Sheridan v News International case Imminent.

[Fullyplumped]

SSP official jailed over papers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5014452.stm

The judge had warned that it was "quite plain" what McCombes would have to do to avoid the finding of contempt and the "punishment that will require to follow".

When a deadline of 1430 BST passed, Lady Smith found McCombes in contempt of court and ordered him to be held in custody until a week on Tuesday.

It is thought the party leadership has urged Mr Sheridan to drop his libel case against the News of the World.

Rather than wanting to help Mr Sheridan by refusing to release papers, it is thought the SSP is more concerned over the effect his defamation action is having on the party.

It is believed he may even be expelled from the party he helped set up over the issue.

 

[tollbar]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5014452.stm

The judge had warned that it was "quite plain" what McCombes would have to do to avoid the finding of contempt and the "punishment that will require to follow".

When a deadline of 1430 BST passed, Lady Smith found McCombes in contempt of court and ordered him to be held in custody until a week on Tuesday.

It is thought the party leadership has urged Mr Sheridan to drop his libel case against the News of the World.

Rather than wanting to help Mr Sheridan by refusing to release papers, it is thought the SSP is more concerned over the effect his defamation action is having on the party.

It is believed he may even be expelled from the party he helped set up over the issue.

The judge has also called for a search for the relevant minutes and has demanded the names of people that took part in the meeting of Sheridans Cardonald branch that passed a motion caling for the destruction of the missing minutes.

In another development, Sheridans lawyers have subpeoned 13 members of the 2004-2005 Executive Committee to give evidence when the case is heard.

 

[tollbar]

The SSP got 128,026 votes across scotland - 6.68 % of the total vote - in 2003.

Colin Fox in Lothians and Rosemary Byrne is South had the lowest SSP majorities - Colin's is only a few hundred votes. If the SSP vote goes below 6% they would both probably go, and Frances Curran would be on a very shoogly peg in West Scotland. If their vote fell to less than 5% Carolyn Leckie would probably loose her seat in Central Scotland.

The SSP vote in Glasgow was very high - over 16% - which won them a seat for Tommy and a seat for Rosie Kane. I imagine a good bit of this was a personal vote for Tommy - who got 27.93 % in his home patch of Pollok. Who knows what will happen here if tommy is not a candidate - espcially if the rumours are true and he is thinking of standing as an independent socialist if the SSP don't reselect him in first place on the list.

I suspect that if the SSP look like doing badly, Respect could enter the equation. remember, Galloway has made remarks about this before and Respect never deregistered in Scotland despite requests from the SSP.

 

[red gone green]

Bring back arfur

I suspect that if the SSP look like doing badly, Respect could enter the equation. remember, Galloway has made remarks about this before and Respect never deregistered in Scotland despite requests from the SSP.

Hmmm, given the gorgeous one's ability to walk into every media trap set for him at the moment, I'm not sure that there will be much left of Respect either by May 2007. Perhaps the smart money should be on the Scargilites in the remains of the SLP to be the biggest hard left party in Scotland at the next Holyrood election

But seriously, what today's news about Sheridan and Galloway really shows is the danger of the personality cult approach to politics.

 

[tollbar]

But seriously, what today's news about Sheridan and Galloway really shows is the danger of the personality cult approach to politics.

I wouldnt argue with that.

Scargill, Galloway and Sheridan essentially have all fucked up because they believed they could walk on water and there were not enough in their organisations to tell them that reality was otherwise until too late.

 

[tollbar]

SSP offices searched today:

http://tinylinks.net/6628

 

[red gone green]

Tommy vs Alan

The latest from the BBC - with some pretty fierce stuff from tommy about a 'cabal' leading the SSP in the wrong direction...

****

Sheridan plea to handover minutes

Former SSP leader Tommy Sheridan has said secret documents that landed top SSP official Alan McCombes in jail should now be handed over to the court.

Mr McCombes had refused to hand over party minutes that could prove crucial in a libel case being brought by Mr Sheridan against the News of the World.

In an open letter to activists, Mr Sheridan praised Mr McCombe's courage, but also accused him of bad leadership.

