SSP ON 10% FOR CRUCIAL 2ND VOTE AT HOLYROOD - SHERIDAN HAILS MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH
The Scottish Socialist Party will convene a Press Conference in Glasgow University, Queen Margaret Union today, Friday 7 March at 12 noon to declare their determination to overtake the Tories as Scotland’s 4th political party after 1st May.

Two recent opinion polls have both placed the SSP’s support on the crucial 2nd vote in double figures. This morning’s System 3 Poll in the Herald found support for the SSP at its highest ever level, neck and neck with the Tories on 10% for the first time.

Tommy Sheridan said,

The SSP is Scotland’s youngest and most radical party but today’s opinion poll indicates we could soon surpass the Tories and become Scotland’s 4th party in only four years. Our passionate commitment to wage war on poverty and inequality throughout Scotland, linked to our determined campaigning against war in Iraq and Britain’s own nuclear arsenal is undoubtedly winning us more support and members in every corner of Scotland.

PRESS CONFERENCE:
Followed by anti-war lobby of pro-war Tory Party Conference

12 noon TODAY
QUEEN MARGARET UNION, GLASGOW UNIVERSITY.

Background:

The Scottish Socialist Party scored a major breakthrough in today’s System Three election poll for the Herald newspaper. For the first time ever the SSP is neck and neck with the Tories with both on 10% for the crucial second vote.

Throughout the whole of 2002 the SSP registered 7 or 8% support. The poll today follows the Sunday Mail poll of last week which placed the SSP on 11%.

Tommy Sheridan, SSP MSP and National Convenor said,

This increased support in the opinion polls confirms our own experience on the streets and in the workplaces. Since the massive anti-war demo in Glasgow on 15 February we have processed over 400 applications to join the Party. The SSP is fast becoming the political home of those who oppose war, support disarmament, believe in trade union rights and public ownership and desire an all-out war on poverty and inequality, not Iraq.

We are only four years old. The Tories are over 150 years old. To have the same support as them in such a short space of time is hugely significant. The crucial second vote is wasted on Labour. If we can maintain this support we will send at least 8 socialists to Holyrood in May to fight for an independent socialist Scotland committed to peace and equality.
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For more information, contact Tommy Sheridan on 07887 795075 or 0131 348 5632