BBC NEWS | Scotland | Galloway to take on Labour: "Mr Galloway said: 'I am launching a unity coalition which will seek to unite the left, the peace movement, the anti-war cause, the Muslim community in Britain, progressive people of all parties and none, to fight New Labour in the European elections in June in England and Wales.'
He said he would not stand on the same ticket in Scotland but instead support Scottish Socialist Party candidates. "
Friday, October 31, 2003
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
The People's Party
The People's Party Check out the programme of the SSP weekend of political culture in Glasgow.
Scottish Socialist Productions
Scottish Socialist Productions
Scottish Socialist Productions now has its own website where you can get SSP t-shirts, badges, calendars and much more. You can order online via PayPal.
Scottish Socialist Productions now has its own website where you can get SSP t-shirts, badges, calendars and much more. You can order online via PayPal.
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
A REVOLUTION GROWING FOR THE PEOPLE
The Mirror October 22, 2003, Wednesday
TOMMY SHERIDAN'S COLUMN: A REVOLUTION GROWING FOR THE PEOPLE
THERE are new winds blowing across Latin America according to Guillermo Garcia Ponce. I met Guillermo the other day. He's a fascinating man. He is 75 years old and, until his recent retirement, was a key figure in Venezuela's revolutionary government. Over the past 60 years, Guillermo has been repeatedly imprisoned for standing up against repression and injustice. My few stints behind bars pale into insignificance compared to this man's life-long struggle for democracy, freedom and socialism. He is furiously denounced by Venezuela's rich elite as a dangerous man. After chatting with him for a few hours I tell him that the world needs more dangerous men like him.
Venezuela today is at the heart of a radical new movement across Latin America. This new movement opposes the power of the USA and corporate capitalism. It stands for genuine national independence and freedom from the stranglehold of the White House and Wall Street. It wants to use Venezuela's oil and other resources for the benefit of the working class and the poor. The country's president, Hugo Chavez had himself been imprisoned back in 1992 for organising a people's revolt against the right-wing Venezuelan government.
IN one of the most oil-rich nations in the world, 80 per cent of the people lived a hand-to-mouth existence. Chavez was released in 1996 and has since become a national hero to the poor and ordinary workers across Venezuela. A former paratrooper in his countryis conscript army, he was elected national president in December 1998 with twice as many votes as all his opponents combined. He set about land reform to shift the balance away from big landowners to small farmers. He built schools, hospitals and homes for his people. He carried out wealth redistribution from rich to poor. He drew up a new constitution to protect Venezuelan oil from the multinational vampires. As a result, Chavez was re-elected in an even bigger landslide in August 2000.
The revolution unfolding in Venezuela today is not really a socialist revolution. But it's a democratic revolution which strikes at the heart of US power in the region. Chavez has expelled US troops from Venezuelan soil. His government opposed the bombing of Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq. Inevitably, his government provoked the wrath of the rich. In April 2002, the president was imprisoned following a CIA-backed coup. The rich elite were jubilant. But then ordinary people of Venezuela took to the streets in their millions to demand the return of their elected president.
Within three days, Chavez was reinstalled as president. But still the rich refused to accept the will of the people. Last December a bosses' lock-out was organised in a bid to bring down the elected government. The country was crippled. Oil production plummeted. In response, Chavez renationalised and reorganised the oil industry to save it from the corrupt American influenced management. It is now run democratically with its profits used to benefit the people of Venezuela.
I've visited the barrios or shanty towns surrounding Caracas. I've been interviewed by the new community media network and local radio station which broadcasts to two million people. The whole experience has been exhilarating and inspirational. Truly, a revolution is taking place in this country.
In nearby Bolivia, the right wing president has been forced to flee and Chavez is being blamed. What is happening in Venezuela is having a knock-on effect. In other Latin American countries, governments have become less willing to act as Washington's poodles. New winds are definitely blowing across Latin America. Socialism and national independence are in the air.
