Solidarity: A new movement for socialism in Scotland

[Red Dawn]

The Left Must Unite, by Tommy Sheridan

Calls for left unity are not new in Scotland, and they are not the property of one party or group. All of the major political developments and alignments in Scottish politics in recent years have been born out of a desire to harness the popular vote to the left of Labour into a coherent electoral force for change.

We can all disagree over why one project or another failed, or didn't progress in the way we thought it would, but we can surely all agree that they were genuine attempts to create a party to the left of Labour. Most of us still believe that our party or coalition IS the one that will bring these forces together.

However, realistically, there is no single party capable of taking on that role at the moment. Fortunately there are independent trade unionists, outside of the political parties, who are willing to take up the task of uniting the left for the purposes of forthcoming elections.

A call from Solidarity or any other party to join under our party banner would, quite rightly, be rejected by those who believe that their party is the vehicle of left unity. Likewise, our members would also reject the idea of joining another party outright at this time.

For that reason I am calling on Solidarity members, and all the other left parties, to get behind the independent initiatives, and provide an alternative for the voters of Scotland.

Solidarity and Left Unity

At the end of last year, the National Steering Committee of Solidarity (NSC) passed a motion that committed the party to "where possible seek left unity and to maximise left votes during elections.".

Since then, and before, a number of initiatives have taken place with varying levels of uptake and success. It is now our party policy to pursue all of the options and to seek an independent leadership in these initiatives, not dominated by one party or an empty call for all of us to unify under the banner of the Labour Party, the Greens or any other existing party.

A call for left unity based on other groups "surrendering" is a hollow call aimed at one group controlling the united forces of the left, not at uniting those people behind a progressive, socialist movement.

Currently there are several projects progressing ideas towards the next UK General Election. We welcome these initiatives as genuine attempts at left unity. Our members have taken part in talks and conferences with Trade Unions, left parties and individuals looking at ideas from a basic call for a charter to potential electoral projects. And Solidarity have now agreed to take part in the No2EU/Yes to Democracy electoral campaign for the EU elections.

The Peoples Charter

There are now several 'charters' floating around, all sharing key points and a series of demands based on socialist reforms. Solidarity are signed up to the 'People Before Profit' charter, which orginated from our comrades in the Socialist Workers Party. Last week in London, Tony Benn joined left Labour MPs and leading trades unionists like Bob Crow (RMT) Matt Wrack (FBU) and Mark Serwotka (PCS) to launch 'The Peoples Charter', something that I support. But charters are only propaganda tools and we should be looking at taking these charters as a set of demands to unite into an electoral challenge.

There is a very big difference between the position we are in now and the chartists movement two centuries ago - WE HAVE THE VOTE!

The Peoples Charter can be the basis for left unity at the next general election. Rather than gathering a million names on a petition, let's gather a million votes and more. There would be no need to give up on our individual parties, no need for a new group. All individuals and parties who sign up for the charter must pledge to fight for these demands in parliament, no matter what party they belong to. An independent or balanced group could monitor the overall picture to make sure we only see one 'charter' candidate in any consitutency.

No2EU/Yes to Democracy

Solidarity has welcomed the launch of the No2EU-Yes to Democracy electoral alliance led by the RMT union. At our NSC last week (21st March) we agreed to offer candidates and full support to this campaign.

The initiative is a historic attempt by a union in the front line of resisting attacks on their members pay, conditions and jobs to offer voters a working class alternative to the pro big business agenda of the main parties or the xenophobia, racism and hate peddled by the far right BNP.

This is the first time a national trade union has taken the decision to stand in a national election as a challenge to Labour, and it could have huge implications for the emergence of a genuine mass working class party at a later stage. We believe this initiative gives us the opportunity to see left unity in action at the European Elections.

I appeal to Trades Unions and union branches, the Socialist Labour Party, the Scottish Socialist Party, the Communist Party of Scotland, Trades Councils to sign up in support of this courageous initiative led by the RMT. This is an important left unity project and it deserves our support and support from all on the left.

Unite to Fight

We realise that these initial attempts to achieve left electoral unity will result in some level of disagreement between the groups involved.

Anyone reading this will know that my wife and I face allegations that will result in another courtroom battle featuring some high profile members of both Solidarity and the SSP. That will make certain meetings difficult or even impossible for some individuals. But we simply have to put that to one side for the sake of the voters, and in support of the brave trade unionists who are leading these initiatives.

Socialists in both parties already work together, whether it is on the campaign to save schools in Glasgow, anti-war and pro-Palestine events, or in trade union activity. We have to treat the next election campaigns in the same way, a campaign where we share aims, where our opinion of individuals is less important than their politics.

