Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party

Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
Founded3 February 2003 (3 February 2003)
Dissolved4 November 2015
IdeologyElderly interests

The Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP), later the All-Scotland Pensioners Party from March 2011,[1] was a Scottish political party. It was formed on 3 February 2003, in time to contest that year's elections to the Scottish Parliament. The leading figure in its formation and its first leader was John Swinburne, previously a director of Motherwell Football Club. 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 might have to work longer in the future and consequently have less time to enjoy their retirement.

To fight elections, the SSCUP registered with the UK Electoral Commission and under the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the party also registered alternative names for use on ballot papers, including "Scottish Senior Citizens and Pensioners", and "Alliance of Scots Greys".[1]

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.[2] 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.

  1. ^ a b "View registration - the Electoral Commission".
  2. ^ "'Old' firm legends seek votes". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 2008-08-28. the SSCUP, or its sister party the Pensioners Party for Scotland

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