New members shake up Scottish parliament
What happened at Holyrood in May was little short of a coup. Dismayed by the priorities of the established parties and horrified at the growing scandal of the new parliament building, the electorate dismantled the old four-party system, depleting the ranks of Labour and the Scottish National party and bringing in six Scottish Socialists, seven Scottish Greens and four independents.
"We touched a raw nerve because we tapped into a great feeling across Scotland and the UK of complete antipathy to establishment politicians," said Tommy Sheridan, the leader of the Scottish Socialists.
Mr Sheridan, who has been transformed from maverick MSP to elder statesman by the arrival of five colleagues, says the SSP is making a difference...
Peter Lynch, lecturer in politics at Stirling University, agrees that the newcomers have made their presence felt.
"They are head and shoulders above some of the others who came in at the start." The Guardian
The house that Jack is trying to build
So any new excitement in politics must be a good thing? Not quite. Especially not if it is provided by those colourful characters in the Scottish Socialist party.
"I don't think the behaviour of the Trots has helped over the past six months," says McConnell. "I don't agree with this view that the parliament has become more exciting because you have a few people running around in jeans, chanting slogans and shouting abuse at each other." The Sunday Times
