Scottish socialism on the rise

Scotland: Socialism
in the Making

A film by Jill Hickson

Actively Radical TV

Screening 9pm, Sunday, April 16, on Channel 31, Sydney.

REVIEW BY LEAH GANLEY

Scotland: Socialism in the Making is a short film about the
Scottish Socialist Party (SSP). It was filmed in Scotland at the end of
last year by radical Australian filmmaker Jill Hickson. The film sets out
to explore the history and role of the SSP and its main policies. It does
so in simple and appealing terms.

The film consists of short interviews with many key SSP members, including
the party's member of the Scottish Parliament Tommy Sheridan, Alan McCombes,
Frances Curran and Carolyn Leckie. Curran and Leckie have a good chance
of being elected MSPs at the May 1 Scottish election.

The SSP was formed almost five years ago, when the Scottish Socialist
Alliance decided to transform itself into a party. Sixth months later,
Sheridan, the national convenor of the SSP, was voted into the first parliament
to sit in Scotland for more than 300 years. Since then, the SSP has gone
from strength to strength. It is possible that the SSP will see between
four and eight of its candidates joining Sheridan as MSPs.

Scotland: Socialism in the Making shows the many demonstrations,
picket lines and conferences in which the SSP was involved during Hickson's
stay. It also examines the SSP's political campaigns. These include scrapping
the council tax, an unfair taxation that is based on the size of your house.
The SSP proposes it be replaced by a tax based on income. Other SSP polices
include the provision of free meals at school for all children, a minimum
wage of £7.32 for all public sector workers and complete opposition
to the US-led war on Iraq.

The film also includes music, cartoons and graphics. At first, some
of the graphics seem a bit abstract but, in general, the film works well.
It gives a good glimpse of the SSP, but there are a few things which are
lacking. The film does not show how the youth movement in Scotland has
developed within the last few years. Neither does it show that the SSP
has managed to do something that has never been done in Scotland before:
bring socialist ideas to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The SSP
has managed to develop from one branch in the Highlands, four years ago,
to 14 at the present time.

Scotland: Socialism in the Making is a brilliant film that shows
very clearly that the socialist movement in Scotland is on the rise. This
movement is growing fast; it is militant and exciting. It is an inspiration
and a source of encouragement to progressive people all over the world.
Find out why — watch the film.

[Leah Ganley is a member of the Scottish Socialist Party. Copies of
Scotland: Socialism in the Making are available from Actively Radical
TV. Phone (02) 9564 1277.]

From Green Left Weekly, April 9, 2003.

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From GLW issue 533