ScottishLeft Review Issue 101 September/October 2017 - £2.00

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2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 feedback

comment No silly season

ccording to the London-based Yet this is still not the kind of mobilization be done. As Scottish Left Review called for media, August and September that is required of these times. Sure, we in its last editorial, Dugdale needs to be Aare routinely denoted as the ‘silly need and want the end of the Theresa removed by a leadership challenge. The season’ because, with Parliament in May Tory government at Westminster – Labour left in Scotland must quickly find a recess from late July to early October, or one led by any other Tory like Philip candidate to do this. there are seemingly few serious political Hammond or David Davies. And, we developments to cover. Consequently, want their replacement by a Corbyn-led Then Ian McNicol, current general stories of a far lesser stature make and Labour government because Labour is reviewssecretary of British Labour, needs to dominate the headlines. But, equally by far the most politically progressive be removed as does Brian Roy, current routinely, manifest politics - and the of all the major political parties – and general secretary of Scottish Labour. importance of these to everyday lives - that includes the SNP. Yet, Labour is Control of Labour organization through does not stop. Thus, it should be noted unfortunately playing a waiting game of a these general secretaries prevents the that Jeremy Corbyn has made a very parliamentary nature. While it may try to Corbyn current washing through the timely tour of Labour marginals (some defeat the Tories in parliament with this rest of the Labour Party. We only need 90-100 seats) throughout the summer. vote and that, and John McDonnell says to recall the 1983 People’s March for This is to be welcomed because of the the government could collapse at any Jobs to remember that Labour itself prospect of another general election point, it would be much better if Labour did – and could again – organize mass given the Tory weakness in Parliament also sought to mobilise all its voters demonstrations. Only with control of the and because of Corbyn’s strength as a and supporters in campaigns and other party machine can such initiatives be speaker at popular rallies. Moreover collective actions (like demonstrations) taken and be successful. And then there recent research from the London School against the effects of Tory government is the issue of mandatory re-selection of Economics and Political Science policy outside the parliamentary orbit. So of sitting MPs in order that the right highlighted that in the constituencies the People’s Assembly demonstration on is removed from the Parliamentary where Corbyn conducted these rallies, 1 July could have been that much bigger Labour Party so that parliamentary the Labour vote was up much more than – maybe one million strong – if Labour candidates and elected MPs reflect the in constituencies where didn’t do such as an organisation had put a call to all its new will of the mass of Labour Party rallies. members to attend. There is also more to members. Therefore, the issue of de- selection cannot be ducked. If it is, the Blairites will use Venezuela or any ScottishLeftReview other forthcoming issue to keep trying Issue 101 September/October 2017 to undermine Corbyn. To not act in these ways would be a tragedy because what Corbyn and Corbynism represent Contents is not just the articulation of a deeply Editorial comment – no silly season...... 3 and long held revulsion at the market Bouncing Brexit into being benign Neil Findlay...... 5 and neo-liberalisation but also giving Free movement of labour, the EU and Scotland’s economy John Foster ...... 6 that revulsion of a new found sense of Breaking bad Brexit Mike Danson ...... 8 credibility and vigour which can create an upward, virtuous spiral. Where stands the cause of independence now? John Bratton ...... 10 Reclaiming our economy Richard Leonard ...... 11 Moving out from this, the radical left in For a people’s ScotRail Stuart MacLeod ...... 12 Scotland is now at another historic fork More than no monarchy Graham Smith ...... 15 in its road. Wanting a major and radical reform of society ranging from social Make Britain part of the non-nuclear club Arthur West...... 16 democracy (where the state ameliorates Making of a mess: orange and green, and red, white and blue Brian Campfield ...... 17 market outcomes) to socialism (where Grenfell and housing: putting profite before people Dave Sherry...... 19 significant restrictions in the operation Firefighters demand justice over Grenfell Denise Christie ...... 20 of the market exist), it faces a situation Is strike action over? Stephen Smellie ...... 21 where the balance of political forces has Trying to make sense of ‘October’ Ian Gasse ...... 22 tipped away from independence. For Book and film reviews Stewart Maclennan, Jackie Bergson, Gordon Morgan, Tommy ideologues of either the pro- or anti- independence left in Scotland, this is Sheppard, Colin Darroch, Sean Sheehan, Jim Phillips and Robin Jones...... 23 either ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Vladimir McTavish’s Kick Up The Tabloids...... 30 For those supporting independence, the

