Ssv Voice EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson

TV news bias: media blackout Euro elections: how over study revealing majority of to stop UKIP taking news items favoured No camp a Scottish seat • see page 3 • see page 5 £1 • issue 431 • 31st January - 13th February 2014 facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice

Latest poll shows large swing to Yes camp and indy support increase from women and youth

Jam-packed Labour For Independence meeting rocks Better Together Labour/Tory coalition

Sillars book maps out socialist action plan for independent Scottish government facebook.com/ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson

A SHUDDER is passing through the opponents of Indy debate: ice is cracking Scottish independence, with the dawning realisation that their bid to freeze out the pos - itive case for a Yes vote in a frost of fear is cracking. The cross-class alliance of Better Together, which sees the Tories fashion the anti-indepen - dence shells and their willing soul mates in Labour fire them, suddenly looks vulnerable. At the heart of this is the fact that after months of relentless negativity aimed at convincing Scots that they need to stick with an increasingly right wing UK voters increasingly under - stand what this means. LABOUR FOR INDEPENDENCE: recent packed Glasgow meeting sent shockwaves through the No campaign Vote for austerity? Both Labour and Tory con - where in this Voice, in fat cat ence and Yes campaigners find a radical alternative. The rapid tenders for Westminster power politicians imposing ever an increasingly receptive ear to development of Labour For In - back massive cuts in spending, growing attacks such as their case in public meeting, dependence and its endorse - both back nuclear weapons, Labour – yes Labour! – threats street stalls and on the doorstep. ment by a growing list a both demonise the poor, both to cut benefits of those with lit - Most importantly is the grow - significant Labour figures with a support the City-driven greed eracy problems. ing understanding that winning message of a return to core as they vie to be the most Against this dismal back - the votes of those who vote Labour values is important. “business friendly”. Taken as ground then the prospect of an Labour – or stay at home – to Likewise the publication by an offer it amounts to austerity, alternative way meeting the vote Yes in September is the Jim Sillars of his socialist case insecurity, low pay and bosses needs of people over profit in absolutely essential corner - for independence also feeds cracking the whip over workers an independent Scotland is stone to winning independence. into this growing need to de - under the cosh of unemploy - gathering growing interest and That’s why that shudder is look - velop a vision of independence ment and threatened with ben - support. Most spectacularly ing for a spine to run up in the as an alternative to Westmin - efit cuts if they speak up. this was demonstrated in an camp of Labour’s UK loyalists. ster failure. Since it was formed In reality the Westminster po - ICM poll showing the Yes vote Faced with a growing likeli - the Scottish Socialist Party has litical class – whatever colour growing and No falling back. hood of a UK Tory (or Tory/UKIP) backed both independence their flag – are wholly owned by However this is simply an in - government and a Labour Party and socialism and our mes - the forces of greed and grab of dicator of what activists have trashing its own welfare achieve - sage remains the same in the the so called “free market”. This been reporting for some time ments as a “something for noth - road to the referendum. results, as we report else - now as SSP, Radical Independ - ing” society the way is open for Better off with Yes To subscribe, fill in this form and send it to: Scottish Socialist Voice, The key task is to drive Suite 370, 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD. home the message that for Or telephone: 0781 126 5388 those who endorse core Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to ‘Scottish Socialist Voice’ Labour values that voting Yes, Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice & Twitter: @ssv_voice far from voting SNP, is the best way to provide the tools to im - Name...... plement such values. Address...... The broad pro-indepen - dence left’s task is to press ...... home the message that work - Phone...... ing class Scots – the majority Email...... of voters – will be socially, eco - I enclose: g £5 for 5 issues g £10 for 10 issues g £20 for 20 issues nomically and politically better of with independence. That Solidarity rate: g £6 for 5 issues g £12 for 10 issues g £24 for 20 issues way lies victory in September.

2 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 431 NEWS by Lynda Williamson, editor, newsnetscotland.com

