INDEPENDENT NEWS

Scottish Socialist MP tours NZ

Published: Tue 11 Nov 2003 02:33 PM

Colin Fox MSP NZ Speaking Tour November 2003

The Alliance Party is proud to host Colin Fox, Member of the Scottish Parliament, who is touring New Zealand prior to attending the Party's national conference at the end of November.

Colin Fox is one of six members of the Scottish Socialist Party elected to Scottish Parliament in 2003, and will be talking about the growing mood of activism amongst ordinary people in Scotland and the UK that has the status quo parties worried.

The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) is Scotland's fastest growing and most active political party.

The SSP has exciting and radical policies such as free, nutritious school meals for all school children, a fair alternative to council taxes that will make the rich pay their share, opposing council housing sell-offs and public service privatization, fighting racism, supporting asylum seekers, and opposing the Bush/Blair war in the Middle East.

Colin Fox is the leader of the SSP in the Lothians. He lives in the Inch, Edinburgh, with his partner and two children. Formerly a Labour Party Young Socialist, he went on to become a founder member of the SSP, after first becoming involved in politics during the steelworkers strike in Motherwell in 1980.

Since his election as a Member of the Scottish Parliament, Colin has represented the SSP on the Justice committee and is SSP spokesperson on Justice; Tourism; Culture and Sport.

He has over 20 years experience as a campaigner for socialism, working with trade unionists, community groups and working class people on a variety of campaigns and struggles.

Colin takes a keen interest in Scottish culture and has promoted an annual Robert Burns evening in Lothians to celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns.

When he was sworn in at the official opening of the new Holyrood (Scottish Parliament), he burst into Robert Burns ode to equality "A Man's a Man for a'That", the unofficial anthem of the Scottish parliament.

Like his new colleagues, Colin had indicated that he would follow the example of his party leader, Tommy Sheridan, and take the oath of allegiance to the Queen under protest.

Colin is also responsible for resurrecting Edinburgh's May Day celebrations and in the last two years founded and organised the Edinburgh People's Festival to promote working class culture during August when the International and Fringe Festivals also run in Edinburgh.

For further information contact Mike Treen, Alliance International Spokesperson,

Email mike.treen@alliance.org.nz

Some links to articles and photos about the Scottish Socialists and Colin Fox:

http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org/

Triumph for radical Left

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/elections/story/0,,948094,00.html

(Guardian)

Holyrood socialists voice their defiance

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/scotland/story/0,,951449,00.html

(Guardian)

A new hymn sheet

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/scotland/story/0,,953050,00.html