ANDREW LUMSDEN: INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT LOSES ONE OF IT'S BRIGHTEST STARS
I've just heard that Andrew Lumsden has died suddenly. Andrew was a passionate advocate of the Scottish independence cause and was our SNP candidate in Midlothian in 1992. He was about 35 at the time and hit Midlothian like the political equivalent of a tornado. An economics lecturer from Galashiels he had an instinctive grasp of the local politics in Midlothian and he could speak to the people in a honest and forthright manner.
Andrew was a massive and lasting inspiration to me and all the other SNP activists in Midlothian. He was a very fine speaker and a staunch socialist. He was one of the first people who really inspired me in politics and he had the fight and heart to take on Labour in their heartland.
Andrew believed he could win in Midlothian and he convinced his young team of activists that we could win as well. Even though the SNP didn't win the election we saw a massive increase in our vote (from around 4,000 to over 10,000 votes) and the series of public meetings that he spoke at and organised were very influential in later local government successes in the area.
The Free by '93 campaign was a watershed one for the SNP, it was extremely hard fought and Andrew was our candidate for a full three years before the election during which he tirelessly worked to build up the party in the area.
Andrew helped local miners in their successful bid to re-open Monktonhall colliery he took their campaign to the European (he was always a very strong advocate of the benefits of independent EU membership) and Westminster Parliaments and while their campaign was led by the miners themselves Andrew made a massive political push on their behalf and he joined the consortium when the pit was re-opened.
Along with Jim Sillars and Alex Neil he spoke at Miners clubs right across Midlothian and he gave the Labour party a real fright. He exposed the closure of Greenhall high school and we made school closures a central part of our local election campaign just after the general election in 1992.
Andrew was by far the best SNP candidate we ever had in Midlothian and we have never seen his like again. He was a massive inspiration to everyone who met him and his socialist values combined with his strong political nous had a lasting impact on us all.
Andrew and Alex Neil wrote an influential joint paper 'Poverty Amidst Plenty' about the economics of independence that can be read here: Poverty Amidst Plenty
I have enclosed a couple of Andrew's Press Releases from the Advertiser (see this page) It really was an amazing campaign in Midlothian and Andrew encouraged me (and others like Dave Moyes and Brian Archibald) to support him by writing press releases and letters and he gave us free reign to write anything we liked on the campaign's behalf.
His faith in my abilities was a great boost to my confidence at the time and his astute political advice over many years afterwards was invaluable to me personally. The funeral is being held next Wednesday, 14th Feb at Cloyster Chapel, Warriston Crematorium at 2.30pm. His wife Sheila can be contacted by Email: shiela@lumsden.biz
Andrew was a massive and lasting inspiration to me and all the other SNP activists in Midlothian. He was a very fine speaker and a staunch socialist. He was one of the first people who really inspired me in politics and he had the fight and heart to take on Labour in their heartland.
Andrew believed he could win in Midlothian and he convinced his young team of activists that we could win as well. Even though the SNP didn't win the election we saw a massive increase in our vote (from around 4,000 to over 10,000 votes) and the series of public meetings that he spoke at and organised were very influential in later local government successes in the area.
The Free by '93 campaign was a watershed one for the SNP, it was extremely hard fought and Andrew was our candidate for a full three years before the election during which he tirelessly worked to build up the party in the area.
Andrew helped local miners in their successful bid to re-open Monktonhall colliery he took their campaign to the European (he was always a very strong advocate of the benefits of independent EU membership) and Westminster Parliaments and while their campaign was led by the miners themselves Andrew made a massive political push on their behalf and he joined the consortium when the pit was re-opened.
Along with Jim Sillars and Alex Neil he spoke at Miners clubs right across Midlothian and he gave the Labour party a real fright. He exposed the closure of Greenhall high school and we made school closures a central part of our local election campaign just after the general election in 1992.
Andrew was by far the best SNP candidate we ever had in Midlothian and we have never seen his like again. He was a massive inspiration to everyone who met him and his socialist values combined with his strong political nous had a lasting impact on us all.
Andrew and Alex Neil wrote an influential joint paper 'Poverty Amidst Plenty' about the economics of independence that can be read here: Poverty Amidst Plenty
I have enclosed a couple of Andrew's Press Releases from the Advertiser (see this page) It really was an amazing campaign in Midlothian and Andrew encouraged me (and others like Dave Moyes and Brian Archibald) to support him by writing press releases and letters and he gave us free reign to write anything we liked on the campaign's behalf.
His faith in my abilities was a great boost to my confidence at the time and his astute political advice over many years afterwards was invaluable to me personally. The funeral is being held next Wednesday, 14th Feb at Cloyster Chapel, Warriston Crematorium at 2.30pm. His wife Sheila can be contacted by Email: shiela@lumsden.biz
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See also: http://www.scottishindependence.com/andrew_lumsden.htm
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