Poverty levels remain high in Scotland despite falling unemployment

Peter Kenway, director of the New Policy Institute and an author of the report, said:
"Of the 34 indicators that we constructed for Scotland, seven, like those for educational attainment, show improvement over five years, while six, including income inequality, have worsened. Disappointingly, the 15 indicators that have held steady include the number of children living in low-income families. As a result, the levels of child poverty in Scotland are now similar to those in England and Wales where they have fallen somewhat since 1999." Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Letter to the Herald - In defence of SSP

Whatever happened to the smiling, happy-clappy New Labourites of a few years ago? Now they talk and write in Sun editorials.

In reply to my letter pointing out New Labour's double standards on the firefighters' dispute, Peter Russell describes the SSP as "barmy", "odious", and "contemptuous of democracy" (December 4). At least we're not "fascist bastards". Well, not quite. Apparently, Tommy Sheridan and I - and our "dupes" - are "adherents of Trotsky who described social democracy as social fascism".

Personally, I'm not an adherent of any individual. The SSP is a new party that unites socialists from a range of different left-wing traditions. We prefer to look to the future, rather than dwell on the past. But if Peter Russell insists on dwelling on the past, he should at least take the time to read a few history books before parading his ignorance.

He asserts that Trotsky described social democracy as "social fascist". Wrong. This phrase was coined by Stalin when refusing to form a bloc with the German Social Democrats against Hitler. Trotsky opposed Stalin's "social fascist" theory and argued for a united front against fascism.

Such a slovenly approach to history seems to be one of the hallmarks of New Labour, exemplified by Richard Simpson's claim that the Fire Brigades Union would have supported Mussolini. The FBU would not have existed under Mussolini, who banned trade unions and jailed their leaders.

Which is exactly what some New Labour politicians would like to do, judging by their recent outbursts.

Alan McCombes, 73 Robertson Street, Glasgow

SSP Conference

The 2003 Annual Conference of the Scottish Socialist Party will be held on
Saturday/Sunday 22/23 February at the Mitchell Theatre, Charing Cross, Glasgow.

The conference was rescheduled because of the international day of action against the war in Iraq, that was called by the Assembly of Social Movements, following the European Social Forum in Florence.

Herald Poll reflects anger over firefighters' row

Tommy Sheridan, of the SSP, and Robin Harper, of the Greens, would be joined by two colleagues and by Dennis Canavan, the independent. The Herald

The Electronic Herald - Letters

ISN'T it high time Westminster MPs modernised their working practices? Take, for example, the other PM, Peter Mandelson. On Question Time last Thursday, the New Labour guru taunted the firefighters with allegations that they don't work hard enough, they don't work flexibly enough, they haven't modernised enough. Some of the firefighters even have time for second jobs, for goodness sake.

Really? So how many firefighters have second jobs writing a monthly column for GQ magazine? How many have third jobs delivering lectures for £500 an hour? How many have fourth jobs working as company directors of advertising agencies? How many firefighters found the time to make 14 overseas trips to far-flung destinations, paid for by big business?

In between gallivanting around the world, running a company, writing for a men's magazine, and lecturing investment bankers on how to make money, Mr Mandelson is MP for Hart-lepool, for which he is paid £55,000.

According to the most recent register, half of all MPs have jobs on the side from which they personally pocket the fees. Indeed, Westminster is stuffed full of company directors, consultants, lawyers, journalists, broadcasters, and lecturers who, in between making money, have a little sideline running the country.

Are the taxpayers getting value for money from our MPs? Isn't there an overwhelming case for a thorough review of their working practices? Shouldn't their numbers be reduced? Isn't it high time they modernised?

Alan McCombes, Scottish Socialist Party, 73 Robertson Street, Glasgow.

Strike will cost Labour seats, says fire union Tommy Sheridan, leader of the Scottish Socialist party, said old Labour voters were applying to join the SSP in their hundreds since the fire strikes began with a "Niagara-like" torrent of applications not just from disgruntled firefighters but also from ordinary voters disillusioned at the government's tactics.

Pointing to how the GMB and RMT unions had already cut their donations to Labour, the Glasgow MSP added: "Divorce proceedings have begun . . . The unions see Labour as a party that panders to and protects the millionaires instead of the millions."

Sunday Herald

For Scottish Labour, Tony Blair's gamble on this dispute is badly timed, with the election five months away. His MSPs face pressure from the left, with Tommy Sheridan and the Scottish Socialist Party working hard to benefit from the public support for the firefighters.

Stabbing of asylum seeker treated as racially motivated The Herald