Scottish Socialist Party
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Scottish Socialist Party
Pàrtaidh Sòisealach na h-Alba Scots Socialist Pairtie |
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|---|---|
 |
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| Abbreviation | SSP |
| Chairperson | Natalie Reid Calum Martin |
| Secretary | Bill Bonnar |
| Spokesperson |
Colin Fox Katie Bonnar |
| Workplace Organiser |
Richie Venton |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Preceded by | Scottish Socialist Alliance |
| Headquarters | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Newspaper | Scottish Socialist Voice |
| Youth wing | Young Scottish Socialists |
| Membership (2014) |
 3,500 |
| Ideology |
Democratic socialism Anti-capitalism Scottish independence Scottish republicanism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| National affiliation | RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance (2015 - 2016) |
| European affiliation | European Anti-Capitalist Left |
| Colors |
Red Yellow |
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House of Commons (Scottish Seats) |
0 / 59
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| House of Lords |
0 / 809
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| European Parliament (Scottish Seats) |
0 / 6
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| Scottish Parliament |
0 / 129
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| Local government in Scotland |
1 / 1,222
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| Website | |
| www |
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The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP; Scottish Gaelic: Pàrtaidh Sòisealach na h-Alba; Scots: Scots Socialist Pairtie) is a left-wing political party campaigning for the establishment of an independent, socialist Scotland.
The party was founded in 1998. It campaigns for Scottish independence, against cuts to public services and welfare, and for democratic public ownership of the economy. The SSP was one of three parties in Yes Scotland, the official cross-party campaign for Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum, with national co-spokesperson Colin Fox sitting on its advisory board.
The party operates through a local branch structure and publishes Scotland's longest-running socialist newspaper, the Scottish Socialist Voice. At the height of its electoral success, the party had six Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and two councillors. Since 2007 it has had one councilor but no MSPs.
In 2015, the SSP affiliated to RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance, an electoral alliance for the 2016 elections.
At present, the Scottish Socialist Party is a members-led organisation with no formal leadership. The party has two national co-spokespersons, Colin Fox and Katie Bonnar, who are elected by party members at the annual national conference, which also determines party policy. The day-to-day business of the party is handled by a small Executive Committee, which is also elected by the membership. The primary decision-making bodies are the:
The Scottish Socialist Party emerged from the Scottish Socialist Alliance (SSA), a broad-based group of left-wing organisations in Scotland. The decision was taken to transform the SSA into a party to contest the first elections to the new Scottish Parliament, where the SSP polled well and saw Tommy Sheridan, then convenor of the party, elected in Glasgow. The period following that election saw sustained growth for the SSP, where it doubled in size in twelve months, and the RMT trade union affiliated to the party. In 2003, the SSP was buoyed by the election of five additional MSPs across Scotland.
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