However the event, sponsored by weapons company BAE systems, felt more like an army recruitment drive.

Here they were invoked in a cavalcade of military pomp, designed to make the British army and by extension our involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya appear glorious.

There was no room to question whether these were heroic struggles or imperialist occupations. Nor to suggest that we should bring troops home from countries we have no right to occupy. Nor to challenge the role of the British army in centuries of colonialism.

There was also no mention that up to a quarter of homeless people in Britain are ex-forces, struggling often with little support to overcome the trauma of war.

I was reminded of Paul Baumer, a First World War German soldier in Erich Remarque’s novel ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’. Baumer shows great bravery but views the war as a pointless bloodbath. He has nothing but contempt for those who want to make war appear glorious.

Maybe it would be better to ask why our soldiers are slaughtered occupying foreign countries in the first place.

Aidan Simpson

Scottish Socialist Party

Dual fuel gas and electricity bills have risen by an average of 50% since 2007, with more increases expected from the other energy companies. And whilst we are all hit by these spiralling costs it is the poorest and most vulnerable who are hurt the most.

According to figures from the Scottish Government around a third of Scots now live in fuel poverty (spending over 10% of their income on heating) whilst 10% live in extreme fuel poverty (spending over 20% of their income on heating).

Meanwhile Scottish Power last year made £1.3 billion in profit. They are profiteering whilst millions are left in the cold.

The Scottish Socialist Party believe that keeping Scots safe and warm in their own homes is more important than protecting Scottish Power’s profit margins. We therefore call on the Scottish Government to intervene and slash energy bills to ensure that every Scot can afford to heat their home.

The Scottish Government has pledged to end fuel poverty by 2016. The Scottish Socialist Party believes that this can only be done by preventing energy companies from profiteering at our expense.

Aidan Simpson

Scottish Socialist Party

How come out of all the people of the world that it’s only the Scots as a people who are to stupid to run their own affairs.  If the Labour party continues to rubbish the people of Scotland and use them only as voting fodder then their decline will continue.  I joined the Labour party 30 years ago believing it was the only party fighting for working people and the poor of Scotland. over the years this changed.

The rot started when Neil Kinnock stabbed the miners in the back. Tony Blair finished the killing off of the people’s party by turning it into a pro big business party. That’s when I left and looked for a new alternative.

Over the years of the last Labour government the rich got richer and  the rest of us got poorer. They bailed out the banks with the people’s money. A true people’s party would have used the money not to pay bankers bonuses but to build homes and create jobs.    Labour are no longer a party fighting for a better life for working people. There was an old song, which side are you on. Labour members must ask themselves this question.When they find the answer then they may have a future.

Ali Hughes 13/05/2011

The Scottish Socialist Party are this week gearing up for a final hectic weeks campaigning in East Lothian for the Scottish Parliamentary elections.

So far in the campaign they have held weekly stalls in Musselburgh, distributed thousands of leaflets to homes across the county, taken part in hustings and held a public meeting on the cuts in the Brunton Hall.

South list candidate Aidan Simpson said “The Scottish Socialist Party’s key issues in this campaign are opposition to all cuts to public services, the introduction of the Scottish Service Tax, a form of local income tax which redistributes money from rich to poor and would raise an extra £1.5 billion a year compared to the unfair Council Tax, opposition to military involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and support for an independent, socialist Scotland.”

“SSP MSPs will only take home the average skilled workers wage, around half of the wage of other MSPs, with the rest going towards campaigning activities. We are in politics to fight greed and inequality, not to line our pockets.”

“Our message to voters is that if you want a serious, principled voice opposing cuts and fighting for socialism at Holyrood then you need to vote for the Scottish Socialist Party on May 5th.”

The Scottish Socialist Party opposes all cuts to public services. We believe that the rich should pay to protect our services. We will seek to oppose and defy Westminster imposed cuts both in parliament and in protests on the streets.

Our proposal for a Scottish Service Tax, a form of local income tax, not only redistributes money from rich to poor but would raise an extra £1.5 billion a year compared to the Council Tax. This is more than the Scottish budget deficit, removing the need for any cuts to Scottish services.

