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(organised by "Scottish Action Against Council Tax" - isitfair.co.uk) in Edinburgh, on Saturday 29th May 2004 SCOTLAND-WIDE PROTEST
The first
march/rally organised by the ?SAACT.isitfair? group went
ahead as planned. Those present came from all areas of Scotland,
and included people of working age as well as pensioners. This
diversity was reflected in the range of speakers and those who
sent messages of support. These included representatives of five
political parties in the Scottish Parliament as well as two
independent MSPs, pensioners associations and other non-affiliated
groups. Both Labour and Conservative Parties were conspicuous by
their absence but we know that we have the support of some
individual members of these parties, who do not agree with their
parties' stance on Scottish Council Tax and related Water Charges.
Jim Feeney (Renfrewshire ? isitfair),
opened with a pointed speech on the theme of how we should now
proceed in our campaign. In particular, he drew attention to the
need for everyone to lobby their MPs, MSPs and Councillors ?
against this unfair and untenable tax that penalises property
owners and tenants, regardless of income. Kenny MacAskill MSP (Scottish National Party) followed, with a speech in which he gave his particular views on the existing property-value-based tax, and also the SNP?s proposal for change, which embraced the ability to pay.
Mr Tommy Sheridan MSP (Leader of the SSP) reminded those attending the rally that the draft bill (in his name) to abolish Council Tax was now out for consultation, over the next four months. He especially requested that the Scottish group of the isitfair organisation submit their evidence to the Local Government Committee, before October. Mr Sheridan added that any income-based tax would be fairer than Council Tax, and said that, if Parliament was unwilling to adopt the Scottish Socialist Party's suggestion, his party would be willing to support either the Liberal Democrat proposals or the Scottish National Party proposals. He called for a united front against Council Tax.
In his speech, Mark Ballard MSP (Scottish Green Party) explained that his party?s preference for a Land Value Tax (LVT) would benefit those who used land wisely and efficiently. Also, it would be a genuinely progressive tax, unlike the present system.
Fiona Adam (East Lothian ? Isitfair) who spoke as a non-retiree, referred to the ?spend, spend, spend attitude? and accused successive governments of ?driving our skilled labour abroad?. She also maintained that: ?local tax should have nothing to do with the price of our property ? that we have worked so hard to buy?!
Next on the platform, was the very first pensioner representative to be elected to the Scottish Parliament ? John Swinburne MSP (Scottish Senior Citizens? Unity Party) ? who explained his particular aversion to Council Tax. Although his party?s name suggests otherwise, John insisted that the SSCUP has a broader vision ? in that it also represents the interests of much younger people, who will eventually become pensioners!
The final speaker
was George Henderson, Chairman of the National Pensioners
Convention
Scotland.
He said that Scottish pensioners couldn?t afford another huge
increase in council
"Pensioners everywhere will be grateful for your campaign and fully support all the effort being made to highlight the unjust nature of the Council Tax.?
Yours in solidarity, (Jack Jones)
?One in four women over the age of 60 are suffering extreme hardship. Some older people now face the prospect of having to cut back on their weekly outgoings.?
?Our members in Devon are protesting by only paying increases based on inflation, and they are doing so simply because they cannot afford to pay the full amount being demanded. Without their direct action, the ?100 payment to households with someone over 70 would never have happened.?
Interspersed between the main speakers, messages of full support ? from Independent MSPs:
Owing to a sudden adverse change in the weather, Robert Stewart (Glasgow ? isitfair) gave a hurried vote of thanks. As a result of this change, Steve Atkinson ? Cumbrian Group Leader (but also representing isitfair - England/Wales) ? was denied the opportunity to speak and to deliver a message of support from isitfair HQ in Hants. This was most unfortunate! For that reason, the secretary of SAACT.Isitfair wishes to offer his sincere apologies to Steve and Mrs Christine Melsom for this decision, made to save the audience from a drenching downpour.
Coverage of the march was shown on both BBC TV (Scotland) and STV?s early evening news and many more signatures to the Scottish petition were obtained. Voluntary donations totalled ?108. Both Labour and Conservative parties were conspicuous by their absence.
Finally, Mr George Henderson kindly supplied eleven photographs of the event. They may be accessed from the Seniors Network website:
Archie White (Jordanhill, Glasgow - isitfair) Treasurer [SAACT.isitfair.co.uk] Jenny Reddaway (Tobermory, Isle of Mull ? isitfair) Membership/Minute Secretary Alastair Murdoch (Strathaven, Lanarkshire ? isitfair) Secretary/Assistant Treasurer
Email: SAACTisitfair@aol.com Tel: (01357) 520 925
Dated: 1st June 2004.
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