SSP Falkirk Branch
Elections

Strong Showing for SSP candidate in Falkirk West by-election

Following Denis Canavan's u-turn over re-joining the Labour Party and his subsequent resignation from his Westminster seat, a Westminister by-election was held on 21st Dec 2000.

The Scottish Socialist Party again kept its deposit and beat the Liberal Democrats, proving yet again that it is a major and growing force in Scottish Politics.  An upbeat and vigourous campaign was fought by the SSP throughout, despite only having a fraction of the resources of the other parties.  Tommy Sheridan spoke at three public meetings - in Denny, Bainsford and in, aptly, The Comfort Inn before retiring to the rather more uncomfy Greenock jail.  Ian narrowly missed joining him after being arrested at a protest about warrent sales! 

The Scottish Socialist Party's candidate was Iain Hunter
 

Iain joined the Scottish Socialist Party in 1998, when it was founded and is the Secretary of our branch. Iain is leading the local campaign against the Forth Valley Acute Hospitals Trust which plans to close surgical services at Falkirk Infirmary, close the Maternity Unit at Stirling and transfer all childrens' surgery to Glasgow. Iain said, "We spearheaded the campaign to stop the closure of Falkirk Maternity when proposed by the Trust. Our action kept Falkirk Maternity open, we intend to get the same result for surgical services. It is my intention to make this by-election a referendum on our local health service."

The branch and Iain have campaigned against the privatisation (PFI) of 7 local schools. Iain said " Sometimes socialists are attacked as living in the Never Never Land but with the Private Finance Initiative it is New Labour who are mortgaging our kids future on the Never Never".

Iain and the SSP will fight this by-election on the core issues of our pensioners, on poverty and our public services. We intend to run a lively and active campaign in contrast to the faceless politicians who refuse to engage in public debate and appear only when they need the electorate's vote.

Iain Hunter challenges New Labour's candidate Major Eric Joyce and the other candidates to a public debate where Iain will promote the ideas of socialism in contrast to the big business agendas of the other parties.

Iain Hunter pledges to take a the average wage of a skilled worker, donating the rest of the salary to the fight for socialism, as is the case with Tommy Sheridan MSP.