Tommy Sheridan
TOMMY SHERIDAN'S COLUMN: A REVOLUTION GROWING FOR THE PEOPLE
THERE are new winds blowing across Latin America according to Guillermo Garcia Ponce. I met Guillermo the other day. He's a fascinating man. He is 75 years old and, until his recent retirement, was a key figure in Venezuela's revolutionary government. Over the past 60 years, Guillermo has been repeatedly imprisoned for standing up against repression and injustice. My few stints behind bars pale into insignificance compared to this man's life-long struggle for democracy, freedom and socialism. He is furiously denounced by Venezuela's rich elite as a dangerous man. After chatting with him for a few hours I tell him that the world needs more dangerous men like him.
Venezuela today is at the heart of a radical new movement across Latin America. This new movement opposes the power of the USA and corporate capitalism. It stands for genuine national independence and freedom from the stranglehold of the White House and Wall Street. It wants to use Venezuela's oil and other resources for the benefit of the working class and the poor. The country's president, Hugo Chavez had himself been imprisoned back in 1992 for organising a people's revolt against the right-wing Venezuelan government.
IN one of the most oil-rich nations in the world, 80 per cent of the people lived a hand-to-mouth existence. Chavez was released in 1996 and has since become a national hero to the poor and ordinary workers across Venezuela. A former paratrooper in his countryis conscript army, he was elected national president in December 1998 with twice as many votes as all his opponents combined. He set about land reform to shift the balance away from big landowners to small farmers. He built schools, hospitals and homes for his people. He carried out wealth redistribution from rich to poor. He drew up a new constitution to protect Venezuelan oil from the multinational vampires. As a result, Chavez was re-elected in an even bigger landslide in August 2000.
The revolution unfolding in Venezuela today is not really a socialist revolution. But it's a democratic revolution which strikes at the heart of US power in the region. Chavez has expelled US troops from Venezuelan soil. His government opposed the bombing of Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq. Inevitably, his government provoked the wrath of the rich. In April 2002, the president was imprisoned following a CIA-backed coup. The rich elite were jubilant. But then ordinary people of Venezuela took to the streets in their millions to demand the return of their elected president.
Within three days, Chavez was reinstalled as president. But still the rich refused to accept the will of the people. Last December a bosses' lock-out was organised in a bid to bring down the elected government. The country was crippled. Oil production plummeted. In response, Chavez renationalised and reorganised the oil industry to save it from the corrupt American influenced management. It is now run democratically with its profits used to benefit the people of Venezuela.
I've visited the barrios or shanty towns surrounding Caracas. I've been interviewed by the new community media network and local radio station which broadcasts to two million people. The whole experience has been exhilarating and inspirational. Truly, a revolution is taking place in this country.
In nearby Bolivia, the right wing president has been forced to flee and Chavez is being blamed. What is happening in Venezuela is having a knock-on effect. In other Latin American countries, governments have become less willing to act as Washington's poodles. New winds are definitely blowing across Latin America. Socialism and national independence are in the air.
Tommy Sheridan
Monday, October 27, 2003
McConnell opposes moves to take charitable status from schools
SNP, Scottish Socialist Party and some Labour MSPs have signalled their intention to bring forward an amendment to the Charity (Scotland) Bill to end the charitable status of independent schools. The Scotsman
Local leaders move to reinstate Galloway
Tommy Sheridan, the leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, said the "game is up for Socialists in the Labour Party in Scotland", and he called on them to join the SSP. The Scotsman
SNP, Scottish Socialist Party and some Labour MSPs have signalled their intention to bring forward an amendment to the Charity (Scotland) Bill to end the charitable status of independent schools. The Scotsman
Local leaders move to reinstate Galloway
Tommy Sheridan, the leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, said the "game is up for Socialists in the Labour Party in Scotland", and he called on them to join the SSP. The Scotsman
Friday, October 24, 2003
£3500 council tax for trip to Oz - to learn about rubbish
£3500 council tax for trip to Oz - to learn about rubbish - Evening Times The trip was also criticised by the Scottish Socialist councillor for Pollok, Keith Baldasara. He said: "It should be cancelled immediately. It is a bigger waste of the council's time and money than anything they will find out about waste management in Australia. "These conferences are usually a waste of space because the topics discussed are almost always available on the internet a short time after the event and can easily be accessed from George Square."