3 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 forward momentum has clearly ebbed But what matters is that Corbynism has But there is also another reason why away in the last eighteen months. This yet to be defined as anything more that matters are not so simple. If the Tories was evident from the Brexit vote and social democracy rebooted or a version continue to survive and Labour is seen solidified by the 2017 general election 2.0 of it. The term ‘socialism’ is used – as an ineffectual opposition (inside and result. In the former, the SNP over- though not often enough. But it has to outside Westminster), the demand estimated how Brexit would reinforce the be laid out and explained. Is Corbyn’s yet for independence may well rise up demand for independence, and in the unstated vision of socialism one of the again to the top of the political agenda. latter it lost considerable ground to the parliamentary road to socialism as per What opposition the Scottish Labour Tories. Indeed, the fortunes of the SNP, the varieties of the Communist Party of Party provides will be a key part of not a social democratic party as it claims, Britain or the Socialist Party (formerly this equation, and this then relates to has been further dented as it becomes Militant)? And what is the strategy to get whether the SNP decides to move to more evident that it has started running from where we are to where we want the left or the right – or stay where it out of steam. Its recent re-launch of to be? All this is critical because any is - depending on its assessment of the both the Scottish Government and the attempts to introduce radical reform will Corbyn effect in Scotland and what it case for independence gives a stronger come up against the might of the British needs to do to regain ground from the sense of political paralysis than renewed state and the massed forces of the right. Tories in the north east of Scotland. vigour and resilience. Typical of the We only need to recall what has been Consequently, the SNP will have to decide SNP, the re-launches have been devoid happening in Venezuela to see how the whether it can ride two differing horses – of significant policy developments and right can mobilise to kill off what it sees simply put, these are the workers in the more about influencing and managing as a threat. Central Belt or the farming and fishing perceptions. No one in the leadership communities in the north-east. But matters are never that simple as of the SNP seem to appreciate that its Scottish Left Review has always tried the singularity of a step forward for ‘don’t scare the horses’ approach to the to be constructive in its criticism. the British road to socialism and a referendum in 2014 was what prevented Therefore, Stuart MacLeod’s article on simultaneous step back for the Scottish the adoption of a programme that would renationalizing Scotrail is offered to help road to socialism. This is because have appealed to working class voters – flesh out what often remains as just a some support for independence was the majority in any capitalist society. And, demand or slogan. In this regard, we as conditional as it was instrumental. there seems to be a strong possibility of can recall the SSP’s pamphlet of 2004 that farce turning into tragedy if there is According to this perspective, the means called Reclaiming Our Railways which another referendum. The SNP continues to the ends are not as important as advocated a third each split between the to play the ‘big boy did it and ran away’ the ends itself. By way of illustration, workforce, users and government for game over Brexit without taking any support for independence is for some running the railways. The same is true of significant steps to start building a unconditional and even an article the articles on new forms of economic new society in Scotland. And, that’s of dogmatic faith. Support which is ownership by Richard Leonard MSP, fundamentally because it eschews using conditional and instrumental reassesses how unions can respond to the Tory state intervention to ameliorate and what strategy is believed to be most Trade Union Act by Stephen Smellie, overturn market outcomes which is the appropriate and effective in the light and by what a modern republic could sine qua non of social democracy. It has of the current balance of forces. This look like by Graham Smith. In the run not used its existing powers and fetes means ebbs and flows in the support for up to Christmas, the traditional time for business so that