SNP NORTH AMERICAN NETWORK NEWSLETTER

Issue 27, July 2000

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

ALEX SALMOND TO STEP DOWN AS NATIONAL CONVENER

The leader of the Scottish National Party Mr Alex Salmond MSP MP announced at a press conference in Aberdeen on Monday 17th July that he will not be seeking re-election as National Convener of the Party at this year’s Annual National Conference in September, following a period of ten years in post.

In letters to SNP branches, constituency organisations, prospective parliamentary candidates, councillors, MSPs, members of the Party’s National Executive Committee, and members of his Banff & Buchan Constituency Association, Mr Salmond explains his decision directly. In the letter Mr Salmond said:

"Today, I have announced that I shall not be seeking re-election as National Convener after a period of ten years.

"The Party is now at its strongest position ever. We are the Official Opposition in the Scots Parliament, we have over 200 local councillors, we lead the Scottish opinion polls, and are at over 30 per cent in the Westminster polls. I am absolutely convinced that the SNP will win the next Scottish election, and take Scotland forward to Independence.

"However, translating that political success onto a personal level, that would effectively lock me into a further decade as Party leader. I have decided instead to pass on the torch.

"It has been a rare privilege to lead the SNP over the last decade. In addition, I have enjoyed myself enormously. I have no complaints and no regrets.

"Neither have I any intention of giving up politics. I have told my own constituency party that I will continue as MSP for Banff and Buchan as long as people wish me to do so, and I hope to serve Scotland in the future in some other capacity."



OVERVIEW OF ALEX SALMOND'S LEADERSHIP

Biography of Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond, 45, was born in Linlithgow, where he continues to live with his wife, Moira. He attended Linlithgow Academy and St Andrews University, where he graduated with Honours in Economics and History. Alex worked as an economist with both the Scottish Office and Royal Bank of Scotland before being elected MP for Banff & Buchan in the 1987 General Election, increasing his majority some five-fold by the 1997 and 1999 elections. He has his constituency home in Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

Alex joined the SNP in 1973, and held many posts within the Party, including Vice-Convener for Publicity and Deputy Leader, before being elected National Convener (Leader) in September 1990, succeeding Gordon Wilson.


The SNP’s Progress under Alex Salmond

When Alex became SNP leader in 1990, the Party had secured just 14 per cent of the vote in the previous General Election, and three MPs.

In 1992, in Alex’s first campaign as SNP leader, the Party increased its vote by 50 per cent to 21.5 per cent. In 1997, against the tide of the New Labour bandwagon, the SNP vote increased again to 22.1%, with six MPs elected.

A key strategic decision taken under Alex’s leadership was to campaign for a ‘Yes-Yes’ vote in the Scottish Parliament referendum, endorsed overwhelmingly at a National Council meeting in August 1997.

And in the 1999 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP achieved 29 per cent of the vote, and elected 35 Scottish Parliamentarians.

In the entire history of the SNP up until 1999, only 18 individuals had ever been elected as Westminster Parliamentarians. Under Alex’s leadership in 1999, this cumulative figure was virtually doubled in our Scottish Parliament Group.

The SNP now have a higher base of support than at any time in our history – with 35 MSPs, six MPs, over 200 councillors, two Euro-MPs, and the status of Scotland’s Opposition.


The SNP moving ahead of Labour

The most recent polls show the SNP moving ahead of Labour in the period since the Scottish Parliament election. The July Herald/System Three poll figures are:

1st Holyrood vote 2nd Holyrood vote Westminster vote

SNP 36% 35% 31%
Lab 33% 27% 39%
Con 12% 11% 17%
Lib Dem 12% 16% 11%

Herald/System Three, 3 July 2000

These figures would give the SNP 48 seats in the Scottish Parliament, Labour 43, Lib Dems 21, Tories 12, Green 2, and SSP 2.

The SNP poll lead is confirmed in the 13 local authority by-elections that have taken place since the Scottish Parliament election, giving the SNP a clear lead over Labour of 27.2% to 23.3%.

For the Westminster election, the gap of just 8 points between the SNP and Labour is the narrowest since March 1978.

In polls and real elections, the SNP are gaining the leadership position in Scottish politics. Alex Salmond is handing over an extremely strong party to a new leader, and one that is very well positioned for the coming electoral opportunities.


Winning the Independence argument

Under Alex’s leadership, the Party has presented the case for Independence to be endorsed in a national referendum in each and every election.

At the National Council meeting in March 2000, the Party approved the policy of an Independence referendum being held by an SNP-led Scottish Parliament administration, or by the Scottish Parliament following an SNP Westminster victory – with a Yes vote being followed by agreeing an Independence settlement with Westminster.

