The SSP agreed to support Campbell International forums such as McGregor, Sao Paulo and around the Glasgow Kelvin Zapatistas, to work internaSSP tionally to oppose the WTO, with other The first ever by-election for the new Scottish Parliament Internet, and to support and on March 16 saw Labour where practical participate pushed into third place, as in international imitatiycs against capitalist global- droves. voters syco at nome in The episode is a reminder concrement adressed by delegates scenario in which a limp from socialist organisa- Norway, Tory opposition wins no extra votes, but eats into France, New Labour's majority as Australa. Ayr is a genteel seaside Most controversy was town with many retired peoat the end, over proposals to move to a dele- ple, but some working class areas. The Tories held it for SCORSe COnI sought to have a century until Labour won it in 1997; at the 1999 4000 members by next year Scottish election Labour and argued that democracy only beat the Tories by 25 required a 1 in 5 delegate votes. there WCIC This time the Tories won only 150 out of 2000 at this conference, their argument was hardly a famous victory; their vote was down on sition motion to continue 1999 and even their share with all member conferences of the vote only increased by 1.3%.
These debates showed that Considering that they were always the lavourtes, they rent within the SSP, as most fought a rather low-key split these campaign, as if they knew the themselves that they could get out their traditional vothighlighted the strengths of ers but their chances of win. members this was their first happened to the non-Tory conference, discussions were vote, which was outside lively, and policies reflected considerable prior debate.
They won because the Labour vote collapsed. tion, and a focus outwards to Some of it shifted to the VUE gains. The SNP but most of it stayed at weaknesscs or tac apparatus reflected, hence Labour looked weak and initiaties to bulld branches demoralised, even making and establish organisers and party spokespersons at local this was going to be a difficult seat to defend, and In many ways the SSP is a party with too few chiefs. uncy seemca to nave uirown in the towel a few weeks perore the poll, Thoir candi date was the concil leader respons ble for fogging off the local pensioners' centre to make way for a shopping mal, and exudink dil n0 charisma of a dead fish.
The SNP had the most dynamic campaign of the major parties. content; they vacillated on where they stood on Section concentrated on portraying hemsetves as the party most likely to beat the Tories.
They came second, with 1,945 more votes than last year, but it is not clear that they are heading for a dramatic breakthrough The Scottish Socialist Party was not under any illusions that this was going to be an easy seat to fisht. but it did already have a branch in Ayr which worked very hard, and descended on the town from Glasgow and further afield.
When I canvassed for the class area i realised that the it was geting significant support, but I was surprised at the antipathy to all parties trom man peope. I had never known this before.
The SSP candidate was James Stewart, a popular shop steward in the local party to hold any public meetings, campaigning around the chure of facilties for senior citizens by vou CRueu soUlE Ayrshire Council, the privatisation of air traffic control at constituency, and support for a strike by drivers at the 1,345 votes (4.2%) beating the Liberal Democrats for 4th place, and recruited over 40 new members in At the 1999 European election, Labour effectively deselected Alex Smith, Euro-MP for Scotland South, Dy patong titt bonton or Hs list of candidates. He had been in the running for the by-lection, but was excluded from the shortlist Dy Laoour s scotusn execu• the.
He went on to speak on SSP election platforms, as did Henry McCubbin, former Scotland North-East who For the past few months there has been a very nasty retain Section 28, financed Stagecoach bus company who has previously made large donations to the SNP. and backed by the normally Labour-supporting Daim Record (Scotland's most popular tabloid). feit that this did not have a major impact on the byremains a strong streak of homophobia in Scottish society, most people are not swayed that easily by a campaien or hystena which obviously depends on one individual with a large Labour's attempts to blame this factor for their numilaun deteat are nou only exaggerated but divert demoralisation of their elec-