Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party

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The Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP) was formed on 3 February 2003, in time to contest that year's elections to the Scottish Parliament. The leading figure in its formation was John Swinburne, previously a director of Motherwell Football Club. He is currently the party's leader. Swinburne was inspired to form the party after reading the UK government's plans for pensions in December 2002: he felt it was unfair that people may have to work longer in the future and consequently have less time to enjoy their retirement.

Coincidentally, on the same day the SSCUP was launched, a Scottish Pensioners Party was formed in Fife. The SSCUP made an electoral pact with this party for the Scottish Parliamentary elections. Former Scottish international footballers Billy McNeill, who played for Celtic and Eric Caldow, who played for Rangers, both stood for the SSCUP in these elections.

John Swinburne is the SSCUP's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament, representing Central Scotland.

[edit] Aims

The party lists 9 key aims on its website[1]:

  1. An index-linked basic weekly state pension of £160 for all senior citizens
  2. Remove all senior citizens from poverty in Scotland
  3. Abolition of means-testing for senior citizens
  4. Replace council tax with a fairer system based on ability to pay
  5. Local authorities to set up more residential homes for senior citizens
  6. Free nationwide travel for all senior citizens - out with peak travelling times
  7. 50% reduction in television licences for senior citizens aged 60 to 75
  8. 50% reduction in Road Tax for all senior citizens
  9. Establish a Scottish Lottery, with all profits going back into the community

[edit] Reference

  1. ^ Aims and Manifesto, sscup.org

[edit] External link

Political parties in the United Kingdom
House of Commons (646) :

Labour (354) | Conservatives (198) | Liberal Democrats (63) | DUP (9) | SNP (6) | Sinn Féin (5#) | Plaid Cymru (3) | SDLP (3) | Ind KHHC (1) | Independent (1) | Independent Labour (1) | Respect (1) | UUP (1)
House of Lords (741) :

Labour (213) | Conservatives (208) | Cross-bencher (196) | Liberal Democrats (79) | UKIP (2) | Greens (E&W) (1) | Bishops (26) | Non affiliated (13) | Conservative Independent (1) | Independent Labour (1) | Independent (1)
Scottish Parliament (129):

Labour (50) | SNP (27) | Conservative and Unionists (17) | Liberal Democrats (17) | Scottish Greens (7) | SSP (4) | Solidarity (2) | SSCUP (1) | Independent (5)
National Assembly for Wales (60):

Labour (29) | Plaid Cymru (12) | Conservatives (11) | Liberal Democrats (6) | Forward Wales (1) | Independent (1)
Northern Ireland Assembly (108)

DUP (36) | Sinn Féin (28) | UUP (18) | SDLP (16) | Alliance (7) | Greens (NI) (1) | PUP (1) | Independent (1)
London Assembly (25):

Conservatives (9) | Labour (7) | Liberal Democrats (5) | Greens (E&W) (2) | One London (2)
European Parliament (78 out of 732):

Conservatives (ED, 27) | Labour (PES, 19) | Liberal Democrats (ELDR, 12) | UKIP (ID, 10) | Greens (E&W) (EGP, 2) | SNP (EFA, 2) | Plaid Cymru (EFA, 1) | Sinn Féin (EUL, 1†) | UUP (ED, 1) | Independent (ADIE, 1) | Independent (ITS, 1) | Independent (NA, 1)
Notes #Although Sinn Féin have five elected members and have offices at Westminster, they are abstentionist and therefore do not take their seats
† Sinn Féin has a second MEP from the Republic of Ireland
Minor parties:

BNP | Socialist Labour | Liberal | English Democrats


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