Version imprimableThis is not a time to rage, but a time to reason. Not to fight within ourselves, but to unite behind the fight for a better world. A time to keep our heads, and hold fast to our principles.
We are a substantial group of Scottish Socialist Party activists from across Scotland and across the party, who have a number of concerns with the current direction of our party.
The SSP, since its inception, has been a beacon of hope to the workers movement in Scotland and internationally. In establishing the SSP, we achieved the impossible - uniting the left into a working, fighting political party with a radical agenda and strong, innovative ideas for campaigning and recruiting.
Working together in this unprecedented way, we made real gains, not just electorally, but at a grassroots level. We can, if we unite as a strong socialist party, create a generational change in society, putting socialist ideas back on the mainstream agenda, and engendering further, deep-rooted change. This is no small matter, given the domination of free market ideology and the pessimism and disillusionment this has bred in two, even three generations. We must always remember that the enemy is without, not within.
But we are deeply concerned that the party’s community activism, socialist education and internal unity have failed to match our electoral success. We are concerned that individuals, branches and even regions are susceptible to external interpretations of the SSP’s internal politics, created via the media. We want our elected representatives to be wholly accountable to the party, putting the collective interests of the party before individual concerns.
We are concerned by a growing culture of indifference, even hostility, to our commitment to gender equality. Finally, we are committed to a united and non-sectarian Left, and in favour of a transitional approach to socialism, where no struggle, whether based in a community, workplace, or around a gender or race issue, can be ignored. We actively support and participate in all such work.
It is with all this in mind that we feel now is the time to launch an open, democratic, pro-SSP network, open to SSP members and informed by the following points:
Building the SSP
Our network is for activists whose aim is to support, promote and build the SSP as a broad, outward-looking socialist party, working within communities and workplaces, trades unions and colleges, in the streets and on the march, as the party that fights for peace, justice and socialism.
We seek the transformation of society through workers’ democratic control of the means of production. We understand that the dismantling of the UK state, and the creation of a Scottish, socialist republic, is an essential part of this process.
Accountability and Participation
Our network aims to build a grassroots leadership of the SSP. We believe in participative democracy, where activity and engagement are encouraged and supported, and where democratic decisions are made by active participants.
Instrumental to this is the SSP’s constitution, which we recognise and whose sovereignty we defend. We will campaign within the SSP for full accountability of all elected representatives and bodies, including the commitment to take the average wage of a skilled worker.
Gender Equality
Our network is committed to the principles of equal representation and gender equality at all levels of the party and remain dedicated to the hard-won, ground-breaking policy of 50:50, which facilitates the participation in socialist politics of women who might otherwise, through poverty and shouldering the burden of family care, notably working-class and ethnic minority women, be excluded.
Self-organisation
Our network values and encourages self-organisation amongst oppressed and marginalised groups, and recognises and celebrates these groups’ contribution to the political development of our movement. Self-organisation is essential to raising the consciousness and confidence of those whose voices may not otherwise be heard.
Education
Our network will promote socialist education within the network itself and in the SSP, using progressive and inclusive educational techniques, to encourage critical thought and thinkers throughout the party.
Our Network
Our network is built on the principles of openness, inclusiveness, equality and respect, where all contributions are valued and comradely debate is welcomed.
We are a grassroots, bottom-up organisation and as such, promote participatory meeting techniques, where all members are encouraged to speak up and have their say, without fear of being ridiculed, intimidated or shouted down.
We, the undersigned, invite comrades who share our principles and ethos to join us and raise an SSP standard for all socialists to rally round.