argument that it would British and Scottish roads to socialism. buying and then reading books, we have show its social democratic colours after So for these people in Scotland, it does a bumper book review section for your independence is not a very credible one. not terribly matter whether the gaining delectation. In this regard and in light of Indeed, the SNP response of the recent of a radically better society does is on a the content of this editorial, copies of Government Expenditure and Revenue Scottish or British basis. the second and third editions of Is there a Scottish road to socialism?are still Scotland (GERS) figures showing a The fissures of this on-going realignment available for purchase from our website £13.5bn deficit in Scottish state finances are evident in the spats that have broken - see http://www.scottishleftreview.org/ underlies this point. out in recent months. Attacks on RIC shop/ So the ball of the radical left now seems co-founder, Cat Boyd, as a ‘red Tory’ (for to be returning to the court of the British voting for Corbyn by voting Labour) and • The editorial comment is road to socialism after many barren Ross Greer, Green MSP (by questioning the responsibility of the editor, in years under ‘new’ Labour and then the whether The National newspaper is now conjunction with the chair and vice independence insurgency. The elation felt become something of a liability for the chair of the editorial board. on 9 June could have been mistaken for independence movement) indicate that STOP PRESS - Scottish Left Review was an actual election victory. But not all is there is a preponderance of unthinking going to press as the news of Dugdale’s happy in this house of (British) Labour. It dogmatic support for independence resignation broke. Her resignation is, of is not a case of whether Corbyn can last and the SNP amongst some on the left. course, welcome and now the challenge or is deficient in some personal respects They too have been none too chuffed the Labour left faces can no longer be (see previous Scottish Left Review with the likes of former SSP MSP, Carolyn ducked - it has to put forward a credible editorials). Here, it is a matter of strategy Leckie, and former Group of ’79 member, candidate that can win the leadership. and political perspective. Labour will not Kenny MacAskill, recognising the malaise We wish the Labour left ‘luck’ here and be in another ‘Better Together’ if there in the SNP and proposing something we shall return to this issue in the next is another independence referendum should be down about it. In the case of editorial. and both Corbyn and McDonnell have Carolyn Leckie, this means separating the shown the SNP what bona fide radicalism campaign for independence from SNP looks like (in words, if not yet deeds). and moving to the left. 4 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Bouncing Brexit into being benign Neil Findlay lays out his vision for post-Brexit he recent general election was change in Europe. Change that could We need agreements that allow supposed to give Theresa May an ripple across the continent, eradicating Government’s and public bodies to build Tincreased majority which, in her some of the worst aspects of the EU in social and environmental protections mind - but no one else’s - would deal her and the conditions imposed on nation to the public procurement process so a stronger hand in negotiating Brexit. states by the single market, held up by that we can pay a living wage to all The result of this cunning plan dreamt some misguided people as an economic workers, and buy materials, goods and up when she and her investment banker nirvana. services from the local supply chain, husband were on a walking holiday in We could create a Europe where: securing jobs whilst protecting our Wales was a complete calamity. The natural environment. worst Tory election campaign in living • People and communities are memory, a manifesto launch that looked prioritised over competition And we must argue that intervention like it took place in an abandoned and forced, artificial in the economy to support key sectors bus garage and a candidate for Prime convergence; is not just desirable but essential if we are to promote manufacturing and Minister who looked like she was allergic • Fairness, cooperation and social new industries (ending the prohibitive to the voters came unstuck when up and economic solidarity are nonsense of ‘state aid’ restrictions). against a genuinely radical Labour central to the development of a manifesto written in the image of a social Europe; I believe such an approach would gain leader comfortable amongst people • Democracy and human rights support from workers across the country who thrived and grew as the campaign are deepened not eroded; and across Europe. progressed. None of the pollsters or the ‘clever’ people of the political • Collective bargaining is On the key issue of the free