Solidarity have called todays vote by Highland Council tenants to reject transfer to a private housing association  as  a victory for people power and common sense.

Tenants rejected the move by a margin of  60 to 40 in a 60% . turnout of 16000 tenants. Highlands are now the fourth council in a row to have rejected the Scottish Executive´s preferred privatisation strategy, following on from Edinburgh, Stirling and Renfrewshire. The vote must now place a serious doubt on the sustainability of the stock transfer strategy.

"Highlanders have sent Malcolm Chisholm homewards tae think again," said Solidarity co-convenor, Tommy Sheridan. "We call on the Executive to take the necessary steps to now write-off Highland Councils housing debt - and the debt of the other councils where privatisation has been rejected - to enable the proper investment in housing under council control that the majority of tenants clearly want.  There can be no excuses.  If the money was available yesterday it is available today, otherwise it was simply a bribe."

Solidarity members and Highlands Against Stock Transfer activists will be organising a celebration of what they claim was a real David and Goliath victory, particularly after information attacking the partys role in the campaign appeared recently on the website of Highland Housing Association.

Frank Ward, secretary of HAST and Solidarity spokesperson on housing in the Highlands said,  "The council spent £200,000 promoting a yes vote, we had only our shoe leather and a tiny budget, but our arguments won the day.  Highland tenants looked at the vagueness of the promises and the experience in Glasgow and said no thanks.  They want affordable and well-maintained public sector municipal housing, accountable through a democratically elected council.  This has been a victory for people power and common sense."