Capitalism IS in crisis, the working class need a channel for their anger, a voice in parliaments, we must put aside our differences for the time being to ensure we dont miss this opportunity.

Tommy Sheridan is National Co-Convenor of Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement....

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/view/604/66/

The above must happen...or we are truly lost brothers and sisters...Time is running out...FAST.

[Red Dawn]

"Watched, Everywhere. by Tony Bunyan"

http://tinyurl.com/ckcgp4

[Red Dawn]

14 April

"SCOTTISH PALESTINE CAMPAIGNERS TO FIGHT CHARGES OF “RACIAL MOTIVATION”"...

http://tinyurl.com/cakv48

You couldn`t make it up...But the Procurator Fiscal DID make it up.

[Red Dawn]

18 April 2009

"Britain: Glasgow schools occupied against Labour closure threat"

"This must seek the broadest political mobilisation of working people in defence of education, jobs and living standards, and must seek real and permanent encroachments into the private and corporate wealth and social position of the financial elite."...

http://tinyurl.com/ca85hp


18 April, 2009

"Save Our Schools - Glasgow"...

http://sosglasgow.wordpress.com/


"Save Our Schools Demonstration 17 April 09"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B81oGQ76oms

[Red Dawn]

Expenses Scandal

Solidarity News Release

Sheridan calls for Scottish parliament to take the lead in restoring confidence after second homes scandal

Solidarity co-convenor Tommy Sheridan today called for the Scottish Parliament to take the moral lead in restoring public confidence in the expenses and second homes scandals that have engulfed Westminster politics...

http://tinyurl.com/oov46b

[Red Dawn]

"Video of Israeli armed police shutting down the launch of Palfest 2009:" (Video not working in link,try link below)...

http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/index.php


"PALFEST 2009: Day 1"...

http://tinyurl.com/qaa34f

[Red Dawn]

13th June

Glasgow North East By-Election
The Solidarity National Steering Committee met on Saturday 13th June to discuss the implications of The European Election results and to discuss progress that has taken place on possible closer cooperation between left parties at the forthcoming Glasgow North East By-Election.

The Solidarity National Secretary was instructed by the NSC to issue the following letter to be distributed to members of The SSP who are meeting at a Regional Aggregate in Glasgow on June 16th.

The Glasgow North East By-Election – An Open letter to SSP Members

Comrades,

The crisis in global capitalism and the recent European election results have given us all on the left much to ponder. The collapse of the vote for The Labour Party, the emergence of the BNP as an electable force and the huge levels of abstention, (especially in working class communities) mean that we all need to re-examine our strategy for the coming period. The resignation of The Speaker of The House of Commons, Michael Martin will necessitate a by-election in his constituency of Glasgow North East. Early indications are that the election would be held in early September.

It has come to our attention that the SSP plan to discuss standing and possibly select a candidate for the forthcoming Glasgow North East by-election at a Glasgow members meeting to be held in the city on Tuesday night. We in Solidarity would like to respectfully ask that SSP members delay a final decision on the issue, at least in the short term, until some form of left unity discussion can take place. It is our understanding that a group of prominent Scottish trade unionists linked to none of the parties of the left in Scotland are in the formative stages of brokering left unity talks specifically on the issue of the Glasgow North East constituency. Our understanding is that during the next week formal approaches will be made to trade unionists, left progressives, environmentalists, community activists, the SSP, SLP and Solidarity to see if a unity process is achievable.

If the call for such unity was to come from either ourselves in Solidarity or one of the various parties of the left in Scotland then you could be justified in treating it with suspicion and reject it. As however, the call is expected to come from respected trade unionists we hope the SSP will consider it seriously, just as Solidarity intend to do.

The constituency contains parts of the city of Glasgow that have some of the worst levels of poverty and deprivation in Western Europe. In the Springburn area, an estimated 40% of the population lives on or below the poverty line and unemployment is well above the national average. The crisis in the global economy will hit these poorest areas harder than most. We all believe that none of the mainstream parties offer a solution to the problems working class people in Glasgow North East and beyond face. Rather than the politics of despair, we would like to advance the politics of hope. We would
like to see socialist, environmental, trade union and progressive arguments come to the fore in the by-election.

The problem is however, that the forces of the left advancing socialist and progressive arguments are disparate and divided. Without an agreement on left unity, the by-election could see a number of socialist/progressive/environmental parties fighting against each other for a share of the vote. Each one claiming to be the best option, each one claiming to have all the answers and each one struggling to make significant inroads in terms of votes.

