More sad than bad

I always thought that they meant well and that, however misguided, they were seeking to improve matters for those at the bottom of the pile. But The Herald is tracking their descent into madness:

"The Scottish Socialist Party was in open feud last night as Alan McCombes, its official who was released from prison last night, and leader Colin Fox launched angry attacks on Tommy Sheridan. The former leader was was accused of "regurgitating poison" by Mr McCombes. Their comments came after the Glasgow MSP criticised colleagues in an open letter, claiming "an unsavoury cabal" in the party's leadership had spent the past 18 months blackening his name through what he described as "vile lies". He directed his ire at three female SSP MSPs, Carolyn Leckie, Rosie Kane and Frances Curran, one of whom had accused him of "woman trafficking". Other party colleagues said he "regularly used prostitutes", frequented lap-dancing clubs and was involved in "drug-dealing", Mr Sheridan claimed.
Mr McCombes emerged from prison last night bitter with Mr Sheridan, the former friend with whom he co-founded the Scottish Socialists in 1998. He admitted the party was now "in crisis" and said Mr Sheridan needed to act more like an adult than a headstrong child."

It is a matter for regret that you need deep pockets to take on the News of the World. Unfortunately, neither Mr Sheridan nor the SSP has such deep pockets. Bankruptcy looms for both.