Scottish Independence

SSP Demands A “Clear and Unequivocal Call To Reinforce Referendum Mandate”

The Scottish Socialist Party are to launch a high profile campaign to persuade pro independence candidates to put a clear mandate for independence in their manifestos for June’s election over the next six weeks.

Meeting in Glasgow at the weekend the SSP Annual conference endorsed the party leadership’s campaign to make 2017 ‘the independence election’ and agreed that rather than standing candidates the party’s priority would be to maximise support for self-determination itself.

The SSP’s re-elected National spokesman Colin Fox said:

“The SSP stands for independence and we intend to build support for it in the weeks to come. As part of that campaign we will be pressing the SNP to include a cast iron commitment to independence in their manifesto in order to build momentum behind the idea to counter the Tory assault on working people in Scotland.”

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Only Independence can halt Twenty Years of Tory Rule

by Ken Ferguson

In one decisive step it was done. Presented with polls showing her main opponent not just on the ropes but out of the ring, Theresa May has called a general election.

It is a classic piece of ruthless politics which grasps control of the political terrain on which the UK’s future direction will be decided and greatly increases the danger of twenty years of hard nosed Tory rule.

In UK terms, the prospects are bleak with all the evidence suggesting that May will sweep Labour aside, shoot UKIP’s fox and marginalise the Lib Dems to cruise to a 100+ Commons majority.

Brutally that is why she did –

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SSP Executive statement on ScotRef

The Scottish Socialist Party Executive met this weekend to discuss the political situation ahead of this week’s debate on a second independence referendum at Holyrood. National spokesman and former Yes Scotland board member Colin Fox issued the following statement on behalf of the party.

“Scotland is today at a turning point in our history. The campaign for a second referendum on Independence is about to get under way and we will soon be asked to choose between two hugely contrasting futures.

Independent Socialist Scotland

“The Scottish Socialist Party therefore reiterates our commitment to an independent socialist Scotland, a modern democratic republic. Our message to Scotland’s working class majority is that you will be economically, socially and politically better off with Independence and we urge you to vote for it.

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Fox: Prospects on winning a second independence referendum

The Scottish Socialist Party is committed to Independence. For us it is the way to radically change Scotland, tackling our low wage economy, the affordable housing crisis and shifting power and wealth decisively in favour of Scotland’s working class majority.

In firing the starting pistol on another referendum campaign today First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is making Scotland’s EU membership the central and overarching issue in the entire debate. It is a risky strategy. For there is a danger it sidelines the real economic and social challenges facing millions of Scots everyday. Securing a Yes vote in Scotland’s working class communities remains the key to winning this referendum. Therefore any campaign must put an inspiring vision of a transformed new Scotland in front of the Scottish people and offer them the prospect of meaningful advance.

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Fox: The EU alone won’t win Indyref 2

by Colin Fox

It is widely reported that Nicola Sturgeon is about to call a second referendum on independence with autumn 2018 her preferred date. Indyref 2 is set to take place before Britain formally leaves the EU. The SNP leader’s calculation is that a majority will vote for independence in order to remain, theoretically at least, inside the European Union.

Before analysing the wisdom or otherwise of this plan let me remind readers why the Scottish Socialist Party supports independence.

For us independence is about transforming Scotland’s economic, social and political landscape forever. It is about tackling the appalling levels of exploitation, inequality and injustice suffered by millions of Scots every day at the hands of ruthless employers,

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Scottish Socialist Voice Forum to debate indyref tactics

In its 20 years of publication the Scottish Socialist Voice has had support for independence as a cornerstone policy.

In the 2014 campaign, the Voice regularly carried arguments and articles in favour of a Yes  vote from leading campaigners across a range of viewpoints and organised discussion forums on aspects of the campaign.

As the calling of a second referendum draws ever closer we are organising another Voice forum aimed at taking a critical look at the politics of a renewed independence campaign and specifically what needs to be done to win the crucial working class majority to vote Yes.

Speakers at the event include:

  • Councillor Mary Lockhart (speaking in a personal capacity)
  • Gordon Martin,

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Submission covering letter to Draft Independence Referendum Bill

The SSP submitted a contribution to the Draft Independence Referendum Bill. While the questions were largely technical in nature, we included a covering letter to ensure that our thoughts on a second referendum are clear and unambiguous.

While it is important to review arrangements for the organisation of the next Independence referendum, the Scottish Socialist Party believes that thought needs to be given to the political context of that referendum. The issue of independence is not simply a constitutional question; in which independence is an end in itself. Rather, it should be seen as a means to an end. The purpose of independence is to provide a vehicle for the transformation of society; to create a Scotland radically different from what we have at present.

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Only Independence ensures Scotland’s Future is in Scotland’s hands

Commenting on the publication of the Scottish Government’s paper ‘Scotland’s Place in Europe’ SSP national co-spokesperson Colin Fox said:

“You have to feel for Nicola Sturgeon in her attempts to influence Scotland’s relationship with the EU. She is reduced to making promises she cannot possibly keep.”

‘I will ensure Scotland’s vote is respected and we remain inside the EU’, Sturgeon insisted in the aftermath of June’s vote to Leave. This was then relegated to mean ‘I will ensure Scotland has a place in the UK negotiations’. Now it is merely ‘I will show how Scotland can stay inside the EU Single Market even if the UK leaves’.

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