This has the support of the Scottish people, with the most recent poll showing that 47 per cent would vote Yes to Independence in a referendum, compared to 43 per cent No. Removing the ‘Don’t knows’ equates to 52 per cent Yes, and 48 per cent No. (Scotland on Sunday/ICM, 30 January 2000).


Developing the SNP and broadening the Independence base

Key contributions that Alex Salmond has made to developing the policies of the Party and broadening the base of support for Independence over the past ten years include:

(1) defining the SNP’s identity as a social democratic political party in the European mainstream; (2) leading a civic approach to the achievement of Independence, involving the creation of key groups such as New Scots for Independence, Scots Asians for Independence, and Business for Scotland; and (3) presenting the case that Scottish Independence is a process that the people of Scotland are actively engaged in, not an event.


Alex Salmond the most popular leader

The popularity of the Party is matched by the popularity of Alex Salmond. The most recent poll shows that Alex has far and away the highest approval ratings of all the political leaders in Scotland.

Very Good/Quite Good Quite Poor/Very Poor +/-

Alex Salmond 50% 20% +30
Jim Wallace 36% 16% +20
Donald Dewar 44% 29% +15
David McLetchie 20% 21% -1

(Herald/System Three, 4 March 2000)

Alex’s positive rating of plus 30 is double that of First Minister Donald Dewar.



SNP USA COMMENT ON ALEX SALMOND'S CONVENERSHIP

Commenting on Alex Salmond's resignation the SNP's US Spokesperson Alison Duncan said:

"While we are disappointed to see Alex give up the position we all understand that the new Parliament has added significantly to the day to day burdens of party leadership. We hope that this means he can now concentrate on promoting the party, not only in Scotland, but abroad, and look forward to seeing much more of Alex in the states.

"When Alex had to curtail his tour on short notice and return to Scotland, it was a reminder of how much was placed on one person's shoulders. But as the Parliament now steps into the international arena, Alex can play a key role, putting forward the SNP agenda in Scotland and elsewhere.

"So now it is time, as we move into a different phase for party leadership, for others to step up to the task and release Alex to a broader role as senior statesman for the party."

James Baron, the California contact of SNP-USA added:

"The Scottish National Party and Scotland owe a huge debt of gratitude to Alex Salmond. He has been a tireless worker during his entire tenure as National Convener of the SNP. Moreover, while many are sad that he will not continue as National Convener, there is no doubt that his commitment to the SNP and Scotland will continue."



SNP's FINANCE SPOKESPERSON IN UNITED STATES

The Scottish National Party's Finance spokesperson, Andrew Wilson, is at present making a visit to the United States organised by the US State Department.

The US Government sponsored tour will involve meeting with federal and state officials across the country. To date he has completed meetings in DC which include a visit to the Department of State, the World Bank and IMF, both the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee, and the National Conference of State
Legislatures.

He has also met with the Senate majority leader Trent Lott to put the case for Scottish cashmere which is presently threatened with sanctions due to the so-called Banana War. In contrast the Scottish Labour Enterprise Minister Henry McLeish, who was in Washington on official business, could only get a meeting with one of Trent Lott's staff!

At present Andrew will now be attending the Republican National Convention in Chicago before heading west to meet with state legislators.

SNP USA will give a review of the visit in the next edition of this newsletter and the meetings and talks he undertook.



NEW INTERNET DOMAIN FOR SNP USA

SNP USA now have their own domain name which hosts their very own website. You can access the site on http://www.snpusa.org and contact the advisory committee through their personalised e-mail addresses.

They are:

Alison Duncan, US Spokesperson - alison@snpusa.org

David Young, Secretary & Mid-West Contact - dyoung@snpusa.org

Ewan Innes, Treasurer, New England Contact & Webmaster - ewan@snpusa.org

Ken Kirkwood, Mid-Atlantic Contact - kirkwood@snpusa.org

James Baron, California Contact - baron@snpusa.org

John MacLean, Northwest Contact - jmaclean@snpusa.org



SNP CHALLENGE LIBERALS TO BACK THEIR OWN MP’s CALL FOR FISCAL FREEDOM

The UK Liberal Democrat's leader Charles Kennedy has made calls for the scrapping of the Barnett Formula - which allocates spending to Scotland on a population basis via the London Treasury - and be replaced with a formula determined by a London-based committee. Commenting on Mr Kennedy's stance the Shadow Finance Minister Mr Andrew Wilson MSP said:

"In Scotland, the Lib Dems have supported the Barnett Formula as part of the Lab/Lib coalition. Yet in London, Charles Kennedy wants to get rid of it. The Lib Dems are at sixes and sevens on the crucial issue of financing Scottish public services.

