SOLIDARITY STATEMENT ON GLASGOW NORTH EAST
Solidarity To Seek Socialist Unity in Glasgow North East
Solidarity has agreed to renew efforts to foster left unity across Scotland and specifically to encourage a single left candidate in the forthcoming Glasgow North by-election. Solidarity will contact the leading left trade unions in Scotland again to appeal to them to gather the left groups and forces together with a view to knocking heads together in time for the likely November by-election poll.
Solidarity also agreed that if the left unity process does not develop in time for the by-election then our national co-convenor and former MSP, Tommy Sheridan, should be nominated as the Solidarity candidate. A final decision on this process is to be taken in early September.
Tommy Sheridan said today;
“My preference would be to campaign in support of a trade union backed left unity candidate instead of several socialist parties competing against one and other. If the timescale available does not allow that process to ferment in time then I will fight hard to win the seat. With 11 years as a city councillor and 8 years as an MSP representing Glasgow under my belt I would probably be the most politically experienced and qualified candidate on the ballot paper.
“If I am the Solidarity candidate the fight against the jobs massacre and the relentless cycle of low pay and poverty spawned by the rigged free market bosses system will be our priority. The system of private ownership and control of our lives is bust and broken. The big business parties want to try and repair that system. We in Solidarity want to replace it. We want social ownership and control geared to maximum satisfaction of society’s needs and provision for the many not the few. That is the essence of our socialist vision.
“We will also campaign for a new written contract for all elected politicians which will regulate behaviour to ensure responsiveness to constituent’s needs, the ability to trigger recall and re-election via proper petition and a rate of pay set at that of an average skilled worker and transparent and basic expenses”.
Motion Agreed at the Solidarity Glasgow All Members Meeting 30/06/09
Preamble
This meeting notes the collapse of the Labour Party’s vote at the recent European elections, the record low turn out and the election of two members of the Nazi BNP as MEPs.
We applaud the recent victories by workers at Visteon, Linamar and Lindsey - whose success has been based on unofficial action that defied the anti-union laws. This represents a significant step forward for working class confidence and resistance to the attacks on our jobs, conditions and living standards.
We recognise that a great opportunity exists for a united left electoral challenge to Labour. We welcome both Bob Crow’s call for “urgent discussions involving socialist organisations, campaigns and trade unions to build a concerted response following the election of two fascists from the BNP to the European Parliament” and “The Open Letter” on left unity from The Socialist Workers Party.
In light of the latest information concerning the likely delay in the timing of the Glasgow North By-Election to November 12th instead of late July or August this Glasgow Solidarity meeting agrees;
1.) To continue and where necessary seek to renew efforts to secure a united left candidate able to maximize the socialist vote across the constituency and generate significant trade union and community backing.
2.) Write again to the trade union executives of the left unions of the FBU, RMT, PCS and NUJ in Scotland with a view to encourage them once again to take the initiatives towards left unity in this by-election and beyond; continue to participate in the RMT led initiative which is discussing a left alliance to participate in the Westminster Elections and raise concretely at the next meeting the likely timing of any convention and how this could tie in with the Glasgow North East by-election and whether such a coalition could stand.
3.) Appeal again to the other left parties in Scotland not to select candidates for this election until the end of August to allow left unity discussions and meetings to progress.
4.) Agree to re-convene our Glasgow wide membership in September, either separately or as part of a Scottish wide congress, to agree support for an identified left unity candidate in the election or to endorse Tommy Sheridan, our Co-Convenor, as our candidate with a mandate to not only champion the cause of socialism but also to continue to promote the left unity agenda in the course of the campaign.
Lets just toss a coin- heads its Sheridan, tails its McVey. If it lands on its edge we lock all remaining members of SSP and Solidarity in a shed until they kiss and make up.
Comment by RobM — 3 July, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
#1 A brilliant proposal for the future of left unity.
Comment by Luke — 3 July, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
I think it’s a bit of a shame the SSP have decided to go ahead with the McVey candidacy, but really - if Solidarity really want to promote ‘left unity’, starting with this by-election, then there’s a very straightforward way for them to do it. I guess their actions will show just how important it is for them. (I’m reminded of Simon Hoggart’s rather cynical line about how the people of Northern Ireland would do anything for peace except actually vote for it.)
Comment by Phil — 3 July, 2009 @ 2:16 pm
Unity is all? Then why lead, of all people with Sheridan? I find this proposition extraordinarily destructive of “unity”. Can you imagine the membership of the SSP standing down so that Tommy Sheridan can run in that election? Are they supposed to be masochists? And is there no end to one man’s penchant for destruction…
That Solidarity is onside with this is incredibly myopic.What is Solidarity supposed to now be, a Sheridan cult?
