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The National
05-08-2025
- Politics
- The National
I have more questions than answers about Jeremy Corbyn's new party
He and I are both admirers of Tony Benn and I share many of his political opinions. At the same time, I respectfully disagree with him on some important issues. And I point out that the 27-year-old Scottish Socialist Party has already announced – and reiterated again at our National Council in Glasgow last weekend – that it is our intention to stand in all eight regions at next year's Holyrood election. One of the most substantial differences we had with Corbyn for a long time was the nature and role of the Labour Party, which I left 40 years ago. For me Labour are not now, nor have ever been, a legitimate or trustworthy vehicle for socialist change. The independent socialist Scotland and modern democratic republic I want to see, for example, is not an ambition Labour share. The reverse in fact is true. It seems Corbyn, having split with Labour, agrees with me on the former issue at least. Keir Starmer's ambivalence toward the ongoing slaughter in Gaza is merely the last straw for many of his erstwhile voters. Others were just as disgusted by his attack on the benefits for people with disabilities and families with more than two children. Then there is the betrayal of the Waspi women and the repugnant decision to divert international aid spending towards armaments. Many questions remain about the Corbyn/Sultana project, however, largely because its advocates have been slow to provide answers. Is it their intention, for example, to create another version of the Labour Party? In other words, an electoral machine that may criticise but ultimately sustains capitalism? Where is the primacy of class in the new party's politics? How will it prevent the broad, and therefore shallow, coalition of disparate opinions collapsing under the pressure of ideological divisions and competing tactical priorities? If I were to guess at the social composition of the 600,000 people who have reportedly signed up for this project, I'd say many were likely to be students, others would be from the pro-Palestinian diaspora. And most would be from Greater London and the biggest English cities. READ MORE: 'One that belongs to you': Jeremy Corbyn reveals temporary name of new party My late father, a lifelong socialist and trade union member, never took to Corbyn as Labour leader. He felt he was just not 'hard enough' to withstand what the Labour right would throw at him. I confess I could see what he meant. Corbyn is a decent man, and it is an outrage that the charge of antisemitism was levelled against him for criticising the actions of the ultra-reactionary Israeli government. And yet he often seems like 'an altar boy at a knife fight', prone, according to Owen Jones's book This Land to disappearing to his allotment for days at a time to avoid confrontation. Just as Starmer has come a cropper for being merely the anti-Tory conduit in last year's election, Corbyn can surely see that offering an opposition to Starmer is not enough for people to sustainably coalesce behind. Another feature of the Corbyn announcement I found interesting was examining who is not joining – John McDonnell, Diane Abbott (below), Ian Lavery and other members of the 'Bennite' group of Labour MPs, nor are the trade unions. Nor are many socialists in the schemes of Scotland. The project, it seems to me, is therefore hamstrung by the contradictions within it. It's another London-centric project whose approach to the national question is at best ambivalent – they say they will not take a position on Scottish independence. I fear this new party is therefore less likely to succeed in Scotland than many believe. If it fails to build roots in working-class communities here, it will not sustain and in due course may perversely act as an accelerant for further advance by forces such as Reform UK. The rise in support for Reform can also be traced to Starmer's door. It has been seven years in the making and while the first five were spent largely trying to usurp the Tory Party, it really took off under the weight of Starmer's failures. They won the Runcorn by-election in May – Labour's fifth-safest seat – and are on course to win the Welsh Assembly election. They have 500 councillors, many in England's poorest counties and their narrative that 'Britain is broken and needs Reform' resonates with millions. Successful strategies demand thorough preparation, immense funding and resolute application. Nigel Farage, I regret to say, seems better prepared and more streetwise than Corbyn. The question I have been examining in this column over recent months is not so much 'is support for Reform increasing in Scotland?' but rather 'why is it on such a sharp incline?' What is driving its support? It's a question that demands an honest and comprehensive answer from an independence movement losing support to arch-Unionists. READ MORE: John Curtice gives verdict on John Swinney's indyref2 plan and SNP chances in 2026 Starmer's failures are undoubtedly the main driver. He promised to redistribute wealth in favour of working people and to fully fund public services such as the NHS, social care and education. He palpably has not. But it is also true that John Swinney must take his share of the blame for Reform's surge here. As First Minister, he has presided over NHS Scotland's worst crisis and betrayed a promise to deliver a national care service. His cut-and-paste independence strategy is no more credible. Claiming only an SNP majority at [[Holyrood]] next year can deliver indyref2 is undermined by a poor record in government over the past 19 years. That referendum also remains in the gift of Westminster and Swinney has never offered a serious route to achieving it. Incapable of thwarting the rise of Reform, he is unable to extricate himself from the view voters have of him as part of the political establishment implicated in the failure to address the grotesque inequalities, privatisations and exploitation people endure here. The Scottish Socialist Party will offer people an alternative to the parties of the 'extreme centre' and Reform UK at next year's election. And in doing so we will highlight our unwavering support for an independent socialist Scotland and a modern democratic republic – and the fact our MSPs would live on the average worker's wage, as I did between 2003-07. We'd replace the hated and unfair Council Tax with an income-based alternative where the poorest are exempt, and point proudly to an unparalleled record, over a quarter of a century, of support for workers and communities in struggle.
