Tommy Sheridan plots an orange revolution

Published on Wednesday 31 March 2010 22:57

TOMMY Sheridan yesterday outlined his latest utopian vision of a state-owned Scotland as he launched another attempt to re-enter mainstream politics.

The former Scottish Socialist MSP also said he would stand at the General Election to defend the rights of striking workers who have brought disruption across the country, and would campaign against cuts in the public sector.

Not even the prospect of his high-profile court case in September could distract him from contesting the Glasgow South West seat as a member of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

The socialist coalition has been launched by Bob Crow, leader of the RMT union which will lead Britain's first national rail strike for 16 years, and former Labour MP Dave Nellist.

In Glasgow, Mr Sheridan underlined his support for the rail strike as well as the strike by British Airways staff organised by the Unite Union and the industrial action organised by PCS and striking postal workers.

"We are going to support the workers," Mr Sheridan said. "We are for the BA workers, we are for the civil servants and we are for the posties."

He said he would fight the cuts to public services that other parties believe are necessary to deal with Britain's multi-billion deficit and bring privatised companies back into state-ownership.

"Our agenda is an anti-cuts agenda. We will be an electoral alternative for those who reject the single transferable menu of the other parties, which is cuts to public services and cuts to public service jobs.

"Of course, the other parties also want protection for the millionaires and bankers who have got us into this economic mess in the first place."

Mr Sheridan appeared unconcerned that he and his wife Gail are facing perjury charges over his defamation court victory after sex claims in a Sunday tabloid.

"This is not a distraction. This has been four long years of investigation and a significant amount of public money has been spent. It has been there for four years.

"Apparently, there is to be a case in September and the election will be in May, so there is no distraction."

The sitting Labour MP in Glasgow South West, Ian Davidson, dismissed Mr Sheridan's bid for Westminster, mocking his penchant for tanning salons and orange-hued skin.

"Perhaps his campaigning theme will be 'arise ye workers from your sunbeds'."

Sheridan's plan for a utopian Scotland

NO PRIVATISED profit – stop all privatisation including PFI and PPP projects and the "immoral" privatisation of prisons. Bring privatised public services and utilities back into public ownership.

&#149 NO cuts – take rail back into public ownership. Stop council estate sell-offs and build eco-friendly affordable public housing. Free education for all, student grants, not fees. Keep Royal Mail as a publicly-owned service, not a "privatised cash cow".

&#149 NO handouts to bankers and billionaires – bring banks into "genuine public ownership" instead of "giving huge handouts to the very capitalists who caused the crisis". Tax the rich.

&#149 EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS – repeal the anti-trade union laws, set a minimum wage at half average adult male earner's with no exemptions. Solidarity with workers taking action to defend jobs, conditions, pensions, public services and trade unions.

&#149 INDEPENDENCE – the chance to vote on whether Scotland should be independent.

&#149 ENVIRONMENT – deep cuts in greenhouse gas "otherwise climate change caused by capitalism will destroy us". Recognise that resources are limited and that "capitalism fritters them away for profit".

&#149 PENSIONS – restore the pre-Thatcher real value of pensions.

&#149 SOLIDARITY NOT WAR – bring home all British troops from Afghanistan. No more nuclear weapons. "No more being a US poodle, no moves towards a capitalist, militarist United States of Europe."