Lewisham Socialist Party councillors support suspended MSPs

Socialist Party councillors Ian Page and Chris Flood have written to protest at the suspension without pay of four Scottish Socialist Party MSPs. They were defending the right to demonstrate against the G8 summit at Gleneagles, by holding a small protest in the Scottish Parliament. Below is an extract from the letter.

"We are writing as councillors of the London Borough of Lewisham to protest at the decision taken by the Scottish parliament to suspend four Scottish Socialist Party MSPs for the month of September without, according to the reports we have received, giving the MSPs concerned the right to a hearing, appeal, or representation.

.... why did you pursue a completely disproportionate, not to mention, undemocratic, response? The only conclusion we can draw is that this was a political attack on the MSPs and the issue that they were raising in the Scottish parliament - namely, the defence of the right to protest at the G8 Gleneagles summit."

Protests to George Reid, Presiding Officer, Scottish Parliament, Queensbury House, Edinburgh EH99 1SP or email: [email protected]

Send copies/messages of support to [email protected]

Any donations/collections should be made payable to the Scottish Socialist Appeal Fund and posted to Ritchie Venton, SSP, 70 Stanley St, Glasgow G41 1JB or lodged directly into the Coop Bank, Sort Code 08 92 99 account No 65094637.

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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.