Last years summers newsletter.

West Lothian
Scottish Socialist Party
Summer Newsletter 2009

Unite for Change

Massive bank crashes both at home and abroad have created a global financial crisis on a scale not seen since the 1930s. As a result, unemployment and poverty have escalated worldwide with the prospect that matters, bad as they are at the moment, will only become worse.

What can we do?

We must strive together to create an inclusive society where:

all class divisions are eradicated;

everybody can actively participate in decisions that affect their daily lives;

all wealth is distributed according to needs;

the supreme aim is to improve people’s lives - not increase profits for the benefit of a select few.

The objectives outlined above can only be achieved when we, the people, unite to bring about change.
Time to Rebuild Communities


Our local communities have been dealt hammer blows in recent years as result of factories closing, shops shutting, and cutbacks in recreation and leisure facilities. Local councils have been left powerless to stop our communities being run down.


We must create communities where:


people work together and look out for one another;

there are facilities to cater for the needs of all age groups;

people have a direct influence in the planning and running of local services;

local potential is nurtured and developed to the full;

there is cooperation with other communities, local councils and national government to improve services.



In order to stop the rundown of our communities, a new way of doing things has to be found that places people’s needs above everything else.

People not Profit

In recent years, there have been fundamental changes in our economic environment as employers have sought to cut costs and increase profits either by relocating work abroad where wages are low or forcing employees to accept a deterioration of their working practices and conditions. The balance in the workplace has shifted decisively in the employers’ favour and what workers need to do now is to fight for improved rights.

To improve workers’ rights:

Flexible working hours to suit family life.

Equality in the workplace regardless of race, disability, gender and nationality.

Equal pay for equal work.

Equal treatment for all in the workplace.

Equal rights for agency staff.

Final salary pensions index-linked to the rate of inflation.

Retiral age at 60 (but with the choice to work beyond 60).

Ultimately, to achieve secure employment and guarantee decent living standards for everybody, workers in our country and throughout the world will have to take control of production and distribution of all goods and services.
Inclusive Politics

The aim of this newsletter is to promote a vision of inclusive politics for all sections of society that is in stark contrast to the current parliamentary “democracy” which excludes the majority of us from having an effective and direct voice in decision-making that affect our lives. Justifiably, the public has become disillusioned with politicians and the political system, proof of which is the marked decline in turnout at recent elections.

Not content with huge salaries (i.e. up to three times average earnings), many of our elected representatives have been enriching themselves at the taxpayers’ expense by claiming exorbitant amounts to meet the costs of setting up second homes. What we need now are elected representatives who want to improve society and help people - not improve their bank balances and help themselves.