Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Anti-war train drivers refuse to move arms freight

Train drivers yesterday refused to move a freight train carrying ammunition believed to be destined for British forces being deployed in the Gulf.

Railway managers cancelled the Ministry of Defence service after the crewmen, described as "conscientious objectors" by a supporter, said they opposed Tony Blair's threat to attack Iraq.

The anti-war revolt is the first such industrial action by workers for decades.

The two Motherwell-based drivers declined to operate the train between the Glasgow area and the Glen Douglas base on Scotland's west coast, Europe's largest Nato weapons store.

SSP Conference 2003

SSP Conference 2003 will be held on Saturday/Sunday 23rd and 24th February at the Mitchell Theatre Charing Cross Glasgow.
Click on the link above to see the agenda, motions, amendments, reports and other conference documents.

EXECUTIVE ANTI-GLASGOW BIAS CONTINUES - CITIES REVIEW IS A "DAMP SQUIB"

Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist Party MSP and National Convenor, today slammed the much-delayed Cities Review as a “damp squib”. He accused the Executive of continuing its anti-Glasgow bias through continued underfunding.

Tommy Sheridan said,
“What a cruel disappointment. After over two years’ delay, Glasgow has yet again been short-changed by a Scottish Executive which is patently anti-Glasgow. The £40 million over three years represents less than £14 million a year and compares to the £83 million a year we lose through the unfair rates system.

We have secured less than average funding increases every year under New Labour and continue to subsidise the rest of Scotland with our massive rates contribution. The Executive says it recognises Glasgow’s acute poverty and deprivation, but it continues to ignore our plight. The Cities Review is a damp squib and a cruel one at that.”

For more information, contact Tommy Sheridan on 07887 795075 or Hugh Kerr on 0131 348 5631/07713 063647

The Scotsman - Politics - Executive's plan for fire service defeated

Tommy Sheridan, the Scottish Socialist MSP, described the Executive's tactics as "underhand and devious".

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Sheridan attacks 'racist' asylum laws

The UK Government's new asylum laws have been branded as "racist" by Scottish Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan.

The MSP, who has been an outspoken critic of the use of Dungavel, a former category C jail in Ayrshire, as an immigration detention centre, was speaking at a Glasgow demonstration.

SHERIDAN SLAMS NEW LABOUR'S ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ATTACKS ON FIREFIGHTERS

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament today, Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist Party MSP and National Convenor, condemned the Scottish Executive for moving a late amendment to the Local Government Act which allows fire stations to be closed without the consultation of the Scottish Executive.

Tommy Sheridan said,

“This is an anti-democratic move by New Labour which is an insult to the Parliament. It is also an attack on the firefighters at a time when they are in negotiation with the employers. This can only contribute to breaking the link between New Labour and the FBU. I shall be surprised if there are many members left in the FBU still paying their political levy to New Labour by the end of the dispute.

The Scottish Socialist Party will of course continue to give full support to the firefighters, including opposing the closure of any fire stations.”

For more information, contact Tommy Sheridan on 07887 795075 or Hugh Kerr on 0131 348 5631/07713 063647

SHERIDAN CALLS FOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP TO STOP SILICON GLEN BECOMING SILICON DESERT

Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist Party MSP and Convenor, today called for direct involvement by the Scottish Executive to stop the de-industrialisation of Scotland. In the wake of Fullartons in Inverclyde sacking 500 and IBM transferring hundreds of workers onto inferior contracts, Sheridan warned of a “Lowland clearance” similar in cause and effect to the Highland clearances.

He said,
“A couple of hundred years ago people were sacrificed and scattered to make way for sheep in the Highlands in the name of profit. Today a similar process is underway. Ordinary people are again being sacrificed in the name of profit. This time it’s the global chief executives at Fullartons, IBM, Mitsubishi, Motorola, Via Systems and scores of others who put the profits of their dividend holders before the livelihoods of Scottish workers. It’s time to stand up for ordinary workers and stop kowtowing to the global fatcats.”

Tommy Sheridan further commented,
“IBM today announced that 700 jobs will be transferred to other employers. Scotland’s Silicon Glen is rapidly becoming a silicon desert. The jobs may be saved today but for how long, and will the workers’ wages and conditions be protected? It is time the Scottish Executive stopped wriggling out of its responsibility and developed a real economic development strategy including public ownership of companies who decide to dump their Scottish workers and transfer production abroad.”
[ends]
For more information, contact Tommy Sheridan on 07887 795075 or Hugh Kerr on 0131 348 5631/07713 063647

MORE EMPTY RHETORIC FAILS SCOTLAND'S CHILDREN

Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist Party MSP and Convenor, today slammed the Executive’s latest “Healthy Eating Campaign” as yet more “empty rhetoric”.

He said,

“The latest Executive ‘initiative’ is far too little, given the size of the dietary health problem and amounts to yet more empty rhetoric. The First Minister had the opportunity to radically address Scotland’s woeful dietary health record through the introduction of universal, healthy and nutritious free school meals with milk and water. This is what the Finns and Swedes have done. They are now reaping the harvest of their investment. Mr McConnell and his colleagues voted down free school meals and exposed the emptiness of their concerns in the process. £1.75 million is hardly a drop in the dietary ill-health ocean.”

Tommy further said,

“The First Minister says he is determined the next generation of Scots will be “healthier”. Yet he ignored the pleas of Scotland’s anti-poverty groups, children’s charities, lone parent organisations and the British Medical Association when he rejected the Free School Meals Bill. Words won’t improve our children’s dietary health. Action will. We should fellow the example of Finland and Sweden. Universal free school meals worked for them. It could work for us as well.”
[ENDS]
For more information, contact Tommy Sheridan on 07887 795075 or Hugh Kerr on 0131 348 5631/07713 063647

Sunday Herald - I Have A Dream

Forget making resolutions about booze and fags that you know you'll never keep -- now is the time of year to think bigger. We asked two dozen Scottish celebrities to tell us what they've always wanted to do with their lives


TOMMY SHERIDAN, POLITICIAN


Before I die I would like to be elected as the first president of an independent republican socialist Scotland that has abolished poverty, inequality, poor housing and lousy education and opened up the links to socialists and socialist countries round the world. This Scotland would be a place where everyone would be proud to be a citizen not a subject. Failing that I would like to score a goal in the Scottish Cup final playing for my junior football team St Anthony.