Scottish Socialist Party Manifesto for the 1999 Scottish Parliamentary Elections

THE SOCIALIST ROAD TO HOLYROOD

The Scottish Socialist Party is standing a list of candidates in every one of Scotland's eight regions. In addition, we have selected first-the-post candidates to stand in eighteen individual constituencies.

Our aim in these elections is twofold. First, to present our broader socialist vision before the Scottish people. And secondly, to achieve a socialist breakthrough into Holyrood which would then enable us to promote specific policies to improve the lives of ordinary people, particularly those who have been effectively abandoned by the mainstream politicians in their relentless pursuit of 'Middle Scotland'.

This manifesto is in three parts. The first part sets out a brief summary of the more general principles that we will be promoting during and after this election campaign. The second part consists of a set of over 100 concrete policies that Scottish Socialist MSPs will fight for during the first term of the new Scottish Parliament. The third part sets out the standards and the conduct that the Scottish Socialist Party demands from its elected representatives.

PART ONE:

Poverty amidst plenty

While the mainstream parties confine themselves to squabbling over pennies, the Scottish Socialist Party will use this election campaign to open up a more wide-ranging debate over principles, over ideals and over the long term future of Scotland. The four big parties accept unquestioningly the free market profit-driven economic system.

In contrast we challenge the assumption that there is no alternative to the free market and capitalism. Specifically we will promote the case for an independent and democratic socialist Scotland which is free from Westminster control, - but also free from poverty, greed, inequality and exploitation. Our vision of the future stands out in luminous contrast to the grey uniformity of the big political parties whose ideas are neither modern nor original. While these parties defend medieval institutions such as the monarchy and the House of Lords, we aim to transform Scotland into a modern democratic republic.

Wealth

And while the four big parties defend the same old economic system that the Tories have been defending for the past 200 years, we are appealing to the people of Scotland to take a leap into the new millennium by building a new social system in which the technology, the skills, the talents, the natural resources and the wealth that surrounds us are collectively harnessed for the benefit of everyone.

Our starting point is a rejection of the doom and gloom merchants who tell us that Scotland is too poor to stand on its own two feet. The fact is, Scotland is an immensely wealthy country with land, water, oil, gas and electricity in abundance. And on top of that, Scotland's Capital is the third financial centre in Europe, with the city's banks and insurance companies controlling £150 billion of funds - more than ten times the entire budget for the Scottish Parliament.

The real problem that Scotland faces is not lack of wealth or resources - it is the fact that the people of Scotland have no real control over our wealth and resources. Our land is owned by absentee landlords. Our water is controlled by unelected quangos. Our oil, gas and electricity is owned by American, English and Scottish multinationals. Our financial institutions are owned and controlled by a clique of multi-millionaire bankers.

As a result, Scotland is a deeply divided country - and these divisions are growing rather than diminishing under New Labour. There are now a higher proportion of children in Glasgow's schools claiming free school meals than on the day Tony Blair first entered 10 Downing Street - 43 per cent compared to 41 per cent. Meanwhile the new Sunday Times Rich List reports that just 20 individuals in Britain saw their wealth increase by £6.25 billion in the last year - on top of the £10 billion they already owned.

There is no excuse for deprivation, poverty or so-called 'social exclusion' as we head towards a new millennium. In total, Scotland's top dozen companies last year made £7 billion in profit; and on top of that, North Sea oil companies, many of them American owned, made £11 billion profit - and that was in the poorest year for over a decade in the oil industry.

Balance

In other words, of Scotland's 250,000 businesses, just a few dozen made £18 billion profit last year - while the new Scottish Parliament will have a total budget of just £15 billion to spend on our entire education system; our health service; our fire, police and ambulance services; our public transport system; our local authorities; our social work provision; our housing. The Holyrood parliament lacks the economic and political power to redress the disgraceful inequalities which stain our society. We will campaign from the outset for a real parliament with real powers over the economy and the financial system. Ultimately, the Scottish Socialist Party stands for an independent socialist Scotland which will use Scotland's colossal wealth for the benefit for the people and which will reach outwards to England, Wales, Ireland and the rest of Europe to encourage people in these countries to follow us down the democratic socialist road. In the meantime, we will fight within Holyrood for specific policies to redress the balance between rich and poor in Scotland and to improve life for ordinary people in Scotland into the 21st century.