A YEAR -long study carried out by academic, Dr John Robertson and researchers from the Univer - sity of the West of Scotland, found clear evidence of bias amongst the broadcast media in Scotland when reporting on the independence referendum. MISREPORTING SCOTLAND: painstaking The research, which covered the analysis by academics revealed that an period from September 2012 to overwhelming majority of TV news items were September 2013, took in 730 hours presented in a fashion which favoured the anti- of early evening TV news coverage independence campaign – but BBC Scotland broadcast by the BBC and STV. and STV news is unlikely to let you know this Dr Robertson’s team watched, noted and carefully tabulated state - ments broadcast in news pro - grammes, before painstaking analysis revealed that an over - SCOTTISH MEDIA BLANKED whelming majority of news items were presented in a fashion which favoured the anti-independence campaign. fAortabNle reTadinIg -forI bNroadcDast Ylong erB. TheyI inAvitedS Dr R obFertsIon NDThat iIs wNhy thGe NoS Campaign In his report Dr Robertson sug - chiefs, ordinary Scottish workers to defend his research on BBC fear it, that is why they try to suggest gested that: “One obvious explana - haven’t had much of a chance to Radio Scotland during the Saturday that it is a sinister and organised tion lies in the editorial decision to read it at all. Indeed if you missed morning dead zone. It says much movement controlled and directed allow all three anti-independence SNP MSP Joan McAlpine’s men - about the BBC that in the face of from some mysterious headquarters parties to respond to each SNP tion of it in her column in the Daily such overwhelming criticism the at Yes Scotland/SNP/Newsnet Scot - statement creating an unavoidable Record then this is the first chance only mention of the report was made land (take your pick). predominance of statements from you’ll have to read about it in print at 8.20am on a Saturday morning. The Daily Mail, among others, the former even when these were media. The report was offered to Of course this comes as no sur - have tried to discredit anyone who kept short.” numerous outlets in the mainstream prise to those of us who have fol - supports independence and owns a media but not a single traditional lowed the independence debate computer as a particularly nasty Red/green balance newspaper carried it – it seemed al - closely. The University study merely type of troll. Their narrative being Of course we all know that the in - most as though it was subject to a proves what we have long sus - that the pro-independence side may dependence campaign does not sim - news blackout. If you wanted to find pected, that there exists in the BBC dominate the debate on the world ply consist of the SNP. TV chiefs it then you would have to turn to the institutionalised bias and the most wide web, but they are a particularly could easily have provided more internet and to citizen journalism. effective way to counter this is unsavoury bunch, not to be trusted, balance if they had only just thought Newsnet Scotland broke the story through social media. full of hate. of Colin Fox or Patrick Harvie. You in late January and our article took Don’t get me wrong I am not for have to wonder why they didn’t? social media by storm. It became Citizen journalism a moment trying to suggest that The answer may lie in another one of our most widely read articles Make no mistake, the only reason there are not some pretty awful part of the report, the part that deals ever. With almost 700 re-tweets it that John Robertson was given the things written by anonymous mo - with the tendency to personalise the was read by nearly 24,000 people. opportunity to appear on that early rons and would in no way defend case for independence using Alex So how did the state broadcaster morning radio show was that citizen that kind of behaviour. But there is a Salmond. According to Robertson: react to the popularity of our story journalism had breathed life into a particular political reason for trying “Personalisation of political is - and the allegations contained in this debate which the main stream media to suggest that this is an exclusively sues is long-established strategy to peer reviewed report? They fired off had tried to close down. pro-independence phenomenon. weaken arguments, shifting focus a stern email questioning the Social media is a powerful tool So use the net, log on and get the from collective reasoning or shared methodology used and attacking Dr for those who support independence information you need from sites like values to supposed personal desires Robertson’s credibility, of course. for Scotland. I say for supporters and ours, from Bella Caledonia, from and personality traits. Historically, They demanded that he hand over not for the Yes Campaign or for the National Collective, from Wings this tendency or strategy has been his data and they copied in his boss SNP because the independence Over Scotland, but be polite, don’t used to demonise and to undermine in an attempt to intimidate. movement on social media is spon - give them ammunition, and when numerous political figures in the But when respected former BBC taneous and organic, it is aligned to you’ve got the information you need UK including Michael Foot and journalist, Derek Bateman joined no particular party or organisation, it grab a handful of leaflets and get out Neil Kinnock.” Now although this the row, berating them in his online is truly a cross party, grass roots into the real world. That is where we report would have made uncom - blog, the beeb could ignore it no movement. are going to win this thing!

issue 431 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 3 CAMPBELL MARTIN by Campbell Martin

ATTEMPTING TO show they are as tough on ‘benefits scroungers’ as the Tories, the LABOUR PARTY ASSUMES Labour Party’s spokesperson on Work and Pensions last week announced that the unemployed JHOOW DOB YOU SLPELEL SS MEANS ‘THICK’ should have to sit tests in English charges applied. The result, of ‘SCROUNGER’ ? Labour’s and Maths. If the out-of-work per - course, is that instantly there will Rachel Reeves and Ed Balls son failed such a test, a future and their MP chums spell it be insufficient money to pay the Labour government would take ‘E.X.P.E.N.S.E.S.’ rent because the bank put itself at away their benefit unless they the head of the queue to get its undertook training in the sub - money. Insufficient money to jects. Remember when the cover the full amount of rent leads Labour Party was actually on the to arrears, which build-up and can side of the working class, rather result in eviction. If the people of than pandering to the right-wing Scotland do not take the opportu - agenda of the Tories, UKIP and nity to govern our own country by the Daily Mail? I know, it’s such a voting Yes in September’s inde - long time ago now that it’s difficult pendence referendum, it is a rac - to focus on such a Labour Party. ing certainty that more austerity Probably the last Labour man - and more demonising of the poor - ifesto to offer an agenda for the est members of society will take working class was delivered place following the next scheduled under the leadership of Michael UK General Election (May 2015). Foot in 1983. Since then, under Labour claims it can form the John Smith, Tony Blair, Gordon next UK government, but that is Brown and now Ed Miliband, the Jobseekers Allowance, which tion where they worked, got their unlikely. However, even if they Labour Party has become more means that unemployed univer - pay, budgeted and paid bills. The did, Rachel Reeves’ announce - and more a clone of the Tories. sity graduates and company Tory Minister behind this plan is ment of last week confirms the Last week’s statement of intent managers would be forced to Iain Duncan Smith who lives in a party would continue with Tory at - by Rachel Reeves MP (Labour’s complete tests to show they had mansion, complete with tennis tacks on the poor. Shadow Minister for Work and a basic grasp of writing and court, on the Buckinghamshire Pensions) sought to demonise counting. Such a policy could only estate of his father-in-law. Mr England decides the unemployed as people of be introduced by a party that be - Duncan Smith and his posh-boy In a nightmare scenario, polls such little worth that they obvi - lieves the unemployed are thick. Tory colleagues fail to understand show the Tories are most likely to ously can’t even write in basic Has Labour even considered the the reality of living week-to-week continue in government at West - English or do their times-tables. skilled mechanic who has been on poverty-level benefits. minster... but with the possibility laid-off? Such a person could Here is a little scenario that has of a coalition involving the far- Threat possess the best mechanically- escaped their supposedly mas - right United Kingdom Independ - Ms Reeves’ added threat of minded brain and the most skilful sive intellects: living on benefits ence Party (UKIP). immediately removing benefit set of hands, yet if he or she is not means always having too little At every UK election since from anyone failing Labour’s so good at English or Maths, money to make ends meet. It is 1955, Scotland has rejected the tests simply demonstrates how bang goes their Jobseekers Al - very often the case that inade - Tory Party but for the majority of far removed from reality are lowance and poverty beckons. quate benefit payments are long that time we have had them im - Westminster politicians. The thinking behind this new gone before the next one is due. posed on us by the votes of peo - The Tory-clone Labour Party Labour policy mirrors the igno - The last few days without ple in England. UKIP has never would punish someone who fails rance of the Tories’ decision that money are frequently covered by even managed to hold a deposit a test – possibly because they had when the Universal Credit is fi - small bank-overdrafts. Under the at any election in Scotland (a earlier been failed by the educa - nally introduced, Housing Benefit Tories’ Universal Benefit plan, party requires to receive at least tion system – and that punishment will no longer be paid directly to Housing Benefit to cover rent will 5 per cent of votes cast to save would be so draconian as to re - landlords. Instead, the Tory-Lib be paid directly into a claimant’s the financial deposit that must be move their only source of income. Dem government says the rent bank account. If the claimant’s lodged to fight an election). So the Labour slogan for the 2015 should be paid to the tenant, so account is overdrawn (if they If we don’t re-take our inde - Westminster General Election the unemployed person learns have used an overdraft facility) pendence and elect a govern - could well be: “Can you spell how to budget and pay their bills. the bank will immediately take- ment we want here in Scotland, ‘scrounger’? No? Then starve!” Apparently, the unemployed back its money. the electors of England will de - Labour’s new ‘get tough’ policy have always been unemployed If the overdraft was not agreed cide for us, and the possibilities would apply to everyone claiming and have never been in a posi - with the bank, there will also be are far from appealing.

