The Herald: Nursery nurses go back to work

THE long-running nursery nurses' strike in Glasgow ended in bitterness last night when they voted to return to work under threat of dismissal.
An ultimatum by Glasgow City Council earlier in the day brought the strike to an end after 14 weeks...
Irene Lang, from Govan Early Learning Centre, said: "I did not vote to accept the deal. For a Labour-led council to threaten their workers with the sack is deplorable."
She added: "It is a completely different workforce they will see coming back. If they think this is the end of it they are mistaken. We will be out in force with the fire-fighters, and others who have been betrayed, at every election, hitting Labour. There will be a backlash.
"There isn't usually a big-turn out at EU elections but next Thursday will be an opportunity for people who have been treated badly to make their feelings known.
"I will be supporting the SSP – they have been fantastic in their support on the picket lines."

Our ballooning children - The Herald Editorial

Ministers have been warned by dietary experts that by failing to introduce radical measures they cannot hope to make an impact on the country's abysmal health record. They could begin by following the lead of Glasgow councillors who recently visited schools in Finland to witness the transformative impact of free healthy lunches, an idea already championed by the Scottish Socialist Party and this newspaper.

The Buchan Observer

SCOTTISH Socialist Party chief Tommy Sheridan visited the North-east last week and vowed to help advance the Cod Crusaders' cause.
Following their successful meeting at the Scottish Parliament last month, Mr Sheridan fulfilled his promise to the Cod Crusaders to visit Peterhead and Fraserburgh and see first hand the devastation caused by the EU Fisheries Council at their December meeting.
Along with Euro list candidates Felicity Garvie and John Sangster, Mr Sheridan visited both ports on a two-day tour of the area.

Herald: Rebel Martin wrecks Swinney’s plans

THE SNP's internal discipline problems were thrown back into the spotlight yesterday after a rebel MSP wrecked one of the party's showpiece events for the European election campaign. Campbell Martin overshadowed the SNP's high-profile Holyrood debate on Iraq by speaking on behalf of his "friends", the Scottish Socialist party...

Toward the end of the afternoon debate, it was announced Mr Martin would sum up on behalf of the SSP, provoking gasps from the Labour and LibDem benches.
"I would like to thank my friends in the SSP for allowing me to make a contribution to this debate," he said.
He then chided Mr Swinney for advocating a phased troop withdrawal instead of the SSP's policy of immediate troop withdrawal to allow Iraqis to govern themselves. "I would have thought the leader of the SNP would have seen self-determination as a good thing."...

There was further discomfort when Andy Kerr, Labour finance minister, asked Mr Martin if he would disclose secret SNP cabinet minutes reportedly showing Mr Swinney "wobbled" before opposing the war. Mr Martin said:
"Certainly, but not to you."...

Mr Martin later said he had not joined the SSP, and would stay in the SNP if the party wanted him. If not, he would consider moving to the Socialists. He said: "I think John Swinney's leadership has been detrimental to the cause of independence in Scotland.
"Today I felt more comfortable with the SSP position. But I'm waiting for the SNP to decide whether they want me."

BBC News Online: SNP rebel speaks on Iraq for SSP

Evening Times: Ventilators used to keep obese city kids breathing

CHILDREN in Glasgow are being sent home from hospital with ventilators because they are so overweight they stop breathing in their sleep...

Scottish Socialist Party health spokeswoman Carolyn Leckie, who has called for a ban on junk food advertising for children, said the scandal would increase the pressure to protect the young from unhealthy diets.
She said: "This just shows that the Scottish Executive has consistently failed to put in place radical plans to improve the diet of children.
"They keep saying the £174 million it would cost to give free school meals could be better spent - but where better than in tackling conditions like this?"
The former midwife added: "Why do we still have fizzy drinks machines in schools when childhood obesity is at this level and causing this kind of harm?"

The Herald: Sheridan claims victory over broadcast

THE Scottish Socialist party yesterday claimed victory over two Scottish TV companies after they agreed to show a European election broadcast accusing Tony Blair of lying over Iraq.
Scottish and Grampian said they were satisfied that the four-and-a-half minute film did not breach programme guidelines...
Tommy Sheridan, SSP leader, said: "What is galling is that SMG's delay in backing down from their ridiculous attempt at censorship has cost us in the region of £1000 … We have not provided evidence other than what is obvious to most people in Scotland, that Tony Blair has lied.
"As far as we are concerned, this is a victory for free speech, not just for the SSP, but for politicians who wish to make statements and are prepared to stand by those statements."