First signatories
Alfred Archer, Maryhill East
Jack Archer, Maryhill East
David Archibald, Govan
Keith Baldassara, Pollok
Jim Balfour, Glenrothes & Levenmouth
Morag Balfour, Glenrothes & Levenmouth
Neil Bennet, Edinburgh Central
Laura Bennison, Maryhill East
Craig Birrell, Renfrewshire
Alister Black, Edinburgh Pentlands
Jim Bollan, Dumbarton
Bill Bonnar, Rutherglen
Lorrane Borwick, Edinburgh Central
Andy Bowden, Renfrewshire
Harry Brown, Kelvin
Fiona Calder, Kelvin
Charlotte Cameron, Maryhill East
Joyce Carmichael, Motherwell & Wishaw
Douglas Carnegie, Dennistoun
Callum Clark, Inverness
Ross Clark, Edinburgh West
Gerry Corbett, Edinburgh Central
Eamonn Coyle, Pollokshaws Rd
James Coyle, Govan
Anja Cradden, Edinburgh South
Steven Craig, Edinburgh Central
Alex Cunningham, Dumbarton
Frances Curran, Renfrewshire
Pam Currie, Renfrewshire
Sean Donnelly Edinburgh Central
Nick Eardley, Edinburgh South
Elizabeth Elliot, Edinburgh Central
Eiblin Eyre, Cathcart East
Mick Eyre, Shettleston
Ewan Ferguson, Tay Coast
Jack Ferguson, Maryhill East
Ken Ferguson, Tay Coast
Keith Foster, Glenrothes & Levenmouth
Dawn Fyfe, Clydebank
Fiz Garvie, Glenrothes & Levenmouth
Stuart Garvie, Benarty
Pauline Goldsmith, Govan
Maire Gordon, Pollok
Angela Gorrie, Tay Coast
Catriona Grant, Edinburgh Central
Andrew Gray, Kelvin
David Green, Shettleston
Carol Hainey, Falkirk
Andy Harvey, Kelvin
Linda Howie, Campsie
Steve Hudson, Dennistoun
Anthea Irwin, Kelvin
John Jamieson Govan
Ross Johnston, Shettleston
David Kane, Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
Rosie Kane, Shettleston
Ann Kaniuk, Campsie
Alison Kelly, Cathcart East
Joanne Kelly, Kelvin
Roisin Kelly, Dumbarton
Brian Keown, Dumbarton
Brian Kidd, Pollok
Ioannis Kokosalakis, Edinburgh Central
Davy Landels, Inverclyde
John Lawson, Maryhill North
Keir Lawson, Kelvin
Carolyn Leckie, East Kilbride
Lorrane Leen, Edinburgh Central
Brian Lewis, Airdrie & Coatbridge
Lynsey MacGregor, East Kilbride
Heather Mackintosh, Govan
Craig MacLean, Edinburgh Pentlands
Jonathan Macpherson, Maryhill East
Graham Martin, Kelvin
Robert Mathie, Edinburgh Pentlands
Malcolm McDonald, Pollokshaws Rd
Kenny McEwan, Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
Brian McFadyen, Maryhill North
Wullie McGartland, Govan
Alison McGrath, Dennistoun
Colin McGregor, Pollok
John McGuinness, Baillieston
Charlie McGuire, Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
Nick McKerrell, Shettleston
George McNeilage, Pollok
Andy McPake, Dennistoun
Kevin McVey, Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
Christine McVicar, Baillieston
Jim McVicar, Baillieston
Dale Meller, Maryhill East
John Miller, Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
Nina Mowat, Shettleston
Rowan Muir, Edinburgh Central
Brian Mullan , Dennistoun
Calum Nelson, Maryhill North
James Nesbitt, Kelvin
Dave Nicholson, Glenrothes & Levenmouth
Donnie Nicolson , Maryhill East
Arlene Nunnery, Shettleston
Willie O’Neill, Cumbernauld & Kilsyth
Pamela Page, Campsie
Dan Paris, Perth
Roz Paterson, Pollokshaws Rd
John Patrick, East Kilbride
Sarah Peart, Dennistoun
Cathy Pederson, East Kilbride
Carolina Perez, Govan
Alexander Petrie, Maryhill East
Brian Pollitt, Maryhill North
Jane Porteous, Dumbarton
Matt Preston, Dennistoun
Brian Quail, Kelvin
Danny Quinlan, Falkirk
Elaine Rae, Rutherglen
Robert Rae, Rutherglen
Kirsteen Redpath, Maryhill East
Rikki Reid, Maryhill North
Anna Ritchie, Shettleston
Les Robertson, Dumbarton
Louise Robertson, Dumbarton
Sarah Rogers, Livingston
Danny Rooney, Maryhill East
Alan Rorrison, Shettleston
Andrew Rossetter, Govan
Lani Russell, Pollokshaws Rd
Colin Rutherford, Kilmarnock
Barbara Scott, Edinburgh Central
Bill Scott, Edinburgh North & Leith
Gordon Scott, Maryhill North
Neil Scott, Campsie
Cammy Sharkey, Kelvin
John Shaw, East Kilbride
Sarah Smyth, Pollok
Liz Tait, Maryhill North
Nick Tarlton, Maryhill East
Polly Tarlton, Edinburgh North & Leith
Clare Taylor, Renfrewshire
Keef Tomkinson, Maryhill East
Eddie Truman, Edinburgh East & Musselburgh
Colin Turbett, Isle of Arran
Gillian Tyrer, Edinburgh East & Musselburgh
Andrew Weir, Edinburgh South
Keith White, Tay Coast
Simon Whittle, Govan
Hollie Wyllie, Maryhill East
Liam Young, Maryhill East
Lisa Young, Baillieston
Total: 147 Signatories