The National
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Socialism and Scottish independence are inseparable
He emphasised three points: the need to win a sustained majority for independence, 'put the heat up' on Westminster to concede a referendum, and gain maximum votes for the SNP in 2026. As a founding organiser of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), which since 1998 has advocated an independent socialist Scotland as its core policy, I agree we need to build a consistent pro-independence popular majority – and wield that as a force to compel Westminster into accepting Scotland's independence. But utterly lacking in Swinney's proclamation was anything concrete on how to achieve those goals. READ MORE: Peter Mandelson used BBC boss to plead for new job from Tony Blair, files say It's frankly a miracle – or to be slightly more scientific, a reflection of just how rotten the British state is and how deep-seated national consciousness is amongst the Scottish people – that half the population support independence despite 11 years of the SNP putting this issue on the back burner. Not mentioning the 'I' word for fear of scaring big business – and Unionist voters back to the Tories in areas like the north-east, who temporarily voted [[SNP]]. Promising, then cancelling a referendum after Brexit. Pleading with the Supreme Court of the British capitalist state, which was never going to give permission for the break-up of its own state structures. Followed by attempts to persuade the population through 'good governance' under devolution. It's no accident the gap between support for independence and for the SNP is unprecedented. Eighteen years of SNP administration – including a spell with their Green Party partners – has done little to inspire the doubters or former No voters that independence would mean material improvements for the mass of the population. If you wear the straitjacket of devolution without protest, without trying to burst it asunder and break free, you inevitably implement the same austerity measures – with this or that mitigation – as issued by the paymasters at Westminster, regardless of whether they're Tory or Labour. That's not 'good governance'; it's capitalist rule against the interests of the working-class majority. Even under devolution, a socialist government, rooted in the working-class majority, would pursue an entirely different course of action. Let me break this down into some concrete, illustrative examples. Back in 2013-14, when the SSP were the socialist wing of the Yes movement, we campaigned on the streets with petitions advocating 'vote Yes for a £9-an-hour Scottish minimum wage for all'. I well recall using that argument as the opener to explain a new vision of an independent socialist Scotland, where the wealth of society is redistributed to the wages, benefits and public services of the millions, away from the bank vaults of the millionaires, converting hundreds of people to vote Yes. Updating this, the SSP have persistently demanded the Scottish Government implement a Scottish Living Wage of £15-an-hour, rising with inflation, for all 600,000 public sector workers, plus those employed on public sector contracts, setting the benchmark for private sector employers. To help mobilise 600,000 Scottish trade unionists and young workers not yet even in a union to fight for this life-enhancing reform – pointing out independence would empower Scotland to make it a statutory minimum wage for all. [[Westminster]] has slashed at least £5 billion from Scottish budgets over 10 years. Instead of standing up for the Scottish people in defiant rebellion, Holyrood has meekly devolved the destruction to local government, from slashing more than 60,000 jobs; to further and higher education in meltdown through underfunding and poor governance by overpaid bosses; to fire services facing life-threatening cuts; and to our NHS, in the worst crisis since its formation. If the [[Scottish Government]] wishes to pick a fight with [[Westminster]] that will demonstrate the advantages of Scottish independence to millions, let me be so bold as to suggest that this winter they change their lifetime habits, set a 'no cuts' budget – or better still, one with vast improvements to job security and public services – and build a movement of workforces, communities and young people to demand back our stolen billions from the [[Westminster]] razor gang. If this 'No Cuts Defiance Budget' spelled out concrete plans for building 100,000 high-quality, eco-friendly council houses at affordable rent, to tackle the housing emergency with 250,000 people on the social housing waiting list, that alone would enliven huge swathes of the population into fighting for independence. Defiance of Westminster with radical socialist measures of wealth