Interview 2 - Mary Ward council and MSP list candidate (SSP)

[AlanG]

Name: Mary Ward

Party: Scottish Socialist Party

Position in Party: Member of Dundee West branch of Scottish Socialist Party

Years within Party: Member of the party since it was formed and a member of the SSA the forerunner of the SSP

Other relevant groups: Chair person of Dundee Campaign Against Racism and member of Fire-fighter’s Support group and Dundee Coalition for Justice not War.
List candidate for Scottish Parliament and council candidate for Tay Bridges Ward

Where running: Tay Bridges

Previous Terms of Office: Councillor in Coldside (Labour)

Reason for joining party: I joined the SSP after many years as a Labour Party member. I was leader of Dundee Council and councillor for Coldside. I left during the Timex dispute as I was sickened by Labour’s inability to fight on behalf of working class people in struggle. Labour was doing the Tories' work for them then and it has got a lot worse with the “New Labour” ideology which I find hard to differentiate from the Tories.

1. What is your position on the war, and why have you adopted that position? If anti-war, what action have you taken part in or support others taking part in?

I am totally opposed to this immoral, illegal war of imperialist aggression. I was campaigning against Saddam Hussain while the British and American governments were selling him weapons of destruction. This war is not about liberating the Iraqi people it is about America establishing itself as ruler of the planet. No weapons of mass destruction have been found and if Saddam was such a threat why has the fight back been so pathetic.
I can’t stand the hypocrisy which treats countries like Iraq and Syria one way and Saudi Arabia and Israel in another. Where will the Bush and Blair Axis of Evil stop?
I have been an active member of the Dundee Coalition Against The War. I have been on/organised vigils/demonstrations/pickets against the war. I have chased Jack McConnell off the streets of Dundee (he didn’t know there were only 4 of us and he ran into Littlewoods - wimp!)

2. What is your position on student fees/grants/loans?

I am totally opposed to fees either up front or through graduate taxation. Education at all levels should be free - it is a right and not a privilege. Bring back grants at a level people can live on for all students regardless of parental income.

3. What are your policies on coalitions within the parliament/council, are there any parties/individuals you would rule out joining with to form government/council and equally any you would happily join with.

We will not join any coalition with any of the big business, pro capitalist parties. We will judge each issue on its merits.

4. What is your position on PFI and PPP? Will you be fighting for or against any current or future planned projects in your area?

We are opposed to using this method of funding public facilities such as schools and hospitals. They mean the public paying more in the long term and the only people who benefit are the profiteers and the banks. We must keep our services under public control to ensure standards and accountability.

5. What is your positioning on drugs? Would you support any “Met” like softening on cannabis possession, or opening of cannabis cafes in your area?

The SSP does not advocate the use of drugs including alcohol and tobacco the 2 most damaging yet legal drugs in our country. We recognise that many people take drugs and should not be criminalized for the use of recreational drugs.
I believe in the legalisation of drugs in order to break the link with the dealer, ensure quality control and save lives. Cafes seem to work well in other countries and I would support these regulated outlets.
Heroin should be available on prescription and money should be spent on rehab and helping addicts to beat their addiction to alcohol or other drugs.

6. What are your plans for youth employment? Not only New Deal/YTS type schemes, but also minimum wage and how this does not fully protect youth under 18/21 from exploitation.

We would create 24,000 new jobs by ensuring a 35-hour maximum working week across the public sector. Introduce a ££7.32 minimum wage for all public sector workers including 16-21 year olds. Fund 5000 new apprenticeships in construction industry.

7. What is your position on the building of mobile phone masts within your constituency, especially when near schools or other controversial buildings?

Give local communities the right to veto mobile masts and other potentially dangerous developments in residential areas.

8. What are your plans for council tax within the city? Dundee has one of the highest rate sin the country and increases year on year, but what improvements to services have we seen, anc can we expect to see within the next four years?

The SSP would abolish the council tax and replace it with the Scottish Service Tax that is based on ability to pay. People earning less than ££10,000 a year would pay nothing and the stinking rich would pay much more than they do at the moment. This has been costed by Paisley University and would actually give us more money for local services.

9. What is your policy on boundary changes within the city? Whether this be a return of Monifieth etc into the cities boundaries or the creation of a Tayside wide council?

It is crazy that Monifieth and Invergowrie are not part of Dundee when they use our services. Get rid of the council tax and bring them back on board.

10. As you probably know Dundee is twinned with the city of Nablus in Palestine. Given the recent trouble there what can you do and plan to do for the building of stronger ties and supporting of the people of that city?

I support the twinning with Nablus. Dundee Council has been a disgrace for not speaking out more and providing more tangible support for those who live there.I would help to build stronger links between our communities by encouraging greater communication through our schools, cultural events etc.