SSP

Bridge McFarland S O L I C I T O R S Have you got a problem you need legal help with? As well as offering expertise in a wide range of subjects we have specialists in employment law, personal injury, accidents at sea, diver’s claims and clinical negligence claims Home visits and telephone appointments can be arranged where appropriate 19 South St. Mary's Gate Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN31 1JE Tel. 01472 311711 www.bridgemcfarland.co.uk e-mail jrb@bmcf.co.uk 35 THE great American writer, Mark Twain, once wrote: “rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated”, I know what he meant. The last few weeks have been a roller coaster for me. At a time which should be joyful for my wife and me, we have had to endure waves of lies and smears in relation to my political and personal life. Let me state clearly from the outset that the Scottish Socialist Party remains united and determined to wage war on poverty and obscene inequality in Scotland and throughout our world. We will continue to campaign against the brutal, illegal and unnecessary wars which have so scarred our planet in Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq over the last three years. Those in the anti-trade union press who hoped to witness the funeral of the SSP have been forced to mourn elsewhere. My socialist colleague in Parliament, Colin Fox, recently announced his intention to seek election to the post I have vacated. He said, “The best days of the SSP are ahead of us, not behind us”. He is absolutely right. I have resigned as SSP national convenor. I remain a proud member of the party and its parliamentary team. A combination of private and family circumstances makes the decision of our party’s Executive Committee to accept my letter of resignation absolutely correct. I wish to pursue disgraceful lies against me pedalled in the Murdoch press in my own way. That means court action which is not always the best response but in my opinion is for me. The weight of the establishment definitely sides with the rich and powerful in court cases. Other smears may even be thrown at me. But I demand the right to deal with them in my own way. I am also about to enter uncharted territory for me – fatherhood. The opportunity now exists for the SSP to prove once and for all that we are no one-man band. As socialists we recognise the primacy of concentrating on politicians’ political activities, not their private lives. What happens in the country’s boardrooms is much more important to the working class than what happens in bedrooms. It’s the boardroom wheeling and dealing that affects our class above all else. How ironic that my bill to abolish the hated council tax and replace it with the radical and redistributive Scottish Service Tax was ignored by every single newspaper and media outlet in Scotland, but comments on my private life were given acres of space and time. The replacement of the Tory Council Tax with a progressive personal income alternative will improve millions of lives across Scotland. Tittle tattle inspired by the anti-trade union Murdoch rag matters not a jot. Only the bosses and the ruling class benefit when socialists fight amongst themselves. It has been said before and should be repeated now. It is not the singer who is vital to the socialist movement; it is the song which is paramount. Our song is our vision, our principles and our common ideals. That song remains the same and is at the heart of the SSP. However, I will have more than enough “noise” to occupy me in the months ahead and a child I can look forward to. The SSP is united, determined and poised to grow. I will be part of that process alongside my parliamentary colleagues and party comrades. The best is yet to come By TOMMY SHERIDAN MSP