Comment by Bobbie — 3 July, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
3, 4, don’t worry Phil and Bobbie- I tossed my 20p at 2.40pm today and it came up heads for McVey.
So thats settled. Nothing more to discuss and this thread need not degenerate into another Tommy Sheridan killed my goldfish flame war.
Comment by RobM — 3 July, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
Bobbie at #3.
If you read the statement it says that Solidarity would prefer a unity candidate, brokered by the trade unions, standing in Glasgow North East.
It goes onto say that the membership will meet in September to either back a unity candidate OR if that is not possible to stand Tommy Sheridan as the Solidarity candidate.
Nowhere does it say that Tommy Sheridan IS the unity candidate.
Comment by unity - you know it makes sense — 3 July, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
Doesn’t Sheridan’s court case start in July?
Comment by Dennis — 3 July, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
#6 “Nowhere does it say that Tommy Sheridan IS the unity candidate”
No, but it does here;
Tommy Sheridan to fight deposed speaker Michael Martin’s seat in by-election
- on anti-expenses ticket.
Comment by Eddie Truman — 3 July, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
-8. Don’t come on here with your facts. Sheridan for X-Factor.
Comment by Dennis — 3 July, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
Eh…no it doesn’t Eddie.
“But the party will seek talks with trade unions about adopting a “unity” left candidate for the contest, which will be held on November 5 or 12. If these talks are successful, Sheridan would stand aside to allowone union-backed candidate to go forward for the by-election.
But if the talks falter, Sheridan will officially put his name forward in early September.”
Comment by unity - you know it makes sense — 3 July, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
Just read the article. It’s clearly saying the same thing as the press release ie that he’ll only stand if there’s no unity candidate.
The Daily record appears to think that’s unlikely. Whatever gives them that idea?
Comment by swp member — 3 July, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
#10, hang on a minute, the left unity narrative is totally broken, youse have got tied up in knots.
Back on the 16th July an “open letter” to the SSP was posted here on Socialist Unity.
It said;
“It is our understanding that a group of prominent Scottish trade unionists linked to none of the parties of the left in Scotland are in the formative stages of brokering left unity talks specifically on the issue of the Glasgow North East constituency. Our understanding is that during the next week formal approaches will be made to trade unionists, left progressives, environmentalists, community activists, the SSP, SLP and Solidarity to see if a unity process is achievable.”
http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=4233
Now the line is;
“But the party will seek talks with trade unions about adopting a “unity” left candidate for the contest, which will be held on November 5 or 12. If these talks are successful, Sheridan would stand aside to allowone union-backed candidate to go forward for the by-election.”
It’s not the same story is it ?
On the substantive issue, I thought Socialist Worker was refreshingly open and honest by publishing a piece by Pete Murray here;
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=18253
The comments he makes about the situation in Scotland currently can’t be argued with to be honest.
Just in case there is any ambiguity, the SSP Exec met last weekend and agreed a short statement on left unity which you can find on the SSP website.
Comment by Eddie Truman — 3 July, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
#12, should be 16th June.
Comment by Eddie Truman — 3 July, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
#1: “If it lands on its edge we lock all remaining members of SSP and Solidarity in a shed until they kiss and make up.”
Although a few weeks later Sheridan would probably deny that he’d ever visited the shed…
Comment by Deckchair Socialist — 3 July, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
Sadly, they wouldn’t even need a very big shed
Comment by Andy Newman — 3 July, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
There is no break in the narrative Eddie.
The quote you refer to is from the Daily Record article rather than a Solidarity “line.”
The Solidarity statements are clear.
Solidarity continues to see if the trade unions can broker talks that could…COULD lead to a candidate all the groups on the left can unite behind.
If that fails…and given the SSP’s position that looks increasingly likely…then Solidarity will meet again in September to endorse Tommy Sheridan as the Solidarity candidate.
Would you support a candidate proposed by the trade unions Eddie?
Comment by unity - you know it makes sense — 3 July, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
#15 cheeky boy Andy, with 1,000 members and 10,400 voters as at 4th June 2009, the SSP, despite the split, continues to have verifiable support that if replicated in England would see a party of 10,000 members and 100,000 voters.
#16 “Would you support a candidate proposed by the trade unions Eddie?”
Well what exactly do you mean here ?
The Labour Party in Scotland continues to command the support and financial backing of the trade union movement.
You’ll need to be more specific.
Prior to the European election Solidarity made great play of an upcoming “trade union initiative” that had to be supported by socialists.
