Scottish council election: Tommy Sheridan delivers anti-cuts message

FORMER Scottish Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan has made his first intervention in politics since his release from jail in January as he issued a statement calling on voters to reject council candidates who back “more austerity and cuts”.

• Sheridan attacks economic policy of main political parties

• Solidarity co-convenor says the vulnerable in society being forced to pay

• Gail Sheridan standing as candidate for Solidarity in next month’s election

Sheridan, who remains the co-convenor of Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement, said the main political parties wanted to cut public spending and target “ordinary people” rather than “rich bankers.”

The statement was released by Sheridan in support of Solidarity’s candidates in the local council elections on 3 May, including the former MSP’s wife Gail Sheridan.

Sheridan was released from jail after serving a year of a three year jail term for perjury, following a high profile legal battle with News International amid allegations about his private life.

He said: “It is vital that at this time when all the main parties are proposing more austerity and cuts in public spending that voters have the chance to elect councillors who reject the mantra that ordinary people have to pay the price for mistakes caused by rich bankers.

“It was not the elderly, the sick, the poor or the vulnerable who caused this economic crisis yet all the main parties propose to make them pay.”