New Socialist Election Coalition Launched in Scotland
Thursday, 01 April 2010
A new coalition of socialists and trade unionists will contest the General Election on May 6th. The (Scottish) Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (STUSC) will be contesting 10 seats across Scotland.
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) was set up at a UK level in January and involves many prominent trade union figures. These include Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT railworkers union, Janice Godrich, national president of the PCS civil service union and Brian Caton, general secretary of the Prison Officers Union.
Bob Crow
Also included in the coalition are Tommy Sheridan’s Solidarity, the International Socialists, the Socialist Workers’ Party, and the Lanarksire Socialist Alliance among others.
Railway workers leader Bob Crow said of TUSC;
“Labour, Tory and the Liberal Democrats are all the same under their suits. They all support privatisation and anti-trade union laws. The political debate now is all about who is going to cut more from public spending. Brown and Blair just masqueraded as Labour and then put the knife into the unions. That is why I am pleased to be part of TUSC.”
A full list of sponsors and policies can be found at www.tusc.org.uk
The coalition was officially launched in Scotland at a press conference on Wednesday 31st March.
Tommy Sheridan, who will be a candidate for STUSC said:
Tommy Sheridan
"We chose the date to launch the new coalition on 31st March because 20 years ago to the day witnessed the mass demonstrations of 50,000 in Glasgow and 200,000 in London against the hated poll tax. Before the year was out Margaret Thatcher had been forced out of office and the poll tax was dead - killed off by 18 million people who refused to pay this unfair, unjust tax. 20 years on we need the same kind of mass campaign, the same kind of political leadership to prevent the savaging of our public services, by whoever wins the general election on May 6th”
STUSC candidates later joined Tommy at a packed launch rally in the Langside Halls in Glasgow.
“If you elect Tommy Sheridan then it will cause a political earthquake that will be felt across the world. You will elect a true fighter. A man who would charge the guns of the enemy without fearing the consequences.”
George Galloway MP 10/11/09
Solidarity finished their Glasgow North East by-election campaign on high after four packed meetings in the constituency attracted hundreds of people. Tommy Sheridan and George Galloway spoke to packed halls in North Glasgow College, in Sighthill, Royston and Alexandra Parade. During the course of the campaign, Solidarity has been the ONLY party to hold public meetings. In addition to the events on the 10th November, the party held meetings in Springburn, Petershill, Possil Park and Milton.
Solidarity also held a press conference and both George and Tommy were interviewed later in the day. (Press coverage here) George Galloway traveled to Glasgow North east at his own expense to campaign on behalf of his friend and comrade Tommy Sheridan. He said;
“Only by electing Tommy Sheridan do the people of this constituency have a chance for real change.”
Over 120 people crammed into the assembly hall of Alexandra Parade Primary School to hear Tommy Sheridan and George Galloway complete a series of 4 public meetings in the Glasgow North East constituency.
Gary Clark, a striking postal worker informed the meeting of the latest developments in the ongoing dispute between Royal Mail and the CWU.
The meeting was chaired by anti-poverty campaigner and Stop the War Coalition member, Angela McCormick from Possil Park.
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