MIXING POP AND POLITICS

The opening sentence in the wikipedia entry for one of the most famous figures in contemporary Scotland has changed in recent weeks. It now reads:-

Tommy Sheridan (born 7 March 1964, Glasgow) is a Scottish socialist politician and convicted perjurer.

For anyone not familiar with the tale, here’s a brief snapshot.

Tommy Sheridan (pictured above in the white jacket) came to public notice in the late 1980s as leading left-wing figure in a mass campaign against the poll tax, a new and unpopular form of local taxation brought in by the right-wing UK government. He was so prepared to stand by his principles that he was sent to jail on two occasions. During the first of these in 1992, he stood as a candidate in the UK General Election and came second in the poll. A short while later, he stood for office as a councillor in Glasgow and romped to victory. It was the start of a political career that would last 15 years……

His profile was very much ‘a man of the people’ prepared to fight for every day basic rights. He was an incredibly skilled orator and debater as well as being hugely charismatic. By the late 90s, he was the leader of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), a new organisation he had been instrumental in forming. He was well liked by the media – particularly the broadsheet newspapers in Scotland – and was admired for his great ability to articulate an argument without falling into political jargon. The SSP soon became a small but loud force in Scottish politics gaining seats in council chambers and Town Halls but more importantly, within the Scottish Parliament with Tommy Sheridan as its leader. Such was his popularity that in the main he was referred to only by his Christian name…..

There was a period in my life when I worked for Glasgow Council alongside politicians who were in power and had to argue their case against points made by Tommy and it wasn’t easy for them. His politics were of the street and the community and much of what he said was what they believed – but it was impossible to deliver either because it was illegal or impractical as it would lead to the city bankrupting itself. It was the pragmatists vs the fantasists. And its never easy to be pragmatic when someone like Tommy had the perfect soundbite to hand to make you sound like Scrooge.

I recall one veteran politician telling me in 2003 that some sort of internal strife would one day destroy the SSP – he didn’t have any inside knowledge but was basing his prediction on political history. However, the fact that it would be a sex scandal that would trigger the demise seemed beyond belief.

In 2004, Tommy resigned as Convener of the SSP on the grounds of him soon to become a father and not having enough time to do the job properly. Not long after, a tabloid paper ran a series of articles which had a number of lurid claims about his personal life. Tommy decided to sue for libel.

In 2006, after a lengthy and bruising court-case, during which Tommy sacked his legal team and represented himself, a jury, by a vote of 7-4 found in his favour and awarded damages of £200,000. The bruising aspect was that many of his SSP colleagues, including his Parliamentary colleagues, said that Tommy has admitted that most of the tabloid claims were true. In other words, a jury had found in Tommy’s favour and in doing so felt that a number of Members of the Scottish Parliament had lied in court.

The newspaper appealed the verdict. At the same time, a police investigation was launched into perjury allegations.

The SSP splintered into two groups with Tommy leading a new party called Solidarity. The council and parliamentary elections in 2007 were a disaster with every single member losing their seats. The prediction from the veteran politician back in 2003 had come to pass.

Tommy was charged in December 2007 with perjury, as was his wife Gail. The trial however, didn’t take place until October 2010. In between times, Tommy stood as a candidate in a number of elections but was resoundly beaten. He also took part in Celebrity Big Brother in early 2010, although I think it is fair to say that other that political anoraks and people living in Scotland he wouldn’t be seen as any sort of celebrity…..

In December 2010, Tommy was, as the wiki entry indicates, was found guilty of perjury. The charges against Gail Sheridan were dropped.

It was a majority verdict and came at the end of an even more bruising trial where Tommy had again sacked his legal team and represented himself in an effort to have history repeat itself. Its fair to say the verdict has caused huge debate.

Today the sentence will be handed down. A lengthy spell in jail is expected……

I know this is a music blog....and I'm honestly not trying to make any political points.....I just think its a tragedy that it is going to end this way for him. His vanity and inability to face up to the fact he wasnt as perfect as he liked to portray himself has led to him going back to jail and become in the eyes of many, a figure of ridicule. History will not recall him as anything other than just another politician prepared to lie through his teeth to save his skin....

Over the years, Tommy has been supported by many in the music world from the Glasgow area. Indeed, back in 2001 he himself provided vocals for a single Daddy Dog by The Jasmine Minks which was released on the Poptones label. Sadly, its not in the collection. But this is:-

mp3 : James Kirk – Get On Board

From the LP, You Can Make It If You Boogie, it’s a track which in part commemorates a series of anti-nuclear weapons protests at Faslane Naval Base in the West of Scotland. Tommy was arrested at a number of these over the years and again was prepared to go to jail for his beliefs. I dont think James Kirk or indeed anyone who has been proud of their association with the causes championed by Tommy Sheridan thought this particular nightmare would unfold.

Thanks for listening.