SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 26/02/06
Some of the leading rap and hip hop artists in the UK and internationally have come together to produce a compilation CD for the Scottish Socialist Party.
Featuring internationally renowned artists such as Benjamin Zephaniah and KRS1 alongside the very best of Scottish and UK rap and hip hop talent, ‘Fight The Power: Defend Socialism’ was born following the Scottish Parliament protest of 4 SSP MSP’s over the right to march at the Gleneagles, Scotland, venue of the G8 summit and the subsequent draconian sanctions taken against the party by the Scottish Parliament.
Outraged at the treatment of the SSP MSP’s, some of the UK’s leading rap and hip hop record labels set about appealing to their artists to donate tracks for the compilation.
The response was overwhelming and the SSP is proud to announce a CD of superb material from Rodney P, Skinnyman, King Biscuit Time, Benjamin Zephaniah, Monkey Tribe, Emmanuel featuring KRS1 and many others.
All the money raised from the ‘Fight The Power: Defend Socialism’ CD will go towards the fighting fund established to make good the £30,000 fine imposed by the Scottish Parliament on the SSP MSP’s and parliamentary staff for the protest that demanded the right to peacefully demonstrate at .
The CD is released by Single Cell Press on 27th February 2006.
SSP national convenor Colin Fox said today;
“We are absolutely delighted that the rap and hip hop artists featured on this CD have given their time and world renowned talent in recognition of the injustice that was perpetrated on the SSP following our protest in the Scottish Parliament in June of 2005 over the right to peaceful protest at the G8 summit at Gleneagles.
“The SSP is enormously proud that artists of such stature should contribute to this CD and it is a testament to the vibrant rap and hip hop community of which Single Cell Press is a part of that this CD has been released under the title ‘Fight The Power: Defend Socialism.
“We are honoured that all of the artists on this CD have made such a significant and important contribution to our fighting fund to replace the £30,000 the SSP was fined by the Scottish Parliament for our silent protest to demand the right of peaceful protest at the G8 Gleneagles summit in July 2005”
[ends]
Notes
Sleeve notes of ‘Fight The Power: Defend Socialism’;
In June 2005 four MSP’s from the Scottish Socialist Party and 28 of the party’s staff were stripped of their wages and allowances by the Scottish Parliament.
Their crime was mounting a silent protest demanding that parliament defend the right to protest against the G8 at Gleneagles.
Their action led to the march going ahead but the draconian sanctions cost the party over 30,000 pounds.
This CD is a tribute to the four MSP’s and all funds raised will help pay back some of the wages the activists and workers lost.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Concerns over care home loophole
BBC NEWS: "Poor standards of care could be persisting in Scottish nursing homes due to a loophole in the way they are monitored, BBC Scotland has learned.
The Care Commission, which regulates the industry, is not obliged to tell local authorities when it upholds any complaint against individual homes.
However, it said it does notify councils in cases of abuse or neglect.
The loophole has been highlighted by the case of a woman who had complaints about her mother's care upheld...
Scottish Socialist Party MSP Carolyn Leckie found that not only was NHS Lanarkshire unaware of the problem but that the contract with the healthcare company Bupa did not penalise it if the care fell below standard.
She said: 'I think the contracts are totally inadequate and the whole question of accountability and responsibility is a morass.'
She raised concerns about plans by NHS Lanarkshire to contract out more care."
The Care Commission, which regulates the industry, is not obliged to tell local authorities when it upholds any complaint against individual homes.
However, it said it does notify councils in cases of abuse or neglect.
The loophole has been highlighted by the case of a woman who had complaints about her mother's care upheld...
Scottish Socialist Party MSP Carolyn Leckie found that not only was NHS Lanarkshire unaware of the problem but that the contract with the healthcare company Bupa did not penalise it if the care fell below standard.
She said: 'I think the contracts are totally inadequate and the whole question of accountability and responsibility is a morass.'
She raised concerns about plans by NHS Lanarkshire to contract out more care."
Monday, February 13, 2006
Doctors required to reveal links with drug firms - The Herald
The Herald
Doctors and consultants face having to register publicly any links with drug companies.
The unprecedented move follows concern that multi-million-pound firms wield too much influence over the doctors.
This register of interests, which would be the first in Britain, could enable patients to find out whether their doctor has been treated to lunch or a corporate hospitality event, attended a conference at a company's expense or been paid to give a lecture on a certain product.