That turned out to be the travesty that was NO2EU, an initiative that Tommy Sheridan’s press officer takes apart here;
http://www.democraticgreensocialist.org/nono2eu.htm
Again, I recommend to you the piece in Socialist Worker by Pete Murray in reply to the SWP’s own left unity campaign;
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=18253
Comment by Eddie Truman — 3 July, 2009 @ 6:14 pm
I suppose this is really a question about willingness Eddie.
Solidarity are asking that left parties hold off on final decisions about candidate selection until a process can take place that may lead to a candidate that all of the components of the left feel comfortable in supporting in this by-election. Given that the by-election will now in all likelihood take place in November there is more time for discussion than there otherwise might have been. Now clearly that will not be a Labour Party candidate…well not unless it’s Tony Benn at least! Clearly that would not be someone who is a leading figure in either the SSP or Solidarity.
However, given the situation we find ourselves in, (the economic crisis, The BNP getting 2 MEP’s etc) it would be nice to think that there could at least be a process taking place to see if a compromise could be reached. If not…then fine…each of the various parties can do their own thing…but surely there is no harm in trying?
The SSP on the other hand seem happy to proceed without showing a willingness to become involved in any discussions. This is consistent it seems with a leadership view that call for unity discussions are a sign of weakness by Solidarity and that the SSP should carry on as normal. It was a similar call with No2EU. It is clear that the SSP had issues with the platform, however the party voted against joining without even taking part in formal discussions. Why not? The SSP could have attended the steering group, argued for their position and then, if you felt unable to take part you could have walked away.
Your link to the article from Hugh Kerr shows that there was not universal support for No2EU within Solidarity. Indeed, it seems it was a controversial decision to join with many in Solidarity sharing reservations that the SSP had. However, at the end of the day No2EU was supported by Solidarity as an imperfect but genuine attempt at providing a trade union backed left coalition on the ballot paper. Now perhaps you don’t think that one of Britain’s most militant and combatative trade unions supporting an electoral initiative to the left of Labour was as good as it could have been, but it’s a bit unfair to call it a travesty. Perhaps you could point us in the direction of other trade unions or leaders such as Bob Crow who have at least made an attempt to stand up against New Labour?
The EC statement on the SSP website all but rules out any discussions or dialogue in Scotland until after the court case. Perhaps that is inevitable..but it would have been nice to at least see an attempt at providing a single agreed candidate in Glasgow NE. Not a coming together of the two parties, not a surrender by anyone, not an attempt to kiss and make up and form a new party, simply a process that may have led to a selection of a candidate advocating socialist and trade union principles that each of the various left groups could have got behind.
Comment by unity - you know it makes sense — 3 July, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
#18; “The EC statement on the SSP website all but rules out any discussions or dialogue in Scotland until after the court case. Perhaps that is inevitable..but it would have been nice to at least see an attempt at providing a single agreed candidate in Glasgow NE. Not a coming together of the two parties, not a surrender by anyone, not an attempt to kiss and make up and form a new party, simply a process that may have led to a selection of a candidate advocating socialist and trade union principles that each of the various left groups could have got behind.”
I don’t think many actively involved on either side with the interests of the Scottish left as their main consideration would argue with that. But the question of the court case overshadows everything.
The terms of the SSP Exec statement are clear;
“Once all of the legal obstacles have been cleared from our path we intend to initiate a full, open and democratic discussion around left unity in Scotland and the role that the SSP can play in achieving it.”
It may be that legal obstacles are cleared before the Glasgow East by-election is called, we don’t know that yet.
In the meantime members of the SSP will continue to co-operate with Solidarity, Socialist Worker Party, Labour Party and Communist comrades in all the campaigns that are going on in Scotland today.
Comment by Eddie Truman — 3 July, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
Of course the question of the court case obviously means that until it is resolved any significant left realignment in Scotland cannot take place.
However, that is not what is being proposed here and it is avoiding the issue to pretend otherwise.
For the sake of advancing socialist arguements in one of the poorest constituencies in the UK why couldn’t the SSP at least take part in discussions about backing a neutral candidate?
If no agreement can be reached…fine. Kevin McVey can stand against Tommy Sheridan and someone from Barnsley that The SLP will put up.