Prison Watchdog Demands Reduction in Crowded Jails
Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Prison Watchdog Demands Reduction in Crowded Jails Scottish Socialist Party justice spokesperson Colin Fox said: “This report is a damning indictment of the Scottish prison system and of the abject failure of the Scottish Executive to take Scotland’s prisons out of the dark ages.”
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Socialism 2003
The SSP's weekend event 'Socialism 2003' - "Another Scotland is Possible" was a big success. The Caledonian University venue was packed to hear speakers including RMT General Secretary Bob Crow, PCS President Mark Serwotka, Bill Spiers of the STUC, Brazilian Workers Party (PT) MP Luiziana Lins, John McAllion, SNP MSP Sandra White, Socialist Alliance councillor for Preston Mark Lavallete and of course our SSP MSP's. There were international visitors from Palestine, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, France, Belgium, Italy and elsewhere.
Bob Crow made an uncompromising speech condemning New Labour and calling on trade-unionists in Scotland to support the SSP. Mark Serwotka said that the SSP was the model that socialists in England should follow and former Labour MP and MSP John McAllion attacked New Labour in his speech. John later announced his resignation from the Labour Party.
Workshop discussions also proved popular with packed audiences for debates on Independence and Socialism, the campaign for Colombian Coca-Cola workers, the European Social Forum and many more. (The full programme can be viewed here.)
Socialism 2003 pictures
Monday, October 20, 2003
McAllion quits Labour and eyes the SSP
The Herald: McAllion quits Labour and eyes the SSP
JOHN McAllion, the maverick Labour MSP who lost his seat at the last election, yesterday announced that he is quitting Labour and advised all true socialists to follow his example.
The former MP for Dundee East and Tayside council leader said he was likely to join the Scottish Socialist Party. "Maybe I won't join today but it will be soon" he told an SSP rally in Glasgow.
Mr McAllion said: "I believe in a mass party to help the working class but new Labour is no longer that party. In Scotland, the SSP is the only party where socialists should be."
Speaking to The Herald later, Mr McAllion said he was increasingly pessimistic that the changes brought about in the Labour party's stance by Tony Blair and his supporters could be reversed. Labour was now as committed to capitalism and the free market as the Tories or Liberal Democrats, he claimed.
Although he was considering joining the SSP, Mr McAllion said his first choice would be to be a member of the Labour Party as it was in the post-second world war period.
"It has now dropped forever any idea of a future for the workers in a world outside capitalism," Mr McAllion said.
Denouncing the last Labour conference and its support for the prime minister, he added: "If they can give Tony Blair a seven-and-a-half-minute ovation, then either they or I are in the wrong party, and I think it is probably me," said Mr McAllion.
It was obvious the fiery left winger had become increasingly disenchanted with new Labour and often spoke out against Scottish Executive policies in the parliament where most MSPs agreed he served with distinction as the convener of the public petitions committee.
Remaining resolutely old Labour, he often collaborated with Denis Canavan, his former Westminster colleague and now an Independent MSP, and Tommy Sheridan, leader of the SSP, on issues such as abolishing poinding and warrant sales or campaigning for free school meals for all state primary pupils.
During a debate on the Iraq war before the May elections, he denounced Mr Blair and called for his downfall. He had also hinted that if he was not allowed to speak out against the war he might leave and join the Scottish socialists.
Last night an SSP spokesman said:"The party is delighted John is breaking with Labour finally and we hope he will soon be joining the SSP.
