LETTER TO SUPPORTERS IN WEST OF SCOTLAND

This is a letter all members and lapsed members of the SSP will receive in East Dunbartonshire. Click on the image to read it...

NEW SSP FILM!

PAMELA'S DIARY - With a week to go, the hardest working candidate in the West of Scotland is still going strong! Is their no end to her energy?

Wednesday 18th
Kirkintilloch Rotary hustings.
I invited myself along to this event and was the only list candidate on the
platform. It was well attended with about 50-60 people there. The majority
of questions were from small business people in the audience who were
complaining about the threat to local shops in the area due to transport
issues and the fact that the two big supermarkets in the area have sucked
the lifeblood out of the town.

As the only person on the platform to live in the main street I was only too
well aware of how many boarded up shops we have in Kirky and our policies
against big out of town developments went down surprisingly well as did our
free public transport policy. The Tory candidate did say at one point that
everyone on the panel would agree that we had to cut corporation tax though
- to which I had to put her right!

People Not profit! Community shops and farmers markets with good transport
links was the order of the day. They did lay on good cakes right enough!

Thursday 19th
Chamber of Commerce hustings in Dumbarton.
Pam kindly drove me to this event as it would have been impossible to get
there for 6 after work otherwise. Roll on a fully integrated Free Public
Transport system!

It wasn't as well attended as the previous night (about 25
folk) with a couple of other list candidates also invited onto the platform.
Again I put forward our People Not Profit agenda. Questions of note were again transport links, Dumbarton high street losing shops. There was a question about the Vale of Leven hospital and I was able to counter Jackie Ballie's argument that new labour have pumped millions into the NHS with the fact this money has been siphoned off by PFI extortionists, which went down well. I was also well received when I was able to be critical of West Dumbarton council and the whole issue of quangos and lack of transparency/ unaccountability in local decision making.

Pamela and I had an apparation the other night - a strange statue, almost religious in look, appeared to us just outside Faifley, on the back road to Bearsden! We went past last night and she is still there, guiding weary motorists. She isn't as good as sat nav though, she took us to Milngavie which was the wrong way altogether. Though she did seem to be saying something...



We also saw a statue which appears to be Gengis Khan's head on a plinth, at the other end of Clydebank near McGonagle's prize winning floating chippy (floating chippy of the year 1994).

It's just typical that all of these photo opportunities occur when you leave the camera at home. We will be back, although I'm not sure Genghis sends out the right message.

We then went to Neil's to drop off placards in Bearsden.

Saturday 21st
Campsie Branch party
The comrades had been out placarding which really put a spring in my step
before the party. It was great to see so many friends and comrades and we
had a great night. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to give us a wee
boost before the election and a chance to relax from all the hard work we've
been putting in.

SEE THE PHOTOS OF THE DO BELOW!

Click on "March" on the right hand side of your screen to read about the council candidates in East Dunbartonshire - scroll down to read about Pamela Page, your SSP list candidate for the West of Scotland!

People Power on Twechar Beach...

Over sixty Twechar residents invaded Twechar Beach and then attended the public meeting on the Twechar “Regeneration” project.


The meeting was a real success for people power in the village. Pamela Page Chaired and said this meeting was not about her coming along to turn it into a political meeting. People knew the SSP record in the area and how they had helped in various campaigns in Twechar and beyond. She said this meeting was about what people wanted done about the issue of good quality, affordable houses in their village.


Willie Telfer, the SSP Council Candidate for the area reminded people how over the years, local government seemingly more concerned with the middle class voters in Milngavie and Bearsden, had let the village down. He also reminded them of the times over the past 25 years when the people of the village had to pull together and fight aggressive policies thrown at the village by Westminster and by Tom Johnston House, from the decimation of their local coal industry, to the campaign to keep the community centre in the community.

He reminded them of how Jack McConnell had cut the ribbon on the new, village run centre the Labour / Lib Dem Council tried to close and do away with. They were reminded that it was not the Labour Party or any other outside force that had won their battles with the bus companies – it was them. It was the people of Twechar.

