Scottish Socialists launch redistribution manifesto
Redistribution of wealth is at the heart of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) general election manifesto.
Launching its policy proposals today, the party freely admitted that it was unlikely to win seats at Westminster, but said it was duty bound to speak up for ordinary people.
Although the party has six seats in the Scottish Parliament the first past the post electoral system for Westminster means it is unlikely to experience general election success.
Its key policies are to pull troops out of Iraq immediately, full Scottish independence and “serious wealth distribution”.
This would see a rise in income tax, rise in corporation tax, a £30 a week upgrading of state benefits, a national minimum wage of £8.00 an hour and the introduction of a 20 per cent VAT rate on “luxury goods.”
There would also be a 35-hour maximum working week, universal free school meals, the scrapping of all nuclear weapons and facilities, and a phasing out of the use of fossil fuels.
It concludes that: “The Westminster elections are conducted under the undemocratic first past the vote system. This means that the ballot is unfairly biased in favour of the millionaire parties of big business.
“As a working class socialist party based in Scotland, the SSP can never hope to compete on a level with the London-controlled parties of the rich. But our aim is not to send politicians to disappear into the pampered palace of Westminster; our aim is to send a message of socialism, peace and justice reverberating across Scotland.”
Scottish Socialist Party national convenor Colin Fox said: “The SSP is proud of our socialist vision which includes support for an independent Scottish republic, the bringing back of the rail industry into public ownership and an eight pounds an hour minimum wage.
“This election gives voters the opportunity to voice their anger at the continuing lies and deception that surround the war on terror and the occupation of Iraq.”