Carolyn Leckie, health spokeswoman for the Scottish Socialist Party, backed the move and said she hoped other health boards would also introduce registers. "I hope it will be part of contractual agreements with staff, and not on a voluntary basis."
Doctors and consultants face having to register publicly any links with drug companies.
The unprecedented move follows concern that multi-million-pound firms wield too much influence over the doctors.
This register of interests, which would be the first in Britain, could enable patients to find out whether their doctor has been treated to lunch or a corporate hospitality event, attended a conference at a company's expense or been paid to give a lecture on a certain product.
Carolyn Leckie, health spokeswoman for the Scottish Socialist Party, backed the move and said she hoped other health boards would also introduce registers. "I hope it will be part of contractual agreements with staff, and not on a voluntary basis."
Climate-change sceptic to visit MSPs - [Sunday Herald]
Climate-change sceptic to visit MSPs - [Sunday Herald]: "The SNP MSP responsible for attracting Lomborg to Scotland, Fergus Ewing, said the writer should be heard. He said: “One of the purposes of the Futures Forum is to consider views from different perspectives. We should approach Scotland’s future with an open mind.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Socialist Party said: “Bjorn Lomborg appears to advocate the right of big business to spew poisons into the air and water without penalty.”"
A spokesman for the Scottish Socialist Party said: “Bjorn Lomborg appears to advocate the right of big business to spew poisons into the air and water without penalty.”"
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Capital wins Bragging rights for May Day gig
Evening News: "Capital wins Bragging rights for May Day gig
SINGER Billy Bragg is to perform a free open air concert in The Meadows as part of Edinburgh's May Day celebrations.
The rock musician, whose strong political views are well known, is expected to attract hundreds more people than normal to the annual rally on Saturday, April 29.
Scottish Socialist Party leader and Lothians MSP Colin Fox, who is president of the Edinburgh May Day committee, said Bragg was due to be playing at a concert in England the night before the rally, but had agreed to fly up specially for the Edinburgh event, then fly back south for another concert the same night.
'We were delighted when he accepted our invitation and pleased he is willing to go to so much trouble to be there,' said Mr Fox.
'Last year we had about 2000 people at the rally. Billy obviously has a following and it's a free concert.
'There will be people who come along to hear him who might not normally come to the May Day rally. If he puts on another 1000 to the crowd, we would be very pleased.'
The annual march in celebration of International Workers' Day will start in Market Street and follow a route along Princes Street and Lothian Road to The Meadows for the rally and concert.
Organisers are hoping senior trade union leaders will be among the speakers at the rally, which will also mark the 80th anniversary of the 1926 General Strike.
In recent years the city's May Day parades have been led by figures such as veteran socialist Tony Benn, former miners' leader Arthur Scargill, black American musician Paul Robeson Junior and rail union leader Bob Crow."
SINGER Billy Bragg is to perform a free open air concert in The Meadows as part of Edinburgh's May Day celebrations.
The rock musician, whose strong political views are well known, is expected to attract hundreds more people than normal to the annual rally on Saturday, April 29.
Scottish Socialist Party leader and Lothians MSP Colin Fox, who is president of the Edinburgh May Day committee, said Bragg was due to be playing at a concert in England the night before the rally, but had agreed to fly up specially for the Edinburgh event, then fly back south for another concert the same night.
'We were delighted when he accepted our invitation and pleased he is willing to go to so much trouble to be there,' said Mr Fox.
'Last year we had about 2000 people at the rally. Billy obviously has a following and it's a free concert.
'There will be people who come along to hear him who might not normally come to the May Day rally. If he puts on another 1000 to the crowd, we would be very pleased.'
The annual march in celebration of International Workers' Day will start in Market Street and follow a route along Princes Street and Lothian Road to The Meadows for the rally and concert.
Organisers are hoping senior trade union leaders will be among the speakers at the rally, which will also mark the 80th anniversary of the 1926 General Strike.
In recent years the city's May Day parades have been led by figures such as veteran socialist Tony Benn, former miners' leader Arthur Scargill, black American musician Paul Robeson Junior and rail union leader Bob Crow."
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
SSP call for fuel price freeze to halt massive increase in poverty
SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 08/02/06
SSP call for fuel price freeze to halt massive increase in poverty
Scottish Socialist Party national convener Colin Fox, MSP for the Lothians, today called for an immediate freeze on fuel prices to avert a massive increase in fuel poverty in light of imminent hikes in energy prices. Colin has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament highlighting the statement by the UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alan Johnson, that one million people face poverty as a result of energy price rises and calling for an immediate price freeze. The SSP has repeatedly highlighted the annual loss of life in Scotland of pensioners who cannot afford to properly heat their homes.
