Sandra Webster

Sandra Webster is a former national co-spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP).[1][2] Describing herself as a socialist, feminist, and republican,[3] she is an active campaigner for Scottish independence,[4][5] nuclear disarmament,[6] carers' rights,[7][8] and autism care and support services.[9][10]

Sandra Webster
With Renfrewshire SSP members in 2013
Scottish Socialist Party co-spokesperson
In office
2013–2016
Personal details
BornDundee, Scotland
NationalityScottish
Political partyScottish Socialist Party
ResidencePaisley, Scotland
Known forPolitical activism

Personal life

Sandra Webster grew up in the Dryburgh housing estate in Dundee, where she lived next door to Ernie Ross, before moving to Paisley in her 20s.[11] She has two sons with autism.[9] In 2011, she took part in the National Theatre of Scotland's Five Minute Theatre project, writing a play inspired by the experience of bringing up her two autistic sons. Rosie Kane, a former SSP MSP, played the role of one of the mothers in the show.[12]

Political activism

Sandra spoke at the Radical Independence Conference in 2012 on the role of art and culture in changing society.[13]

In November 2013, Webster addressed the STUC's disabled workers' conference in Dundee and called for the rights of disabled people to be enshrined in a written constitution in an independent Scotland.[14] She had previously called for carers' voices to be heard during the independence referendum campaign and for carers to be "recognised for the £10 billion we contribute to the Scottish economy".[8]

Sandra Webster was re-elected as SSP co-spokesperson alongside Colin Fox at the 2014 SSP conference.[15]

She stood at a general election for the first time at the 2015 UK general election,[11] as the official SSP candidate in Paisley and Renfrewshire South.[16] During the election campaign, she campaigned to ban zero-hour contracts, saying they "exploit workers and attack their employment rights".[17] Explaining her decision to stand, she said the SSP "offer an alternative to the austerity that other political parties promise to deliver" and the party is "proud to represent all of the working class not just those who are in work".[18] She said she is "possibly the only candidate" in the constituency who has been directly impacted by cuts to public services and is "standing for something real rather than it being an academic exercise".[11] On International Women’s Day on an article published by the Scottish Socialist Party, she claims to have stood by and been most passionate about protecting vulnerable disadvantaged women, such as those with disabilities, carers and women on benefits. [19]

She was the no. 2 candidate in the West regional list for RISE - Scotland's Left Alliance at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.

In 2016, she stood down as joint national spokesperson.


References
  1. "About Us". Scottish Socialist Party. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  2. "SSP is healthy and working vigorously". The Herald. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  3. "The Left Road to Scottish Independence". Frontline. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. SSP's Sandra Webster on Independence. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  5. "Socialists hold independence debate in Falkirk". Central FM. 21 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. "Sandra Webster, Scottish Socialist Party – Why I Want To Scrap Trident". Scrap Trident. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  7. "Drumchapel hustings gets personalisation on the agenda". Local News Glasgow. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  8. "Demanding recognition: carers' voices must be heard in the independence debate". Third Force News. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  9. "Campaign to save children's ward is backed". The Herald. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  10. Fergus, Ewan (17 February 2012). "Campaign joy as plan to shut kids' ward is put on hold". Evening Times. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  11. "Sandra Webster is your friendly neighbourhood socialist". Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  12. "Sandra's play moves Paisley Arts Centre audience to tears". Daily Record. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  13. "Radical Independence Conference timetable". 12 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  14. Dempsie, Peter (4 November 2013). "Call for the rights of disabled people to be enshrined in a written constitution". Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  15. Nichols, Dick (29 October 2014). "Spirited Scottish Socialist Party conference tackles post-referendum challenges". Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  16. "Sandra Webster – SSP Candidate for Paisley and Renfrewshire South". 10 December 2014. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  17. "Protest rally in Paisley over zero hour contracts at Sports Direct". 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  18. "Socialist alternative is the answer, says the SSP's Sandra Webster". 18 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  19. "Co-spokesperson Sandra Webster on International Women's Day". Scottish Socialist Party.
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