Latest news with #TommySheridan
Glasgow Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Court issues decision in Tommy Sheridan's case against Glasgow council
Mr Sheridan instructed lawyers to go to the Court of Session in a bid to judicially review the actions of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership bosses. The organisation wrote to Mr Sheridan to tell him that to employ him as a social worker in Glasgow would create an 'unacceptable level of risk' for the local authority. The move came after Mr Sheridan had applied to become a criminal justice social worker with the council. In his job application, he disclosed how he had been given a three year prison sentence in 2011 for perjury - a jury at the High Court in Glasgow concluded that he had lied on oath during his successful defamation action against the News of the World newspaper. The court heard that social work bosses then sent him a letter in August 2024 telling him the conviction presented an 'unacceptable level of risk' to Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership. More communications to Mr Sheridan told him that future applications for jobs with the organisation would not be 'progressed'. This has prompted Mr Sheridan to instruct lawyers to go to Scotland's highest civil court in a bid to get Glasgow City Council to overturn its decision. Earlier this year, Mr Sheridan' s lawyer Mike Dailly told Lord Young that the council had acted unlawfully in its decision. However, in a written judgement issued by Lord Young on Thursday, the court acted social work bosses acted lawfully. Lord Young said he agreed with submissions made by lawyers acting for the local authority that the decision made by social work bosses couldn't be judicially reviewed. He wrote: 'I agree with the submission for the respondent that 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. 'The context in which the respondent sent these letters to the petitioner was whether the petitioner was viewed as a suitable candidate for employment as a social worker. 'This was an employment situation where parties are free to decide whether to enter into a contract or not. 'He enjoys no private law right to be considered for employment by the respondent, so he is seeking to fashion a right to be considered for social work jobs through the application of broad public law concepts. '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. (Image: Mike Dailly) READ NEXT: Tommy Sheridan says he is 'victimised' by Glasgow council READ NEXT: Tommy Sheridan in court over case against Glasgow City Council READ NEXT: Tommy Sheridan to pursue legal action against Scottish council At earlier proceedings, Mr Dailly said the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council - had assessed Mr Sheridan as being a suitable candidate for working in the profession. He added : 'It's a simple matter - the petitioner has been assessed as being a fit person for the profession by the statutory social work body. 'He has also been assessed as being suitable to work with children and younger people under the PVG scheme. 'The petitioner has been told he cannot be a social worker. However, the Scottish Parliament has allowed the SSSC the role and responsibility to determine who is a fit and proper person to be a social worker. 'The SSSC says the petitioner is a fit and proper person. I say the decision made by the council is irrational - it cannot say the petitioner cannot be a social worker.' (Image: Tommy Sheridan with wife Gail, right.) Mr Dailly was speaking during a judicial review brought by Mr Sheridan used to lead the Scottish Socialist Party which won a number of seats at Holyrood in 1999 and 2003. Mr Sheridan served as an MSP for Glasgow between 1999 and 2007. He took the News of the World to court in 2006, alleging it defamed him after reporting he was an adulterer who visited swingers' clubs. He netted £200,000 but he was later convicted of lying in court during this civil action, and was sentenced to three years in jail. On social media last summer he revealed his future plans in response to a suggestion that he should stand again as an MSP in 2026. He posted: "I just graduated as a professional social worker from Glasgow Caledonian University after a two-year masters degree so I am applying for jobs in that profession just now but who knows what will come to pass by 2026.' Lord Young also dismissed concerns that the council acted irrationally in the light of the SSSC allowing Mr Sheridan to be registered with the organisation. He added: 'I do not consider that the respondent's concern about employing the petitioner comes close to being viewed as irrational. 'His registration with the SSSC simply confirms that he meets the minimum statutory requirement for employment. 'It does not prevent an employer from applying its own additional criteria before interviewing or offering employment. 'The existence of a conviction for perjury is likely to be of some relevance to some employers considering whether to employ an individual as a social worker.'
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.
