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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