uncompromising socialist manifesto, entitled 'another Scotland is possible the party won 6 MSPs and achieved 6.5% of the vote across Scotland. In Glasgow it polled a staggering 16%, including Tommy Sheridan's 28% in Pollock. In the Glasgow council elections, as well as retaining a seat, the SSP won second place in 18 wards.
But the SSP heartlands have now also extended into the rural areas. In Orkney the party polled 11.5%. Already the new red MSPs have made an impact in the Hollyrood parliament with their protests against swearing an oath of loyalty to the Windsor family. The SSP has pledged to use its parlia mentary platform to launch a war on poverty throughout Scotland.
The breakthrough of the SSP was not just because of the party's exciting election campaign and the credit it has drawn from its leadership of the anti-war movement. It was the vindication of a ten-year strategy by the party's leaders.
Many factors explain the Scottish success, some specific to Scotland; for example the part-proportional representation voting system, the tradition of the left in Scotland, the existence of a (formally) left-leaning nationalist party and the profile of Tommy Sheridan through his leadership of the antiOne of the newly elected SSP
After the anti-Poll Tax campaign, the SML led a series of other struggles in the 1990s building up support in working-class communities in campaigns against, for example, motorway building, school closures and water privatisation. It also fought local council elections and won a number of seats The tradition of consistently championing working-class interests and sinking roots in working-class communities has brought into the SSP.
In particular, the SSP has become identified with a number of proposals for positive reforms which have won broad support, most particularly the Scottish Service Tax, the abolition of warrant sales and the provision of free school meals. Amongst the new initiatives the socialist MSPs are discussing is a bill to introduce free, good-quality, universal childcare.
t should not be forgotten that the setting up of the SSP in 1998 was
opposed by the Socialist Party/Militant leadership and the SWP, with the hostility of the SWP extending to its refusal to participate until less than two years ago. This perhaps explains their rather lukewarm response to the Scottish success.
Those who established the SSP argued that to win wide layers to a viable socialist
Our feet have hardly touched the the question of establishing a party. pointed out, the creation of 'a single party identity was a decisive turning point in the Scotland.' The SSP has shown that an open, non-sectarian approach and a willingness to work with others in a democratic fashion been reach out to a much broader audience. draw from the Scottish success? in Scotland, but socialists in England and give a political voice to those disenfranchised by New Labour also demonstrated that too many left activists are still infected with a navel gazing, SSP. here too a contrast with Scotland is releVane list. The result came through at 5.40 banner had to be established, which posed
As Alan McCombes, a key SSP leader, has development of an effective socialist force in can create a dynamic that enables the left to
What lessons can socialists in England
The political situation is more advanced Wales have essentially the same task: the creation of a broad socialist party that can
The recent Socialist Alliance conference was, in general, a positive advance. But it and sectarian mentality, which contrasts sharply with the fraternal, democratic and outward-looking atmosphere found in the
The left can be proud of its role in the Stop the War movement in England. But
Whilst the profile of the SSP was ment against the war Victorious: Rosie Kane prominent in the united campaign in Scotland, in England, that of the Socialist Alliance was virtually buried.
Whilst the SWP has continued to view the SA as just one of 'its' united front campaigns, socialists in Scotland have understood the centrality of the SSP when they intervene on national and international issues, something symbolised by the exisIn Scotland, the SSP is set for further progress. The introduction of proportional representation for council elections means that it could win wide representation in the town halls.
The question is posed of transforming the SSP into a mass working class party.