"Senior Lib Dem MP Malcolm Bruce issued an official party press release on 7 April, in which he called for full fiscal autonomy for the Scottish Parliament.

"It is vital that we move from the Barnett Formula towards a better system for Scotland – and that means full fiscal freedom. The danger of what Charles Kennedy is proposing is that it could result in an even worse system for Scotland than Barnett.

"It must be Scotland’s democratically-elected Parliament that makes the decisions over spending and revenue in Scotland, and that requires full fiscal autonomy.

"The reality of the Barnett Formula now is that it is squeezing spending in Scotland, and will result in spending rising at a far lower rate in Scotland than in England over the next few years. For example, over the next four years, health spending will rise by an average of 4.9% in Scotland, compared to 6.3% in England – despite our much more severe health problems north of the Border.

"Instead of a Treasury pocket money allocation to Scotland, the Scottish Parliament needs full fiscal autonomy, so that we can collect all Scottish revenues - including oil and gas taxation - and be responsible for all of our spending decisions. Top City accountancy firm Chantrey Vellacott published an analysis earlier this year showing that Scotland raises far more in revenue than is spent in Scotland.

"With fiscal freedom, the Scottish Parliament will have the resources to invest in the things that really matter: education, health, and housing."



SNP AMENDMENT TO BLOCK BUDGET PETROL RISE

The Scottish National Party’s Westminster Parliamentary Group have tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill to be debated next week, which would have the effect of blocking the 3.3 per cent increase in fuel duties that the Chancellor implemented in the Budget back in March. At the time, Gordon Brown claimed that this was in line with inflation, although it was in fact a projected inflation figure, and significantly higher than the inflation rate at the time. It had the effect of increasing petrol and diesel prices by 2 pence a litre.

While this measure was implemented immediately under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, it still requires to be legislated for in the Finance Bill. In other words, if the SNP amendment is approved, it would immediately reduce petrol and diesel prices by 2 pence a litre.

SNP Westminster Parliamentary Group Leader Mr Alasdair Morgan MSP said:

"The SNP’s three-point plan to (1) freeze fuel duties until there is a level playing field with the rest of Europe, (2) end the price disparity in rural Scotland, and (3) extend fuel duty rebate, would have a clear downward impact on the price of petrol and diesel, and must be implemented as a matter or urgency.

"The first opportunity to freeze fuel duty comes in the Finance Bill next week, when the SNP will propose an amendment to block the above-inflation tax rise announced by Gordon Brown in his Budget back in March.

"Although this increase was implemented immediately on a provisional basis, it will not be legislated for until next week. Therefore, by freezing fuel tax in the Finance Bill, the SNP amendment would undo the price rise that followed Gordon Brown’s Budget statement, and result in an immediate 2 pence a litre price fall.

"This would be an important first step in the SNP’s campaign to lower petrol and diesel prices in Scotland, and we are challenging London Labour and the other parties to back our amendment."



LABOUR MINISTER DENIES IMPACT OF FUEL TAX ON LOW TOURISM FIGURES

Shadow Tourism Minister Mr Fergus Ewing MSP has criticised the Enterprise Minister, Henry McLeish for failing to recognise the problems high fuel tax is having on the Scottish tourist industry. Commenting on an interview by Henry McLeish on the BBC Radio Scotland Eye to Eye programme in which he said that he didn't think people outside 'euroland' were interested in the price of petrol in Scotland. Mr Ewing said:

"Henry McLeish's remarks illustrate the problems of having Labour in charge of key Scottish industries such as tourism, because they won't speak out against the damage caused by London Labour-imposed policies such as high petrol prices and the high pound.

"Scotland is gaining an unenviable reputation abroad for high costs such as fuel, and it is extraordinary that we have a Minister responsible for tourism who is seeking to deny the obvious.

"People in the United States and in Europe - key Scottish tourism markets - are very concerned about costs, and there can be no doubt that the high costs imposed on Scotland by London are acting as a disincentive in these overseas markets.

"It is unacceptable for Henry McLeish to blame everyone else for the problems of the tourism industry, but refuse to accept responsibility for his own party's policies.

"The combined effect of the high pound, high VAT, high rates, and sky-high petrol prices is to make Scotland a high cost tourist destination. Labour, and the Tories before them, have created these problems - now they pretend that they don't exist."



...AND FINALLY

Labour's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, announced with great aplomb yet another injection of billions into public spending - £43 billion over 10 years in his estimation. However after three years of being found out for double counting and re-announcing old spending pledges it appears he has a problem with people believing him - especially in his own constituency.

An ICM poll for the Scotsman newspaper found that 72% of people in the constituency of Dunfermline East did not believe the money would find its way to essential services like health, education and policing. Only 19% of his constituents believed his largesse.

© SNP

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