redistribution is the road to a huge, unstoppable independence majority – not compliance with Tory and now Labour butchery to jobs, wages and services, which demotivates potential independence supporters. (Image: Leon Neal) Meanwhile, speculation has erupted about the possible formation of a new party by MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. I welcome their apparent conclusion that Labour does not represent the interests of workers, pensioners, disabled people, or the Palestinians facing genocide by an Israeli government armed and aided in action by Keir Starmer's Labour. My only surprise is that it's taken Jeremy and Zarah this long to draw that conclusion; those of us who established the SSP 27 years ago had by then concluded Labour were a nakedly capitalist party lined up against working-class and even middle-class people. Labour are beyond redemption, rotten to the core. Genuine political parties cannot be built on personalities. They require principles, policies, programmes. So far, the proposed 'new left party' – whose existence will probably be proclaimed in the next few weeks – has no policies, no agreed leadership, no democratic structures. In the specific case of Scotland, it is in serious danger of creating the situation criticised by the late Tony Benn of there being 'too many socialist parties and not enough socialists'. It bodes ill for its prospects in Scotland that prior to declaring this new formation, there was no discussion whatsoever with Scotland's long-standing and largest socialist force – unrivalled in its record of solidarity with workers' struggles, opposition to genocide, and putting full-blooded socialism forward in elections: the SSP. However, we will seek to rectify the damage thereby done, including in the 2026 Holyrood elections, where the SSP aim to stand in all eight regions, and to build maximum unity in the struggle for socialism. There are fundamental principles on which we will not compromise. Will they adopt the SSP's policy of MSPs living on the average worker's wage, to remain grounded, accountable, incorruptible? Where does the putative new party stand on Scottish independence? So far, all that's been offered is incoherence and wild claims by individuals with no authority to do so. A London-based party offering the right to a second referendum would be a small step forward compared to Labour manifestos under Corbyn's leadership, which were not only against independence but also against a second referendum. But a party primarily founded around Westminster politics (with a Scottish 'arm' or 'branch'), generously granting the right to vote, is a far cry from being a socialist party rooted in Scotland's working class itself, entirely self-governing in its policy decision-making, which vigorously advocates an independent socialist Scotland. Such a party already exists; it's called the SSP. For us, socialism and independence are inseparable, they cannot be dissevered. As the SNP have found and will find to their cost, the majority of people will not be convinced of independence as they witness austerity being handed down from Holyrood on behalf of Westminster; public subsidies being gifted to arms companies engaged in genocide; secret meetings between Scottish government ministers and the state terrorist Israeli government's representatives; or continued failure to bring wind power, all forms of energy, bus factories and services, etc, into democratic public ownership. You cannot win independence without the help of a powerful force advocating an independent, socialist Scotland. Equally, you cannot further the cause of socialism in Scotland without being proudly pro-independence. Over the next couple of years, a million Scots will be of voting age who were either not born or too young to vote in the 2014 referendum. No party will inspire that generation (or indeed older people) of the benefits of independence without advocating radical socialist change that improves their daily lives. Nor will it build an unstoppable force for socialism without including independence to the fore in its policies. We cannot rely on personalities; we require fighting socialist principles and policies. We cannot rely on messiahs; we need mass movements of the Scottish working class to carve out an independent socialist future.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Former MSP Tommy Sheridan loses social worker job legal challenge