movement commentariat predicted the outcome. engrained in a new and genuine of Labour, I fully support giving EU social contract; and citizens living here the right to remain. Now May hobbles along ‘a dead woman • Workers are protected But this does not address the inherent walking’ as George Osborne gleefully wherever in the world they problem within the EU – that is the called her during the post-election come from by ensuring they economic failures that have caused analysis. But let’s be clear - for now have right to the same wages mass youth unemployment across states this walking target for a Tory leadership and conditions as any other forcing young people to up sticks and challenge is the one who will be leading leave their homeland, their communities the country during Brexit negotiations. worker who gives of their and their families to try and make a My oh my, how that should fill us with labour throughout Europe. living elsewhere often in low skilled, optimism, hope and … nah, we all know We could create a new non- temporary and low paid work. it will be a complete disaster if we allow discriminatory immigration policy so it to happen. But it doesn’t have to be that all those who want to come and Young people have been in the frontline this way, it could be so different. Brexit live and work here are treated the same of the austerity politics driven by the poses huge challenges but also presents and where there will be a zero tolerance European Central Bank and the EU many opportunities. Britain could be approach to ‘foreign only’ recruitment Commission. Where has been the outcry leading the charge for progressive which leads to undercutting and about the 46.6% unemployment rate exploitation. in Greece or 38.6% rate in Spain? Is the And, our history tells us very clearly, single market delivering for our young indeed, that for working people it is Greek, Spanish, Italian, Croatian friends? FIFTH ANNUAL not the Tory party, nor the Liberals nor I think not. The silence from European leaders on this has been deafening. JIMMY REID MEMORIAL LECTURE nationalists in the shape of SNP or the busted flush that is UKIP who will deliver These issues and many more have to be The lecture will be delivered by Mark positive and progressive change – it will at the forefront of the Labour Party’s Serwotka, general secretary of the Public be the labour movement. The labour and Commercial Services (PCS) union. and the labour movement’s priorities for movement with its proud history of Brexit. We should seek alliances across The lecture is entitled: campaigning and delivering for our class Europe around these common aims to ‘Pay, people and power: the progressive must set out very clearly our aims and build a genuinely social Europe. Leaving objectives. case for public services’. such vital matters to David Davis, Boris The lecture will take place on In or out of the single market, we have Johnson and Theresa May can only ever Thursday 5th October at 7pm at the to have trading arrangements that end end very badly. some of the nonsensical competition Govan Old Parish Church Table on youth unemployment 866 Govan Road, Glasgow G51 3UU. laws that inhibit progressive policies in EU https://www.statista.com/ being implemented. Policies that, Tickets are available for purchase by statistics/266228/youth-unemployment- for example, would prevent Labour visiting: rate-in-eu-countries/ delivering its manifesto commitments http://reidfoundation.org/2017/08/fifth- on public ownership of key sectors like Neil Findlay is a Labour MSP for the annual-jimmy-reid-memorial-lecture/ water, energy and rail. Lothians

5 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Free movement of labour, the EU and Scotland’s economy John Foster explains why loss of ‘free movement’ would open up possibilities urrently there is ‘free have advanced relatively detailed are concentrated overwhelmingly movement’ of labour into proposals for an immigration policy on Tayside. Though there is some CScotland from the EU (though outside both the EU and the EU single regulation through the Agricultural not from the rest of the world – a market. Wages Board, wages are very low – point to which will be returned to). set for 2016 at the same level as the Its 2017 manifesto stressed three legal minimum wage of £6.70 an hour What will be the consequences points. First, all existing non-British for those over 24. Hospitality and for the Scotland’s economy and its nationals have the right to remain. construction tend to follow the same people if this free movement from Second, immigration policy will pattern – though currently with even the EU ends? not ‘discriminate between people less regulation. Information is lacking Scottish government figures on of different races or creeds and on how far EU migrants are paid immigration indicate that between ... will be transparent and fair to less or suffer greater discrimination 2001 and 