PART TWO

100 steps towards a socialist Scotland

Housing

We will call for:

The cancellation of the £4 billion local authority housng debt to the banks, which has already been paid many times over in interest charges.
The use of this cash to mount a massive new public house-building and renovation programme which would create jobs, tackle homelessness and rid Scotland of the scourge of sub-standard housing.
The reduction of all public sector rents by 25 per cent.
Tenants to be allowed to live rent free after 25 years tenancy.
An end to council house sales and the launching of a scheme to buy back council housing stock which has been sold off.
Homeless agencies to be provided with the resources to upgrade and build new hostels and other facilities for the homeless.
The winding up of Scottish Homes - an unelected and unaccountable quango - and its replacement with a democratic national housing forum consisting of local authority, housing association, tenant association and trade union representatives.
The establishment of local tenants' tribunals to help deal with localised problems such as anti-social behaviour and disputes between neighbours.
The abolition of the two-tier system of tenants rights and its replacement with a single secure tenancy scheme, applicable to all tenants in the public and private rented sector.

Education

We will call for:

The reinstatement of student grants back to the pre-1979 levels - taking into account inflation - as a first step to ending student poverty
The abolition of tuition fees and the restoration of free education. n Students to be allowed to live rent free in publicly rented accommodation, including student halls of residences.
The recruitment of the thousands of extra teachers needed to achieve maximum class sizes of 20, in every one of Scotland's schools.
The provision of nursery places for all pre-school children.
Immediate talks with the EIS and other teachers' unions with the aim of bringing teachers pay up to reasonable standards.
A veto over any school closures on financial grounds, unless these closures have the agreement of the local community.
Schools to become wider community facilities, open all year round and in the evenings for adult education and cultural activity.
Opposition to privatisation or partial privatisation of our schools by the back door, front door or side door. Education is not a commodity to be bought and sold for private profit; it is a vital public investment in the future of our society.
The establishment of a national educational forum involving elected teachers, lecturers unions, students, parents and senior school students to help shape the future of Scottish education.

Health

We will call for:

The abolition of NHS Trusts and the establishment of a new democratically-run NHS in which representatives of the medical profession, health workers and local communities are involved in planning healthcare provision.
A halt to PFI, PPP and other privatisation schemes and the bringing back into the public sector those projects already underway, such as the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The phasing out of all private healthcare.
The abolition of prescription charges, eye test charges and dental check-up charges.
The setting up, in conjunction with local authorities, of a network of community-run supermarkets specialising in the provision of cut-price subsidised fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods. These would initially be launched in council housing schemes and other areas with high mortality rates due to poor diet.
Discussions to be opened up with the health service unions with the aim of improving pay and conditions for NHS employees.
A change in the law to speed up compensation claims by victims of industrial diseases such as asbestosis.

Local Authorities

We will call for:

The replacement of the council tax with a new, fairer system of local taxation in which low income households and small businesses pay less and wealthy households and larger businesses pay more. We would propose the establishment of a forum involving elected representatives from councils, community organisations and council employees to examine the feasibility of various alternative schemes.
A separate forum to examine the anomalies and inequalities arising from local government re-organisation in 1995, including the special problems faced by Glasgow - whose council taxpayers effectively subsidise wealthier suburbs who pay nothing towards the costs of city centre facilities.
The restoration of the cuts in funding imposed on local authorities by central government over the past 20 years - and for Holyrood to spearhead a national campaign demanding that Westminster return to Scotland the billions plundered from our local and national public services to finance tax cuts to the rich.
Local elections to be conducted under a system of genuine proportional representation.
The establishment of a fairer mechanism for the distribution and allocation of business rates to local authorities.