The Scottish Socialist Party campaigns for an independent socialist Scotland. We will fight for an independence referendum and a yes vote in the next parliament. However, unlike the SNP who want to sell an independent Scotland to business interests we believe in a socialist Scotland that cares for the needs of all.

We oppose British and American invasions and imperialism, be they in Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya. We are using our military might to oppress the people of these countries. We are part of the problem, not part of the solution!

SSP MSPs will take home the wage of an average skilled worker, half of a normal MSP salary, with the rest going towards campaigning for socialism. We seek to challenge greed and inequality, not line our pockets.

The Scottish Socialist Party stands at around 4% in the polls, within touching distance of winning MSPs. Help send the socialists to Holyrood.

Scottish Socialist Party Public Meeting

“How the cuts are an attack on the poorest and the socialist alternative”

Tuesday 26th April, 7.30 pm

Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh (map)

A public discussion on the cuts, their effects, the socialist alternative and how we can fight back.

Speakers

Colin Fox — SSP National Co-Spokesperson

Raphie De Santos — Socialist Economist

Find the meeting on Facebook

Musselburgh Grammar School

The Scottish Socialist Party this week took part in a ‘Question Time’ event hosted by Musselburgh Grammar School.

The hour-long head to head pitted SSP South list candidate Aidan Simpson against Labour Leader Ian Gray, SNP Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill, Tory Justice Spokesperson Derek Brownlee and Lib Dem candidate Ettie Spencer.

Grammar pupils showed strong support for the socialist’s arguments on issues such as renewable energy, the release of Al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds and the abolition of prescription charges.

Rounds of applause followed Mr Simpson’s criticism of cuts to Higher and Advanced Higher courses as making it harder for pupils to go on to university and his argument that it was only due to the activism of students and young people that parties such as Labour and the SNP were willing oppose tuition fees in Scotland.

Mr Simpson said “Whilst Ian Gray and Kenny MacAskill chose to quarrel over issues such as alcohol pricing that weren’t even raised by pupils, the Scottish Socialist Party were proud to make the socialist case on the issues that matter to Grammar pupils and won strong support from the audience.”

“Labour, the SNP, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have no answer to socialist arguments.”

The Scottish Socialist Party is standing on the regional list in the election on May 5th.

Update: Don’t just take our word for it, read about the event from the Scottish Times Educational Supplement.

Plaid Cymru are pledging to slash ministers pay in the Walsh assembly by 10%. Will The SNP do the same in the Scottish parliament.

How can any of the MSP and say they understand the worries that face working people. They pay them self  five time the minimum wage and more than twice the average wage.  With rent going up. The price food and fuel growing and real wages being reduced with rising inflation. They sit in parliament cut of from the real world that the rest of us live in.      The Scottish socialist Party believe that MSP and MP should live on the average wage of working people that’s more than half of what they take home now. Only in that way will they understand how real people live and will fight harder for us because they’ll be in the same boat as the rest of us.

Ali Hughes

It’s a total disgrace that we as a society allow multi  nation private  campaigns like southern cross to treat our old folk like this. The vulnerable residents in the care Tranent care home and Drummoher care home in Wallyford have giving a life time of work and serve to our society. Is it asking to much for us to give a little back in there twilight years.

The older members are still a part of our society they have contributed so much to the wellbeing of Scotland over the years and what do we give them in return. In stead of a life of leisure and fun free from worry. We offer them a life of poverty and fear or put them in to homes that are run not for the good of the people but to make profit for private companies. And where do theses profits go bank into society to help the need.  No into the bank accounts of the all ready famously rich ten per cent of the population.    We should all stop and think what kind of society do we wont. One run for the top ten per sent or one run for the rest of us.  I and the rest of the Scottish Socialist Party stand with the ninety per sent, the majority of us.

Un like the  four parties of big business Labour, SNP, Lb dims and Tories who have shown time and time again that they will always put the best interest of the very rich before the rest of us.There’s an old saying the rich will always betray the poor. So stop and think which side are you on.

Ali Hughes