SSP launches Euro Manifesto
SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 17/05/04
The Scottish Socialist Party today launched it's
European manifesto
under the gaze of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro in
Glasgow's `Cuba
Norte' bar.
The SSP is fielding a full list for the European
elections with
Felicity `Fiz' Garvie, Tommy Sheridan's office manager
for the past 5
years, at the top of the list.
Felicity is pledged to only take the average wage of a
skilled worker
if elected, a direct challenge to the `gravy train'
culture of
sitting MEP's.
The SSP's 26 page manifesto details the party's
opposition to the
European Union as currently constituted which the
party describes as
being run "not by elected politicians, but by
unelected bankers and
bureaucrats."
The SSP acknowledges that in normal times the European
elections
would be primarily about the European union,
agricultural and
fisheries policies and the single currency but that
the Iraq war
means that these are not normal times.
Tommy Sheridan said;
"The SSP is an internationalist party.
"We reject the Union Flag-waving, Rule
Britannia-singing europhobia
of the Tory right.
"We are pro-European. We want to extend the hand of
friendship to all
the peoples of Europe, east and west.
"But that does not mean we are pro-European Union. In
our manifesto
we set out our critique of the European Union and its
top down,
bureaucratic, ultra-centralised institutions.
"We argue for a different Europe, a diverse and
democratic Europe, a
socialist Europe."
"The Scottish Socialist Party has stood fearlessly
against the
warmongering of Bush and Blair from day one.
"We opposed the bombing of Afghanistan, warning that
victory for the
US and Britain in this grotesquely uneven contest
would not bring
peace and stability to the world, but would inflame
Islamist
fundamentalism and strengthen al Qaeda.
"We opposed on principle the invasion of Iraq, with or
without the
backing of a UN resolution.
"And we are now spearheading the campaign in Scotland
to end the
occupation of Iraq."
Key Manifesto Points:
A Scottish Socialist MEP will:
Live on no more than the average salary of a skilled
Scottish worker
and fully disclose all additional expenses received
from the European
Parliament (for example, travel, accommodation,
staffing).
Work with European Social Forum to promote the idea of
a different
Europe based on social need rather than financial
greed.
Demand a Scotland-wide referendum on the draft
European Constitution
because of the impact it will have on the workings of
the Scottish
Parliament and on the right of the Scottish people to
move towards
independence.
Campaign for a No vote in any Scottish or UK-wide
referendum on the
new constitution.
Fight to close down the European Central Bank, which
is driven by
right wing, free market ideology.
Campaign against the euro and promote the idea of an
independent
socialist Scotland with full control over its own
currency, interest
rates and money supply.
Oppose outright the failed Common Fisheries Policy.
Campaign for Scotland to have full control over its
own fishing
industry, in line with other small northern European
nations,
including Iceland and the Faroes.
Demand an immediate ban on all industrial fishing in
the North Sea.
Work with community campaigns such as the Cod
Crusaders who are
fighting for the future of their communities.
Felicity Garvie:
Felicity is currently office manager and parliamentary
assistant to
Tommy Sheridan and Rosie Kane.
She is 49 years old and lives in Scotlandwell, a small
village in
rural Kinross.
Living in the countryside while working in Edinburgh
for two Glasgow-
based MSPs, Felicity understands the geographical
diversity of
Scotland.
She has been heavily involved in developing and
promoting the SSP's
universal free school meals bill and the party's
policy of replacing
the Council Tax with a fair income-based tax system.
Felicity is also tuned in to the crisis facing
Scotland's farming and
fishing communities. And as someone who lived in
Germany for 20 years
and speaks German, French and Italian, she will be a
highly and
effective voice of Scotland within Europe.
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Vote for Felicity Garvie - a socialist MEP on a worker's wage!
May 2004