Vote on-line for the Peoples Charter

At a meeting in August called to discuss EU Austerity, Frank Keoghan, president of the Irish Technical Engineering and Electrical Union and active in the Irish Peoples Movement, called for a strategy that would bring the people of Ireland into political confrontation both with the Irish puppet political elite and their puppet masters in Brussels. My metaphor - his idea, although it seemed very familiar when he argued it. And that was probably because in Ireland the public response to aspects of the austerity package like the savage cuts in public sector pay has, as yet, been fairly muted, as it has been here, so far. We need to change that political mood in Scotland too.


There is already a lot of activity going on in individual unions and in the STUC with another monster demonstration promised for October 1st in support of the STUC's better way. The Peoples Charter for Scotland is committed to playing its part in raising the political temperature. It is perfectly designed for this job because the six demands of the Charter - A fair economy for a fairer Britain. More and better jobs. Decent homes for all. Protect and improve our public services – no cuts, Fairness and Justice. Build a secure and sustainable future for all - offer the basis of defence - no cuts for example - as well as providing a platform for building a better future. It is capable of being broadened in terms of content as well as political appeal to embrace a wide cross section of the Scottish population.

And what gives it particular edge here is the fact that it is a petition and it can therefore be used to engage with people to alert them to the unfairness of the austerity package we face, as well as inspire them with an alternative.

It is with this dual purpose in mind that the Peoples Charter in Scotland is about to be lodged as a formal petition to the Scottish Parliament’s Petitions Committee. This will begin with a launch at the Scottish Parliament to coincide with the Peoples Charter going live as a Scottish Parliament e-petition. For period of around six weeks, Scots will able to register on-line their support for the Charter's positive vision of public prosperity based on equality and increased social ownership and their opposition to the wars and austerity.

Details of the launch will be announced here http://peoplescharterscotland.blogspot.com

You can help change the political mood music in Scotland. Make the e-petition a success and build support for the alternative, for as Rozanne Foyer, senior organizer of Unite puts it on this blog:

"There is still a big job for the movement to do in Scotland both in developing working people’s political conscience and their confidence that things can and will change if they take action. For me the People’s Charter gives us the manifesto we need to inspire people, and god knows there has never been a better time to stir up people’s divine discontent, so let’s get the Charter out there and start engaging our people"

Vince Mills
Secretary, Peoples Charter Scotland