Willie also made two further election promises. He promised that if the people of Kirkintilloch East and Twechar returned him as one of the three Councillors, within a few weeks he would have chapped on every door in the ward. He said that if people wanted to slam the door on his face, then that was their right. But he said if people wanted to invite him in and give him scones and tea, he would sit with them and unlike the other parties with their meaningless surveys he would ask, “What do you want for your community?” And then he would fight tooth and nail to get what the community see as their priorities. His second promise was that if he WASN’T elected, he would ensure the Housing Campaign would be up and running, and not ran by the SSP – but by the people of the village.

Willie has not waited until election defeat. Already volunteers have come forward from the more than sixty people present to say they are willing to help organise the campaign.

Andy Locke, the SSP Housing Spokesperson is setting up a surgery for after the election at which people can question him on their housing issues. The first of these will be held at 11am on Saturday 5th May – two days after the election. The SSP are committed to helping this campaign and the people of Twechar regardless of the outcome of the election.


Anyone wishing to help the campaign should come along to a meeting on Tuesday 8th May at 7.30pm in the Miners Welfare.

Remember – this campaign can have a voice in Holyrood and East Dunbartonshire Council – Vote Pamela Page and Vote Willie Telfer!

INVADE TWECHAR BEACH!

Twechar SSPCouncillor candidate, Willie Telfer has vowed to fight the council on the beaches -Twechar beach. The council houses beside the infamous Twechar beach are due to be demolished. Willie said, 'When this scheme was announced, we thought there would be great new houses for everyone. It turns out the council figures may mean some families camping on Twechar beach, because they are not building enough!' He went on, 'They plan to demolish over 200 council houses and only rebuild 80 for renting. Another 40 will bepartly sold off to the private sector. This will result in more expensive rents, - an immediate rise of 10% and the scrapping of the two weeks free rent in March and at Christmas. There will be no guaranteed future rent caps, even though every other scheme like this over the past few years in other areas across Scotland have had this promise. A quick look at the sums shows that some local people will be forced to move out of the area. This is not a housing solution to suit the people of Twechar. It is being forced on us without a ballot. Why is the council scared to let people have their say? They are scared we would insist on a better solution to our local housing needs. I am wanting the people of Twechar to come to a public meeting on Tuesday 24th April to voice their concerns about this. This is a Dunkirk like siege. Poor people are being attacked by the local authority and by the developers. The people of Twechar will fight 'em on the beaches!'

The invasion will take place at 7pm and will be followed by a Public Meeting at 7.30pm in Twechar Miner's Welfare Club.

Speakers: Frances Curran MSP; Willie Telfer, SSP Council Candidate; Pamela Page, SSP Scottish Parliamentary candidate for the West of Scotland; Andy Locke, Housing issues expert.


PHOTOS OF THE CAMPSIE DO!

Ron on Saxaphone



Lesley and party



Liz and Dubya



Frances Curran MSP and party



Mairtin struts his stuff...




VIDEOS (click on icons):

COLIN FOX ON FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT:





COLIN FOX ON TIMES ONLINE:

THE Party to be at this Saturday...

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR CLEARER IMAGE...
BUSES FROM GLASGOW LEAVE BUCHANAN ST. EVERY 10 MINS. - NUMBER 88 DROPS OFF RIGHT AT MINERS WELFARE DOOR. LAST BUS BACK TO GLASGOW APPROX. 11.30pm

We'll fight 'em on the Beaches! (Part 2)

Scroll right down to find out what Pamela Page and the SSP propose for the West of Scotland and the rest of Scotland!

Click "March" on the right hand side of your screen to read what the the East Dunbartonshire Council candidates pledge to do in your Council.

In the meantime, read on for more of Pamela's campaign trail!

Friday 13th Frances, Davy and I bulletined a ward in
Barrhead.

Saturday 14th
Pam, young comrade Jo and myself set off for the Scottish
Riveria in the fight for socialism! Covering sunny
Saltcoats where we did a colourful balloon festooned stall
on the council tax and bulletined Ardrossan as well as
delivering the rest of Nigel Hunter's inspiring leaflets
in his ward.

In Saltcoats I was talking to a couple from Donegal who
were commenting on how terrible they feel senior citizens
are treated in Scotland in comparison to
Ireland and that the council tax is a particularly unfair
tax on those on low incomes.

A young man asked to join the party and said
he was impressed
with the broadcast on free public transport as this would
be of benefit to many in the area who have to commute for
work.

