SOLIDARITY leader Tommy Sheridan is due to return to Fife to set out his vision of an independent, nuclear-free, socialist Scotland and he promises a very different kind of politics.

And he will present the three candidates for the Scottish Parliamentary elections in May.

The firebrand politician last visited the Kingdom in January last year when his seminal speech in Kirkcaldy went viral on the internet, attracting over 166,000 views to date on YouTube.  This time, at the Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy, he will introduce Solidarity candidates for Mid-Scotland and Fife who will stand for the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2016.

Jock Penman from Kelty, Colin Cuthbert from Lochgelly and Dysart man Bill Mair, have been selected by the party and have pledged to fight a clean campaign, eschewing personal attacks and challenging opponents on policy and political activity alone.

Colin Cuthbert (46), lives in Lochgelly.

He works for a local social enterprise as a support worker and is a member of the STUC disabled workers committee and the Scottish People’s Assembly.

Prior to this he was a Unite shop steward in the now-closed Remploy plant in Leven.

Jock Penman, from Kelty, has been a Trades Union Convener in Rosyth Dockyard, actively supporting the miners during the strike of ‘84-85.

He was chairperson of the Fife Federation of Anti-Poll Tax Unions, became a Regional Organiser for the SSP then for Solidarity.

He became heavily involved in local politics and was Chair of Kelty Development Trust and Treasurer of the Management Committee of Kelty Community Centre. Latterly, he was one of the founding members of Yes Kelty, which organised an All-Fife Conference for Yes Groups and is currently organising collections for Food-banks and creating and distributing a regular Bulletin called The Grist.

In a joint statement, the Mid-Scotland and Fife candidates said, “Alongside fighting for the key aims of our national party we pledge to become champions in challenging injustice across the whole of Mid-Scotland and Fife. Specifically, we will back the Campaign for Justice for Sheku Bayoh. Circumstances surrounding Sheku’s death in custody have been mired in confusion ever since May 3rd.

“In order for Scotland to retain confidence in our police service, we must uncover every detail of what happened that tragic day.” Solidarity’s key aims for 2016 are, to oppose the unacceptable and unnecessary austerity cuts ‘which are punishing ordinary people instead of the real culprits, namely the bankers, bosses and politicians’. Fighting for a second independence Referendum by 2020 at the latest, but preferably 2018. A Democracy and Accountability Bill for politicians, including: a recall facility for all MSPs who breach promises; a written contract which commits MSPs to actually respond to constituents’ problems; the introduction of a new oath to the people, not to an unelected Crown and reflecting their belief that MSPs are overpaid, a proposal that they should have their salaries reduced across the board to equal the average wage of a skilled worker in Scotland.

Tommy Sheridan, Co-Convenor of Solidarity, said, “From the little details to the big picture, Solidarity is different in every way from the mainstream parties.

“For example, we will campaign for every MSP to live on the average annual wage of a skilled worker in Scotland; no gravy train salaries or expenses. That goes alongside our Democracy and Accountability Bill, to ensure that all our MSPs work for us. We are committed to a second independence Referendum as soon as possible. Many of those who voted No have been sadly disappointed with the broken promises of the Better Together politicians. This was demonstrated in May, when we sent 56 SNP MPs out of 59 in Scotland to Westminster.

“We recognise the limitations of the SNP. It’s not perfect. But we see it as the best vehicle to achieve independence for Scotland so we are campaigning for voters to give the SNP their first, constituency vote and Solidarity their second, party vote. We are willing to set aside differences of opinion on certain matters to achieve the major aim of independence. But we’ll hold their feet to the fire, too. It’s not unconditional support.” The event is free and open to all. It starts at 7pm on 27th August at The Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy.