Danny Masterton of Coalfields Solidarity secured over 7% of the vote in the by-election for the Ballochmyle Ward of East Ayrshire Council. Despite a 'squeeze' on the other parties in what was perceived to be a close contest between Labour and the SNP, the vote for Solidarity was cause for optimism in future elections in this area. Local organiser Jim Monaghan said:
"We are on course for a Solidarity councillor in 2011. Danny fought a great campaign and, unlike other parties, we wont be going away until the next election. We will still be fighting in these communties for a fairer deal for low paid workers and pensioners, when the major parties election teams return to their bases."
Solidarity Endorse 'Left Unity' Initiative
Solidarity's National Steering Committee (NSC) unanimously backed a proposal from Tommy Sheridan calling on members to support a "Left Unity' intitiative. The party's Co-Convenor had been approached by leading trade unionists across the UK to advance the idea of Scotland's left parties uniting around an agreed "charter". The NSC passed the proposal, with the following steps agreed:
That Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan and National Secretary Graeme McIver take up the offer of observer status from the RMT Union for their conference planned for January 10th in London on the subject of working class representation.
Both Tommy and Graeme report back to an all members meeting of the party on Saturday January 17th at a venue and time tbc.
That the branches and regions of Solidarity are encouraged to discuss the NSC endorsed paper prior to the all members meeting on January 17th.
The all members meeting will debate and discuss Solidarity’s next move in the process.
To read the full NSC-endorsed statement by Tommy Sheridan click 'read more' below.
Solidarity slams claims higher fuel bills necessary to pay for carbon reduction.
As environmental and social justice protestors prepare to gather in Glasgow this weekend for the national demonstration against climate change, Solidarity have slammed claims made in Monday’s report from the government’s Commission on Climate Change that significant carbon emission reduction can only be achieved by massive real rises in the cost of gas and electricity.
Solidarity launches left response to Credit Crunch and Recession
In a week when latest research commissioned for the BBC shows that one third of all Scottish households are “breadline poor,” Solidarity have published a new pamphlet analysing the economic crisis from a socialist perspective and calls, amongst other things, for full public ownership of the banks, utility and energy companies.
The Bubble Bursts, written by the party’s Assistant National Secretary Steve Arnott, details the scale of the collapse of the international capitalist financial system, and pulls no punches in holding Gordon Brown and New Labour to account for their part in the creation of the housing and debt bubbles that led to the crisis.
The figures for poverty in Scotland are contained in a new report, “Changing UK”, produced by Sheffield University, which looked at how nations and regions within Britain have altered over the past four decades. The report confirms that even during a period of so-called economic “boom”, Scotland had the largest number of poor people in each of the last four decades, as well as the highest death rate of all 14 regions examined.
The reports findings have been described as “a scandal” by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).
Solidarity Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan said;
“The figures collated by Sheffield University on behalf of The BBC are a shameful indictment on a system that has spectacularly failed to provide for the majority of people in society. Prior to the start of the “credit crunch,” we were assured by the likes of Gordon Brown and others that we had seen the end to boom and bust economics and we were living in a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity. The myth has been exposed that it was only a small percentage of wealthy individuals who benefited whilst the majority of people, even during these so called boom times, face a daily struggle to stop themselves sinking in a sea of debt.
Yet, events in the global economy mean that the situation will get worse for millions of ordinary people forced to pay the price for a crisis that was not of their making. Now, more than ever, we need a socialist answer to the problems facing the world.”
Solidarity members and supporters joined with almost 1,000 people on the annual STUC St Andrews Day Anti – Racism March on Saturday 29th November.
At a time when the collapse of global economic system means that sections of the media, politicians and the far right in particular will look to marginalise and blame sections of our communities for the crisis there has never been a better time to stand shoulder to shoulder with all those opposed to racism.
