SOCIALIST UNITY

Jim Monaghan of Solidarity recently wrote to me asking that I should allow a right to reply to the BBC and Herald stories about further arrests of those who gave evidence in support of Tommy Sheridan at the News Of The World libel trial.

The reason that I have reproduced articles from the mainstream media is that this story is little reported by the mainstream press outside Scotland, and is of obvious interest to socialists in England. I have disabled comments on all stories concerning this story, so that nothing can be posted here that affects the outcome, this is especially important as some who have been involved in the events read and comment on this web-site.

 Throughout this issue I have been supportive of the position taken by the leadership of the Scottish Socialist Party. Notwithstanding that, we can all agree that no socialists should go to gaol and in that spirit I reproduce the statement from the Campaign to Defend Tommy Sheridan.

Vendetta Extends - Solidarity Statement 15th February
Solidarity today condemned as scandalous and unprecedented the widening vendetta being pursued by Lothian and Borders Police and the Scottish Crown office against our party and Tommy Sheridan.
We can today confirm that Solidarity members Jock Penman, our national secretary Graeme McIver and our co-convener Rosemary Byrne have all now been charged with perjury by Lothian and Borders police. We expect that other Solidarity members will also be charged in the coming days.
Their “crime” in the eyes of the Murdoch empire, the police and sections of the Scottish legal establishement has been to stand shoulder-to shoulder with Tommy Sheridan throughout his defamation case and since. It is for these actions that they have now been singled out and subjected to sustained police pressure and intimidation and have now been charged. Solidarity declares our 100% support for our members who are now facing perjury charges.
Our members have done nothing wrong, committed no crime and consistently told the truth. They are guilty of nothing other than standing up against the reactionary bile of the News of the World and the Murdoch press.

Once again, we repeat our calls for an investigation into the reasons for this unprecedented investigation and the massive resources given to it - now exceeding £500,000 of public money has been squandered. Never before in Scottish legal history has a perjury inquiry followed a civil case. The Scottish Crown Office and Lothian and Borders Police should not be acting as agents for Rupert Murdoch’s witch-hunt.