SNP NORTH AMERICAN NETWORK NEWSLETTER

Issue 7, November 1998

UPDATE

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

A number of you are now aware through the internet edition of the Scotsman that the leader of the SNP Alex Salmond may be visiting the United States early next year. However we must say at this stage that no firm commitment has been made as yet considering the heightened level of campaigning before next year's Scottish Parliamentary elections but we will keep you updated if a firm commitment can be made.

NORTH EAST SCOTLAND BY-ELECTION

Over the last month the SNP has been busy campaigning in the North East Scotland By-election. As many of you will know this was caused by the sad death of the SNP's Deputy Leader Allan Macartney. By the time many of you read this the by-election may have been held (on Thursday 26th November) and we will keep you updated on the result.

Speaking about the campaign the leader of the Scottish National Party Mr Alex Salmond MP said:

"The clear choice facing the people of the North-east in this by-election is between Scotland's Party, the SNP, and London Labour. That means a choice between a party which stands up for the vital interests of this area and of Scotland, and one that takes its orders from Millbank Tower in London.

"All that Labour have to offer are London-based policies - including high interest rates and high sterling - which are damaging the North-east and the rest of Scotland. Eddie George [the Governor of the UK's state bank the Bank of England] let the cat out of the bag when he said that unemployment in the 'North' was a price worth paying for dealing with an inflationary problem in south-east England.

Continuing Mr Salmond praised the SNP's candidate Ian Hudghton: "Ian Hudghton is an outstanding North-east candidate. As the leader of Angus, he runs the best council in Scotland.

"The SNP have already shown our confidence in Ian's abilities by voting him number one on our list of European candidates - compared to the Labour candidate's third position - and we look forward to demonstrating how only Scotland's Party, the SNP, can be trusted to stand up for the interests of the North-east in Europe."

Councillor Ian Hudghton - who was Allan Macartney's Constituency Agent - said:

"This is the by-election that nobody wanted, caused by the death of my friend and colleague Allan Macartney. Allan was a great champion for Scotland, and a great champion for the North-east.

"I am standing in this by-election because I want to finish the job started by Allan. And because the SNP - with our flagship policy of Independence in Europe - offer the best future for the people of Scotland, and the strongest voice for the North-east. In Europe, the SNP have a track record that is second to none. Winnie Ewing and Allan Macartney have been superb ambassadors for Scotland."

MOST SCOTS EXPECT INDEPENDENCE WITHIN 20 YEARS

An study by leading Scottish academics has shown that most Scots expect their country to be independent within two decades - and the prospect leaves them unworried.

The authoritative study of political attitudes in Scotland is included in The Scottish Electorate, published later this year and written by leading academics Professors Alice Brown, David McCrone and Lindsay Paterson at Edinburgh University and Paula Surridge at Aberdeen University.

The group found that 60 per cent of Scots believe the country will be independent by 2017. At last year's devolution referendum, only 35 per cent backed independence while 45 per cent favoured devolution.

However, the authors have revealed that the policy issues on which Scots most differ from English voters - equal opportunity to the creation of wealth, control of taxes, public spending and nuclear issues - are those over which the new Parliament has little control. This divergence will raise expectations which could lead to contention between Westminster and Holyrood, they add.

The survey involved lengthy interviews with 850 randomly selected Scots. It offers the first detailed explanation of the nationalist surge, and reveals the extent to which Labour and the Scottish National Party are locked in a struggle for voters.

The marginalisation of the Conservatives is confirmed, with less than 8% of either Labour or SNP supporters willing to back the Tories as their second-choice vote.

The survey found that people supported the Scottish Parliament in last year's referendum not simply because of national identity but because they expect it to deliver on policy.

"If the Parliament fails to deliver, there is enormous scope for people to build on popular desire for equal opportunity to the creation of wealth," say the authors. "There is a clear social basis for a successful campaign to extend the Parliament's powers."

LABOUR'S ATTACKS BECOME HYSTERICAL

In the course of the North East by-election Labour's fear of the SNP became apparent as Cabinet Ministers came north to specifically attack the SNP. Their speeches were profoundly negative and ranged from gross misrepresentation of SNP policy to outright hysteria.