The National
17-06-2025
- The National
EasyJet cabin crew strike sees flights cancelled to Spain
The Unión Sindical Obrera, (USO) the Spanish trade union, has confirmed that the strike will take place from June 25, and will also impact passengers looking to travel on June 26 and June 27. Around 657 members of cabin crew will join the strike, affecting 21 aircraft. READ MORE: Tommy Sheridan claims he has been 'victimised' by Glasgow City Council Spanish airports in Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga, and Majorca will be hit by the walkout, following a negotiation for higher wages. This is likely to affect thousands of Brits heading to Spain this month if the strike goes ahead, and there could be knock-on consequences for other flights due to aircraft being grounded in Spanish airports. There's also a 24-hour general transport strike across Italy, which will affect air travel as well as trains and public transport. Taking place on June 19, it will run from 9pm until the June 20, finishing at 9pm, with baggage handlers and ground crew downing tools. The strike comes amid a demand for wages increases and renewed contracts, as well as reduced working hours and more funding for public services. READ MORE: UK cuts to PIP will plunge families further into poverty, research says Hundreds of flights have also been cancelled due to a strike by the Finnish Aviation Union, hitting 6000 Finnair passengers, with more strikes are expected to take place on June 19. What is a strike? According to ACAS, an official strike is when a trade union has followed all the legal rules. This includes holding a ballot for members to vote. A strike is unofficial if a trade union does not follow the rules, or employees take action that's not authorised by a union. In an official strike, employees are protected by industrial action law.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Tommy Sheridan: I'm being victimised for my political past
Former MSP Tommy Sheridan says he is being "victimised" for his political past by Glasgow City Council, after he was rejected for a job as a social city's Health and Social Care Partnership told Mr Sheridan that all future applications for jobs would be rejected due to him serving jail time for Sheridan told BBC Scotland News that his gender critical views on trans rights were a factor in the decision by the SNP-run City Council declined to comment as there is an ongoing case over the issue at the Court of Session. The socialist politician said he felt "aggrieved" by the situation and was now seeking to enter politics again as a candidate for the Alba Sheridan told BBC Scotland's Scotcast podcast that he had "no doubt whatsoever" that he was being blacklisted by the said: "I don't think it chimes with the spirit of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act to hold against someone a 15-year-old conviction."Particularly when I've already had to go through a vetting process, a very stiff vetting process from the body that was set up to regulate social care." Mr Sheridan went to Scotland's highest civil court after he received a rejection letter in August last year, in a bid to get the decision Court of Session heard last month that Glasgow City Council (GCC) refused him a job because of the "unacceptable level of risk" of his perjury 2011, Mr Sheridan was found to have had lied under oath during a £200,000 defamation action against the News of the World was sentenced to three years in jail."If I was applying for a job in the PR dept that may have been a consideration," he said."But dealing with people who have got social problems, trying to help people, trying to use your values, your skills, your knowledge, trying to make people's lives better. I don't understand it at all." Gender critical views Mr Sheridan believes that a factor is his rejection for a social work job was that his views on transgender issues put him at odds with the SNP-run city said: "I think being a socialist is always difficult for some of the SNP councillors, but I think the biggest area would be my gender critical views."I don't share the SNP's position that someone can declare that they're a man or a woman. I believe in biology, I believe in science, and so does the law now."It's very unusual that the Supreme Court agrees with me, but there you go. I agree with the Supreme court."Now, those are gender critical views that Glasgow City Council SNP group don't agree with. So I've got no doubt in my mind that that's part of the package." Mr Sheridan previously led the Scottish Socialist Party at Holyrood, which won several seats in 1999 and 2003 before the party fell apart during the high-profile News of the World court has remained involved in politics as a supporter of Scottish independence group Hope over Fear and became a founding member of the Alba has retrained as a social worker, graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University after a two-year master's Sheridan said his own "lived experience" behind bars made him an ideal candidate for a youth social work job in criminal justice."I come from a very working class background, brought up in a housing scheme, having been in and around jails for the best part of 20-odd years."I have intimate knowledge of the processes, challenges and what prison is really like." 'Prison was powder keg' Mr Sheridan, who rose to prominence as an anti-Poll Tax campaigner, was behind bars in 1992 when he was first elected to Glasgow City Council as an independent was jailed for breaking a court order that banned him from attending a warrant sale to recover a poll tax Sheridan said it was a "horrible place to be" and a recalled how a fellow inmate urged him not to "romanticise this place" when he was released."That's always stuck with me and I don't think anybody realises how hard prison is until you've been in prison," he said"The fact that you can be locked up 23 hours a day and all you've got if you're lucky it's a wee telly - it can be a very lonely experience."It can also be a very tough experience because there's a lot of damaged people there, it can become a very violent place."I've seen several very messy assaults and it could be a powder keg. The tension in there is horrible." Mr Sheridan says he feels "a wee bit aggrieved" by the rejection from Glasgow City Council."I feel as though I did everything right. I retrained, I studied, I worked hard. "I got the qualification and then they've turned around and said, 'no, we're not going to employ you'."So I feel politics is calling out for me again, because I feel that, okay, they don't want me."Mr Sheridan has now put his name forward in the hope of being selected as an Alba candidate for the Scottish added: "Why don't I go back into politics and start using the skills I have to communicate, to advocate, to try and promote independence."But also to rage against some of the injustices in our world just now, of which there are far too many." Mr Sheridan is still awaiting a decision on his action at the Court of lawyer said the council acted unlawfully in its decision to permanently exclude him from social work said the body which regulates social work in Scotland - the Scottish Social Services Council (SCCC) - had assessed him as being a suitable candidate. Glasgow City Council's lawyer Paul Reid KC told the court the local authority acted lawfully and were legally entitled to refuse said the matter was an employment decision and could not be challenged by judicial Young said he would issue a verdict in the near What Tommy Sheridan did next is available now on BBC Sounds.
