John Swinburne
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John Swinburne (born July 4, 1930 in Pennsylvania) is the founder of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP) and currently that party's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament. He is also a director of Motherwell Football Club.
Shortly after his election, it was alleged that Swinburne had made some homophobic comments during the election campaign. Swinburne strongly denied the charge, saying he did not have a "homophobic bone in his body", and within the Parliament has acted as a sponsor of legislation for Civil Partnerships for homosexual couples.
He has also recently called for reintroduction of the 'Belt' or 'Tawse' into Scottish schools, expressing the opinion that corporal punishment would solve what he believes are endemic discipline problems. This statement was condemed by other MSPs and by the Scottish teaching union, the EIS.