held in a deportation camp and forcibly removed to Germany and we were powerless to prevent it, MSP’s are jailed for protesting against nuclear weapons that the people of Scotland are completely opposed to.
"An Independence Convention can begin to chart the road ahead for all those who seek an independent Scotland.”
[ends]

SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release
31/08/03 16:30