Commenting on the series of attacks the SNP's Treasury spokesperson, John Swinney, said:

"Scotland is growing tired of London Labour's weary attacks - or 'Natbashing' as they call it - which is based entirely on fiddled figures and bizarre claims. In recent weeks, the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer [Finance Minister], Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and now the Trade & Industry Secretary have come to Scotland - totally sidelining poor Donald Dewar, the Scottish Secretary.

"They have argued that Scotland - which the House of Commons Library showed was the 7th richest country in the industrial world - is so dependent on London that we require handouts. This is ridiculous and laughable. In fact it was even contradicted by the Foreign secretary who tried to argue that Scotland would be a net contributor to the European Union's budget and therefore lose money!

"It is London Labour that are putting up barriers to Scottish trade and participation in the world, by, for example keeping Scotland out if the Euro and direct involvement in Europe. That poses a major threat to Scottish trade, inward investment and tourism.

"The difference between the SNP and labour is that they want to attack the confidence of the Scottish people to keep them in the union; we want to raise the confidence of the Scottish people. They want a dependency culture; we want an independence culture."

GORE VIDAL SUPPORTS SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE

On a visit to Scotland the writer Gore Vidal voiced his support for Scottish independence and believed it was inevitable. He also voiced his belief that Sean Connery would make a good Scottish President. Gore Vidal was the grandson of an Oklahoma senator, and he was born in West Point, New York state in 1925. He graduated from Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and served in the U. S. Army during World War II.

His first novel, Williwaw, is based on his wartime experience, and was published when he was 19 years old. His historical and contemporary novels include Julia; Washington, D.C.; Burr; 1876; Duluth; Lincoln; and, most recently, The Smithsonian Institution. Vidal's Visit to a Small Planet was produced for television in 1955.

His film scripts include Is Paris Burning? written along with Francis Ford Coppola in 1965, and his screen play for Billy the Kid, starring Val Kilmer and Wilford Brimley, which was produced in 1989. His most famous script however is Ben Hur starring Charlton Heston - another American of Scottish descent.

HOLLYWOOD COMES (NEAR TO) HOLYROOD

The SNP's most famous supporter Sean Connery has announce that his homecoming to Scotland may coincide with the establishment of a £10 million investment in a film studio for his native Edinburgh

It is believed that a joint venture is being set up with Sony subsidiary Columbia TriStar who had just signed a long-term deal with Sean Connery and his Los Angeles-based production company, Fountainbridge Films.

Sony is probably set to make one, if not two, films in Scotland with Connery, and it was suggested it get involved in a studio, the likely cost of which had been estimated at £10million. Sony's film, television and music divisions had a revenue of $10 billion last year. Variety ranks it the sixth-biggest media company in the world.

Sean Connery has already been active in trying to help the UK's film industry. He has lobbied successfully for a better tax regime now he wants a chance to do something for Scotland's film industry personally.

A group of financiers and property interests were lined up behind him and it is believed that Scotland's leading merchant bank, Noble Grossart, helped to bring them together. Lee and Sir Angus Grossart, the bank's chairman, are old colleagues. Both had served on the board of Goldcrest Films.

The studio company will be a 50-50 partnership between Sony and the Connery consortium. The capital is apparently in place for the first batch of films - the studio is expected to make 20 in the first five years.

If each film costs a modest £3m, the total would be £60m, but this is a conservative estimate. Money, however, does not seem to be a problem but the siting of the studio did cause disagreements.

A site has been chosen and preparations are already in hand to apply for outline planning permission.

In an open letter to voters during the last general election campaign Connery wrote, "My dearest wish is to see Scotland free". Clearly he hopes his homecoming will hasten that moment.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Continuing our series of articles of interest in the Scottish press we have two on offer this month. One concerns plans for a film of the Darien Disaster which bankrupted Scotland forcing some of our then Parliamentarians to accept the 1707 Union in return for financial gain. The article by Joan McAlpine of Sunday Times Scotland.

The second article concerns Joyce McMillan - a feature writer for the Scotsman - and her feelings about the future of the union. It centres on a debate between Alex Salmond and Jeremy Paxman, a London based journalist. The debate centred on Mr Paxman's book about the rise of English identity and Ms McMillan feels that the debate showed a convergence of agreement on the decline of the union rather on conflict between Scotland and England. It was entitled "Dancing the Union away".

AND FINALLY We'll keep you updated on the North East result and the tentative plans for a visit next year. See you next month and have a happy St. Andrew's Day.