An SSP spokesman said: "He will be extremely welcome there, as he was at today's rally, and we urge all socialists left in new Labour to come and join us with him."
Mr McAllion, who was a member of the Nationalist tendency in the Labour Party, lost his Dundee East Scottish parliament seat to the SNP by just 70 votes, in last May's parliament elections.
He had first won it from the nationalists in 1987 when he replaced Gordon Wilson as the Westminster MP there.
His political profile in the city had been raised due to his position as leader of the former Tayside Regional Council. He became an MSP in 1999, but the seat remained a tight Labour/SNP marginal in the 2003 contest which he lost to Shona Robison.
Mr McAllion, who is 55, has recently become a full-time campaign worker with Oxfam and said yesterday that he was also doing some writing for left wing publications and considering his political future. The Herald
JOHN McAllion, the maverick Labour MSP who lost his seat at the last election, yesterday announced that he is quitting Labour and advised all true socialists to follow his example.
The former MP for Dundee East and Tayside council leader said he was likely to join the Scottish Socialist Party. "Maybe I won't join today but it will be soon" he told an SSP rally in Glasgow.
Mr McAllion said: "I believe in a mass party to help the working class but new Labour is no longer that party. In Scotland, the SSP is the only party where socialists should be."
Speaking to The Herald later, Mr McAllion said he was increasingly pessimistic that the changes brought about in the Labour party's stance by Tony Blair and his supporters could be reversed. Labour was now as committed to capitalism and the free market as the Tories or Liberal Democrats, he claimed.
Although he was considering joining the SSP, Mr McAllion said his first choice would be to be a member of the Labour Party as it was in the post-second world war period.
"It has now dropped forever any idea of a future for the workers in a world outside capitalism," Mr McAllion said.
Denouncing the last Labour conference and its support for the prime minister, he added: "If they can give Tony Blair a seven-and-a-half-minute ovation, then either they or I are in the wrong party, and I think it is probably me," said Mr McAllion.
It was obvious the fiery left winger had become increasingly disenchanted with new Labour and often spoke out against Scottish Executive policies in the parliament where most MSPs agreed he served with distinction as the convener of the public petitions committee.
Remaining resolutely old Labour, he often collaborated with Denis Canavan, his former Westminster colleague and now an Independent MSP, and Tommy Sheridan, leader of the SSP, on issues such as abolishing poinding and warrant sales or campaigning for free school meals for all state primary pupils.
During a debate on the Iraq war before the May elections, he denounced Mr Blair and called for his downfall. He had also hinted that if he was not allowed to speak out against the war he might leave and join the Scottish socialists.
Last night an SSP spokesman said:"The party is delighted John is breaking with Labour finally and we hope he will soon be joining the SSP.
An SSP spokesman said: "He will be extremely welcome there, as he was at today's rally, and we urge all socialists left in new Labour to come and join us with him."
Mr McAllion, who was a member of the Nationalist tendency in the Labour Party, lost his Dundee East Scottish parliament seat to the SNP by just 70 votes, in last May's parliament elections.
He had first won it from the nationalists in 1987 when he replaced Gordon Wilson as the Westminster MP there.
His political profile in the city had been raised due to his position as leader of the former Tayside Regional Council. He became an MSP in 1999, but the seat remained a tight Labour/SNP marginal in the 2003 contest which he lost to Shona Robison.
Mr McAllion, who is 55, has recently become a full-time campaign worker with Oxfam and said yesterday that he was also doing some writing for left wing publications and considering his political future. The Herald
Friday, October 17, 2003
Super union' threat to Blair's policies
Scotsman.com News - UK - 'Super union' threat to Blair's policies: TWO of Britain’s biggest unions are considering merging, forming a heavy-weight challenge to Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, as he prepares Labour’s manifesto for the general election.
Tony Woodley, who takes over from Sir Bill Morris as the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers union next week, said he was in favour of joining forces with another major union - most probably the GMB.
