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".  To read the full NSC-endorsed statement by Tommy Sheridan click 'read more' below.

LEFT UNITY IN SCOTLAND

I have been approached by a group of prominent Trade Unionists in Scotland, who are exploring the possibility of building an understanding between Left organisations in Scotland, in order to progress a coordinated Left agenda as a consequence of recent global events that are affecting the lives of the people of Scotland.

The combination of the unprecedented collapse of the so-called free market and the proximity to a possible UK General Election, and definitely a European Election in June 2009, marks an historically unique opportunity for Trade Unionists, Socialists and Left Anti-Capitalists, to promote a more humane, just, rational, sustainable, peaceful and inclusive economic system - one which prioritises the economic and social welfare of all citizens, not just the privileged and powerful minority. For Solidarity that means a socialist society. 

Such an alternative economic and political programme is needed now more than ever to offer hope to those millions cast into despair by an economic system and it’s political acolytes wedded to the profit system. Mass unemployment, increased homelessness, real reductions in standards of living and the inevitable spread of poverty as a result of these events is the lot for millions of our class.

The ideas and political programme of the Left should therefore be more potent than ever. There exists in Scotland as internationally the opportunity to build a stronger socialist and left opposition to capitalist policies.  One of the problems however, is the fragmentation of Parties, Groups & Campaigns that all subscribe to Left ideals, but remain separate and in opposition to one another at election times. It is surely time for these groups to be brought closer together to seek, at the very least, electoral agreements that would see the Left vote in Scotland maximised, not diluted, in the face of the free market main stream.

The group of prominent Scottish Trade Unionists are considering making an approach to Left Parties, Groups & Campaigns, with a view to convening an inclusive assembly early in 2009, around a minimal, but not exhaustive, charter that would include:

1. A Commitment to Public Ownership of the most important sectors of the economy, including Energy, Transport, Finance, Health, Education and Water;

1. Endorsement of the Trade Union Freedom Bill and its objective of securing genuinely free and effective Trade Unions, able to defend their industries and represent their member’s interests;

1. Opposition to Nuclear Weapons and aggressive military interventions into other sovereign nations;

1. The funding of a non-means tested universal pension, set at a level able to provide comfort and security for all senior citizens, up rated annually in line with incomes or prices, whatever is the greater, and available at age 60 to all pensioner citizens regardless of work life contribution levels;

1. Support for a free and fair referendum on Independence for Scotland;

1. Support for a Tax and Benefit System that ensures fair and redistributive deductions from the wealthiest; reasonable deductions from the majority; and welfare payments that reflect the real cost of living;

The aim of the assembly would be to discuss what steps can be taken to build a stronger left force in Scotland, possible joint campaigning initiatives and to explore whether there exists the possibility of a left challenge in future elections. 

This list is a ‘Minimalist Approach’ to try to bring the maximum number on the Left closer together. If Left Parties, Groups, Campaigns, trade union candidates & Individuals are willing to endorse such a charter, or an appropriately amended one, the next stage would be to explore the possibility of seeking agreement that these Parties, Groups, Campaigns, trade union candidates & Individuals would not stand against each other in seats across Scotland, with the explicit objective of maximising the Left vote for that Party, Group, Campaign, trade union candidates or Individual.

By way of testing if this idea has any validity, the group of prominent Trade Unionists have asked me to ‘float’ the idea with the Solidarity National Steering Committee, and seek Committee members’ views.

Should the Committee give a positive response, the group of Trade Unionists will consider how best to progress the issue across the Left in Scotland with a view to a meeting / event being organised early in 2009.

Solidarity is the best supported and biggest socialist party in Scotland and we must continue to build our membership and support via public meetings and campaigns particularly around our new pamphlet. We should also ensure that we prepare to stand Solidarity candidates as part of a left electoral challenge. However our primary position imposes certain responsibilities on us to help organise broader initiatives when required. Such a time is now. I seek the support of the National Steering Committee for this Left Unity initiative aimed at the electoral challenges which will soon be upon us and for approaches to be made immediately to those already mentioned with a view to an event being organised early in 2009.

Solidarity Co-Convenor; Tommy Sheridan, December 2008.