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Land

We will call for:

A radical shift in the pattern of land ownership in Scotland, where at present more than half of all land is owned by just 0.001 per cent of the population.
Restrictions on the size of landholdings with upper limits defined according to quality of land
The transfer into community and public ownership all unoccupied and unutilised land, including sporting estates.
The repeal of the Criminal Justice Act with its draconian restrictions on the rights of travelling people and ramblers.
An end to Scotland's feudal landholding system and legal recognition that Scotland's land is the common property of the people of Scotland.
A legal guarantee of the right to roam on all uncultivated land.

Transport

We will call for:

A vibrant new public transport network to be created through a publicly-owned and democratically-run rail, bus and ferry system.
The re-opening of old railway networks that can be restored to use.
The development of national and local networks of properly-maintained and safe cycle tracks.
The abolition of road tolls and the bringing of the Skye Bridge into the public sector.
Cheap subsidised fares for all; and free travel on Scotland's trains, buses and ferries for all pensioners.
The shifting of heavy freight traffic from road to rail.
A halt to new motorway construction and use of the roads budget to maintain and repair existing roads.
All public transport to be accessible to disabled people.

Nuclear weapons and waste

We will call for:

Holyrood to prohibit the use of Scotland's roads and railway system to any vehicles involved in transporting nuclear weapons and nuclear waste.
Total non-cooperation with the UK government over the administration of nuclear bases.
The establishment of a department of defence diversification to ensure that the skills and labour employed in nuclear bases can be re-employed for the benefit of society.

Industry and training

We will call for:

The taking over of the assets - including factories, offices, and equipment - without compensation, of multinational companies which pull out of Scotland to seek cheaper labour and bigger profits elsewhere.
Non-cooperation - in terms of grants, subsidies and government contracts - with any company which refuses to recognise trade unions.
All employers involved with government training schemes to be vetted by the relevant trade unions as a safeguard against exploitation and slave labour.
All trainees to be paid trade union-negotiated rates of pay.

Environment

We will call for:

A five year moratorium on the production and sale of genetically modified foodstuffs.
The setting up of democratically elected bodies at local and national level to monitor and enforce environmental protection.
All toxic waste dumps to be made safe and for all hazardous substances, including asbestos, to be removed from our environment and safely disposed of.
A comprehensive conservation policy to protect rural areas from harmful industrial development and to protect wildlife habitats and natural wilderness.
Businesses and governmental agencies to be forced to clean up demolition sites and polluted land.
New pollution controls on businesses to reduce harmful emissions.
The banning of the dumping of nuclear fuels, chemical pollutants, explosives and armaments on our land or in our waters.
The installation of double-glazing and full thermal insulation in all public sector housing; and for all new build private housing to include these features as a means of reducing fuel consumption and fuel poverty.
A drive to reduce of private cars by extending pedestrianisation of city centres, halting the spread of out-of-town shopping malls and expanding public transport.
A concerted drive to shift heavy freight from road to rail.

Water

We will call for:

Water and sewage to be returned to local democratic control - and for all PFI projects at treatment plants to be taken into the public sector.
The abolition of water charges for domestic households.

Justice and democracy

We will call for:

