Pensioners Party (Scotland)
Encyclopedia
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
.
To fight elections in Scotland, the SSCUP registered with the UK Electoral Commission
on 3 February 2003. Under the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
, the party has also registered alternative names for use on ballot papers, including "Scottish Senior Citizens and Pensioners", and "Alliance of Scots Greys".
On the same day the SSCUP was launched, the Scottish Pensioners Party was formed in Fife
. The SSCUP made an electoral pact with this party for the Scottish Parliamentary elections, whereby they did not stand candidates against each other. 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
was the SSCUP's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament, representing Central Scotland
from 2003 until 2007.
In the most recent Scottish election
in 2007 the SSCUP lost its only seat in Holyrood
, despite polling as the sixth best party and a slight increase in its vote share. However, that may have happened due to the party's putting up more candidates.
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
. The leading figure in its formation was John Swinburne
John Swinburne
John Swinburne is the founder of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party and was that party's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament from 2003 until 2007...
, 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
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
.
To fight elections in Scotland, the SSCUP registered with the UK Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
on 3 February 2003. Under the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that sets out how political parties, elections and referendums are to be regulated in the United Kingdom...
, the party has also registered alternative names for use on ballot papers, including "Scottish Senior Citizens and Pensioners", and "Alliance of Scots Greys".
On the same day the SSCUP was launched, the Scottish Pensioners Party was formed in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
. The SSCUP made an electoral pact with this party for the Scottish Parliamentary elections, whereby they did not stand candidates against each other. Former Scottish international footballers
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
Billy McNeill
Billy McNeill
William "Billy" McNeill MBE is a former Scottish footballer and manager. He is best known for captaining Celtic to the European Cup triumph in 1967 and he later went on to manage the club. He is now the official Club Ambassador at Celtic....
, who played for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and Eric Caldow
Eric Caldow
Eric Caldow is a former Scottish international footballer who played for Rangers, Stirling Albion and Scotland.-Early life:...
, who played for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, both stood for the SSCUP in these elections.
John Swinburne
John Swinburne
John Swinburne is the founder of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party and was that party's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament from 2003 until 2007...
was the SSCUP's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament, representing Central Scotland
Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
Central Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Ten of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
from 2003 until 2007.
The Party's aims and recent elections
The party lists 9 key aims on its website:- An index-linked basic weekly state pensionUK pension provisionPensions in the United Kingdom fall into seven major divisions; Basic State Pension, State Second Pension , Occupational Pensions, Stakeholder Pensions, Group Personal Pensions and Personal or Individual Pensions...
of £Pound (currency)The pound is a unit of currency in some nations. The term originated in England as the value of a pound of silver.The word pound is the English translation of the Latin word libra, which was the unit of account of the Roman Empire...
160 for all senior citizens - Remove all senior citizens from povertyPovertyPoverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
in ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... - Abolition of means-testing for senior citizens
- Replace council taxCouncil taxCouncil Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
with a fairer system based on ability to pay - Local authorities to set up more residential homes for senior citizens
- Free nationwide travel for all senior citizens - out with peak travelling times
- 50% reduction in television licenceTelevision licenceA television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
s for senior citizens aged 60 to 75 - 50% reduction in Road TaxRoad taxRoad tax, known by various names around the world, is a tax which has to be paid on a motor vehicle before using it on a public road.-Australia:...
for all senior citizens - Establish a Scottish Lottery, with all profits going back into the community
In the most recent Scottish election
Scottish Parliament election, 2007
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
in 2007 the SSCUP lost its only seat in Holyrood
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
, despite polling as the sixth best party and a slight increase in its vote share. However, that may have happened due to the party's putting up more candidates.