Mr Woodley, a leading member of the so-called "awkward squad", also announced a summit of "like-minded unions" to co-ordinate grassroots opposition to "ludicrous and divisive" Labour policies...
...Mr Woodley said that the success of the Scottish Socialists in this year’s Holyrood elections should have rung warning bells across the Labour movement.
"If you analyse what has happened there with the SSP, that’s a real warning shot for Labour.
"People are deserting them by the droves, unlike in Wales who have carried on with a traditional old Labour culture.
"This is a big message for Scotland and for Wales," Mr Woodley said.
Tony Woodley, who takes over from Sir Bill Morris as the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers union next week, said he was in favour of joining forces with another major union - most probably the GMB.
Mr Woodley, a leading member of the so-called "awkward squad", also announced a summit of "like-minded unions" to co-ordinate grassroots opposition to "ludicrous and divisive" Labour policies...
...Mr Woodley said that the success of the Scottish Socialists in this year’s Holyrood elections should have rung warning bells across the Labour movement.
"If you analyse what has happened there with the SSP, that’s a real warning shot for Labour.
"People are deserting them by the droves, unlike in Wales who have carried on with a traditional old Labour culture.
"This is a big message for Scotland and for Wales," Mr Woodley said.
Jewish asylum seeker avoids deportation
Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Jewish asylum seeker avoids deportation: "Last night, Rosie Kane, the Scottish Socialist Party MSP, who has supported the family, said: 'I am delighted they are not to be dragged away to an aeroplane and further traumatised. They have lived previously in the Sighthill area of Glasgow and have no history of wanting or attempting to abscond."
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Sheridan visits President Chavez of Venezuela
The Scotsman - Politics - Sheridan visits socialist president of Venezuela TOMMY Sheridan is to meet Venezuela’s left-wing president, Hugo Chavez, this week following an invitation from Caracas, the Scottish Socialist Party leader said last night.
Mr Sheridan said he hoped to learn from the experiences of Mr Chavez’s government while visiting the South American state during Holyrood’s recess.
"Hugo Chavez is one of the few socialists in power anywhere in the world and he is attempting to use his power to redistribute wealth and power to the poor," the Glasgow list MSP said.
"I want to learn how a socialist Scotland could use our power to shift wealth and power to working people - Venezuela owns its own oil industry and that is SSP policy."
Mr Sheridan said he hoped to learn from the experiences of Mr Chavez’s government while visiting the South American state during Holyrood’s recess.
"Hugo Chavez is one of the few socialists in power anywhere in the world and he is attempting to use his power to redistribute wealth and power to the poor," the Glasgow list MSP said.
"I want to learn how a socialist Scotland could use our power to shift wealth and power to working people - Venezuela owns its own oil industry and that is SSP policy."
Monday, October 13, 2003
Future for Rail
Letter to the Herald
THE current ScotRail franchise is due to expire on March 31, 2004, and there are at present three preferred bidders, ScotRail (National Express Group), Arriva, and First Group. It is extremely premature, therefore, to talk (October 11) of an extension to the ScotRail franchise when the bidding for the present franchise has not yet even taken place. But the end of this franchise gives the Scottish Executive the chance to actually take rail services in Scotland in a new and radical direction. The present Scottish rail passenger franchise is kept running through a tranche of public money and, as such, must and should be publicly owned. Environmentally, socially, and economically a publicly owned rail system makes sense and is supported by unions, political parties, and passengers alike. The SSP along with the RMT are more than happy to show the executive how to take our railways back into public ownership.
Mary W Spowart, transport researcher, SSP, 73 Robertson Street, Glasgow.