4 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 431 COLIN FOX by Colin Fox

PERHAPS THE key question the European elections pose in Scot - land this summer is will UKIP win a seat here? While most commenta - tors predict Farage’s racists may top the poll in England (in 2009 UKIP got 13 MEP’s elected and received more votes than Labour) but they feel UKIP does not have the support to win a seat North of the Border. But the most recent British/Scot - tish Social Attitudes Survey shows there can be no room for compla - cency on this score. Whilst 57 per cent of respondents UKIP/TORY SCAREMONGERS: but it wasn’t immigrants who brought in the Bedroom Tax or sold off Royal Mail in England favoured further re - straints on immigrants rights, so did 47 per cent of Scots! This shows the significant challenge the left faces in attempting to overturn such in - Stop UKIP and the Tories grained attitudes. In 2009, the six Scottish European Parliament seats were won by the SNP (two seats), Labour (two), the Tories and the msigracnts. Maoreopver, tehere ghas beoen athe ctolliapsne in ogur liv inig smtandardsm. on iimmgigranrts. aThe lenft in tScos tland Liberal Democrats. Since then sup - no groundswell of support for the It wasn’t the Romanians who can counter this ‘carnival of reac - port for Clegg’s collaborators has Greens that might act as an alterna - caused the worst recession in 80 tion’ using facts such as these: fallen off a cliff in Scotland. Most tive ‘protest vote’. Perhaps if there years or the Bulgarians who bank - • Immigrants who come here people do not see them holding on had been some kind of Red-Green rupted the economy. It wasn’t im - make this country wealthier and to a European seat here this time Alliance, as was mooted at one time, migrants who embezzled £100 more diverse, not poorer round. So where might it go? that might have gained traction. billion by avoiding their tax obliga - • Migrant workers pay far more Labour did particularly badly in Stopping UKIP therefore means tions. It wasn’t immigrants who in - taxes into the UK Treasury than 2009 and might hope for a compar - confronting anti-immigrant feeling troduced the Bedroom Tax or sold they take out ative upturn in its fortunes. But not in Scotland. This runs deeper than off Royal Mail. It wasn’t immi - • The NHS and other key enough to win a third seat. Both we might like to admit, as 25 years grants who forced one million services and industry have they and the SNP will be focusing of right-wing Daily Mail propa - households in Scotland into fuel benefited enormously from the their resources on the crucial inde - ganda has taken its toll among poverty. It wasn’t immigrants who efforts and skills of immigrants pendence referendum campaign. what Marx called the ‘lumpen’ lay - were caught red handed stealing over many decades The Tories are not likely to ad - ers of the working class. Moreover, tens of millions from the public • Immigrants come here for vance either so the chances of an un - the Westminster parties all con - purse at Westminster with their work not our paltry benefits welcome UKIP victory might be tinue to aid UKIP by pandering to fraudulent expenses claims and • Young workers from Poland higher than at first expected. The its notion that immigrants – and ‘second homes’ scam - it was and Spain have halted Scotland’s European elections are conducted in claimants – are fiddling ‘our gen - bankers like Nigel Farage!’ chronic population decline circumstances favourable to them. erous benefits system’. • Our quality of life in Scotland is The Tories, Labour and the Lib - Blame-shifting greatly improved by our treasured Anti-EU mood eral Democrats are each engaged in But of course the Labour Party multiculturalism and such a rich The prevalent anti-EU mood, the blaming immigrants for Britain’s that would once have proudly taken and diverse community of peoples London-based election campaign economic crisis. First UKIP created such a principled position is long • Scots have emigrated for with Farage at its epicentre, the low the myth that thousands of Roma - gone. Instead they tail end David centuries in search of a better life turnout and a proportional voting nians and Bulgarians were headed Cameron’s attacks on migrant The SSP believes people who system where UKIP only needs 11 here. Then the Tories suggest access workers for ‘coming over here and uproot themselves and their fami - per cent support to get an MEP to the NHS and welfare services taking our jobs’ and protect employ - lies and travel thousands of miles in elected all play to their advantage. should be denied to immigrants ers who pay them slave wages and search of a better life here should be Admittedly, they polled just 5.2 until they have lived here two years. protect landlords who charge extor - given a warm welcome and receive per cent of the vote last time round Labour then says ‘No, it should be tionate rents for flats unfit for human our admiration for their courage and in Scotland. But a great deal has a year!’ And the Lib Dems add to habitation. This government is re - determination. We Scots know all changed since then. The Social At - this appalling carnival of reaction. sponsible for the shortage of afford - about emigration. It is an experi - titudes Survey reveals a discernible What Labour should have said is able housing and the inadequacy of ence Scots families have been hardening in attitudes towards im - ‘It wasn’t immigrants who cause public services and yet he blames it forced into for generations.