The Scotsman: SSP given green light to describe Blair as a liar

THE Scottish Socialists were yesterday given permission to describe Tony Blair as a liar on national television.

Scottish Television and Grampian had objected to the contents of an SSP election broadcast because of its claims that the Prime Minister lied over Iraq.

The television companies demanded changes to the broadcast, but yesterday they backed down in the face of a legal challenge from the SSP and allowed the film to be broadcast, uncut...

The broadcast takes the form of a short drama featuring a woman who wants to lie in her bed instead of voting but can’t sleep because her conscience is troubling her.

It says, in part: "You’re quite happy to lie there and let Blair get away with murder, the man who lied through his teeth to us about Iraq."

Scottish Socialist Party
National Office
70 Stanley Street
Kinning Park
Glasgow
G41 1JB

Press Release: 01/06/04


STV and Grampian back down in broadcast row – SSP message will be shown unedited

On the eve of court action the broadcasters STV and Grampian have backed down in the row with the SSP over their Party Political Broadcast.
Reference is made to Tony Blair “lying through his teeth” over Iraq in the course of the 5 minute mini-drama and STV/Grampian had threatened to block it being shown if the SSP did not remove the sentence.
The SSP have resolutely stuck to their principles and refused to bow to political censorship. Tony Blair did lie to justify the invasion of Iraq. He is therefore a liar.
The SSP had instructed junior counsel to lodge a petition to overturn STV and Grampian in court today but they backed down at the last minute. The SSP are both pleased and angry.
SSP National Convenor, Tommy Sheridan said:
“The SSP have been totally vindicated in our stand against political censorship. STV and Grampian have acted disgracefully in forcing us to organise court action to secure the freedom to have our broadcast shown.
“They backed down at the last minute before being defeated in court but the whole process has cost us money we can ill afford to waste.
“At least STV and Grampian viewers will now be allowed to watch the best broadcast of the election along with those of BBC.”
[ends]

Scottish Socialist Party
National Office
Press Release: 31/05/04: 17.15

STV failure to agree SSP broadcast triggers legal action

The Scottish Socialist Party tonight announced that it was starting legal proceedings after Scottish Television failed to give an undertaking to broadcast an uncut version of the SSP’s European election broadcast.
The BBC will show the broadcast on Tuesday night on BBC1 and BBC2 after saying over the weekend that it was unhappy with the accusation that Blair was a liar but then climbing down.
SSP national convenor Tommy Sheridan said that the party has had to instruct its legal advisors tonight (Monday) to seek a hearing tomorrow in pursuit of a judicial review overturning the decision of Scottish and Grampian Television not to show the European Election broadcast.
Mr Sheridan said that the party was aware that the courts had not been favourable ground for socialists and the left but that in the circumstances there was absolutely no alternative left if the party was to seek the uphold the right to freedom of speech.
Mr Sheridan pointed to the incredible situation that had now arisen ahead of polling day on Thursday 10th June with the BBC agreeing to show the broadcast and STV / Grampian blacking it out.

Tommy said;
“The SSP has been left with no alternative other than to begin to initiate legal action.
“STV and Grampian appear to be acting as an arm of the government, refusing to air our democratic right of a broadcast prior to an election.
“We stand by our right to call Tony Blair a liar in relation the Iraq war.
“We will not edit that out of our broadcast on the orders of a commercial television company.
“The incredible situation now exists of the BBC showing our broadcast and STV refusing to do so.
“The demand of a broadcasting company to remove political content from a broadcast strikes at the very heart of freedom of speech and is a clear attack on democratic rights
“Democracy is threatened when the people are gagged.
“We will fight for our democratic right to call Tony Blair a liar over the Iraq war.
“The SSP is asking everyone in Scotland who rose up in anger against the Iraq war to demand that their voice be heard and demand that Scottish Television screen the broadcast uncut.”
[ends]

Sunday Mail: Sheridan fury over ban on film calling Blair a liar
TOMMY Sheridan's Scottish Socialists face a TV blackout after STV and BBC threatened to ban a broadcast accusing Tony Blair of lying over Iraq.
Their lawyers have told the party to prove the claim or see their TV political broadcast pulled.
The allegation that Blair lied to justify invading Iraq is made in a four-and-a-half minute SSP broadcast starring and directed by award-winning actor Peter Mullan.