Tommy Sheridan SSP convener addresses conference

The Herald: Scottish Socialists reject move to ban religious schools


THE annual conference of the Scottish Socialist party yesterday rejected calls for a ban on all faith-based schools after a strongly-contested debate in which many delegates fought to uphold the party's support for secular education.
Although the amendment continued the party's commitment to a secular Scotland in the long run, it upheld existing policy of accepting religious schools where these had strong local support.
John Milligan, from the RMT rail union delegation, said the SSP had to back religious schools, which meant primarily Catholic schools in Scotland, if it wanted to win support from the public and grow as a party.


RMT delegate John Milligan addresses conference

"I ask conference to recognise the reality out in the country and stand full square behind the SSP's policy. It's a good policy and worth fighting for," he said.
He was backed by Charlie McCarthy from Anniesland in Glasgow, who said the motions calling for a ban on religious schools were "the most dangerous ones at conference," adding: "If we ban it, we would have to enforce it on people who would be really annoyed by it and we would face a backlash."
The conference backed a motion agreeing that the SSP wanted a secular Scotland but calling for a nationwide debate over the next 12 months to help deliver a detailed policy.
There was also compromise during a contentious debate on prostitution and the tolerance zones being advocated in the bill from independent MSP Margo MacDonald. Angela McCormick, from Maryhill East, urged delegates to back tolerance zones to minimise the risks faced by sex workers.
She said the whole party opposed prostitution but it needed to work "from where we are today and not where we wish to be tomorrow".
The conference also offered condolences to Tommy Sheridan, the party's convener, who missed the second day of the event because of the death of his grandmother.