issue 431 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 5 WORKPLACE The ‘Yes equals SNP’ myth melts as reality of

bLy Roichie nVentodn, SSPon fat cat rule cobmpanieis htad e‘earneds ’ more national workplace than the entire annual average organiser salary of a worker in Britain – £26,500. THE GROUND is shifting be - These obscenely bloated ex - neath the feet of the British and ploiters have enjoyed a 74 per Scottish Labour Party leaderships cent rise in their incomes over the as working class Labour voters past 10 years – a period straddling begin to move towards support both Labour and Coalition gov - for a Yes vote in September. ernments – whilst workers’ wages The Tory-funded, Labour- have seen the slowest rise since fronted Better Together campaign 1871! has hired the willing services of ROOM FOR MORE: so many turned up for the Labour For Independence So much for the mantras of the mainstream media for the past meeting at the STUC in Glasgow recently, extra rooms had to be opened Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, year to peddle their central lie: Johann Lamont and Ed Miliband that a vote for independence is a able to then elect a Labour gov - which has robbed Scotland’s about us being ‘better together’, vote for Alex Salmond and per - ernment that pursued reforms working class majority of the vast ‘united for Labour’, ‘sharing so - manent SNP rule. such as a living wage, abolition wealth we create by our labour. cial justice’. Their myth is starting to melt of the Bedroom Tax, investment In the decade up to 2009, 75 per No matter which stripe of cap - before the eyes of working class in public services, repeal of cent of the additional wealth pro - italist party is in charge, Westmin - Scots, as not only the socialist vi - anti-union laws and removal of duced went to those on above-av - ster is rule by the rich, the sion of Scotland’s future persist - Trident. erage incomes. A monstrous 40 dictatorship of capital, in defiance ently advanced by the SSP gains New analysis by polling firm per cent of it was grabbed by the of the wishes of the Scottish peo - ground, but also the apparent anti- Ipsos/Mori proves a point identi - richest tenth of the population, ple. Voting Yes is the first step to independence Labour monolith fied by the founders of the Scot - those least in need of it. That in a escaping that endless round of cracks and crumbles. tish Socialist Party over 15 years period when wages and benefits suffering for the working class Leading Labour Party figures ago: class is the key determining were slashed, adding vastly to in - majority population. and former Labour activists have factor in how people view inde - equality as well as poverty. boosted the momentum towards a pendence, with the working class And that wealth redistribution Socialist measures Yes vote amongst Labour voters and the poorest most in favour, the from the poor to the rich can’t But the SSP regards that as only by openly declaring against the richest overwhelmingly against. even be attributed to the hated To - the start, a means to an end, with unionist dogma of Alistair Dar - It is hardly surprising that the ries, whose continued rule at a Yes vote kicking the door open ling, Johann Lamont, Ed rich minority favour continued Westminster of course guarantees to a chance to elect a government Miliband and their party. rule by Westminster. They’ve even worse attacks on working of the left, with the powers and been handsomely rewarded for people: the entire decade covered political will to tackle poverty and Packed meeting decades by the competing fac - by these figures involved a British inequality with far-reaching redis - The biggest meeting called tions of capitalist rule, whether Labour government! tribution of wealth and power. by Labour Party members for Tory, Lib Dem or New Labour. A new term was coined last The SSP is helping to forge a decades in Glasgow was the re - When working class people month: Fat Cat Wednesday. It force that here and now demands cent Labour for Independence ponder whether independence refers to the fact that by mid- socialist measures after independ - rally. Well over 200 jam-packed would improve their living stan - morning on Wednesday 8 Janu - ence is gained, leaving nothing to into the STUC building to hear dards, a good staring point is to ary, just two-and-a-half days after chance, not relying on the good - Labour veterans advocate a Yes look at the proven, obscene ad - they returned to work, the chief will or whims of any pro-capitalist vote with the purpose of being vantages of UK rule for the rich, executives of the top 100 UK politicians, but trying to create a

