TOMMY SHERIDAN MSP
Scottish Parliament, Room 2.08, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH99 1SP
Tel: 0131 348 5632 Fax: 0131 348 5948
e-mail: Tommy.Sheridan.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

22 October 2003

Dear comrades,

Today the Labour Party is in the process of expelling George Galloway for his outspoken opposition to Blair’s illegal and immoral war against the people of Iraq. Last Sunday John McAllion who I worked closely with over the past four years, announced that he is breaking with Labour and may soon be joining the Scottish Socialist Party.

These two events in the space of a single week show what I’m sure you know in your hearts to be true, that the Labour Party is no longer a place where socialists can feel at home. As John McAllion puts it, “When Labour conference delegates give Blair a 7 ½ -minute standing ovation and vote for foundation hospitals, either they are in the wrong party or me, and I think it is me!”

I know that many of you like John and George have spent their lifetime in the Labour Party and there are many good socialists still in the party. However, it is clear that New Labour is not the party that you, I or many ex-Labour members who now belong to the SSP, joined. I would like to extend to you a warm welcome to join the SSP. We have ex-Labour MEPs, MPs, councillors and party officials at every level. They will all tell you that they are much happier to be in a party that they don’t have to apologise for and one which they can be proud of. It is also the fastest growing party in Scotland with over 3,000 members, 85 branches, its own weekly newspaper and with its first major union affiliation about to happen. On May 1st we got 130,000 votes for socialism and six Members of the Scottish Parliament and we expect to win a Member of the European Parliament next June. In 2007 when PR is adopted for local councils, we expect to win hundreds of Socialist councillors across Scotland plus many more MSPs at the next Scottish election.

Unlike New Labour, the SSP is an open, democratic party where every member has rights and in five years no member has been disciplined or expelled. It is a pluralistic, participatory party that will empower you, not demoralise you. I invite you to join with us in helping to build a socialist Scotland.

Yours for socialism
TOMMY SHERIDAN MSP