THE current ScotRail franchise is due to expire on March 31, 2004, and there are at present three preferred bidders, ScotRail (National Express Group), Arriva, and First Group. It is extremely premature, therefore, to talk (October 11) of an extension to the ScotRail franchise when the bidding for the present franchise has not yet even taken place. But the end of this franchise gives the Scottish Executive the chance to actually take rail services in Scotland in a new and radical direction. The present Scottish rail passenger franchise is kept running through a tranche of public money and, as such, must and should be publicly owned. Environmentally, socially, and economically a publicly owned rail system makes sense and is supported by unions, political parties, and passengers alike. The SSP along with the RMT are more than happy to show the executive how to take our railways back into public ownership.
Mary W Spowart, transport researcher, SSP, 73 Robertson Street, Glasgow.
Thursday, October 09, 2003
Kurdish Solidarity Meeting
Akif Bozat from the Kurdistan National Congress and Mark Muller Chair of the Kurdish Human Rights Project spoke alongside Frances Curran MSP and Rosie Kane MSP at a meeting at the Scottish Parliament yesterday.
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Herald Poll: SSP support increases
The Herald Poll "The SSP continues to perform strongly in the second vote where it records 10%, up three points."
Sunday, October 05, 2003
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Healthy Eating and Free School Meals
Letter to the Herald
Congratulations on your scoop on the failure of the Scottish Executive's healthy eating strategy and your excellent editorial on the need for free school meals as an essential part of any healthy eating campaign (September 29). The SSP warned at the time of the launch of the executive's strategy that it was doomed to failure because, up against the power of the fast-food industry, it would founder. All the research we have looked at suggests that a major social and cultural change is required to combat the unhealthy life of Scots which puts us at the top of the European league tables for heart disease, obesity, and cancer. The most successful country we have looked at, Finland, used free school meals consciously, not only to give a balanced, nutritious lunch but to re-educate the pupils and their parents in healthy eating. This was clearly shown by the BBC Frontline Scotland programme that should be compulsory viewing for the executive.
Last week you published the OECD league tables on education which placed Finland firmly on top and the UK slipping to 22nd. Part of their success they attribute to their free school meals, which not only give the pupils a healthy lunch, helping their concentration, but also teach them how to sit together and relate to each other rather than walking around the high street grazing on unhealthy fast-food, as many of our pupils do. To those Labour MSPs who claim pupils in Scotland would not eat free school meals, Finland shows this is nonsense as 95% of pupils take free school meals. Are we so different from Finland?
The Scottish Parliament will soon have a chance of voting again on the principle of free school meals. It is getting widespread support but unless the Labour-LibDem majority changes its position, it will fail again. On the basis of your article and your editorial, the SSP and, I'm sure, many Scots will hope that it changes its position.
Congratulations on your scoop on the failure of the Scottish Executive's healthy eating strategy and your excellent editorial on the need for free school meals as an essential part of any healthy eating campaign (September 29). The SSP warned at the time of the launch of the executive's strategy that it was doomed to failure because, up against the power of the fast-food industry, it would founder. All the research we have looked at suggests that a major social and cultural change is required to combat the unhealthy life of Scots which puts us at the top of the European league tables for heart disease, obesity, and cancer. The most successful country we have looked at, Finland, used free school meals consciously, not only to give a balanced, nutritious lunch but to re-educate the pupils and their parents in healthy eating. This was clearly shown by the BBC Frontline Scotland programme that should be compulsory viewing for the executive.
Last week you published the OECD league tables on education which placed Finland firmly on top and the UK slipping to 22nd. Part of their success they attribute to their free school meals, which not only give the pupils a healthy lunch, helping their concentration, but also teach them how to sit together and relate to each other rather than walking around the high street grazing on unhealthy fast-food, as many of our pupils do. To those Labour MSPs who claim pupils in Scotland would not eat free school meals, Finland shows this is nonsense as 95% of pupils take free school meals. Are we so different from Finland?
The Scottish Parliament will soon have a chance of voting again on the principle of free school meals. It is getting widespread support but unless the Labour-LibDem majority changes its position, it will fail again. On the basis of your article and your editorial, the SSP and, I'm sure, many Scots will hope that it changes its position.
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