Former MSP Tommy Sheridan has lost his legal battle to overturn a council's decision not to employ him as a social City Council's Health and Social Care Partnership told Mr Sheridan there was an "unacceptable level of risk" in hiring him as a social worker due to his prior conviction for former leader of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) then went to the Court of Session, claiming the local authority had acted judge, Lord Young, has said he agreed with submissions made by lawyers acting for the local authority that the decision could not be judicially reviewed. Lord Young wrote: "It makes no difference that, in this case, the petitioner's complaint relates to a refusal by the respondent to consider entering into a contract of employment."He added that Mr Sheridan "enjoys no private law right" to be considered for employment by the city council and was trying to apply broad public law concepts to fashion the right to be considered for such Young ruled: "If the petitioner's argument was accepted, then it would follow that every applicant for a public sector job in Scotland could potentially challenge the job application process using the judicial review procedure."I find that the petition is incompetent for the reasons advanced by the respondent and it falls to be dismissed."The Court of Session is Scotland's highest civil court Mr Sheridan had applied to become a criminal justice social worker with the his job application, he disclosed he had been given a three year prison sentence in 2011 for perjury after a jury at the High Court in Glasgow concluded he lied on oath during his successful defamation action against the News of the World he was sent a rejection letter in August 2024 and later informed any future applications would not be earlier proceedings, his lawyer Mike Dailly said the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) - had assessed Mr Sheridan as being a suitable candidate to work in the argued the decision to reject the application was therefore "irrational". Lord Young ruled against this, saying the registration with the SSSC simply meant he met the minimum statutory requirement for added an employer was entitled to use "additional criteria" when deciding who to interview or offer jobs to, such as prior convictions. Mr Sheridan served as an MSP for Glasgow between 1999 and 2007.
Sky News
06-06-2025
- General
- Sky News
Scottish Labour win Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election
Scottish Labour's Davy Russell has won the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. The by-election was called following the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie. The Scottish government minister died in March at the age of 57, having last year taken medical leave to undergo treatment for secondary breast cancer. Ten candidates went head-to-head in the Holyrood by-election: • Collette Bradley, Scottish Socialist Party • Andy Brady, Scottish Family Party • Ross Lambie, Reform UK • Katy Loudon, Scottish National Party (SNP) • Janice MacKay, UK Independence Party (UKIP) • Ann McGuinness, Scottish Green Party • Aisha Mir, Scottish Liberal Democrats • Richard Nelson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party • Davy Russell, Scottish Labour Party • Marc Wilkinson, Independent The votes were verified and manually counted at South Lanarkshire Council headquarters in Hamilton.
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Hamilton election: 44.2% turnout in crucial Holyrood vote
Votes are being counted at South Lanarkshire Council's headquarters in Hamilton Turnout in the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election is 44.2 per cent. The voting figure was announced just after 11.20pm as the verification of ballot papers was completed at the count venue at South Lanarkshire Council's headquarters in Hamilton. A total of 27,155 ballot papers are being counted, including both postal votes and those cast at the constituency's 63 polling stations at 26 venues including primary schools, community centres and council facilities. The turnout figure is higher than the 37 per cent recorded for the last parliamentary by-election in South Lanarkshire, when the Rutherglen & Hamilton West seat in the UK parliament was contested in October 2023. It compares to the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse seat's 60.7 per cent turnout in the 2021 Holyrood poll and 55.8 per cent in the equivalent Westminster seat at last year's general election. A total of 10 candidates are standing in the by-election – Collette Bradley (Scottish Socialist Party); Andy Brady (Scottish Family Party); Ross Lambie (Reform); Katy Loudon (SNP); Janice MacKay (UKIP); Ann McGuinness (Green); Aisha Mir (Liberal Democrats); Richard Nelson (Conservative); Davy Russell (Labour); and Marc Wilkinson (independent). Liberal Democrat Aisha Mir and Richard Nelson of the Conservatives were the first of the candidates to arrive at the count late on Thursday night. A large number of MSPs, party activists and supporters are in attendance at the count, awaiting the declaration of the constituency's new MSP in the early hours of Friday. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
