Newsflash March 19: -- The Registrar of Political Parties and the Speakers Committee in the Commons have been forced to back down and register the Scottish Socialist Party. The campaign to allow the SSP to keep its name was a resounding success backers included the likes of Lord McKie - Tory Leader in the Lords, The Scottish Nationalists and wait for it The Scottish Labour Party!
So much for trying to keep the opposition down
The name "Scottish Socialist Party" has been turned down by the the Speakers Commons Committee on the registration of political parties. The likes of Gerald Kaufmann and Glynis Dunwoody have decreed that the SSP, founded about 8 months ago must find another name to stand under in the Scottish Parliamentary elections Why ? because it might be confused with the Socialist party of Great Britian!! which hasn't been registered either.
The SSP has three Councillors on Glascow City Council and stood in the North East Scotland European by-election last November where they took about 2.5% of the vote and pushed the Greens into last place. A recent System 3 opinion poll showed that 21% of Scots voters were very likely to consider voting for the Scottish Socialist Party.
Dare we suggest that this is New Labour getting a bit paranoid ? with the rise of the Scots Nats and the Lib Dems it looks like an outside chance of the SSP holding the balance of power. If New Labour think that forcing a change of name will fool the Scots then they are very sad.
Alex Salmond and Lord McKie have both protested and the Scots press is full of sdtories condemning whats happened, strangely the English press is being very quiet about it just asmall bit in the Guardian diary. Word is they are very embarassed and they will be a U turn next week.
Start writing comrades keep up the pressure. Perhaps a few thousand letters to Gerald at the Houses of Parliament will help. Let the Lobby commence!!!
by Pete Brown
Ban
We would be grateful if you could use the following text as
the basis for writing to the Registrar of Political Parties asking
for both the Scottish Socialist Party and the Scottish Green Party
to be allowed to registered to contest elections.
Both parties have been refused registration and as things stand,
the SSP would not be allowed to contest elections on the grounds
that this would be confusing for voters as there is already a
Socialist Party of Great Britain.
In addition to writing to the Registrar, please send copies to
ourselves, Jack Straw and Donald Dewar.
We would also be grateful if you could ask others to write and
if you could write letters to the newspapers etc.
Thanks, Alan Green, Scottish Socialist Party
TEXT Follows:-
To: Registrar of Political Parties
Companies House
Crown Way
CARDIFF
CF4 3UZ
(Fax 01222 380149)
Dear Sir/Madam
ALLOW THE SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY AND THE SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY TO REGISTER TO CONTEST ELECTIONS
We are dismayed by your decision to refuse registration to the above parties. We strongly urge you to reconsider your decision and allow both these parties to register.
One does not have to politically support the Scottish Socialist Party or the Scottish Green Party to recognise their democratic right to stand in elections for the following reasons:
1. Both parties believe in Scottish independence. Without having to support this position, it is politically legitimate for these parties to be organised as the "Scottish" Socialist Party and the "Scottish" Green Party.
2. Both parties intend to stand in every regional seat in Scotland in the Scottish Parliamentary and European elections. The Socialist Party of Great Britain (SPGB) and the Green Party (England & Wales) have been registered yet will either be mounting a very small or non-existent electoral challenge in Scotland. It is, therefore, unreasonable to refuse registration to the Scottish Socialist Party and the Scottish Green Party.
3. The Scottish Socialist Party and the Scottish Green Party are the largest "small" parties in Scotland outside the 4 main parties. Of the small parties, they also have the highest profile. It is therefore unreasonable to presume that other "socialist" and "green" parties would be disadvantaged by the registration of the Scottish Socialist Party or the Scottish Green Party.
4. The Scottish Socialist Party has qualified for a TV & Radio election broadcast for the Scottish Parliamentary and European Elections (and it is possible the Scottish Green Party will also qualify). The distinct political identity of the Scottish Socialist Party will, therefore, be even clearer to voters in Scotland.
In the interests of democracy, we ask you to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Scottish Socialist Party and the Scottish Green Party are registered without any further delay.
Yours faithfully,
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