Colin said today; "The possibility of further increases in energy prices are viewed with horror by Scotland's low paid and pensioners, tens of thousands of whom are already struggling to keep their homes warm. "100,000 extra Scots now face the prospect of fuel poverty in the face of imminent hikes in energy prices. "The Scottish Executive must act immediately to prevent catastrophe, thousands of Scots pensioners are already dying every winter because they cannot adequately heat their homes. "The SSP is calling for an immediate freeze in fuel prices to prevent a massive increase in fuel poverty. "In the longer term it is an absolute disgrace that private companies are making obscene profits while our pensioners freeze to death, the energy utilities must be brought back into public ownership alongside the oil companies who are fattening themselves from Scotland's vast oil wealth." [ends]
Scottish Parliament motion: *S2M-3929 Colin Fox: Fuel Poverty Requires Energy Price Freeze-That the Parliament notes with alarm the statement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alan Johnson, that one million people face poverty as a result of energy price rises; believes that this will mean 100,000 Scots facing fuel poverty, and urges the UK Government to recognise that the energy companies have earned massive profits from rising prices and order an immediate energy price freeze to protect those facing fuel poverty
Notes Research for the SSP shows that 134,000 (39%) single pensioners and 83,000 (26%) Scottish pensioner couples live in fuel poverty, which means that they must spend 10% or more of their income to adequately heat their homes. Poverty is the main cause of premature death among the elderly in Scotland according to a study by Energy Action Scotland. Between 1997-2002, Scotland registered 16,600 more deaths for over-65s between Dec & March than in the rest of the year. Premature deaths are highest among OAPs in Glasgow with one-in-36 of those aged over 65 dying during the winter months.
Press Release: 08/02/06
SSP call for fuel price freeze to halt massive increase in poverty
Scottish Socialist Party national convener Colin Fox, MSP for the Lothians, today called for an immediate freeze on fuel prices to avert a massive increase in fuel poverty in light of imminent hikes in energy prices. Colin has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament highlighting the statement by the UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alan Johnson, that one million people face poverty as a result of energy price rises and calling for an immediate price freeze. The SSP has repeatedly highlighted the annual loss of life in Scotland of pensioners who cannot afford to properly heat their homes.
Colin said today; "The possibility of further increases in energy prices are viewed with horror by Scotland's low paid and pensioners, tens of thousands of whom are already struggling to keep their homes warm. "100,000 extra Scots now face the prospect of fuel poverty in the face of imminent hikes in energy prices. "The Scottish Executive must act immediately to prevent catastrophe, thousands of Scots pensioners are already dying every winter because they cannot adequately heat their homes. "The SSP is calling for an immediate freeze in fuel prices to prevent a massive increase in fuel poverty. "In the longer term it is an absolute disgrace that private companies are making obscene profits while our pensioners freeze to death, the energy utilities must be brought back into public ownership alongside the oil companies who are fattening themselves from Scotland's vast oil wealth." [ends]
Scottish Parliament motion: *S2M-3929 Colin Fox: Fuel Poverty Requires Energy Price Freeze-That the Parliament notes with alarm the statement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alan Johnson, that one million people face poverty as a result of energy price rises; believes that this will mean 100,000 Scots facing fuel poverty, and urges the UK Government to recognise that the energy companies have earned massive profits from rising prices and order an immediate energy price freeze to protect those facing fuel poverty
Notes Research for the SSP shows that 134,000 (39%) single pensioners and 83,000 (26%) Scottish pensioner couples live in fuel poverty, which means that they must spend 10% or more of their income to adequately heat their homes. Poverty is the main cause of premature death among the elderly in Scotland according to a study by Energy Action Scotland. Between 1997-2002, Scotland registered 16,600 more deaths for over-65s between Dec & March than in the rest of the year. Premature deaths are highest among OAPs in Glasgow with one-in-36 of those aged over 65 dying during the winter months.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Vigils Mark Grim Milestone
Vigils were held around Scotland to mark the 100th British soldier to be killed in Iraq.
Pictured above are Colin Fox MSP and John McAllion, joining around 100 protestors reading the names of the dead in Edinburgh's Parliament Square.
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