The campaign is launched!

Launch of party campaign today. Really proud to share it with two outstanding socialists like John McAllion and Frances Curran.

Key point we wanted to get across was the need to tax the rich to make them pay for the economic crisis they have created.

Our 10% tax on every millionaire would raise £70 billion - imagine the difference that kind of cash could make if used to create of jobs and improve our public services. That vision, in contrast to the dismal alternative of cuts and unemployment on offer form the other parties should be the faultline in this election.

Just as we fought to move free school meals, the scrapping of prescription charges and ditching the Council Tax into the centre stage of Scottish politics so the fight starts here to put the taxing of the rich to redistribute wealth as a defining issue for 2009 and beyond.

On the campaign trail...

"Just back from campaigning at Springburn shopping centre and again a real willingness for people to talk and to listen about what the SSP has to offer. A week that's been dominated by the cuts agenda now being pursued by every one of the main parties, with the Tories and Labour falling over themselves to compete over just how savage their cuts are going to be. The SNP has just got on with it by announcing their cuts budget this week.

Enjoying the campaign trail in Springburn

The equivalent of £31 000 for every family has already has been paid to bail out the bankers greed and now they're telling us that we have to pay for it again with unemployment, wage freezes and job cuts. Communities in Glasgow North East have already seen their schools stripped out of them and now their community facilities will be under threat because free market politicians are terrified to make the rich pay for the economic mess they have made.

Springburn Residents were, like us, confused why the rich who caused the economic crisis were being given our tax money, and we are paying again with loss of jobs and cuts in our services...

Its no surprise that people are cynical about politics but its a cynicism that doesn't prevent people from thinking about alternatives. That's why my pledge to take only the average wage and not the inflated MP's wage is going down extremely well. Its time for politicians to put their money where their mouths are, but somehow other than the SSP, I suspect none of them will."

SSP ex-MSP Frances Curran, with me and other activists at Springburn Shopping Centre