Vote Solidarity

No to cuts and privatisation - for an independent socialist Scotland 

Last weekend half a million people marched against the Con-Dem programme of cuts to jobs, pensions and public services, yet none of the mainstream parties, including Labour and the SNP, are offering a real alternative to the brutal policies of Westminster.

Across Scotland, whilst they may complain about the Government in London, Local Authorities, run by SNP and Labour members will be implementing the most savage cuts to jobs in services since before the Second World War.

Solidarity will stand in this election as a clear democratic socialist alternative that calls for the ending of tax avoidance for the rich and big companies, getting rid of the Council Tax and replacing it with a fairer income based alternative, the scrapping of Trident, and massive investment in home grown renewable energy here in Scotland to create tens of thousands of real high skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs.

We are standing candidates in every region in Scotland and in Glasgow we are part of a Coalition against Cuts list headed by George Galloway. We will be calling on Scotland’s Parliament and Councils to set needs based budgets and not pass on the Tory - Liberal cuts. We will also be calling for a multi-option referendum on independence and full fiscal autonomy so that Scotland has the financial powers it needs to build the kind of society that looks after its pensioners, students, workers, young people and their communities.

Solidarity is more than just a word – it is who and what we are.

·        Solidarity WITH trade unionists, communities and students fighting the cuts, low pay and oppression.

·        Solidarity AGAINST poverty and discrimination in all its forms.

·        Solidarity FOR an independent socialist and nuclear free Scotland.

 A Vote for Solidarity on May 5^th means;

FOR REAL OPPOSITION TO CUTS

Solidarity believes there is abundant and obscene wealth across the UK. There is absolutely no necessity for these brutal cuts in public services and public service jobs and conditions. Getting the rich to actually pay tax, big business to pay proper rates and the democratic public ownership of areas like banking, insurance and the utility companies alone would provide more than enough to expand the level of services and jobs base to offer some hope to the million youngsters on the dole. Politicians should be setting needs budgets that protect jobs and services – not voting to carry out cuts. We do not have a huge deficit due to spending money on our public services and our welfare state. Our pensioners and many of our children remain amongst the poorest in the western world. Social housing provision is woefully short and hard working nurses and healthcare professionals struggle daily in the frontline battle to provide decent care to the sick.

FOR A LIVING WAGE AND DECENT PENSIONS

Solidarity are fighting for a living minimum wage and a basic state pension of over £200 a week as a guaranteed right for all senior citizens, not further embarrassing means tests.

FOR RADICAL WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION

Solidarity wants the rich taxed more, not less. The multi-billion pound companies and those businesses who make a fortune on our high streets but who avoid paying tax in the UK should be forced to pay more to fund essential public services and to help end poverty.

FOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP NOT PRIVATISATION

Solidarity is campaigning for democratic public ownership of the big corporations that control our gas, electricity, oil and transport to help tackle fuel poverty and global warming.

FOR AN END TO WAR AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Solidarity opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We oppose our government and the West’s intervention in Libya – it is hypocrisy of the highest order. We believe it is time to spend billions squandered on war and nuclear weapons on fighting poverty and inequality instead. 

FOR TRADE UNION AND WORKERS RIGHTS

Solidarity has a long track record of supporting workers rights and showing Solidarity with trade unionists fighting against low pay and to defend jobs, conditions and attacks on pensions. We demand the scrapping of anti-trade union laws.

FOR FREE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FOR ALL

Solidarity stands shoulder to shoulder with students protesting against cuts in education. We believe in a university education free at the point of need, for an end to tuition fees and student debt and for a decent living grant for all students.

FOR AN INDEPENDENT SOCIALIST SCOTLAND

Solidarity wants to see a Scotland free from poverty, low pay and sub-standard housing. Unlike the SNP, we don’t believe that the capitalist system can deliver the change that Scotland needs. Yes we need independence, but we also need a socialist Scotland.

George Galloway has announced he has reached agreement with community and trade union activists and organisations, including Solidarity, to stand as a Coalition Against Cuts in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections. 

"I'm very pleased we have been able to come to an agreement on a common programme against the cuts. These will devastate our public services and blight thousands of lives," said George Galloway.

"We have a full slate of candidates, a very strong team including Angela McCormick, a longstanding anti-war and anti-poverty campaigner, Brian Smith who is Branch Secretary of Glasgow Unison and leader of the Defend Glasgow Services Campaign as well as students and community activists. “

“We will be campaigning to resist these cruelly unnecessary and counter-productive cuts. We will provide a range of proposals to take Glasgow and Scotland forward.” 

"In the coming days we will launch our campaign. One of the first targets will be the vicious education cuts at Glasgow University. More than 200 staff have already 'revolted' against the Muscatelli pogrom and I can promise the principal a hot time in the coming weeks. We will also be campaigning for democratic oversight and accountability at our universities." 

Notice of the formal launch of the campaign - which will be standing as George Galloway (Respect) - Coalition Against Cuts - will be announced shortly. 

http://www.georgegalloway.com/

Protest called by Stop the War Coalition

Tuesday 22 March

5.30 pm

George Square

Glasgow 

No Fly Zone is no Way to Free Libya

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=24186

Libya: No to Western Intervention

http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/11479/20-03-2011/lybia-no-to-western-military-intervention

The Return of History

http://www.democraticgreensocialist.org/wordpress/?page_id=855

Military Intervention in Libya is an Attack on the Entire Arab Revolution

http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=7880

After a period of deliberation, Solidarity member Gail Sheridan has today announced that she does not want to be considered as a candidate for the party at the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Elections.

We offer our full support and Solidarity to Gail and her family at this difficult time.

Solidarity continues to be involved in talks with possible coalition partners for the Holyrood poll and following the conclusion of these discussions we will meet as a party on February 19^th to make final decisions on our plans and election strategy.

Whether we stand on our own, or as part of a wider coalition, Solidarity members will put at the heart of the campaign our opposition to the scandalous cuts proposed by the main parties that ensure ordinary people have to pay the price for the bail out of the banks.