The National
26-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Inside the conference that exploded a legal bombshell about the Union
The conference, which took place last weekend, had been planned for more than six months. The Dunfermline Carnegie Conference Centre was a fitting venue as Dunfermline of course served as the de facto capital of Scotland between the 11th and 15th centuries. We had a couple of disappointments when people's diaries didn't line up and even briefly considered cancelling. However, fortunately we didn't cancel and those who missed it can find it on the SSRG TV YouTube channel. As a non-partisan think tank, the SSRG holds weekly meetings and invites many experts to them, both from academia and current and past elected politicians. READ MORE: Former BBC TV presenter and executive Alan Yentob dies aged 78 We seek to address and research the big questions that any new sovereign state needs answered. The most recent publication by the SSRG was on Scotland in Europe, We found that joining Efta and the EEA was the preferable option for Scotland rather than trying to rejoin the EU, especially as Scotland would need to have control over its own currency before applying to rejoin the EU. This is but one major issue political parties must consider before announcing they want to rejoin the EU without carefully weighing the options. So what did people learn while at the SSRG conference? On the Friday there was a panel on social security and pensions which included Tommy Sheridan, Alba Party deputy leader Neale Hanvey, and Jim Osborne. We learned that the UK pension is a Ponzi scheme and that National Insurance is being paid by today's workers to pay today's pensioners and nothing had been invested. This is completely different from the likes of Norway which has a sovereign wealth fund, officially the Government Pension Fund Global. It had a value of around $1.738 trillion as of March this year. The UK has no sovereign wealth fund. A session on what happens on the day after independence saw Jim Sillars and constitutional expert Dr Elliot Bulmer discuss how Scotland will need to negotiate with England on a future trade agreement and the division of assets and liabilities. There was some passionate debate from delegates and this creative dialectic only served to enhance the effect of the conference. Of course, it wasn't all about the big questions. There were a couple of lighter sessions including a Scottish Questions and a Meet the Authors which allowed for more general subjects to be aired. Saturday kicked off with a session on energy policy which included panellists that actually worked in and have experience in the energy sector. It was hosted by the SSRG's Mark McNaught, while Phil Boswell and Rhys Stanwix took questions from delegates. Everyone left the session wiser than before on energy policy. However, the big event saw a panel of legal and constitutional experts one by one started to dismantle the prevailing legal narrative that Scotland was in and had joined a Union with England in the 1706 Treaty and the 1707 Acts of Union. Professor Alf Baird presented how Scotland was living in a colonial mindset reinforced by British-ness in the media or, as I would call it, the BBC. Craig Murray talked about how Scotland must take its sovereignty back. Sharof Azizov, a lawyer from Justice Pour Tous Internationale in Geneva, talked about how he would be taking Scotland's claim to the UN C24 committee for Scotland to be listed for decolonisation. Then evidence was expertly presented by Professor Robert Black KC, who demonstrated that no legal Union was ever created –England continued as before while Scotland was extinguished. The word 'extinguished' became a running joke as I had accidentally used the word to describe the panel instead of 'distinguished'. Ah the joy of live TV. The legal ramifications of what was revealed over the fictitious nature of the Union cannot be overstated. Every treaty the UK has signed in the last 300 years is based on a legal fiction. This is truly a legal bombshell that exploded on to the world stage during our conference. So where does this leave the political parties and the elected politicians? Few of them have taken the time to even question the validity of the British state, yet here we have expert legal opinion based on verifiable documented evidence that the UK is a legal fiction and Scotland is a Non-Self-Governing-Territory (NSGT). By the time you read this the number of people who have viewed this historic session will have reached over 10,000 and none of this could have happened without Sara Salyers, who co-founded Liberation Scotland. The 18,000-plus strong membership group, has for the last few years been navigating the many corridors of the National Archives, historical documents and several dead ends until the full picture could be made clear. After the live transmission on YouTube, Christophe Dorige-Thomson, who had been watching in Jakarta, tweeted to the SSRG that a Scottish woman, called Muriel Stuart Walker, aka K'tut Tantri, attended the 1955 Bandung Conference in Indonesia. She supported its decolonisation through the UN C24 process and pushed the issue across media interviews. This led to Indonesia being the first nation to be decolonised under this process, which led to other nations following it. So my question is, is Sara Salyers the 21st-century Muriel Stuart Walker? I do hope so.