Tommy Sheridan today called on the voters to put people first and reject Alistair Darling's budget. Solidarity have joined Tony Benn, George Monbiot, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, MEPs Jill Evans and Caroline Lucas and Trades Union branches across the UK, in supporting the People Before Profit Charter peoplebeforeprofit.wordpress.com/ . Sheridan said:
"New Labour allow billionaires to avoid paying tax altogether and all of the budget measures are aimed at businesses and banks with Darling, Mandelson and Brown clearly stating their only interest is in getting the people to borrow more and spending more, which is partly where this all started. It's time to stop squandering billions on wars and weapons and redistribute the wealth from the rich to the poor."
Three Human Rights Observers with the International Solidarity Movement have begun a hunger strike in protest over the illegal confiscation of Palestinian fishing boats by Israel. The three HROs, Darlene Wallach of the U.S., Vittorio Arrigoni of Italy, and Andrew Muncie of Scotland, were forcibly abducted by the Israeli Navy on Tuesday, while accompanying unarmed Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
According to Wallach, “We were fishing about 7 miles off the shores of Gaza. The Israeli soldiers came on board the three boats via four Zodiacs. The frogmen came up and over each boat. They used a taser on Vik while he was still on the boat, then tried to push him backwards onto a sharp piece of wood. He jumped into the sea to avoid being hurt more than he already was and was in the water for quite a while. Then they came for me and forced me into the Zodiac at the point of a gun. They kidnapped me and Andrew and Vik and all of the Palestinian fishermen.”
The Labour Government in Westminster are about to take up to 40% of benefits from lone parents who cannot find work. From next week parents whose children are over 12 years old will face benefit cuts if you do not prove they are looking for work or take jobs affered to them. Solidarity Co-Convenor, Rosemary Byrne said:
"Income Support is already too low, how could a family survive on 40% less? Not all parents have the support of extended family and this could lead to many teenagers fending for themselves. The only result of this will be more latch-key children and more poverty. At a time when people are losing jobs Labour should be targetting the rich and not the poorest. They have billions for bankers yet want to raid the purses of already hard-pressed families."
Vote to Take Over the Banks! Salmond's Banker Buddies are not the Answer
Today Lloyds TSB shareholders voted to accept a taxpayer subsidy while also voting to buy out one of their biggest rivals. People must be wondering why a bank that can afford to be buying other banks needs a state subsidy. It is like asking for housing benefit so that you can afford to but a second home.
Meanwhile, the Government spend more public money on TV advertisements calling on people to report benefit fraud. Today we have witnessed a glaring example of an undeserving and dishonest claim for state help, get phoning!
The SNP answer was to have HBOS taken over by their wealthy supporter Sir George Matthewson. According to Alex Salmond Sir George is the man to protect Scottish banks. When Matthewson was in charge of the RBS he presided over 18,000 job cuts, and he is still paid by RBS as a consultant.
Solidarity believe in the democratic nationalisation of the banks and financial institutions to provide cheap credit for housing and for the economy as a whole. To read Capitalism in Crisis - A Socialist Reponse, passed unanimously at the recent Solidarity Conference, click 'read more' below
Events Calendar
Danny Masterton of Coalfields Solidarity secured over 7% of the vote in the by-election for the Ballochmyle Ward of East Ayrshire Council. Despite a 'squeeze' on the other parties in what was perceived to be a close contest between Labour and the SNP, the vote for Solidarity was cause for optimism in future elections in this area. Local organiser Jim Monaghan said:
Climate March Scotland 2008
In a week when latest research commissioned for the BBC shows that one third of all Scottish households are “breadline poor,” Solidarity have published a new pamphlet analysing the economic crisis from a socialist perspective and calls, amongst other things, for full public ownership of the banks, utility and energy companies. 
Solidarity members and supporters joined with almost 1,000 people on the annual STUC St Andrews Day Anti – Racism March on Saturday 29th November.
Tommy Sheridan today called on the voters to put people first and reject Alistair Darling's budget. Solidarity have joined Tony Benn, George Monbiot, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, MEPs Jill Evans and Caroline Lucas and Trades Union branches across the UK, in supporting the People Before Profit Charter 
