Solidarity (Scotland)
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| Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement | |
|---|---|
| Image:Solidarity Logo.jpg | |
| Leader | Tommy Sheridan MSP |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow, G42 2DN |
| Political Ideology | Democratic Socialism, Scottish independence |
| Political Position | Left-wing |
| International Affiliation | none |
| European Affiliation | none |
| European Parliament Group | n/a |
| Colours | Red, Green, White |
| Website | www.solidarityscotland.org |
| See also | Politics of Scotland |
Solidarity (full name Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement) is a political party in Scotland, launched on September 3, 2006 as a breakaway from the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP)<ref>BBC News Online - New socialist party for Sheridan</ref> in the aftermath of Tommy Sheridan's libel action. Formed by two of the Scottish Socialist Party's six MSPs, Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne, it has been backed by the Socialist Workers Platform and the Committee for a Workers' International<ref>Socialist Party website - New socialist party launched in Scotland</ref>; both Trotskyist former SSP platforms.
On its launch, the party described itself as being an open, democratic, bottom-up party as a response to the perceived lack of the same in the SSP, and because Sheridan claimed that due to the depth of division within the SSP between its leadership on the one hand and his supporters on the other that the SSP had "run out of breath" <ref>BBC News Online - Sheridan unveils Solidarity party</ref>. The launch rally held in September 2006 in Glasgow featured several speakers and attracted around 600 people<ref>The Herald - Solidarity wins on decibel count</ref>.
More than 1,000 people in total attended the ten public meetings Solidarity held in Scotland, with the largest meeting, in Dundee, attracting a crowd of 250. These public meetings attracted 600 members to the new party, of which 250 attended the founding conference on Saturday 5 November 2006.<ref>Socialist Worker Online - Solidarity founding conference</ref>
The conference witnessed debates on the name of the new party and also its political orientation. During the conference the Socialist Worker's Party argued that Solidarity should not be a socialist party; instead, it should be a "movement of movements" providing a political platform for various groups. The SWP also argued that Solidarity's name should not include a reference to socialism, as this would discourage people from joining. This motion was argued against by Ronnie Stevenson, Unison convenor for workers in Glasgow City Council and member of the International Socialists (CWI). It was eventually decided that the new party's name should contain a reference to socialism, and the full name of the party was declared as Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement.<ref>Socialist World - Solidarity conference agrees to build a socialist party</ref>
Defections of MSPs, party members and whole branches of the SSP to Solidarity has been acrimonious. There is an ongoing police investigation regarding the Highlands and Islands branch of Solidarity, allegations having been made by members of the SSP that a transfer of funds from the account of the regional SSP to Solidarity was fraudulent<ref>The Herald - Transfer of funds to Sheridan’s party probed</ref><ref>The Shetland News - Shetland socialists call in cops</ref><ref>The Herald - Solidarity is cleared over funds ‘smear’</ref><ref>The Shetland News - Party fraud probe still ongoing</ref>.
There is also an ongoing dispute about the impending redundancy of parliamentary staff formerly employed by Sheridan and Byrne, involving allegations by the NUJ and the IWW that Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne have ignored workers' rights of consultation prior to redundancy<ref>Letter from NUJ Rep published in Scottish Socialist Voice</ref><ref>IWW website - Sheridan betrays his own workers</ref> <ref>IWW Website - NUJ backs dispute with Sheridan</ref>;
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| Political parties in the United Kingdom | |
|---|---|
| Represented in the House of Commons (646) : |
Labour (354) | Conservatives (198) | Liberal Democrats (63) | DUP (9) | SNP (6) | Sinn Féin (0#) | Plaid Cymru (3) | SDLP (3) | Ind KHHC (1) | Independent (1) | Independent Labour (1) | Respect (1) | UUP (1) |
| Represented in the House of Lords (741) : |
Labour (213) | Conservatives (210) | Cross-bencher (196) | Liberal Democrats (79) | Greens (E&W) (1) | Bishops (26) | Non affiliated (13) | Conservative Independent (1) | Independent Labour (1) | Independent (1) |
| Represented in the Scottish Parliament (129): |
Labour (50) | SNP (27) | Conservative and Unionists (17) | Liberal Democrats (17) | Scottish Greens (7) | SSP (4) | Solidarity (2) | SSCUP (1) | Independent (5) |
| Represented in the National Assembly for Wales (60): |
Labour (29) | Plaid Cymru (12) | Conservatives (11) | Liberal Democrats (6) | Forward Wales (1) | Independent (1) |
| Represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly (108) [Suspended] |
DUP (32) | UUP (24) | Sinn Féin (24) | SDLP (18) | Alliance (6) | PUP (1) | UKUP (1) | Independent (2) |
| Represented in the London Assembly (25): |
Conservatives (9) | Labour (7) | Liberal Democrats (5) | Greens (E&W) (2) | One London (2) |
| Represented in the European Parliament (72 out of 732): |
Conservatives (ED, 26) | Labour (PES, 19) | Liberal Democrats (ELDR, 12) | UKIP (ID, 10) | Greens (E&W) (EGP, 2) | SNP (EFA, 2) | DUP (ED, 1) | Plaid Cymru (EFA, 1) | Sinn Féin (EUL, 2†) | UUP (ED, 1) | Independent (NA, 2) |
| Notes | #Sinn Féin have six elected members, but as abstentionist have no representation † Sinn Féin's second seat is held in the Republic of Ireland |
| Minor parties: | |