The outlawing of warrant sales.
An end to imprisonment of people for small debts and non-payment of fines.
Expansion of the community service programme to reduce Scotland's disgracefully high prison population.
The restoration of Legal Aid, and for its extension to those involved in workplace and consumer disputes.
Expansion of the powers of the Criminal Cases Review Commissions to deal swiftly with the dozens of people in Scotland's prisons who are victims of miscarriages of justice.
Liaison with bodies such as the Law Society, the Scottish Human Rights Centre and Victim Support Scotland to develop a system of accountabilty over judges and sheriffs to allow them to be removed from their posts if they have lost the confidence of the wider public.
Greater accountability of the police to the communities they serve through the creation of genuine community police committees in each police division involving elected local councillors, MPs, MSPs and representatives from community organisations to liase with and monitor the work of the local police divisions.
The establishment of a Scottish Human Rights Commission to monitor human rights and to help enforce equality and anti-discrimination legislation.
Local referendums to have the right of veto over initiatives that have the potential to cause disruption within the community including school closures, opencast developments and new road projects.
The right to vote and to stand at 16 in local elections; and the right to vote for homeless people and those in prison. For the Parliament to press Westminster to extend these rights to elections to the Scottish Parliament.
The Parliament to press Westminster to abolish the system of the system of deposits for candidates standing in elections to the Scottish Parliament and to replace it with a system whereby 100 signatures are required to stand in a constituency and 250 to stand on a regional list.

Social Services

We will call for:

Major resources to be ploughed into combatting hard drug abuse and alcohol abuse, including the proper financing of rehabilitation and detoxification units.
The doubling of the number of refuges for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
The recruitment of a team of welfare rights workers to be sent into Scotland's poorest communities to identify and assist those, particularly disabled and elderly people, who are failing to claim or receive benefits to which they are entitled.

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Pensioners

We will call for:

Pensioners to be allowed to live rent free in all public rented accommodation including sheltered housing.
The Scottish Parliament to purchase fuel vouchers to ensure that all our pensioners receive free fuel to heat their homes from October to April.
The Scottish Parliament to pay for free TV licences and telephone installation for all pensioners.

Disability rights

We will call for:

All public transport to be accessible to disabled people.
All public buildings to be accessible to disabled people.
The adaption of housing where it is requested to meet the needs of disabled occupants.

Culture, sport and entertainment

We will call for:

Free access to all public recreational and cultural cemtres including art galleries, sports centres and museums.
Discussions with the actors' trade union Equity and other interested parties with the aim of establishing a publicly-funded national film studio to develop the outstanding acting, writing and film-making talent that exists in Scotland.
For similar discussions to take place with the Musicians' Union and other interested parties with the aim of establishing a major publicly funded recording studio to provide cheap facilities to encourage musical talent to flourish among Scotland's young people.
The establishment of a publicly-funded national football coaching school to act as a springboard for developing basic football skills within our primary and secondary schools.
Discussions with all of Scotland's senior football clubs with the aim of getting universal agreement on allocating a proportion of their seating to pensioners and people on benefits who would be admitted to the grounds free of charge.
The replacement of the Scottish Football Association with a broader and more democratic body which includes representatives of supporters' associations and the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association as well as from the clubs themselves.
The replacement of the Scottish Arts Council quango with a less elitist and more representative institution which would involve representatives from all spheres of the arts, including popular theatre, film, comedy and popular music.
The provision of Gaelic language lessons for all children and adults in Scotland who wish to learn the language.

Animal rights

We will call for:

The banning of blood sports including fox hunting, hare coursing and hunting with staghounds.
Tougher legislation to protect domestic and wild animals from gratuitous acts of cruelty.
The banning of animal testing for cosmetic and medical research.

The Parliament and its powers

We will call for:

The Scottish Parliament's powers to be extended to include responsibility for all taxation raised in Scotland, including Corporation Tax, VAT and the higher taxation rates, in order that it can carry out a wholesale redistribution of wealth from big business and the rich to the working class and the poor.
The dispersal of government agencies throughout Scotland in order that the entire country benefits from any new jobs created as a result of the establishment of the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament to have control over welfare, benefits and national insurance.
The Scottish Parliament to have control over employment legislation.
The Scottish Parliament to have control over energy, including North Sea oil and nuclear power, gas and electricity.
The Scottish Parliament to have the right to determine its own electoral system.
The Scottish Parliament to have the right to borrow money and to issue fixed interest bonds - which in turn would enable it to carry out a programme of democratic public ownership of key sectors of the Scottish economy.
The Scottish Parliament to have control over broadcasting.
The Scottish Parliament to have control over the laws governing drugs, abortion and equal rights.
The Scottish Parliament to have the power to change the electoral system for the Holyrood elections to ensure a more genuinely proprtional system .
The Scottish Parliament to have the right to decide whether nuclear bases should be stationed within Scotland.
The Scottish Parliament to organise a referendum on full independence within its first four year term.