He said there was a "cabal of comrades" leading the party into "serious decay".

Mr McCombes was jailed on Friday for 12 days for refusing to release minutes from a meeting which discussed Mr Sheridan's resignation from his position as party convener in 2004.

The News of the World had requested the internal party documents to defend a libel case brought by Mr Sheridan.

The Glasgow MSP had agreed to step down in November 2004 citing family reasons.

His decision came shortly after allegations about his private life were published by the paper.

In his letter to SSP members, Mr Sheridan claimed it was "outrageous practice" for the party to hold secret minutes that contained personal details about him.

He said they had been constantly leaked to the media, and should now be handed over to trigger the release of Mr McCombes.

He added: "I believe that Alan and a core group of seven or eight other leading comrades have misled the party into their current quandary.

"But I salute his courage and determination to resist the undemocratic power of unelected judges to interfere in the internal affairs of democratic political parties."

He said the strategy of the core group had been "alien to the socialist and trade union movement and more akin to the dark days of Stalinism."

Meanwhile, the SSP's ruling council held an emergency meeting on Sunday.

It is thought Mr Sheridan could be expelled from the party for refusing to drop his libel case against the News of the World.

 

[Fedayn]

The latest from the BBC - with some pretty fierce stuff from tommy about a 'cabal' leading the SSP in the wrong direction...

****

Sheridan plea to handover minutes

Former SSP leader Tommy Sheridan has said secret documents that landed top SSP official Alan McCombes in jail should now be handed over to the court.

Mr McCombes had refused to hand over party minutes that could prove crucial in a libel case being brought by Mr Sheridan against the News of the World.

In an open letter to activists, Mr Sheridan praised Mr McCombe's courage, but also accused him of bad leadership.

He said there was a "cabal of comrades" leading the party into "serious decay".

Mr McCombes was jailed on Friday for 12 days for refusing to release minutes from a meeting which discussed Mr Sheridan's resignation from his position as party convener in 2004.

The News of the World had requested the internal party documents to defend a libel case brought by Mr Sheridan.

The Glasgow MSP had agreed to step down in November 2004 citing family reasons.

His decision came shortly after allegations about his private life were published by the paper.

In his letter to SSP members, Mr Sheridan claimed it was "outrageous practice" for the party to hold secret minutes that contained personal details about him.

He said they had been constantly leaked to the media, and should now be handed over to trigger the release of Mr McCombes.

He added: "I believe that Alan and a core group of seven or eight other leading comrades have misled the party into their current quandary.

"But I salute his courage and determination to resist the undemocratic power of unelected judges to interfere in the internal affairs of democratic political parties."

He said the strategy of the core group had been "alien to the socialist and trade union movement and more akin to the dark days of Stalinism."

Meanwhile, the SSP's ruling council held an emergency meeting on Sunday.

It is thought Mr Sheridan could be expelled from the party for refusing to drop his libel case against the News of the World.

Rather ironically and totally opportunistally are the numerous people who supported this call to hand over the minutes who only last week were demanding that the minutes be destroyed and. Some spent their times claiming that no minutes exist, but now want to hand them over. TS himself, whereas last week he wanted them destroyed, today called for the minutes to be handed over. Only last week a member of the SWP glibly whined that we should 'defy without blinking an eye' (ie refuse to hand over the minutes) and today the SWP all voted to hand over the minutes...... The lack of political consistency is remarkable

 

[JHE]

Are there any significant political differences between Sheridan and the current SSP leadership - or are the disputes entirely about personal conflicts, the 'dogging' gossip (or whatever it was) and the daft libel action?

 

[red gone green]

Are there any significant political differences between Sheridan and the current SSP leadership - or are the disputes entirely about personal conflicts, the 'dogging' gossip (or whatever it was) and the daft libel action?

There is certainly a tactical diference - Tommy Sheridan is much happier playing the role of parlimentarian, while Rosie kane and Carolyn Leckie seem much happier doing direct action...

 

[Macullam]

CPGB to the rescue

"This aggregate demands the immediate release of Scottish Socialist
Party policy and press coordinator Alan McCombes following his jailing
for contempt by an unelected bourgeois judge.
While working class leaders must be accountable to those who elect
them and to the class as a whole, the state has no right to demand
details of the discussions of working class organisations."

