SNP NORTH AMERICAN NETWORK NEWSLETTER

Issue 4, August 1998

UPDATE

NOTE-- due to regulations set by the Labour party in London

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Scottish National Party's North American Network Newsletter.

Since the last Newsletter we have had a number of requests and ideas to promote the SNP in North America. One of those has been from David Palladino, the pipe major of the Cincinnati Caledonian Pipe Band, who has offered to organise a fundraising ceilidh. David has already raised the profile of the SNP in the Cincinnati area with a Tartan Day ceilidh.

He has also piped for many US politicians on numerous occassions.

We have had an offer of help with the party's science and education policy from Professor David Young of Ohio. Likewise Douglas Boyd has offered to help develop our health policy - he has had professional experience of helping post-communist Poland organise its Institute of Health.

There has also been an offer from a college radio station to pass on news of what is going on in Scotland with the SNP; and a number of recipients are also offering to pass on our newsletter to Scottish and Clan Societies in order to stimulate debate.

SNP NORTH AMERICAN NETWORK ADVISORY COMMITTEE

In conjunction with the Network Newsletter we have set up a four strong advisory committee to assist our North American members and supporters in organising events to promote and assist the SNP in North America. Such events involve awareness raising campaigns, fund-raising, making business contacts and lobbying interest groups.

who have lived and worked in North America for the past few years. They have been appointed as their past experience of working with the SNP in Scotland will give everyone a focus to understand the thinking of the SNP. The committee comprise four ex-patriate members of the SNP from Scotland

The four members of the advisory committee are: Professor David Young of Ohio University; Ian Moar, a Washington lobbyist and lawyer; Garth Edwards, who works for the UN in New York; and Ewan Innes, living in Milton, Massachusetts and working as a Data Management Specialist

If any members have ideas they would like to put into action please contact the above to ensure that it meets with the party's approval. They can be contacted by e-mail on the following addresses:

David Young - dyoung@bobcat.ent.ohiou.edu
Ian Moar - imoar@fmshrc.gov
Garth Edwards - edward@un.org
Ewan Innes - EIAlba@world.std.com

LATEST OPINION POLL - SNP STILL AHEAD

The latest Systems 3 opinion poll for the Herald newspaper has shown the SNP still keeping ahead of the Labour party in voting intentions to the Scottish Parliament. However the gap did narrow from 14 points to 6 points.

Commenting on the poll Mr Mike Russell, the Chief Executive for the SNP, said:

"For the SNP to have led the Labour party in the opinion polls for four months is unprecedented in Scottish opinion polling. The fact we are still ahead in the midst of Labour attacks on our policies is extremely encouraging and shows the failure of their misleading tactics.

"I have said all along that the battle for Scotland's Parliament will be a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour. Over the next 9 months we plan to ensure that our lead remains so the Scottish Parliament can be run by Scotland's party and not London Labour."

US WILL REMAIN NEUTRAL OVER SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE

Philip Lader, the US ambassador to the UK, had to personally phone Alex Salmond, the Leader of the SNP, and reassure him that his country would remain neutral over the question of Scottish independence. His unusual actions followed press reports in the Sunday Times Scotland that he had said his country had an interest in the "continued strength and prosperity of the UK."

US authorities were quick to distance themselves from ambassador Lader's comments. Officials from the US State Department distanced themselves from Mr Lader's remarks. A spokeswoman said: "The views expressed are the personal views of ambassador Lader. The view of the US government is that it is an internal matter for the Scottish people."

The press office attach to the US Embassy in London had even taken the unusual action of making a formal complaint to the editor of Sunday Times Scotland. Mr Lader, who had been on a walking holiday in Scotland, telephoned Alex Salmond after he had learned that the Sunday Times interview had been interpreted as an attack on the idea of an independent Scotland.

SCOTLAND'S CLAIM TO THE AMERICAN DREAM

An article in the Herald newspaper suggested that the founding principles of the US meant that the USA's constitution was essentially Scottish in character. Writing in the Herald newspaper, Rob Brown - former media editor of the Independent and business editor of Scotland on Sunday - was reviewing a book suggesting that the US constitution could be traced to ideas from England.

Mr Brown detailed how with only 7% of the population of the thirteen colonies being Scots and Scotch-Irish, they dominated the Continental Congress and Founding Fathers. Some historians had even gone as far to suggest that the US system of Government was based on the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland. He even mentions that the Presidential anthem, "Hail to the Chief", is an old Scottish song!

However the Scottish influence was not all positive. Brown reminds us that former Jacobites fought for King George at Moore's Creek Bridge and freedom for slaves was conveniently ignored when framing the constitution. We should also not forget that the Ku Klux Klan makes much of Scottish roots.

Anyone wishing to read Rob Brown's article can get a copy by e-mailing me at the above address.

THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY - AN SNP PROPOSAL

The SNP has proposed that a "People's Assembly" should be established to work alongside the Scottish Parliament in order to scrutinise legislative proposals and monitor their implementation. Such practice is commonplace in Europe and it would accord with the Scottish constitutional principle that sovereignty is vested with the people. It would recognise the substantial policy experience of the voluntary sector, the trades unions, employers' organisations, local government, consumer and tenants' groups.

The Scottish National Party's Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson Mr George Reid detailed the SNP's proposals for a "People's Assembly". He said:

"In the new Scotland, the SNP are committed to governing in partnership with the people, in a regular dialogue with them. There will be no elective dictatorship as in the London House of Commons. The Scots Parliament must be open and accessible to its citizens - not a remote, mini-Westminster.

"Social partnership is a normal constitutional practice in many of the countries within the European Union. It involves the appointment of specialist advisers to Parliamentary Committees and the creation of temporary forums of groups in order to discuss forthcoming legislation with Members of Parliament. The purpose is to benefit from the specialised knowledge of non-Members and to enable experts to input into draft Bills at an early stage. Forums can also be used to monitor the post-legislative impact of Acts, and how they are working in practice.

"The SNP propose to organise our own People's Assemblies prior to the Holyrood election, inviting non-party members to discuss policy in such areas as housing, arts, health, education, land reform and youth policy."

AND FINALLY

Thanks for reading this Newsletter and keep sending in the ideas and questions. See you next month.

SNP