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PART THREE

Putting principles first

All of the policies contained within this manifesto are compatible with the powers invested in the Scottish Parliament. We do not pretend that the manifesto could be implemented in full without an almighty political battle with Westminster and with the UK and Scottish big business establishment. But make no mistake about it: the Scottish Socialist Party is prepared to engage in such a battle.

There will be politicians from all the four main parties who will bleat that this manifesto cannot be carried out because we don't have the funds and that Westminster won't give us the funds to carry out these measures. We can only reply by reminding these fainthearts that Thatcher plundered billions of pounds of resources from Scotland's local authorities and public services during her time in office to pay for tax cuts to the rich and to finance an awesome nuclear arsenal.

Now under Tony Blair, central government continues to bleed local communities of desperately needed facilities. A group of Scottish Socialist MPs in Holyrood would be prepared to lead a mass crusade of defiance and extra-parliamentary action for the return of the billions stolen from Scotland by central government during the past twenty years. We will also fight within Holyrood for concrete measures to begin to reverse the decades of Tory ransacking and pillaging.

Because of the new electoral system - and especially given the likelihood of a hung parliament - the Scottish Socialist Party could potentially hold the balance of power in Holyrood. Within that parliament we will promote each of the policies that we have listed in this manifesto, and call on MPs from the other parties to support our initiatives. But we pledge to remain politically independent of Scotland's four big business parties. Any bartering that we undertake will not be for ministerial positions, but for radical socialist measures to redress some of the injustices and inequalities in our society. The Scottish Socialist Party will also insist on basic standards of conduct from its elected representatives. Specifically we pledge that all Scottish Socialist MSPs will:

Live on no more than the average wage of a skilled Scottish worker to ensure they remain truly representative of the people who elect them. Concretely, this means accepting £20,000 a year - and donating the other £20,000 which MSPs will be paid towards the fight for socialism in Scotland.
Publish details of all their expenses and how these expenses have been spent.
Publish details of any outside activities for which payment has been made - for example TV appearance fees, or payments for journalism.
Provide a monthly report of their activities which will be published in the party newspaper, the Scottish Socialist Voice and in local bulletins to constituents.
Open at least one publicly accessible office or shop to provide advice and assistance to constituents.
Call regular surgeries and open meetings to which the general public are invited to ask questions and offer advice.
Be prepared to actively support workers' struggles in defence of jobs and living standards, and community struggles in defence of facilities and of the environment.

Conclusion

The Scottish Socialist Party is unique in Scottish politics. It is the only party that stands unequivocally and unapologetically on the side of the working class and the poor against big business and the rich. If you are poor, if you are a lone parent, if you are a pensioner, if you are a student, if you are a low paid worker, if you are disabled, if you are a council tenant, if you are a slave labour trainee on a government scheme, if you are unemployed, if you are homeless, the Scottish Socialist Party is your party.

But we also aim to appeal to the hearts and to the minds of those who are a little bit better off financially - to professional workers, to home owners, to those who have escaped the housing schemes, the dead end jobs and the dole queues. We ask you to also to stand up and be counted among those who have the courage to challenge the morality of a society that can instantly find billions of pounds to wage war in the Balkans, but can barely find pennies to wage war on poverty at home or abroad.

Even if you do decide to give your first vote to one of the bigger parties, don't waste your second vote on a grey, faceless careerist politician from one of the big business parties. Instead make your second vote count by sending to Holyrood a Scottish Socialist MSP to shake things up and to make things happen.

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