 

[JimPage]

Hmmm, given the gorgeous one's ability to walk into every media trap set for him at the moment, I'm not sure that there will be much left of Respect either by May 2007. Perhaps the smart money should be on the Scargilites in the remains of the SLP to be the biggest hard left party in Scotland at the next Holyrood election .

SLP up here consists of one man and dog.

Respect may however try their luck with the Gorgeous one

But it will sort itself out- SSP members are not as daft - what is at stake here is known and appreciated. The SSP is not going the way of the english left-

 

[JimPage]

Only last week a member of the SWP glibly whined that we should 'defy without blinking an eye' (ie refuse to hand over the minutes) and today the SWP all voted to hand over the minutes...... The lack of political consistency is remarkable

turning this into a platform v platform issue wont help here. the SWP are an integral part of the SSP, lomg mayit remain so

 

[Fullyplumped]

Now it's just getting stupid.

Socialist Party at war as Sheridan says: I'm no drug dealer

• Tommy Sheridan claims senior SSP figures spread malicious rumours
• The former party leader sent an open letter to all SSP members
• Accusations included women-trafficking and using prostitutes

Mr Sheridan said that one female MSP accused him of "being involved in woman-trafficking, eastern European women to be precise".

He claimed other members had "spread poison" that he "regularly used prostitutes".

Mr Sheridan added: "According to comrades picking up stories on the pub/club and party circuit I 'regularly go to lap- dancing bars'. I am also apparently involved in 'drug dealing'."

 

[tollbar]

turning this into a platform v platform issue wont help here. the SWP are an integral part of the SSP, lomg mayit remain so

Sorry Jim. I was at the meeting yesterday and Fedayn has it exactly right. Sheridan was backed by the cwi and in a totally unprincipled manner by the SW platform. They have done more somersaults over this then the acrobats in the Moscow state circus.

Yesterdays meeting was one of the most unpleasent political meetings I have attended in 30 years of political activity. Sheridan supporters referred to opponents as a cancer and demanded that people be purged. The entrance of Sheridan was greeted by a standing ovation and his 10 minute rant was accompanied by organised groups chanting' Tommy, Tommy' and footstamping. The Sheridan faction is less of a political grouping than a personality cult. The situation was not helped by a widespread perception that the executive was not in control of events, attempts to manipulate motions off the agenda and to prevent a pro Sheridan motion being passed.

Alan McCombes has now been released and the documents passed to the courts, but in another twist, McCombes has now been given a week to pass the names of those who attended the Cardonald branch meeting that passed a motion to destroy the minutes to the court, Theres no end to this fucking shambles yet.

 

[nightbreed]

Blimey, what a fucking mess.
In last weeks Weekly Worker , SSP candidate Hugh Kerr went on about how positive the perspective looked for the SSP in the next round of elections. (last weeks WW letters page). I wonder how apologists for the SSP feel now. The party is imploding big time and I am now beginning to wonder if it was a good idea in the first place. Just think, a certain Trotskyist organisation made a perspective out of the 'scottish turn' back in the early 90s!!

 

[niclas]

Blimey, what a fucking mess.
In last weeks Weekly Worker , SSP candidate Hugh Kerr went on about how positive the perspective looked for the SSP in the next round of elections. (last weeks WW letters page). I wonder how apologists for the SSP feel now. The party is imploding big time and I am now beginning to wonder if it was a good idea in the first place. Just think, a certain Trotskyist organisation made a perspective out of the 'scottish turn' back in the early 90s!!

Nothing wrong with the "Scottish turn".
If Sheridan hadn't have decided to take on News International and told them his personal life was his business, then this shitfight wouldn't be all over the papers. Sure, there are internal factions in the SSP but they've worked together up til now.
Tollbar's account of the NC meeting suggests the CWI and SWP are now putting Sheridan (and their own chance to get back at the dominant group around McCombes) before the party. Why? Either because they're sectarian wankers or because they want to reel in the pro-independence leadership and move back towards the more pro-unionist line both groupings still adhere to.
But it is a fecking mess...