Comment by unity - you know it makes sense — 3 July, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
bull
Comment by Jim McLean — 3 July, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
Left realignment in Scotland will only be a positive step forward if it involves rejection of scottish separatism and instead takes part in the building of a british wide socialist party that rejects all forms of nationalism. When the CWI in Scotland decided to back the scottish independence project ( in effect jump on the rolling bandwagon of scottish nationalism having been pushed off the labour left bandwagon) the left unity project of the SSP became, in reality, the attempt to divide the working class in britain along nationalist lines project. A fundamentally anti working class and anti socialist project to be sure. It deserved to fail and it has. And all the kings horses and all the kings men wont put the left nationalist project together again. Its front man has been exposed as a chancer and the SNP’s project of a independent Scotland based on finance capital and cuts in business tax is holed below the water line. We need working class and socialist unity throughout Britain in order to defend ourselves and defeat the forces of Capital. Look to the Lindsay victory as a positive lesson in working class solidarity. It is the only way forward. There is no scottish road to socialism other than as part of the struggle of the historically constituted british working class and the “coming to be” of a united european working class
sandy
Comment by sandy — 3 July, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
Sandy, if you use the widely accepted convention of paragraphs I would be able to read that.
Comment by Eddie Truman — 3 July, 2009 @ 9:02 pm
For you Eddie it would not make any difference even if i wrote like a grand master of the English language. You are glued to the Scottish independence project and i dont see you changing your mind anytime soon
the meaning is clear- Scottish separatism is a dead end for any type of socialist politics- but i will endeavor to do better as to my grammar.
sandy
Comment by sandy — 3 July, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
#21
Jim,
It’s incisive and witty interventions like yours that makes me hopeful that there is a future for the left!
Comment by unity - you know it makes sense — 3 July, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
#24 Sandy, I wasn’t being smart, I must have some king of reading disorder, I genuinely can’t read text without formatting, the words jump about out of order.
Comment by Eddie Truman — 3 July, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
25# I’m despondent, I fully support the concept a single left candidate but the three main players are playing a game that has hee haw to do with working class representation. The single act of putting tommy up as a candidate shows that Solidarity is ingenuous, and like the SSP and the SLP have no wish to put forward a united front. You are fiddling while Rome burns, at a time when the working classes are being forced to pay for the mistakes of the capitalist Bankers our leaders of the left are too busy playing silly games. Unity makes sense, but twice bitten twice shy and Solidarity have lost all credability, the previous false statements about leading trade unionists approaching solidarity are an example of the Walter Mitty world inhabited by the SWP. We will put our respective goats up for the slaughter in Glasgow and I only hope we can get our act together for the next elections. The BNP must be pissing themselves with laughter in their jackboots.
Comment by Jim McLean — 3 July, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
what utter bullshit, the SSP are the ones who have unilateraly decided to put up a candidate without any discussion/debate on whats right for the by election.your idea of unity is we do we fucking want and the rest of the left has to do what you say.
Comment by graham — 4 July, 2009 @ 1:52 am
Anyone in Solidarity able to comment on who the leading left trade unionists are that are potential left unity candidates?
One SW member told me Kenny Ross of the FBU was being touted - thats Kenny “the SSP are class traitors and scabs never to be trusted again” Ross btw.
I hope that member was inaccurate?
It’s one thing to say your for a left unity candidate arising from a TU campaign but it’s dependent on it actually existing.
Comment by AndyB — 4 July, 2009 @ 3:01 am
The ‘we can’t do anything about left unity until after a court case affecting a former member of our party’ position of the SSP is fundamentally flawed. It basically reflects a narrow, backward looking, internally focussed, navel gazing and essentially sectarian starting point for considering the pressing issue of left unity in Scotland and across the UK.
To effectively give control of the process of creating a new and meaningful unified form of electoral left representation over to the Scottish judiciary demonstrates a failure to grasp the significance and immediacy of the current crisis facing the working class in Scotland and across the UK.
Self-serving bureaucratic procrastination and delay on matter of such importance as left unity in the current period cannot be justified.
It almost appears as if some form of politically faction driven legally related subconscious psychological self-cleansing wish fulfilment drama has to be acted out for some SSP members before any meaningful steps towards a unified attempt to respond to the current crisis of the system can be taken.
The scale of the growing assaults on living conditions facing ordinary people are massive anger and discontent among working class voters about mainstream MPs is rife. It is a betrayal of political responsibility to base party strategy and analysis around well-worn and yawn inducing concerns of a small group of party members rather than the wider interests of the class.
No more representational space should be given over to the hard, extreme and fascist right. This is not the time for socialists to be pursuing a strategy that results in a tiny pile of biscuit crumb votes for multiple socialist candidates in parliamentary by-elections.
Socialists surely have a duty to more about actually changing the world. I suggest the SSP help contribute to the the process and working with other left forces to take the quite simple step of providing a single agreed candidate in Glasgow NE.
Comment by inf4mation — 5 July, 2009 @ 11:22 am