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'I would take all the public utilities sold off by Thatcher, gas, water, electricity, communications, transport etc back into public control. I would then eliminate all aspects of creeping privitisation in the health service, post office, education system etc. I believe that our oil industry, our banks and financial institutions should be democratically owned for the benefit of all in our society.' Anne Macleod, May 2005. |
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1. Anne Macleod |  |
| Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement | ||
| Anne Macleod - Anne is also a founder member of the party and of the coalition for Justice not War. A well-know figure on the Inverness left and a popular campaigner, Anne stood for the SSP in the old Inverness West, Ross & Lochaber seat in 2003 securing 5.5% of the vote. Anne is a senior social worker with Highland Council and lives with her family near Culloden Moor.
Recent electoral experience As a Scottish Socilalist Party candidate: 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Ross, Skye & Inverness West, 1,593 votes (5.5 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Third on SSP Highlands & Islands list, 9,000 votes (5.3 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Second on SSP Highlands & Islands list, 1,770 votes (0.9 %) | ||
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2. Steve Arnott | |
| Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement | ||
| Steve helped found the SSP in the Highlands and Islands, and has recently led political opposition to Highland Council's proposed care home sell-off and planned housing stock transfer. A founder member of the Highland Coalition for Justice not War, Steve has been a strong proponent of renewable energy while arguing we need to look beyond the reliance on land based windfarms. Steve, 44, graduated with an MA in philosophy from Dundee University and previously worked in the defence and small business sector. He is now Solidarity's national election co-ordinator.
Recent electoral experience As a Scottish Socilalist Party candidate: 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber, 1,661 votes (4.8 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, First on SSP Highlands & Islands list, 9,000 votes (5.3 %) 2001 Westminster Parliament election, Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber, 894 votes (2.1 %) 1999 European election, Seventh on SSP national list, 39,720 votes (4.0 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, First on SSP Highlands & Islands list, 1,770 votes (0.9 %) | ||
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3. John Aberdein | |
| Scottish Socialist Party | ||
| John Aberdein - educationalist, writer, and ex-herring fisherman, Orkney based John Aberdein is known to everyone in the Northern Isles as the authentic and authoritative voice of the pluralist and serious left. John won the highest share of the vote for the SSP anywhere in Scotland in the 2005 general election and recently won the Saltire prize for best new Scottish Writer after publication of his first critically acclaimed novel, Amande's Bed. John says - 'Socialism is about teamwork and we have a great team throughout the Highlands and Islands region. We will be campaigning on principled but pragmatic socialist policies, such as abolition of the council tax, free school meals and a decent minimum wage for all.' Recent electoral experience As a Scottish Socilalist Party candidate: 2005 Westminster election, Orkney & Shetland, 992 votes (5.6 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Orkney, 914 votes (11.4 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Fifth on SSP Highlands & Islands list, 9,000 votes (5.3 %) | ||
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4. Norma Anderson | |
| Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement | ||
| Norma Anderson - A sociology graduate of Aberdeen University, Norma is a 'well kent' face in the Elgin area for her community campaigning, championing of anti-poverty causes and trenchant opposition to Blair's Iraq war. Norma has represented the part previously in Moray, polling reasonably well in council and Holyrood elections. Norma says - 'we took the decision recently in Moray not to stand in the by-election in order to concentrate turning out our vote for the list in 2007. I believe we will do that because people in Moray are desperate for change.' Recent electoral experience As a Scottish Socilalist Party candidate: 2005 Westminster election, Moray, 698 votes (1.8 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Moray, 1,085 votes (4.0 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Second on SSP Highlands & Islands list, 9,000 votes (5.3 %) | ||
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5. Elizabeth Walker | |
| Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement | ||
| Liz Walker - Art teacher and local artist Liz Walker teaches on the Black Isle and is the SSP's Easter Ross branch secretary. Liz has been a passionate campaigner for the reopening of the Nigg Yard as a public sector venture building renewable energy turbines and became a personal friend and supporter of the Ay family during their infamous imprisonment in Dungavel detention centre. Liz says - 'Parts of Easter Ross suffer from poverty incomes, poor housing and no opportunities. Only the SSP puts forward a complete package of independence, public ownership of Scottish Oil, and radical redistribution of wealth to tackle that.' Recent electoral experience | ||
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6. Frank Ward | |
| Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement | ||
| Frank Ward - Frank, a lifelong socialist and supporter of Liverpool FC, has been a tireless campaigner in the Caithness and Sutherland area. Most recently, as a member of the North Action Group, he saw the campaign to retain 24/7 maternity services at Caithness General be victorious. Frank says - 'I saw first hand what can happen when people stand up for their rights when 2000 people marched through Wick demanding retention of their maternity services. The SSP has been to the forefront of almost every campaign defending our communities against the New Labour/Lib-Dem Executive's cuts. We can be even more effective after 2007 with a Highlands and Islands SSP voice in Parliament.' Recent electoral experience As a Scottish Socilalist Party candidate: 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross, 828 votes (3.9 %) | ||
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7. Deirdre Henderson | |
| Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement | ||
| Deirdre Henderson - Deirdre, from Kintyre, works in community education and helped found the Kintyre branch of the SSP. A keen advocate of Fair Trade, Deirdre represented the SSP in Argyll & Bute at the last general election calling for a nuclear free independent Scotland that tackled poverty and put local public services before fat cat privatisations. Deirdre says - 'Standing in Argyll & Bute for the SSP for the first time in the general election of 2005 was a great experience. I met so may people who were so tired of the cynicism of the establishment.' Recent electoral experience As a Scottish Socilalist Party candidate: 2005 Westminster election, Argyll & Bute, 881 votes (2.0 %) | ||
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| 8. Shona Laughland | |
| Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement | ||
| Shona Laughland - Shona is the SSP's contact person in Bute, and was a founder member of the Scottish Socialist Alliance before it became the SSP. A lifelong trade unionist and socialist, Shona puts her principles into practice working in the raining and development of special need education in Argyll & Bute. Shona says - 'The west coast and the Highlands is not an area a lot of people associate with political radicalism. But a lot of concerned people live here who have a real social consequence. I will be inviting them to consider giving the SSP their 2nd vote in 2007.' Recent electoral experience As a Scottish Socilalist Party candidate: 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Sixth on SSP Highlands & Islands list, 9,000 votes (5.3 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Third on SSP South of Scotland list, 3,304 votes (1.0 %) | ||
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