I overheard one woman saying to her friends 'that's Tommy
Sheridan's lot' and scrupling up her leaflet but when I
explained to her that he was no longer with us she
apologised and was very supportive.  We are the party
who are not afraid to tell the truth!


Another man gave us a large donation and wanted a shot
of our minimegaphone!

So all in all a very successful mornings campaigning.



It was a scorcher of a day and we put in a shift before
needing two nurofen and an ice cream to combat the sunstroke/
delirium that had set in.  You may
get a flavour of what we mean from the photies! Since
'fighting them on the
beaches' has become a theme in this campaign, we took the
chance to cool down and have a paddle in a packed Ardrossan
beach setting up a stall in the
process!
We also took the opportunity to stage a protest outside
Hunterston nuclear power station, as well as at the
windfarms.



Sunday 15th Comrades are out campaigning locally and
delivering thousands of council leaflets. 

For more details on joining the S.S.P. and your local branch please contact our national offices below. Make sure to leave your name, address and phone number. Or you can email ssp.membership@btconnect.com

eastdunbartonshiressp@hotmail.co.uk

East Dunbartonshire SSP,

70 Stanley Street
Glasgow G41 1JB

tel: 0141-429-8200

fax: 0141-429-8040

http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org/

www.scottishsocialistvoice.net

Hampden, Proclaimers, Clydebank, Chilli and Chips!

Monday 9th
Spent writing for the Clydebank Post/ reading manifesto and getting photies
taken to highlight local campaigns.

Tuesday 10th
SSP People Not Profit Manifesto Launch at the national stadium Hampden. What
a venue!
We walked into the press conference to the tune of one of our latest supporters, the Proclaimers'500 miles', then Colin and Alan introduced our
flagship policies, before we went down trackside for photo opportunities
with the Saltire behind us in glorious technicolour.

I was so proud of everyone and every word in the manifesto because we are
the only party not pandering to big business/ careerism in this election.
Our MSPs take the average skilled workers wage and donate the rest to the fight for socialism and a fairer society because we are committed to
representing real people and not the 5% in Scotland who earn an MSP's salary
of £53,000. 'People Not Profit' - We do what we say and we say what we mean.

Wednesday 11th

Was texted at 7.30am by a pal to say he'd seen the broadcast and thought it was
superb and that he'd seen our photie in the metro.

We spent the day campaigning in Clydebank with Frances, Pam, Ann Lynch and
Alex Cunningham who is one of our council candidates. We decided to split
campaigning for a stall on free school meals in the morning then on the
council tax in the afternoon. Both issues really strike a chord with the
Bankies angry at the West Dumbartonshire labour party council scandal which
has been preceded by years of them ignoring locals on many issues.

We then decided to discuss free public transport with the huge bus queues
and train commuters nearby. We got a terriffic response on this issue. With
many people saying that they had enjoyed our broadcast (see below) the previous night.
Only a few folk were sceptical (I was maybe pushing it giving a leaflet to
the ticket inspector) which is a huge leap from when we first campaigned on
this issue and testament to how the party have shifted the agenda in
political terms on issues with our campaigning within the parliament and on
the streets. Though I almost got lost from the rest at one point because I
was helping a woman on to the train when her message bag burst and was so
caught up in conversation I nearly ended up on my way to Dalmuir without my
money which i'd left at the stall. Roll on Free public transport ! I also
ran faster than I have since I was in primary school we were trying to catch
Ann's bus and get a copy of the metro to see our picture at Hampden!


We had our lunch, at the co-op cafe naturally, Chilli and chips proved an
excellent choice and we planned the next weeks activity.

To round things off we leafleted the carpark.

In the evening I went to our own meeting at Campsie branch where we were
finalising our "wee do" - ALL WELCOME!! a week on Saturday the 21st in Kirkintilloch miners welfare. As well as local campaigning for council candidates. Not to mention
organising our public meeting/ beach party in Twechar! Cannae wait for that
one!!


Thursday 12th
I joined the Clydebank branch for a public meeting to launch our People Not
Profit manifesto. We had an excellent discussion of our policies and local
issues with the council candidates; Dawn and Cammy Fyfe and Alex
Cuunningham. The Clydebank Post came to cover the event.

SSP ELECTION VIDEO

Willie Telfer - Kirkintilloch East and Twechar

"WE'LL FIGHT 'EM ON THE BEACHES!"
Willie Telfer and Pam Page on the infamous Twechar Beach...