6 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 431 WORKPLACE boys at Westminster. But many are also rightly sceptical of an SNP leadership who pledge Cor - poration Tax cuts to the multina - tionals alongside promises of welcome social reforms. But those are not the only choices. Voting Yes does not make you a nationalist nor a sup - porter of indefinite SNP govern - ment. It makes you a democrat who favours the Sottish people actually getting the governments they vote for. And it would kick open the door to radical socialist change that would transform workers’ lives. The SSP will continue to con - vince working class people and trade unionists to not only vote Yes but get organised to demand such change after a Yes vote. We appeal to the very people with most to gain from independence to see it as a chance to fight for the likes of a £9 national minimum wage at 16; equal pay for women; INDY LEFT ALTERNATIVE: SSP national co-spokesperson Colin Fox at November 2013’s sold out Radical state pensions and an education Independence Conference. Ex-Lothians MSP Colin sits on the Yes Scotland Advisory Board PHOTO: Craig Maclean grant linked to the minimum wage; abolition of anti union movement of working class peo - vicious myths that voting Yes is GMB union leaders held a laws; democratic public owner - ple that will demand and enforce voting for separation, isolation sham consultation before declar - ship of energy, transport, banks, that change through democratic and narrow nationalism – the lies ing for the No campaign, but are big business... Steps towards an self-government. peddled by the Labour wing of now desperately scrambling to independent, nuclear-free, And a socialist vision of Scot - Better Together in particular, as distance themselves for the Tory- poverty-free, socialist Scotland. land is critical to convincing a ma - their unique contribution to con - funded Better Together, as they We will continue to combine jority to vote Yes and thereby win fusing and terrifying traditional realise GMB members are with others such as Trade Union - the first ever real chance of social - Labour voters into being saddled tempted to vote Yes to perma - ists for Independence, Labour for ist change. with more decades of exploitation nently escape Tory ruination of Independence and RIC to win the That’s why we call on the broad by bosses and billionaires whose the NHS, local government and working class majority away from coalition that is Yes Scotland to political parrots rule from West - other areas they work in. the clutches of those who have have the courage to go beyond the minster. The CWU has held a series of been their worst exploiters for boundaries set by the SNP gov - debates. They should now respect decades. ernment’s White Paper. Of course Sham consultation the opinions expressed at these by Yes Scotland cannot be expected Trade union bosses have members, rather than foist a call UKIP nightmare to adopt the entire socialist pro - mostly either remained neutral on for a No vote via the UK-wide The ice is breaking under the gramme of the SSP. the Yes/No choice, or foisted their CWU conference , as many mem - feet of those Labour and trade But they should acknowledge union’s support for the No cam - bers fear the leadership plan to do. union leaders who prefer the the growing impact of demands paign on members who have not When the chair of Royal Mail, threat of Tory or Tory/UKIP rule like a guaranteed living minimum even been asked their opinions in who worked in tandem with the at Westminster to the opportunity wage, abolition of all the anti- any democratic fashion. Tories to privatize it, says inde - of a Labour government or a gen - trade union laws that have helped Usdaw leaders didn’t even pre - pendence is “the exact opposite of uine government of the left in an drive down workers’ living con - tend to ask the opinions of Sottish what we need”, surely that adds to independent Scotland. ditions, and public ownership of members before affiliating to Bet - the case for a Yes amongst Join forces with the SSP in not only Royal Mail but the likes ter Together. But low paid retail posties?! turning up the heat, melt the of transport and energy to banish workers, hamstrung by anti-union The working class holds the myths of the Labour leaders in the the atrocities of profiteering and laws, are wide open to the case for key to Scotland’s future. They are eyes of those workers whose loy - fuel poverty. a living wage of £9 an hour as ad - rightly hostile to the assaults on alty they’ve abused for decades, Such a prospectus for inde - vocated by the SSP, and a charter jobs, pay, benefits, services and and help carve out a socialist fu - pendence would sweep aside the of workplace rights. our rights from the Etonian boot - ture for Scotland and beyond.

issue 431 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 7 CULTURE Book review: The Case For broadly left wing arguments. Left Wing Nationalism by The essays make for Stephen Maxwell (Luath fascinating reading and are a Press 2013, £9.99) very welcome addition to the current ferment of political by Alex Miller debate in the lead up to the independence referendum. IN THE 1970s and earlier the While arguing that the prevailing view within the SNP prospects for a social was that a shared sense of democratic Scotland along the Scottish identity could provide lines of the Nordic countries the basis for convincing a lie in the direction of majority of Scots to support the independence rather than in party’s call for independence. the return of a Labour majority The SNP pitched its case for in Westminster, Maxwell is independence in terms of a clear that independence is romantic conception of only a necessary and not a nationhood, and had a sufficient condition for tendency to distance itself from progressive change, and he is class politics. not uncritical of the current The SNP has come some SNP Government: in one of way since then. In part by the later essays in the volume adopting policies pioneered he points to the great tension by the Scottish Socialist Party between the SNP’s current (such as abolishing advocacy of a Scandinavian prescription charges and social model that is to be introducing free school based somehow on an meals), it is now able to intellectuals such as Stephen the Labour Party”. Maxwell, economic policy more akin to comprehensively outplay the Maxwell, who argued that the who died in 2012, was chair the neoliberalism of the Labour Party in Scotland by SNP’s credibility with both of the left-wing ’79 group in (failed) Irish “Celtic Tiger”. positioning itself to the left of working class and middle the SNP, and in 1981 was the erstwhile dominant force class voters depended on it expelled from the party, along SSP’s analysis in Scottish politics. “pursuing a consistent line on with Alex Salmond (now In many ways, then, the key issues of the day Scotland’s First Minister) and Maxwell’s critique corresponds Shift to the right based on an analysis of Kenny McAskill (now Justice to the SSP’s analysis. Even under a system of Scotland’s economic and minister in the Scottish With the independence proportional representation it social needs”. Government). referendum looming, it’s has been able to form a Rather than looking to In this stimulating and understandable that in the majority government in the Scotland’s past, activists like timely collection of his interests of time, the book has Scottish Parliament. While Maxwell argued that it should writings from the mid-1970s been published without an this has been facilitated by look to the future, and up until 2011, Maxwell index or a bibliography. Labour’s pronounced shift to through a socialist analysis explores the case for Scottish Hopefully the publisher will the right since the 1980s, it is aim “to establish itself as the independence that can be remedy this in a subsequent also due to SNP activists and radical Scottish alternative to constructed on the basis of reprint or second edition.

FJill ino thisi fonrm a ndt sehnd ite to: S coSttishS SociaPlist P arhty, Seuite 3r70e, 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow G2 6LD. Or telephone: 0781 126 5388 Or see our website: www.scottishsocialistparty.org g I would like to join the Scottish Socialist Party g I would also like to join Scottish Socialist Youth g I would like more info on the Scottish Socialist Party Name...... Address...... Phone...... Email......

