Support pours in for Tommy and Gail Sheridan
Messages of support have been pouring in from socialists across the world for Tommy and Gail Sheridan as they begin their trial on charges of perjury in Glasgow High Court. The huge support for Tommy and Gail underline the fact that this is seen as trial of a fighting socialist who has an outstanding record of fighting the interests of the rich and big business. We reprint some of the messages so far received in solidarity with Tommy and Gail Sheridan.
Joe Higgins MEP Socialist Party Ireland
The pursuit through the courts by the Scottish establishment of Tommy and Gail Sheridan can only be put down to sheer vindictiveness and an attempt to strike a blow against the Left. There is no doubt that the Sheridans are being singled out because of Tommy Sheridan’s record – being a consistent fighter against the neo liberal policies of the capitalist establishment, standing shoulder to shoulder with working class people in that fight and working for the socialist alternative. It was for the same reasons that the gutter press of the Murdoch media empire also tried to destroy him.
Every week in the Scottish courts as in the English and Irish courts, there are flatly contradictory perceptions and accounts in matters of dispute but prosecution of one party or the other for perjury almost never arises. Yet the Scottish prosecution authorities have decided to make an exception of Tommy Sheridan and this is for nakedly political reasons.
All genuine socialists and activists in the labour and trade union movement throughout Britain and Ireland will stand in solidarity with Tommy and Gail Sheridan against this withchunt and wish them strength and endurance in the difficult days ahead.
Tony Mulhearn
Former Liverpool 47 councillor and Socialist Party member
Dear Tommy and Gail
I wish you the best of luck in your forthcoming battle with the Murdoch-inspired witchunt designed to undermine you as a tribune of the Scottish working class. The whole farce will be recognised by the Labour Movement everywhere as a calculated move to destroy you as a symbol of working-class resistance to the attacks of the capitalist state.
We look forward to a victorious outcome of this, one of the greatest challenges of your political life.
Cllr Dave Nellist Socialist Party, Coventry
Please pass on my best wishes and solidarity to Tommy and Gail as they face a massive and lengthy legal battle against the Establishment in general, and Rupert Murdoch’s influence in particular.
Those sections of the Establishment who have authorised the millions of pounds of public money spent on this sustained and pernicious attack against a man rightly described as Scotland’s most prominent socialist of recent times, will be the same Establishment that says in a couple of weeks time that ordinary people and their families must pay the price for the gambling and speculation of the banks.
And through this unprecedented campaign that same Establishment seeks to silence a voice that can give ordinary people hope that the battle against capitalism and its cuts can be won.
They will not succeed.
Tommy and Gail, socialists and ordinary people throughout these lands are with you.
Tony Saunois Secretary International Secretariat of the CWI
Dear Tommy and Gail,
The International Secretariat of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) sends you warm support and solidarity as you face trial on charges of “perjury”.
We find it outrageous that for over four years the police and the Scottish legal establishment have conducted an unprecedented campaign, spending millions of pounds of public money, in an effort to bring charges against you. This, of course, is linked to your famous defamation victory over the Rupert Murdoch-owned and anti-working class News of the World, in 2006.
We are convinced that this new trial is a vindictive attempt by the ruling establishment to inflict a defeat against you and also against the entire socialist and workers’ movement. As we enter a period of unprecedented public sector cuts in Scotland and England and Wales, as well as across Europe, which will see huge resistance and class battles, this court case is clearly intended to ‘teach a lesson’ to and to cow those prepared to stand up against the capitalist establishment. They will not succeed!
The CWI and is sections and supporters, in over 40 countries, send warm solidarity to you over the next weeks of your trial and will follow the court proceedings with great interest. We are confident that whatever the outcome of this politically-motivated court case, socialists, workers and youth everywhere will continue to recognise and to hold in esteem those socialists that are hounded by the establishment for daring to have fought for their class.
Judy Beishon, for the Socialist Party Executive Committee
Dear Tommy,
The Executive Committee of the Socialist Party in England and Wales sends you and Gail our support and solidarity at the start of the court proceedings against you.
It is clear that you have been subjected to an unprecedented and venomous legal campaign because you have been, and are, an outspoken socialist, at the forefront of promoting the interests of working class people in Scotland and internationally.
We hope that the legal establishment fails in its completely unjustifiable action and that you are soon free of this scandalous harrassment.
We will continue to mobilise support for you both, and to explain in our publications and public meetings the class nature of the concerted attacks being made on you.
Kevin McLoughlin for the NEC of the Socialist Party, Ireland
Dear Comrades,
Just a short note of support and encouragement to you both as you go into this trial. This investigation has been a disgrace from start to finish. There can be little expectation of justice as far as the state is concerned who are part of this vendetta aimed at striking a blow against you and through you against working class people and the idea of fighting back.
We know you will deal with this trial and are sure the comrades will rally around and that together, with growing resistance and radicalisation amongst working class people, you will move forward and launch a successful socialist challenge to the establishment in the years ahead.
Hannah Walter Socialist Party, Teesside UNISON NEC (Personal capacity)
Dear Tommy & Gail,
Solidarity Greetings on behalf of the Socialist Party Teesside Branch. We wish you the best of success in the upcoming trial.
It tells the lie to the idea that the courts and police exist to protect ordinary working people that this case, pursued by the lackeys of big business, has been allowed to travel this far. Those who know the history of the Anti-Poll Tax Campaign will also recognise the vested political interests in pursuing such a case whilst carrying out the biggest attacks on the working class in living memory.
We will be following the progress of your case, please let us know if we can be of any assistance.
CLIVE WALDER Birmingham Socialist Party
I am sending my solidarity with Tommy and Gail Sheridan for their forthcoming court case.
While the case is obviously a piece of pure political vindictiveness it also renews my confidence in the correctness of socialist ideas. If the establishment have to intimidate socialists we’re obviously doing something right.
The hypocrisy of the political establishment is as breathtaking as it is unsurprising; at a time when we’re told that we can’t afford public services that same public money is being used to persecute two comrades who have flawless record of defending public services and standing up for the poor.
The ruling class are scared of our ideas and we should be immensely proud of that.
Good luck Tommy and Gail. The majority of the working class are behind you
Nick Chaffey SP Southern Region
Dear Gail & Tommy,
A brief message of support and solidarity from SP comrades across the Southern Region. It’s been a while since your Poll Tax travels down here but your visits will always be remembered by the comrades.
Comrades are following your court case, especially the new generation who were not around in the 90s but have a deep hatred of the right wing tabloid press for it’s anti-working class, pro-big business agenda. I’m sure many will be at court to stand alongside you both. We will be there in spirit.
You are making a courageous stand against an establishment witch-hunt, I’m sure many will make the link between the attacks on you both and the savage cuts coming from the ConDem Coalition. In every battle that lies ahead, I’m certain the spirit of solidarity and the ideas of genuine socialism will come to the fore. Wishing you every success in court.
Victory against the Murdoch Empire!
You can email your messages of support to info@socialistpartyscotland.org.uk