Scroll down to read how Willie and Pam are fighting for Twechar - and the rest of the West of Scotland!

Pamela's Diary! Part 1

99's in Saltcoats, Benny Hill and the Red Flag in Milngavie...

it is a holiday, isn't it...?

Follow Pamela the length and breadth of the West of Scotland...

Saturday 24th March

Giffnock Question and Answer session with West of Scotland community councillors.

This was attended by about 60 community councillors from all over the region. The parties represented were Tory, SNP, Labour and ourselves.

Questions were wide ranging and local in focus, however the thread was obvious and that was people's concerns with how their communities are being privatised. Whether it be schools, hospital services, losing public land to developers protected by confidentiality agreements and the lack of democratic accountability/ transparency in decision making. There was real anger directed at the labour MSP in attendance.

The first question asked was what we thought was the most important issue facing humanity today. The poor wee disorientated Tory thought it was political correctness?! Perhaps more people than I had thought are worried about the repeats of Benny Hill on telly...

I said Climate change and explained how the SSP's radical Free Public transport policy would help tackle poverty and global warming. This was very well received and the man who asked the question spoke to me at the end to say that he had been given our leaflet by activists in Milngavie (hotbed of radical socialism, let me tell you!) on this issue and was very impressed with the policy.

Sunday 25th

Allan, Wullie and I leafleted Twechar with West of Scotland Bulletins. Much to the delight of my students the next day at school!


Monday 26th

I was interviewed by Strathclyde University's paper 'Strathclyde Telegraph'.

They were particularly interested in the SSP's policies on Education, namely scrapping tuition fees, reintroducing the student grant and truly making higher/ further education accessible. We also discussed wealth redistribution in terms of our Scottish service tax policy and national minimum wage of eight pounds an hour. Housing is a major issue for students and we discussed our policy commitment to providing quality social housing as a solution to the housing crisis. I was really impressed by their questioning and thought their questioning was much better than some of the mainstream press I have been in contact with recently.

Saturday 31st

Sunny Saltcoats for a stall on 'Axing the Tax'. People were very supportive and it wasn't lost on them that we have been consistent on this issue of sharing out the wealth. Other parties had the chance to vote for our proposal of a progressive scottish service tax in parliament but refused to do so whatever they may claim now. But hey - I guess they are going to copy innovative,progressive ideas when they huvnae a scooby themselves.

We had a 99 and managed to avoid the puggy machines in “Nonsuch…”

Monday 2nd

Clydebank to campaign on free school meals. the support we got from the bankies was brilliant. We were very warmly received both on the stall and when we were bulletening in the afternoon.

The lack of support we received at the Parliament for this was appalling. I sometimes wonder do the other parties think by supporting our policy on feeding we'ans does it mean we are one step further to the gulag or something? Or are things ok to go ahead only when the billionaires have said so (when they are sure their accountant has made sure they don't have to pay any tax....)?

It's time that lot of self serving bananas were shook up and stopped handing our money to the billionaires and the money was used for the good of Scotland's people.

The free school meals campaign was wholeheartedly supported by parents with children off on school holidays as well as a dinner lady who agreed that nutritious free school meals would have a huge positive impact on our children's health. There might not have been enough support in the parliament for this bill to be passed but it'll be back because people overwhelmingly support it.

Tuesday 3rd

In Greenock we were swamped by locals angry at the council for a multitude of reasons. People were literally queuing up to sign our axe the tax petition. We had a lot of positive feedback.

Wednesday 4th

We took our campaign to Paisley High Street where we did a stall on the council tax and getting sunburnt in the process! Who needs Benidorm?

Later I attended a European hustings with Frances at the Caledonian university. Frances was well received and it was obvious that we are the only party campaigning on People Not Profit.

Thursday 5th

Home Territory! We campaigned in Kirkintilloch on free School meals and took advantage of our resident photographer Moira to get some photies taken at various locations with the Free public transport ticket.

In the late afternoon we set off to leaflet the village of Campsie.


Saturday 7th


We set off to join the Renfrewshire branch on their stall on free school meals. We were very well received with Frances and Iain Hogg (our council candidate) on the P.A. and selling out of papers very quickly.


Sunday 8th


We bulletined in Balloch and leafleted hundreds of car windscreens on free public transport.