8 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 431 CULTURE Sillars’s socialist programme for independence Book review: In Place Of Fear II: and social powers vested in a sovereign West - Unlike Bevan, however, he sees the British Par - A Socialist Programme For An minster parliament. The disappointment of the liament as part of the problem rather than part of Independent Scotland by Jim Sillars Wilson and Callaghan governments, the the solution. Scottish socialism, he argues, will be (Vagabond Voices 2014, £4.95) Thatcher and Major years and the betrayals of and can only be renewed by the challenge of Scot - Blair and Brown all lay in a future that Bevan tish independence. A detailed analysis of Sillars’ by John McAllion would never see. In 1952, Scottish nationalism socialist programme for an independent Scotland too was scarcely a blip on the horizon. A single is well beyond the scope of this current article. It IN NYE Bevan’s seminal work In Place of Fear, by-election victory in Motherwell in 1945 is one man’s programme and will lack neither sup - first published in 1952, Labour’s then leading so - would be followed by decades in which the porters nor critics. His opposition to wind turbines cialist began by posing the questions “where SNP were consigned to the political wilderness. and support for shale gas and fracking will be con - does power lie?” and “how can it be attained by Bevan’s In Place of Fear therefore lacked any troversial. So too will his ideas on replacing Coun - the workers?” serious contemporary challenge from a socialist cil Tax and business rates with a Land Value Tax. Described by his disciple and posthumous bi - or nationalist perspective. His belief in the “sov - His balking at the wholesale renationalisation of ographer Michael Foot as Bevan’s “classic de - ereignty of the people in parliament” as a sword our electricity and gas companies is unlikely to be scription of democratic socialism”, In Place of held by workers and pointed at the heart of cap - met with universal approval. Fear unashamedly made the case for the British italism remained in its time the common sense Yet, In Place of Fear II remains an ambitious, Parliamentary road to socialism. of post-war British socialist politics. refreshing and long overdue statement of the so - At that time and for the next 25 years there cialist case for an independent Scotland. It bris - was no serious challenge on the left to Bevan’s Loans and food banks tles with denunciations of capitalism no core idea that wealth and power could only be More than 60 years later, Jim Sillars, has pub - mainstream politician would dare utter today. redistributed in favour of working people lished a reworking of Bevan’s themes in his own Poverty and inequality can only be tackled, he through Labour governments democratically version of the old socialist’s work, In Place of writes, by taking from the rich and giving to the controlling and using the full range of economic Fear II. Sillars here describes a Britain very dif - poor. Capitalism, he reminds us is “a system gov - ferent to that of Bevan’s day. The one time erned by an amoral principle: that investment great power has become a land of “food will take place only when it can produce a banks, pay day loans and unremitting profit”. Unlike capitalism, he sees socialism as poverty”; the old cross party con - having the moral purpose of abolishing poverty sensus around the welfare state and creating a fair society. “It is time”, he thun - has become a new political con - ders, “to challenge capitalism once again.” sensus behind massive post- 2015 spending cuts that will Labour disappointment finally destroy what is left of our This kind of language used to be the stock-in- welfare state; a formerly power - trade of Labour politicians. Bevan’s theme of ful trade union movement now using parliamentary power to redistribute wealth suffers humiliation at the hands of and power in favour of working people was the a single billionaire owner at a chem - glue that had held Scottish workers fast to his par - ical plant in Grangemouth. liamentary road to socialism. A post-war genera - Like Bevan, Sillars addresses the tion came of age in Scotland believing that the end same questions about where power destination of that road would be an increase in lies and how workers can take public ownership, more progressive taxation and power into their own hands. He also social protection from the cradle to the grave. Most recognises, as Bevan did, that if so - of them looked to the Labour Party to deliver those cialists are to succeed they must be ideals through the British state. Most of them, of “audacious” and “sensible” in pursuing course, have been sorely disappointed. realisable objectives that will benefit It is no surprise therefore that many leading workers in an world increasingly dominated Labour figures from that generation have now by global markets. declared their intention of voting yes to inde - pendence in September. Former Labour MPs, JIM SILLARS : his story as he moved from a ex-Labour Lord Provosts and council leaders, Labour MP for the socialist heartland of South leading trade unionists have all broke with their Ayrshire, broke with British Labour to former party’s line and are now firmly in the Yes form the Scottish Labour Party to camp. These veteran socialists will recognise in better fight for self government and In Place of Fear II the kind of democratic social - then on to the SNP as a leading ism they have always believed in. They will re - figure is part of the fabric of the alise too that, in today’s world, that kind of socialist and independence socialism can only be won through the break-up movement in the modern era of the same state they had once put their faith in.

