Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party

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 [ [http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=358&frmType=partydetail Electoral Commission] ] . Under the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections, and Referendums Act, the party has also registered alterative 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. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2893699.stm|title='Old' firm legends seek votes|date=27 March 2003|work=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2008-08-28|quote=the SSCUP, or its sister party the Pensioners Party for Scotland] . 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.

The Party's aims and recent elections

The party lists 9 key aims on its website [ [http://www.sscup.org/aims.html Aims and Manifesto] , sscup.org] :

# An index-linked basic weekly state pension of £160 for all senior citizens
# Remove all senior citizens from poverty in Scotland
# Abolition of means-testing for senior citizens
# Replace council tax 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 licences for senior citizens aged 60 to 75
# 50% reduction in Road Tax for all senior citizens
# Establish a Scottish Lottery, with all profits going back into the community

In the most recent scottish election in 2007 the SSCUP lost their only seat in Holyrood, despite polling as the 6th best party and a slight increase in its vote share. However, this may have happened due to the party putting up more candidates.

References

External links

* [http://www.sscup.org Official website]