 

[JHE]

Tollbar's account of the NC meeting suggests the CWI and SWP are now putting Sheridan (and their own chance to get back at the dominant group around McCombes) before the party. Why? Either because they're sectarian wankers or because they want to reel in the pro-independence leadership and move back towards the more pro-unionist line both groupings still adhere to.

Is Sheridan any less keen on Scottish independence than McCombes and Co?

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Is Sheridan any less keen on Scottish independence than McCombes and Co?

There seems to be a general feeling that McCombes and his close associates have been the ideological driving force in the SSP's slide into outright nationalism and also its move towards certain forms of gender politics (quotas and the like). How much these issues actually divide them from Sheridan and his supporters is open to question however.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

I always like "slide".

 

[Nigel Irritable]

I always like "slide".

Yes, it's a good word. It implies both a degree of foolishness and a disapproval of the destination.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

And a falling-off from what is correct, no? And it has a moral tone to it, as well. You can imagine those described ending up in a series by Hogarth.

 

[tollbar]

There seems to be a general feeling that McCombes and his close associates have been the ideological driving force in the SSP's slide into outright nationalism and also its move towards certain forms of gender politics (quotas and the like). How much these issues actually divide them from Sheridan and his supporters is open to question however.

There are some serious divisions along geographical lines too. TS gets very limited support from much of his old base in Glasgow. He has even been deserted by his successor as Pollock councillor, Keith Baldessara. Probably similar in parts of Edinburgh and the west of scotland. The big support outside Dundee which is a cwi bastion mainly, would be from the South of Scotland where the regional msp, Rosemary Byrne is a key Sheridan ally, the North of Scotland, Highlands and islands and parts of Lanarkshire. He also seems to have support from the RMT.

 

[JimPage]

Sorry Jim. I was at the meeting yesterday and Fedayn has it exactly right. Sheridan was backed by the cwi and in a totally unprincipled manner by the SW platform. They have done more somersaults over this then the acrobats in the Moscow state circus.


>>>> ok, point taken. incidentally i am speaking here as one of their ordinary voters and supporters- a group which seems sadly overlooked in all of this. we are as annoyed as the mebers by this turn, by "our" party apparently intent on suicide

now if the CWI and SWP platforms did a u-turn once- they can do so again. Once they focus on what exactly is at stake here- the destruction of the SSP, they may realise the point scoring just isnt worth it.

whatever, colin fox seems to be doing his very best to try to reconcile people- and I would hope people concentrate on this rather than butchering SWPers. they are not the real enemy

 

[Fullyplumped]

Dave Osler has posted Tommy Sheridan's open letter on his blog.

 

[Philbc03]

And Kevin Williamson has some very interesting comments posted to his: http://tinyurl.com/p5mn3

 

[Nigel]

What did he really do that was so bad. I f he and his partner have come to some reconciliation, what is the problem.

This bollox from 2nd wave feminists should have died out in the late seventies to mid eighties. Unfortunately it lingers on.

ALL SOCIALISTS SHOULD SUPPORT TOMMY SHERIDEN IN THE LIBEL ACTION!!!!!!

 

[JHE]

ALL SOCIALISTS SHOULD SUPPORT TOMMY SHERIDEN IN THE LIBEL ACTION!!!!!!

Why? What fuckin' good was the libel action ever going to do? Are you even sure that TS was libelled?

 

[Nigel]

Whether that is the case or not, his credibility has been undermined by the right wing press, and opprtunists on the left have used this to attack him, predominantely for the own opportunistic gains. Including "Gorgeous George", who put up a platform to put up RESPECT against SSP

 

[Cobbles]

Dave Osler has posted Tommy Sheridan's open letter on his blog.

I can't understand all of the mindless dribbling on in th eletter about "the undemocratic power of unelected judges" - who raised the action in the first place?

What would El Commnadante Sheridano have as a replacement - the courts as an organ of state as in the Stalinist model? Has he never heard of separation of powers?

Perhaps excessive sun-bed exposure has addled his brain - he could always sue.