Campbell MacGregor Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist Party Member of the Scottish Parliament, spent a week in prison in December. He was convicted earlier this year for his part in a mass protest against nuclear weapons outside the Trident submarine base at Faslane on the Gareloch (an arm of the Firth of Clyde) on the 14th of February. He was given the alternative of 14 days imprisonment if he did not pay the fine, which he refused to do on the grounds that nuclear weapons are against international law.
He was invited to speak at an SWP social on the 15th December, and explained Profiting from Labour that he was going to give weaknesss: SSP's Sheridan himself up at Dumbarton police station in 2 days' time. With time off for good behaviour, he was able to speak at an SSP social on the 22nd, where he thanked the hundreds of people around the world who had sent him messages of support during his time in Greenock prison. Although discussions are continuing, it now seems probable that the SWP in Scotland will ioin the SSP some time after its conference, which is due to take place in February.
Low turn-out
This follows the recent by-elections in Glasgow Anniesland and Falkirk West, which were marked both by a very low urn-out and the continuing rise of the SSP 17.1% and 5.1% of the vote respectively). In both elections the Labour Party tried to duck a serious confrontation, refusing to take part in public debates; in Falkirk they even took the absurd decision to hold the by-election 4 days before Christmas, on the shortest day of the year. The working class in Scotland is still mainly supporting the Labour Party, but without enthusiasm. This is a sign of the weaknesses of the opposition parties. Though the SSP is now generally accepted to be Scotland's 5th party, in the central belt I would say that it is now Scotland's 4th party (it has beaten the Liberal Democrats in most council by-elections in Scotland over the past year, and all but one of the Westminster and Scottish by-elections).
The SSP campaigned around the present state of transport in both by-elections. Falkirk has many commuters, as it is mid-way on the main GlasgowEdinburgh rail line with what used to be fast trains to both cities, but these are now running more slowly than the steam trains used to.
Nationalise
The SSP leafleted Falkirk High station several times calling for the re-nationalisation of the railways. Anniesland lies under the flight path for Glasgow Airport, a succession of lowflying aircraft is an everyday sight there; the SSP campaigned against the privatisation of air traffic control, since the possibility of another Hatfield in the skies is in many people's minds.
It also campaigned in Falkirk against a hospital closure, and in Anniesland against the sell-off of Glasgow's council housing stock to a housing association. SWP members took part in the SSP's election campaign in both by-elections. has led Welsh Labour into a tribal hostility towards the 'Nats'. The most reactionary aspect of the coalition is that it reinforces these tendencies, embracing the Liberals as 'partners' while freezing out Plaid as the official opposition.
To his shame, Rhodri recommended the coalition to his party with the claim that it would expose the 'conservative forces' represented by Plaid and the Tories - an outrageous statement, considering that Plaid are clearly to the left of Labour on probably the majority of issues.
Socialists have nothing to gain from the Partnership Agreement. A positive, non-sectarian engagement between left activists in Labour and Plaid Cymru is essential step towards developing a coherent socialist agenda for Wales.
The rank-and-file needs to begin to make this a reality, at the same time as stepping up opposition to the Lib-Lab project.
The credibility of the Assembly as popular advance. and the legacy of the Welsh labour movement, are at stake.
18 Public Services Association Outlook