issue 431 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 9 SEEGER DEAD ICONIC: Pete Seeger by Voice Reporter with Bernice Johnson Reagon at the Poor Voice went to People’s March, AS THE Washington in 1968 press, news of the death of iconic US folk singer and campaigner for peace, workers and civil rights, Pete Seeger, was announced. Seeger was a towering figure in the US folk scene for over 60 years and his music was inseparable from the progressive causes of the period from facing down the anti-communist witch hunts, backing workers’ struggles, marching for civil rights and opposing US wars from Vietnam to Iraq. A full obituary will appear in the next issue of the Voice. ‘Talking to people on my first SSP stall brought home how many have similar concerns and struggle with the cost of living ... ’ Helen O’Gorman recently falling into disrepair. The residents ture and the arts, having worked in joined the SSP in Dundee. attempted maintenance but this re - theatres in my slightly younger She tells the Voice why... quired agreements from the council days, I appreciate how the arts can and owners before and after getting open new worlds and ideas up to I HAVE recently quotes, this took a lot of time and people and help cross barriers of joined the Dundee effort, not to mention the money race and culture through shared ex - SSP branch and am collection, and not too many people perience, not to mention a bit of fun at the beginning of a steep learning volunteered. It was a difficult situ - or escapism every now and again. curve, having always been a social - ation and sad to see the growing After seeing the Dundee SSP ist, but keeping political discussions differences between the big new banner at the Yes rally in Edinburgh within the confines of family and homes being built and what last year I looked online for more friends. Our monthly branch meet - seemed like the wilful neglect of HELEN O’GORMAN information on policies and found ings are always interesting and working class areas – to what end? that the SSP’s environmental poli - challenging, a change from my This was one of the many issues change and social justice. I didn’t cies covered these concerns as well usual life of day to day domestic building up that concerned me, so I agree with everything I heard but this as supporting publicly owned, and and child care concerns. Talking to started to look for an alternative to focussed me on what was important free, public transport. Sport, culture people on my first time at the SSP the mainstream right wing ‘norm’. to me. I wasn’t sure if I would find and the arts are well represented stall in the centre of Dundee, while So last summer when the independ - any one group I would agreed with! too, another box ticked! petitioning against the rises in fuel ence referendum, and the questions While I knew that public owner - For about 15 years now I’ve bills, has brought home to me how it raised for me, made me look for ship of services, decent social hous - worked with young children and ap - many people have similar concerns answers I wanted to hear from real ing, education, workers rights, preciate the effect a good start in life and struggle with the cost of living. people, not just the media and taxing the rich instead of cutting can have, the basics of care, educa - Among the many issues facing politicians from the main parties. welfare and an end to the demoni - tion, nutrition and opportunity to ex - so many people are the problems In my opinion they have their sation of the working class were perience as much as the world has affecting the community because own interests served by Westmin - compatible with a left wing agenda, to offer. So much of this opportunity of the selling off of council houses. ster holding on to Scotland, whilst my environmental concerns were is denied because of financial re - This led my neighbour and I to start continuing the myth that Scotland important too. Having grown up strictions parents have to cope with, up a residents association in the is financially reliant on the Union. with the threat of nuclear war and limiting quality of life for families council area of the village I lived in I attended a few public meetings disasters at nuclear power plants on and leaving young people with little previously. Worst affected were the with speakers from several political, the news, getting rid of Trident and to aim for or look forward to. three blocks of flats, about two environmental and local action having clean, renewable energy are My hope is for equality and oppor - thirds were in private ownership groups and was inspired by the en - very important to me. Another im - tunity in a socialist future, I’m look - with common areas neglected and ergy and drive for fundamental portant part of quality of life is cul - ing forward to being a part of that.

10 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 431 INTERNATIONAL by Bill Bonnar fascist regime when Catalonia and the Basque Country were ON 14 January an estimated held under conditions of severe 70,000 people demonstrated in Pro-indy left grows repression with attempts to wipe the Basque city of Bilbao de - out the national identities of manding no return to violence both regions. Even the respec - and concessions on the holding in Catalonia and tive languages were banned. of Basque political prisoners. The ending of fascist rule and These demands included end - the development of regional ing the harassment of these pris - Basque Country government was meant to offset oners and their moving to prisons more radical moves towards in - in the Basque region. At the mo - dependence but this has now run ment they are held in prisons as its course. The likelihood is that far away from their homes as both regions will become inde - possible; a tactic aimed as much pendent in the foreseeable with at punishing their families as only the terms of that independ - punishing the prisoners. ence to be worked out. The issue of the almost 900 The rise of left parties and Basque political prisoners being movements in Catalonia and the held in Spanish jails and what is Basque Country has also gal - widely seen as draconian and vanised the more conservative vengeful treatment on the part of political elements in these coun - the authorities is uniting vast tries. Fearful of being out - swathes of Basque public opin - flanked on the left they have ion as was shown by the protest become more strident in their in Bilbao. calls for independence, tougher The demonstration also illus - sounding in their discussions trates the rise of Basque inde - with Madrid and have even pendence movement and in adopted some of the radical de - particular the emergence of mands of the left. Their aim is Bildu as the largest left wing to make sure that when inde - movement in Europe. Euskal pendence comes it is they and Herria Bildu rose out of the BILDU BUILDS : Basque left party Bildu proposes public ownership of not the left leading the process. banning of ETA’s political wing key industries, policies to reduce inequality, and an end to repression Batasuna in 2003 and ETA’s Strong links unilateral ceasefire declaration party. The rise of Bildu has pose. This economic crisis, What is happening in Spain in 2010. shaken the Spanish government characterised by mass unem - has echoes of events in Scotland and the more conservative ployment, particularly among with intense interest in Catalo - Left vision Basque political parties. young people, the collapse of nia and the Basque Country The aim was to create a legal Bildu continues to suffer tar - the housing sectors and a series around the referendum. The be - and broad based movement geted repression and this along - of financial scandals which have lief is that if Scotland can break which could unite people side the treatment of the outraged most people has led to free of Britain and establish in - around a left vision of an inde - political prisoners is seen, by many to look for left alterna - dependence this will help gal - pendent Basque state. The party some, as a deliberate attempt to tives, no more so than in Catalo - vanise their own movements. proposes public ownership of provoke the movement into re - nia and the Basque Country. There are also growing links key industries, policies to re - turning to the armed struggle. This has pushed the pro-inde - between the left in Scotland and duce inequality, the strengthen - Events in the Basque Country pendence movements to the left similar movements in Spain. ing of democracy and an end to allied to similar events in Catalo - with many arguing that inde - These links have their origins in repression. It argues for an in - nia are leaving the Spanish Gov - pendence cannot be seen as an Scottish support for the Spanish dependent Basque state within ernment looking increasingly end in itself but rather the Republic during the civil war the European Union and has an beleaguered. The recent decision means to a better society. and in solidarity work during ultimate aim of socialism. by the Catalan Parliament to The Spanish state, like the the dark days of Franco rule. In the most recent elections to hold a referendum on Independ - United Kingdom, was always an More recently there have been the Basque Parliament in 2012 ence was rejected as illegal by imperialist construct in which strong links forged between the it gathered 25 per cent of the Madrid much to the derision of the dominant Castilian state cen - Scottish Socialist Party and the vote, gained 21 seats and most people in Catalonia. tred on Madrid expanded socialist movements in Catalo - emerged as the second largest Fuelled by a seemingly never through conquest and absorp - nia and the Basque Country. party in the country. In fact in ending economic crisis, the tion into neighbouring regions. These links will become all some large cities like San Se - Spanish state, as currently con - This reached its most extreme the stronger as all three countries bastian it emerged as the largest stituted, is seen as unfit for pur - form under General Franco’s emerge into independence.

