Guardian Unlimited Politics | Special Reports | Interview: Tough talk from the rebel without a pause Jackie Ashley meets Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist party leader
"For anyone who remembers marching in the seventies, even the banners and socialist stars bring back memories - never mind the brave talk of independent socialist republics, class struggle and promises to "tax the fat cats". This is as old left as political language gets. So how come it is also the language of a young, new party that expects to win seats in the next election?
The answer is that they are Scottish parliamentary seats, not Westminster ones. So far the Scottish Socialist party has a single MSP, the handsome, perma-tanned and beetle-browed former poll tax rebel Tommy Sheridan. After May 1 he expects to be joined by up to eight colleagues, making the SSP the only real socialist party with significant representation anywhere in Britain. The possibility of it holding the balance of power is not outlandish."Monday April 7, 2003
The Guardian
