SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 12/08/05

Scottish Socialist Party MSP Tommy Sheridan today attacked the assault on multi-culturalism by “racists, Islamophobes and British chauvinists” and said that he would fail a British citizenship test being talked of for immigrants.
Tommy said that he specifically rejected any semblance of British identity; an identity which was dripping with the blood of the people enslaved by the British empire around the world and more recently with the blood of Iraqi’s slaughtered by Britain’s role in the invasion of Iraq.
Tommy accused Conservative politicians of making remarks that were identical to the language used by the National Front in the late 1970’s and more recently by the British National Party.

Tommy said;
“The past weeks have seen a tidal wave of British chauvinism, Islamophobia and racism descend on us, stirred up by the far right, the Conservative Party and, shamefully, from some liberal and left wing commentators,
“For Conservative shadow ministers to talk of deporting people who reject a British identity puts them in the same sewer as the far right neo Nazi’s like the BNP.
“Those who demand we all swear allegiance to a British identity had better prepare to deport every Scot who sees themselves as a republican.
“I want to see Britain broken up and the Crown made redundant, not swear allegiance to them.
“An independent Scottish socialist republic which banished poverty, obscene inequality and nuclear weapons would secure my allegiance.
“I consider Britain to be a blood-thirsty monster which spread it’s influence across the globe at the end of a bayonet and a canon.”
[ends]

SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 12/08/05

SSP calls on Sots holidaymakers to show solidarity with striking airport staff

Scottish Socialist Party MSP Carolyn Leckie today called on Scots holidaymakers to show solidarity with workers taking unofficial strike action at Heathrow airport.
Carolyn said;
“The sacking of hundreds of workers by a megaphone announcement is completely unacceptable.
“These workers are defending themselves against a callous employer by the only means at their disposal – industrial action.
“While facing delays going on holiday may be a disappointment for those caught up in the dispute, the workers at Gate Gourmet have lost their livelihood for daring to stand up to an employer that treats them like slaves.
“I would urge Scots holidaymakers to show solidarity with the workers taking strike action in support of the Gate Gourmet workers.”
[ends]

SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 11/08/05

SSP: Scottish Power is a legalised extortion racket

Scottish Socialist Party national convenor Colin Fox today accused Scottish Power of being no better than a legalised money extortion business after the company announced that it had made Ł147 million pounds profit in just three months.

Colin said;
“It is absolutely stomach churning that Scottish Power are raking in massive profits when all across Scotland low paid workers and pensioners struggle every week to pay their energy bills.
We all know that come winter time there will be pensioners who die because they cannot afford to adequately heat their homes.
“Scottish Power is no better than a legalised money extortion business, preying on the most vulnerable members of society in order to line their shareholders pockets.
"The fact that the poorest Scots have to pay more for their energy through pre-payment meters while the better off get discounts by other payment methods is an absolute disgrace.
“Scottish Power must be brought back into public ownership immediately; the continued existence of this privatised utility is an obscenity in the 21st century.”
[ends]

SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 11/08/05

The Scottish Socialist Party Executive last night unanimously agreed to support the call by the Muslim Association of Britain for an all Britain demonstration on 24th September in support of civil liberties, support for the victims of the London bombings, the condemnation of terrorism and in solidarity with the Muslim community in Britain.
Two of the SSP’s MSP’s, Colin Fox and Tommy Sheridan will speak at public meetings in Edinburgh and Glasgow in the run up to the demonstration.

Colin Fox, SSP national convenor, today highlighted the headlong assault on civil liberties by the New Labour government since the July 7th London bombings and the massive rise in anti Muslim racism that has swept the UK in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
Religious hate crimes, mostly against Muslims, have risen six-fold in London since the bombings, figures show. There were 269 religious hate crimes in the three weeks after 7 July, compared with 40 in the same period of 2004.
Racist attacks in Scotland have risen by almost a quarter since the London bombings, according to police figures. There were 438 incidents reported from 7 July to the end of the month. That was up by 79 on last year, with 64 of those directly linked to the bombings.

Colin said today;
“The SSP unequivocally denounced the terrorist bombs in London immediately after the attacks and we do so again today.
“These were acts of barbarism that have no place in society and the fact that amongst those killed were several devout Muslims shows that the bombers were in no way a part of the Muslim community a whole.
“The headlong rush into repressive legislation by the government must be resisted by all progressive forces in society; repression will never defeat terrorism as 30 years of history in Northern Ireland shows.
“The legislation the government is proposing is absolutely draconian and the SSP will be joining with the Muslim Association of Britain and other organisations in opposing this grave threat to our civil liberties.
“We stand together with the Muslim community in opposing the wave of racism and anti Muslim violence that has swept the country following the bombings in London.
“The SSP calls on all it’s members and supporters to make their voice heard in opposition to racism and Islamophobia and against the draconian measures being put forward by the New Labour government.”
[ends]