“Scottish Separation is part of the process of England’s Imperial disintegration and is a help towards the ultimate triumph of the workers of the world.” So wrote the great John MacLean on his election address for the Gorbals division in the December 1923 Parliamentary election.
Sadly he didn’t win but as the Scottish Parliament debated the idea of a new public holiday on the occasion of St Andrew’s day, November 30th each year, I hope the memory and spirit of Scotland’s greatest ever socialist is also celebrated on that day. For John MacLean, born in 1879, didn’t live to see the 6th December 1923 election. He died from pneumonia six days before on 30th November 1923 aged only 44.John MacLean was a world recognised socialist in his day. From the bread and butter issues of opposition to rent rises and support for workers striking for better pay to his courageous and steadfast opposition to the cruel carnage that was the First World War.
Solidarity MSP Rosemary Byrne has slammed the imminent sale of Scottish Power to a Spanish energy corporation, and the obscene bonuses paid to Scottish Power boss Philip Bowman.Iberdrola are about to take over Scottish Power for over £11b while Bowman stands to pocket a £4m bonus for his part in the sale.The South of Scotland MSP said:
“Energy production and distribution in Scotland should be in the hands of Scottish people, not the free-marketeers.There is no doubt that will jobs in Scotland will be lost through this takeover while bosses will be able to enjoy millions of pounds in bonuses.Solidarity believe that all energy in Scotland should in public ownership and under democratic control.
"This takeover will give no relief to the millions of hard pressed customers who are facing rising fuel bills this winter. Under private onwreship prices will continue to rise, instead of bonuses to executives we should be cutting fuel bills."
Socialism 2006
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Conference Report by Tom Penman, Dundee Solidarity
On the 25th and 26th November was Socialism 2006, a weekend of discussion and debate hosted by the Socialist Party (CWI England and Wales). Debates ranged from "Which way forward for British Muslims?" with Said Fergani from MAB and "How can we end Homophobia?" with Peter Tatchell from OUTrage to discussions on whether the Labour Party could be reclaimed for workers (or not) and sessions on historical events such as the workers uprising in Hungary in 1956.
The highlight for many though was the Rally for Socialism on the Saturday night with the "galaxy of speakers" as Peter Taaffe put it, which over 800 attended. Tommy Sheridan, MSP spoke at a meeting in England for the first time since his court victory over the Murdoch press. He spoke alongside Socialist Party General Secretary Peter Taaffe and international speakers including Germany's Lucy Redler of the electoral alternative WASG as well as speakers from Greece and Sri Lanka.
The speakers outlined the international fight back against neo-liberalism and global capitalism. This includes the momentous class upheavals in Latin America, the strike action of immigrant labourers and transport workers in the USA and mass protest movements in Europe. But it also includes the fight to defend the NHS here in Britain, which was represented at the rally by Len Hockey UNISON joint shop steward at Whipps Cross hospital, London who has recently led successful strike action against the privateers and Dr Jackie Grunsell, Huddersfield Save Our NHS councillor.
Sheridan Calls for an End to Holyrood Property "Scam"
Monday, 27 November 2006
Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan has called for an immediate end to the Edinburgh allowances scheme which allows MSPs to buy property in Edinburgh. The Co-Convenor of Scotland's fastest growing party said:
"Another Sunday, another scam revealed about MSPs. The latest revelation that Andrew Wilson the SNP MSP who along with Duncan Hamilton MSP both registered themselves as resident in Duncan Hamilton's parents address in Milngavie so they could both qualify for the edinburgh allowance to buy property in edinburgh is bad enough, now we find out that MSPs have been trading flats to each other at great profit and subsidised by the taxpayers.
The public must rightly think they are all at it at our expense and they would be right, all political parties except the SSP and Solidarity have members profiting from this scam. The Corporate body is clearly unable to reform this scheme as many of its members in the past and at present have also benefitted from it and when it is shown that MSPs like Nicol Stephen have broken the rules they are merely rapped on the knuckles.
We must now suspend this rotten scheme immediately ask the MSPs to repay their profits and set up an independent review to find an alternative to this mess before it discredits the parliament further. I shall be writing to the Presiding Officer and the Standards Committtee about the MSPs who have broken the rules. However, asking the Corporate body to reform this scam is like putting Dracula in charge of bloodbanks as many of them are passengers on the same gravy train"
Solidarity Stand with Trades Unionists Agains Racism and Facism
Sunday, 26 November 2006
On Saturday, November 25, Solidarity members joined with over 1500 people in the STUC's annual march and rally against racism and fascism in the centre of Glasgow. Other organisations in attendance were Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance (GARA), the Communist Party, SSP, Cairde na hâ Eireann, and a host of trade union delegations from, among others, RMT, Unison, and PCS.
This year's event held added significance in that it came at a time when the Blair government is attempting to target Muslims in order to deflect from the war in Iraq. There have also been a rise in the number of dawn raids on asylum seekers by the immigration service in recent months.
Kevin Connor, a member of Solidarity in the Lothians who travelled through for the march, said:
"With the way things are just now in Iraq, and how that's impacted on the Muslim community and immigrants here at home, I think this and other events like it are crucial. I'm especially delighted that the unions are behind this event today, because ultimately it's the working class who will end racism and fascism and not the government or the police. It really is up to us."
Saturday's event followed in the wake of a horrific assault on a 15-year old Sikh youth in Edinburgh, who was kicked and punched to the ground after having his hair hacked off. A rally called by the Edinburgh Sikh community last week in Leith, in response, was also attended by a sizeable Solidarity contingent.
Once again, we offer our unconditional support to all victims of racism and fascism on our streets. We pay tribute to all who attended Saturday's march.
Events Calendar
