18 August 2007

Scottish Labour Leadership

The Scottish Campaign for Socialism said today that Wendy Alexander's interview with BBC Scotland broadcast on August 18th clarified beyond any doubt the issues that lay before Scottish Labour MSPs over the next 48 hours in nominating a leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

Ms Alexander's refusal to rule out privatisation of the Scottish water industry and her committment to continuing with the economic madness of PFI/PPP in the public services showed why it is important that a candidate should come forward to challenge the failed policies of the past, and that the decision of who is the new Labour Party leader should lie with the third of a million Labour Party members and members of affiliate organisations in Scotland and not just 46 MSPs.

The Scottish Campaign for Socialism believes that the way to bring those traditional Labour voters back to the Party is by positive campaigning on publicly funded public services, decent affordable housing and a skills based economy based on secure and fairly paid jobs.

The Party needs to have a democratic, comradely debate on the future direction of the Labour Party in Scotland and that is why MSPs must allow two names to go forward to an election.

ENDS

Note for Editors: The Scottish Campaign for Socialism will be meeting on Sunday, August 19th at 72 Waterloo Street, Glasgow. A statement will be made available to the media at the end of the meeting at 3.30 p.m approximately.

For any further information please contact: Gordon McKay, Secretary, Scottish Campaign for Socialism, Telephone 07808067988

The Citizen / Campaign for Socialism