Tommy Sheridan Claims SNP Vote Benefits Unionist Strategy

Tommy Sheridan has warned that voting for the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the upcoming Holyrood election could inadvertently support a “Unionist strategy.” The former leader of the Scottish Socialist Party and current member of the Alba party expressed his concerns during a recent independence march in Edinburgh.

Speaking at a rally organized by All Under One Banner, Sheridan emphasized the importance of directing votes towards pro-independence candidates. He stated, “If you’re not giving it (your vote) to Alba, give it to another independence candidate.” He continued, “Because to give your second vote to the SNP is the equivalent of letting those toe-rags and right-wing individuals from Reform into that Parliament, that’s all it is, it’s a Unionist strategy. Brothers and sisters, let’s have no truck with Unionism.”

Sheridan’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the electoral strategy for the 2024 Holyrood election. Many anti-Union campaigners argue that the electoral system in place at Holyrood complicates the effectiveness of voting for the SNP on both constituency and regional list ballots. This sentiment echoes previous statements made by former SNP leader Alex Salmond during the last Holyrood election in 2021, where he encouraged independence-minded voters to consider supporting Alba to maximize pro-independence representation.

In 2021, Salmond noted, “We wish the SNP well in sweeping the country on the constituency ballot.” He urged voters to back Alba to prevent pro-independence votes from being wasted, pointing out that “at the last election there were nearly one million wasted SNP votes on the regional list.” He mentioned that only four SNP Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) were elected through the regional list, emphasizing the need for a strategic voting approach.

Sheridan has also faced challenges in his personal life following his political career. He claimed to be “victimized” after being rejected for a social worker position by Glasgow City Council. The council’s Health and Social Care Partnership informed him that all future job applications would be denied due to his previous conviction for perjury. Sheridan stated, “I have no doubt whatsoever that I am being blacklisted by the council.”

He criticized the decision, arguing that it contradicts the spirit of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, which aims to support individuals with past convictions in reintegrating into society. “I don’t think it chimes with the spirit of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act to hold against someone a 15-year-old conviction,” he remarked.

In 2011, Sheridan was found guilty of lying under oath in a defamation case against the News of the World, resulting in a three-year prison sentence. He expressed confusion over why his past would affect his ability to work in social care, stating, “Dealing with people who have got social problems, trying to help people, trying to use your values, your skills, your knowledge, trying to make people’s lives better. I don’t understand it at all.”

As the Holyrood election approaches, Sheridan’s comments reflect a broader debate within the pro-independence movement about the best approach to securing representation and advancing Scotland’s aspirations for independence.