The SSP, The SLP and Solidarity all have legitimate cause to stand under their own banner in this election. The SSP have without exception stood candidates in Glasgow seats since its inception in the late 1990’s achieving some notable results. The Socialist Labour Party received a significant number of votes in this constituency in 2005 and Solidarity emerged with the largest vote of all the left parties in the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary elections.

A left unity candidate however, with backing from trade unionists and all the various component groups on the left united around a short, basic programme may have a better chance of making a major impact on the election. We believe that this by-election offers an unrivaled opportunity for the left to try and put aside differences and unify in a temporary electoral pact or coalition. This will not be an easy task. There are deep divisions amongst groups on the left that make this kind of joint working difficult.

Never the less, we believe we have a duty to working class communities like Glasgow North East to at least discuss with those in the labour movement appealing to us to put aside those differences. We hope the SSP will delay a final decision until discussions can take place.

Yours in socialism,

Graeme McIver

National Secretary (On behalf of The National Steering Committee of Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement.)...

http://tinyurl.com/mcnmqy

We live in hope.

[Red Dawn]

Defend Tommy Sheridan

Solidarity have called on the Crown Office to explain the millions of pounds of public money allocated to the pursuit of the partys' Co-Convenor, Tommy Sheridan. Lothian and Borders Police have been investigating the case for nearly two years with, at times, dozens of officers working full-time. Solidarity Press Spokesperson, Hugh Kerr, said:

"The question of why this investigation was launched, and the resources allocated to it, has never been answered. This is a waste of public money and a distraction of Police resources that cannot be justified."

Sheridan and his partner Gail are due to appear at a preliminary hearing on Monday 13 July at the High Court in Edinburgh at 10.00am. Kerr called on Solidarity members to join him in a show of solidarity at the court:

"All socialists, trade unionists and activists should rally against this attack on our comrades. Tommy Sheridan has never failed to stand by the people in struggle and it's time for us to get behind him to end this politically motivated action."...

http://tinyurl.com/5ohlv9

[Red Dawn]

11 Feb 2009

"Exclusive: Crown Office placed under "incredible pressure" to proceed with Sheridan perjury cases
Senior sources within the Crown Office have claimed that Lothian and Borders Police placed them under "incredible pressure" to proceed to bring prosecutions against Tommy Sheridan and Gail Sheridan, following their arrest in November 2007 on perjury charges."

"Rumours had been circulating for some time in the legal profession that the case against the Sheridans was about to be dropped. However in January the Crown confirmed that both would face charges in relation to evidence given during Tommy Sheridan's defamation action against the News of the World."...

http://tinyurl.com/d9qjct

This matter must be investigated in the public interest. It has brought the Crown Office and Lothian and Borders Police into disrepute, that now MUST be resolved. How can ANYONE expect that the Sheridan's can get a fair trial after all that has gone on is beyond me.This whole case is looking like a vindictive FARCE orchestrated by the Crown Office and Lothian and Borders Police and the Murdoch media empire.


"Too often it seems ACPO is the driving force behind policy, and the Home Office succumbs, either because of its own autocratic instincts or because the police are exceptionally good at pushing through the things they want."

http://tinyurl.com/ba3z82


Say`s it ALL...God help us

11 July 2009

"Murdoch’s News Group accused of £1 million payout to conceal phone-hacking"

"The Guardian pointed out that amongst the questions posed by the revelations was why the Metropolitan Police did not alert all those whose phones were targeted by the News Group. It also questioned why the Crown Prosecution Service did not pursue all possible charges against News Group personnel."

"The spotlight has also fallen on Andy Coulson, former deputy editor and later editor of the News of the World, who is now the Conservative Party's director of communications."

"Conservative Party leader David Cameron and other top Tories have defended Coulson amidst Labour demands for his resignation, citing his earlier resignation from Murdoch’s media empire as proof of his personal integrity. “I believe in giving people a second chance,” Cameron declared."...

http://tinyurl.com/mcl4bb


I told you what was going on. If they can`t get what they want...They just make it up. So we have it at last "Rupert Murdoch’s News Group" is a front for a criminal organisation,along with the Conservative Party.

It also goes to show they were out to get Tommy Sheridan by ANY means possible...Lies,bribes...All in all TOTAL criminality that knows NO bounds. Their evil has taken over gevernment the police and the law...God help us.

[Red Dawn]

"Solidarity with Vestas Occupiers

A group of workers have occupied the Vestas plant on the Isle of Wight.
Their brave stand is in defence of 600 jobs under threat and to keep
production going at almost the only British producer of wind turbines.

The government says it plans to create a million “green jobs”.
Meanwhile, in the real world, this wind turbine factory is being closed and Labour does nothing.

All 600 workers at the factory face redundancy. The factory is the largest employer on the island."...

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/view/656/2/