Sheridan resigns as SSP leader

by pat c Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:40

The former leader of the Scottish Socialist Party has refused to say who he is backing to take over for fear they could be undermined. Mr Sheridan said: "If Tommy Sheridan is undermined, is the person he might support also undermined?"

The MSP resigned on Wednesday, to be a "good dad" and supportive husband.

However, on Sunday the News of the World printed allegations about his private life. Mr Sheridan has said he will take the paper to court.


Branches have until the first week in December to propose a new leader for the party, which has six seats in the Scottish Parliament.


"I am glad that they (News of the World) have printed this garbage because now I can take them to court - and I'm going to wring out of them as much as I can "
Tommy Sheridan

Full story at:

by Reader Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:05

According to the Mirror, the News of the World could be in very deep shit over this one. The right wing press have had it in for Sheridan for more than a decade. When he resigned they scented blood.

TRUTH BEHIND SHERIDAN SEX LIES: TOMMY'S ACCUSER A MARRIED FANTASIST;
'SHE NEEDS TREATMENT'

Tommy and wife Gail who is expecting their first child next year

A WOMAN at the centre of the Tommy Sheridan "Sexgate" saga can be revealed today as a married activist in his party - and a fantasist.

The young mother, from Aberdeenshire, who distributes leaflets for the Scottish Socialist Party, falsely claimed she had an affair with Sheridan, who quit as leader last week.

Her claims put the Holyrood rumour mill into overdrive. But we can reveal that the woman, whom we have decided not to name, is suffering from depression.

The twice-married former escort girl has been touting her untrue story to a right-wing newspaper, which put her up in an Aberdeen hotel.

Last night Sheridan said he did not recognise the woman's name and had never received letters or phone calls from her.

He told the Sunday Mirror: "This woman needs help and professional support.

"I presume the Tory paper she was talking to was hoping to smear me with a pack of lies.

"Her illness was mentioned at our executive committee meeting on Tuesday - as was the attention she has been getting from the right-wing Press.

"As with any member who is unwell, we all wish her a speedy recovery and send our best wishes to her family.

"I have no recollection of meeting this member and have never heard of her before. Our organiser in her area has been trying to contact her, but she appears to have gone to ground."

A friend of the woman said: "She has a history of making things up and the Tommy Sheridan stuff is part of that. As far as we know she's never met him.

"This isn't the first time her imagination has run away with her. It just goes to show what happens when someone gets a fixation with somebody in the public eye."

And an SSP source said: "We run a democratic party. Anyone can join. This particular member's behaviour has always been slightly erratic.

"It has become apparent that she has health issues which date back some time and we genuinely hope she can get better." Although Sheridan's resignation came as a shock to politicians, he insists he had been planning it for some time.

His air hostess wife Gail, 40, is due to give birth to their first child in June.

"Gail is having a difficult time and I need to support her," he said.

Rumours about Sheridan began circulating after writer Anvar Khan claimed to have had kinky sex in 2001 with a married MSP.

Sheridan, who wed Gail in 2000, insists he is not the MSP she is referring to and says he will sue anyone who says he is.

But he has admitted sleeping with Khan back in 1992.

Speaking to the Scottish Daily Mirror on Friday, Sheridan said: "I have never made it a secret to my wife that I was very sexually active and I slept with lots of women.

"I had a lot of sex when I was younger when I wasn't in any kind of long-term relationship. I enjoyed sex then as it was carefree. I still enjoy it now because I am in love.

"Gail and I are very open with each other about sex and to be honest she's the person who got a grip of me."

Last night he added: "My focus is on training to be a dad. There's nothing more to it than that."

by pat c Wed Nov 17, 2004 12:12

Mr Sheridan's five colleagues have denied a revolt

MSPs from the Scottish Socialist Party have denied they ganged up to force the resignation of leader Tommy Sheridan. He quit as party convenor, but remains a member of the Edinburgh parliament.

MSP Colin Fox said that the decision to accept his resignation was unanimous - and rejected suggestions of a "coup d'etat" within the party.

Mr Sheridan, who said he resigned to be a "good father", plans to take legal action over a newspaper story which alleged he had had an affair.

The 40-year-old denied the claims, dismissing the gossip as "crap".

Full story at:

by pat c Mon Nov 29, 2004 16:50

Fox in hunt for SSP convener job

Colin Fox has declared his bid for leadership
Scottish Socialist MSP Colin Fox has declared his intention to succeed Tommy Sheridan as party leader. Speaking on BBC Scotland, Mr Fox said he was confident he had the ability to lead the party. Mr Fox said party members were "anxious" to get back to focusing on the future direction of the SSP.

Mr Sheridan stepped down from the post of national convener earlier this month, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Mr Fox, a Lothians region MSP, said he put his nomination forward at an emergency national council meeting in Glasgow on Saturday.

Full story at:

by Wee Man Mon Nov 29, 2004 17:04

Was this before the EC had debated the idea of collective leadership.
The plot thickens.