After winning a sensational victory against the News of
the World (see news pages for more info) Tommy Sheridan
MSP the SSP's former leader is in the process of setting
up a new party under the above name. Rosemary Byrne MSP has joined Sheridan and
other party activists who supported Sheridan's side during his court case.
Though Sheridan has made sure that a clear commitment to
independence forms a central part of the new party's objectives, the CWI and SWP
are also involved in the venture. As both organisations are London based this
raises some doubts as to the new parties future, obviously both would prefer a
British structure and most activists in these organisations are either openly
hostile or at the very least disinterested in independence.
Already the CWI are moaning about independence see
here. However Sheridan's commitment to the independence cause is in no doubt
whatsoever and his high personal profile will ensure the new party a decent
supply of publicity and strong leadership.
It's possible that Sheridan's old party will actually
become stronger without the CWI and SWP but they have been severely damaged by
the court case and it remains to be seen what will happen next.
Many expected Sheridan to stand for the SSP leadership in
the wake of his court victory however he seems to have calculated that his
opponents were too well placed within the party leadership and structures and
that a clean break was required.
Solidarity has launched its manifesto for the
Holyrood elections. Here are the main points of the plan.
Public services
Bring forward a bill to place Scottish Water firmly
in public hands, write-off historic debts and abolish domestic water
charges.
A referendum on Scottish independence.
Education
Bring in a bill setting targets for councils to cut
primary school class sizes to an average of 19 pupils.
Employ and train additional teachers, paid for by
cutting "bureaucratic management" and abolishing charitable tax relief for
private schools.
Abolish the student graduate endowment and bring
back grants.
Health
Introduce a bill to make all school meals free, at
an estimated cost of £180m per year, while exposing children to healthy
eating choices at an early age.
Invest at least £10m to improve support for young
carers.
Give young carers free access to distance learning
and Open University courses to combat the proportion leaving school with
little or no qualifications.
Plans, in a parliamentary bill, to give a non-means
tested allowance to all carers.
Propose legislation to provide fast help for drug
addicts to address their problem, including the possible prescription of
heroin under medical supervision.
Scrap prescription charges at a cost of £46m per
year.
Justice
Bring a bill to ban airguns, an issue reserved to
Westminster, using the UK parliament to pass the appropriate powers to
Holyrood.
Communities
Call for the construction of at least 30,000 new
local authority homes in the next three years.
Environment
Bring forward a bill creating a not-for-profit
renewable energy corporation for Scotland.
Place a statutory duty on the Scottish Executive to
bring in 10-year "rolling plans" for a "renewable energy economy".
Economy
Set up a Scottish Fisheries Board to allow fishermen
to advise on government policy, offer subsidies and incentives for
improving equipment and promote "substantial" council house investment in
fishing areas.
Scrap council tax and replace it with an
income-related Scottish Service Tax which would see those earning below
£10,000 pay nothing, while raising at least £300m a year more for local
services.
Cap rents charged to tenant farmers and award grants
to encourage new entrants to farming as well as payments to support
organic farming.
Abolish Scottish Enterprise and all associated local
enterprise companies, freeing up £500m per year to fund the scrapping of
domestic water charges and direct funding into "proper apprenticeships"
and long-term jobs for local communities.
Transport
Bring Scotland's railways back into public
ownership, with services run by a not-for-profit company.
SHERIDAN HITS OUT AT SSP AS
'INDEPENDENCE LITE' PARTY
TOMMY Sheridan branded the SNP "independence lite"
yesterday, as he launched Solidarity's manifesto. The firebrand
socialist's party wants a referendum in the first 100 days of parliament.
In contrast, he said the SNP planned to bring a referendum in the first
four years of a parliament.
With a target of winning a seat in each of the eight
regions, the manifesto set out 16 bills the party would put through - two
for each MSP Mr Sheridan hopes will be elected. The approach is an
innovative way for a smaller party to make an impact on policy, and some
of the bills could have a chance of being passed.
Mr Sheridan promised free school meals, a
£100-per-week allowance for carers, 30,000 new affordable homes in the
next three years and a publicly owned renewable energy company.
Solidarity would also scrap council tax in favour of
a service tax that would make those earning under £10,000 exempt.
Prescription charges would be eliminated and airguns banned.
TOMMY Sheridan showed his media-savvy credentials
yesterday when he unveiled the Solidarity party political broadcast in the
Iron Horse bar in Glasgow.
With the help of film makers Peter Mullan and Davie
McKay, viewers are given a dashboard-style view as Sheridan sits in his
car expounding his beliefs in much the same way had he been at a rally in
George Square. "We believe in waging war against poverty and inequality,
not against people on the other side of the world," he declares.
With a nod to the recent furore over the bugging of
his car, his tirade ends with a knowing sign-off: "I don't care who's
recording this."
During the post-video questions, Solidarity's leader
showed that he was more than aware of his public image and willing to make
the most of it. "There's nae slick make-up or technical back-up. It's just
in-your-face rawness, honesty," he said.
"People may think there's a bit of a caricature
there. We hope some people will say, 'For Christ's sake, we see him
ranting in the streets, ranting in the parliament, he even rants in his
motor'. But the message that comes across is clear."
Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan speaking at Independence
First's 30th September Rally.
More News stories re Solidarity and Tommy Sheridan:
Though Sheridan has made sure that a clear commitment to
independence forms a central part of the new party's objectives, the CWI and SWP
are also involved in the venture. As both organisations are London based this
raises some doubts as to the new parties future, obviously both would prefer a
British structure and most activists in these organisations are either openly
hostile or at the very least disinterested in independence. 
