Socialists launch campaign

Socialists launch campaign

Tommy Sheridan wants war on poverty

The Scottish Socialist Party has put wealth redistribution at the heart of its manifesto for the Holyrood election.

Leader Tommy Sheridan and his colleagues highlighted six key pledges and unveiled 200 policies for the Holyrood campaign.

The SSP became the first party launch its manifesto following the dissolution of the Scottish Parliament.

Voters go to the polls on 1 May for the second elections to the parliament, which was formally dissolved at midnight on Monday.

Mr Sheridan was a lone SSP voice in the last Scottish Parliament, as the party's sole MSP.

The SSP is aiming for 10% of the vote and more seats this time round.

The six key pledges by the SSP are:

• the abolition of the council tax and its replacement with a Scottish service tax based on income

• a guarantee of free school meals for every state school pupil

• a minimum wage of £7.32 for all public sector workers

• the creation of 24,000 jobs through the implementation of a 35-hour week in the public sector

• an end to the private finance initiative, getting rid of the "profiteers" in public services

• opposition to war with Iraq.

The party said elected SSP members were prepared to go to jail "in support of peace".

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Mr Sheridan said: "We've launched a campaign today which suggests that Scots want to wage war on poverty and inequality, not on the innocent men, women and children of Iraq.

"Those in Scotland who believe that Scottish troops should not be involved in America's war can vote for the SSP to endorse the proposal that we bring our troops home."

At the launch ceremony he said his party planned to make the issue of poverty and the redistribution of wealth the key election slogans and pledges.

"The policy areas will show the difference between those with the rhetoric and those with the policies," he said.