issue 431 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 11 for Socialism, Independence facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice and Internationalism [email protected] Issue 431 31st January - 13th February 2014

Richie Venton speaks to Gerry McMahon – worker in the Glasgow DWP and life-long PCS union activist – about the issues facing civil ‘Indy vote would make and public service workers in the Scottish referendum, and the response of his trade union workers far better off’ SOME TRADE unions have declared of jobs. They reinforced poverty pay, and against independence without even pre - announced 100,000 job cuts. So for these tending to hold a discussion amongst their people to talk about workers being ‘better members. Others wielded the opinions of together’ is like King Herod making an argument UK-wide conferences to join the anti-inde - for good childcare! The Tory-Lib Dem Coalition pendence Better Together camp, before is carrying out 3,900 redundancies in the even consulting their Scottish members, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) right or allowing an informed debate. now; shutting down Inland Revenue Inquiry The Public and Commercial Services Centres; and last week announced privatisation union (PCS) is the fifth largest in the coun - of the Land Registry, causing terrible uncertainty try. It is led by a majority on its national ex - for thousands of staff. So the idea we are ‘better ecutive from the PCS Left Unity grouping, together’ in the UK borders on farce. which embraces members of the SSP, other socialist groups, Labour Party and GERRY M cMAHON What specific case would you and other non-aligned left-wingers, and describes it - SSP members in the union put for self as ‘the socialist group in PCS’. independence, with very little opposition. In fact independence? As a union PCS are taking a radically dif - the real debate was whether to call for SSP members in the PCS union understand ferent route to deciding their stance on the independence or take a neutral stance as a there is a cynicism about politicians, about them Scottish referendum. They are pursuing a union. SSP members in PCS spoke out clearly being liars. And the idea put forward by the procedure first called for in the SSP PCS an - and unequivocally – as we’ve done for years – SNP that you can cut Corporation Tax and bring nual conference bulletin two years ago, by for our union to advocate independence. We about better lives for workers at the same time holding a conference of all Scottish PCS warned that neutrality in the referendum on the is a nonsense. Our vision of independence is branches to shape the decision of the subse - part of our union would be tantamount to siding markedly different from the SNP’s, and we will quent UK-wide PCS conference, with circula - with the anti-independence Better Together continue to carve out that distinctive socialist tion of written material from all sides to every campaign, because the capitalist, millionaire approach to win over trade unionists and union member prior to branch debates and press already spews out their lies and scare communities to voting Yes. For example, the Scottish PCS conference of branches. stories on a daily basis, impacting on our union independence would open the door to a return I spoke to longstanding, leading PCS members like on everyone else. We think PCS, to single National Pay Bargaining, ending the union activist and SSP member Gerry as a leading progressive force, is duty bound to vast disparities in pay between government McMahon about the issues facing civil campaign for a Yes vote as a real opportunity to departments. It would allow real investment in and public service workers around the ref - then create a more egalitarian Scotland. public services, so we can collect taxes from erendum. Gerry is chair of the big Glas - the fat cats who avoid tax as a matter of gow DWP branch of the union, and a How would you answer the allegations routine. It would allow us to end the member of the PCS Scottish Committee. from Better Together that civil service squandering of resources on illegal wars and workers in various government nuclear weapons and redirect them to public Richie: What’s happening in PCS in the departments would face potential loss of services based in the communities where run-up to the referendum? jobs and conditions under independence? they’re most needed. Better Together is close to Gerry: Our union is holding a conference of all The leading lights in Better Together have been non-existent within the PCS union. But this Scottish branches on 22 February to decide the biggest enemies of civil service workers. The campaign is not just about convincing members whether the union calls for a Yes or No vote, or Tories have attacked trade unionism, including to vote Yes, but to explain to workers how we no recommendation one way or the other. Prior their ban on unions at GCHQ, their privatisation can get out of this mess. The SNP promises to to that local PCS branches are holding members’ of big chunks of the civil and public services involve the trade unions after independence, meetings to debate independence and mandate where we work. They broke up national pay which is welcome, but it is too wooly and non- delegates to the Scottish conference. bargaining, leading to obscene pay differences specific. Those of us in the SSP will continue to between workers doing the same jobs. New argue for repeal of all the anti-union laws, to What’s the view of the left in PCS, the PCS Labour, the other major players in Better win the right to support each other in action on Left Unity group? Together, had 13 years in government to undo the old philosophy that ‘an injury to one is an In early January the Left Unity group within PCS all that, but in fact made things even worse. injury to all’. We want to inspire workers with held a Scottish conference where we thoroughly They privatised the National Savings Bank (with our socialist vision of an independent Scotland, debated the issue and voted overwhelmingly for its huge base in Glasgow), involving thousands making working class people far better off.