John Swinburne
Encyclopedia
John Swinburne is the founder of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP) and was that party's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament
from 2003 until 2007. He is also a director of Motherwell Football Club.
Swinburne has called for reintroduction of the 'Belt' or 'Tawse
' into Scottish schools, expressing the opinion that corporal punishment
would solve what he believes are endemic discipline problems. This statement was condemned by other MSPs and by the teaching union, the EIS
.
He lost his seat in the 2007 election.
In May, 2009, at age 78, Swinburne announced he was planning to stand in the Glasgow North East by-election, 2009
. He later withdrew from this election, due to "unforeseen circumstances".
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
from 2003 until 2007. He is also a director of Motherwell Football Club.
Swinburne has called for reintroduction of the 'Belt' or 'Tawse
Tawse
The tawse, sometimes formerly spelled taws is an implement used for corporal punishment...
' into Scottish schools, expressing the opinion that corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
would solve what he believes are endemic discipline problems. This statement was condemned by other MSPs and by the teaching union, the EIS
Educational Institute of Scotland
The Educational Institute of Scotland is the oldest teachers' trade union in the world, having been founded in 1847 when dominies became concerned about the effect of changes to the system of education in Scotland on their professional status....
.
He lost his seat in the 2007 election.
In May, 2009, at age 78, Swinburne announced he was planning to stand in the Glasgow North East by-election, 2009
Glasgow North East by-election, 2009
The 2009 Glasgow North East by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Glasgow North East. The by-election was held on 12 November 2009 following the resignation of Michael Martin as an MP and as Speaker of the British House of Commons...
. He later withdrew from this election, due to "unforeseen circumstances".