Vote socialist and trade unionist tomorrow
Socialist Party Scotland statement
Scunnered is the well known Scots word, meaning annoyed, discontented, nauseated or disgusted. It’s a word that aptly sums up the mood of millions of voters, and not just in Scotland, towards the capitalist political establishment.
That disgust is entirely justified. Much of the anger is directed at Labour, who are heading for their worst result ever in a Holyrood election. As well as a hammering in Wales and in English local council elections. Starmer is the most unpopular prime minister in decades – the catastrophic results facing his party may well be the straw that broke the camel’s back for his MPs who could move to replace him as leader.
Yet the scunner factor goes way beyond the impact on Labour. The SNP are on course to win the election – at least remaining the largest party at Holyrood. But their current polling is at least 11% lower than it was in 2021 – the last Scottish parliament election. A recent government survey from February 2026 found a large majority didn’t trust the SNP on the cost of living, or to improve the NHS, or on climate change.
63% believed the costs of living crisis would have a long term impact on their family. 72% disagreed that the cost of living crisis was easing. And that was before the impact of the US-Israeli war in Iran had begun to be felt.
Mass working class anger will be reflected primarily in the turnout, which is expected to fall to around 50%.
The threat of Reform UK entering the parliament will become a reality. Posing the urgent need to offer a fighting socialist alternative to racism and division, and the cuts implemented by all the main parties in power, including Reform itself in the councils it controls in England.
Indeed, the Scottish Reform leader, Lord Malcolm Offord, exposed himself as a creature of the big business class when he boasted at a recent televised election debate that, “I own six houses, five cars and six boats.”
While the Scottish Greens will likely make some gains – their record in a cuts coalition with the SNP from 2021 to 2024 means they are not fully trusted either as an alternative.
The failure of the Your Party leadership to capture the mass enthusiasm for it last summer, including a refusal to allow an election challenge to take place in Scotland, will have its consequences on Friday when the results are counted.
TUSC challenge
Nevertheless, the Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is standing in six constituencies, offering a 100% anti-cuts and socialist alternative. Alongside our comrades in England and Wales, we are putting up over 300 election challenges. Your Party is standing in only 20.
While our votes will be modest – the fact that we stood in seats offering more than 250,000 people a chance to vote socialist – was a step forward.
We appeal to all those who can to vote Scottish TUSC and for our 15-point manifesto (see below). Reject the parties of cuts and those who defend the ruinous system of capitalism and war.
On your regional list vote we ask voters to back only a consistent anti-cuts and socialist option. While we have very important differences with them, we encourage those voting Scottish TUSC to vote for the SSP on the lists.
Above all, this election exposes the incapacity of the main parties to defend the working class. It’s time to fight. To organise. To build a mass working class party based on the trade unions that can offer a united class-struggle and socialist alternative.
So, vote socialist and trade unionist tomorrow. But also join Socialist Party Scotland in the fight for a socialist future.
Scottish TUSC candidates include trade unionists with a record of leading struggles against cuts and for pay justice – including leaders of the Dundee and Glasgow City UNISON branches, as well as socialists with a long track record of fighting against war and oppression.
Our candidates are:
- Chris Sermanni – Rutherglen and Cambuslang
- Jim McFarlane – Dundee City West
- Donald McLeod – Dundee City East
- Lynda McEwan – Dumbarton
- Sinead Daly – Paisley
- Jim Halfpenny – Renfrewshire North and Cardonald
TUSC’s core policies
1. End all cuts and austerity – elected politicians in councils, Holyrood and Westminster must refuse to make cuts and fight for fully funded NHS, council and social care services
2. No coalitions or electoral agreements with parties or independents who have a record of implementing cuts and who refuse to sign up to a no cuts platform
3. For a massive programme of council house building to tackle the housing crisis
4. Scrap the council tax and for its replacement with a tax on income that make the rich pay
5. Increase the minimum wage to an immediate £15 an hour with no age exemptions – wages must rise automatically with inflation
6. Abolish all anti-trade union laws
7. Stop benefit cuts – benefits must match the cost of living
8. Take the wealth off the billionaires – Tax the rich and big business – For public ownership and democratic control of the multinationals that dominate the economy
9. End the genocide – End the occupation of Gaza – Build mass struggle for Palestinian rights and an independent Palestinian state
10. End the war in the Middle East
11. Oppose all forms of racism – Fight for jobs, homes and public services for all – Defend the right to asylum and fight against the onslaught against refugees
12. Defend and extend LGBTQ+ and women’s rights
13. For socialist change, public ownership and democratic planning to tackle the environmental crisis
14. For the right of self-determination for Scotland, including the right of the Scottish parliament to organise a second independence referendum. Fight for an independent socialist Scotland
15. All candidates will stand on the pledge, if elected, of only taking the average wage of a skilled worker as an MSP
