SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 25/08/05

The Scottish Socialist Party today issued the following statement in relation to a story that appeared in The Herald on SSP MSP's donations to the party.

An SSP spokesperson said;
"All the SSP MSP's are pledged to live on the average wage of a skilled worker, approximately £25k.
"The amount all our MSP's gives to the party is calculated according to a formula which takes into account the loss of benefits that an individual would have received were they on the average wage of approx 25K.
"The major benefits lost would be the working families tax credit, childcare tax credit and the young student bursary.
"They would also lose any means tested disability benefits.
"All the payments to the party released by the Electoral Commission comply with the formula agreed by SSP conference.
"The SSP is immensely proud of the fact that our MSP's have fulfilled their pledge to live on the average wage of a skilled worker, in stark contrast to MSP's from every other party who are happy to draw a salary and receive allowances that the vast majority of working people in Scotland can only dream of."
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