2011 about half of everybody’. And, third, that the new – though those from Black and Scotland’s immigrants came from the policy would involve ‘working with Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds EU. By 2015, the number of non-UK businesses, trade unions, devolved in Scotland do suffer somewhat nationals in employment in Scotland governments and others to identify higher levels of unemployment specific labour and skill shortages was 166,000 of whom 115,000 came (particularly women). However, to institute a new system which from the EU. The biggest numbers overall median gross hourly earnings is based on our economic needs, were from Poland, Ireland and for EU nationals in 2015 were £9.00 balancing controls and existing Romania. Non-UK EU nationals made as against £12.20 for UK nationals. entitlements’. It continues, saying up 3.4% of the total population as This reflects the degree to which EU Labour will ‘take decisive actions against 4.9% for Britain. nationals are disproportionately in to end the exploitation of migrant low paid jobs – though interestingly In terms of occupation, non-UK labour undercutting workers’ pay the median for non-EU nationals from nationals are over-represented in and conditions … crack down on outside the UK was £15.40 reflecting ‘elementary occupations’ like farm unscrupulous employers … stop the higher proportion in professional workers, cleaners, and process overseas-only recruitment practices, occupations, particularly in the health workers in food preparation (almost strengthen safety-at-work inspections service. a third of all non-UK EU nationals). and increase prosecutions of At the other end of the spectrum, employers evading the minimum On these figures, it would be difficult 17% of non-UK EU nationals were in wage’. to claim that the Scottish economy professional occupations (chemists, is critically reliant on EU nationals - it As a policy it matches, and is to professional engineers, pharmacists). is certainly less so than Britain as a some extent contingent upon, In terms of sectors, they are whole - or to argue that the future the manifesto’s other pledges to particularly under-represented in viability of the Scottish economy transform the labour market and clerical and administrative posts and is dependent on free movement the economy itself through the the civil service and over-represented as prescribed by the EU. On the introduction of sectoral collective in tourism (mainly distribution, hotels contrary, there is a bigger, and much bargaining and an active industrial and restaurants), being 10.8% of more worrying, picture which a policy. the total. In public administration, narrow focus on free movement education and health (but principally The past year has seen plenty obscures. This is the wider crisis of health,) it is non-EU non-UK nationals of warnings about the adverse the Scottish economy which stems – who tend to predominate (providing consequences for Scotland of in part - from the current character of employment for almost a third of all ending EU free movement. These its labour market. non-EU nationals) while EU nationals concern particularly agriculture, The latest edition of the Fraser of make up only 2.6% of the health fish processing, hotels and catering Allander Economic Commentary workforce. and health services - and, more (41/2) describes the position of the generally, the need to offset the So, what happens if migration from Scottish economy as ‘precarious’: economic consequences of an ageing the EU is no longer on the basis total growth over the past two population. of ‘free movement’? Let us make years has been 1.2% as against 3.5% the hopeful assumption that it is In agriculture, there are roughly for Britain. Partially, this has been the Labour Party’s policy that is 26,000 employees of whom 6,000 because of the decline in the oil and implemented – the only party to are classed as casual and these gas sector but to a greater degree it 6 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 stems from more fundamental and bargaining would run foul of the will invest in high quality jobs and underlying factors. latest decision by the EU/EFTA stop the haemorrhaging of industrial Court of Justice in the Holship case employment. It is precisely the result Scotland is at the bottom of the (November 2016) in defence of of not having such a policy that so league for business investment: freedom of establishment. This ruled many of these manufacturing jobs thirtieth out of 31 OECD countries. that the Norwegian government’s have been lost. Research and development dock labour scheme was acting expenditure is little more than half We should remember the neo-liberal illegally in seeking to set uniform that for Britain and a quarter of that principles of EU law - well expressed wage rates and that the LO union for Finland, Sweden and Germany. by the European Trades Union federation was acting illegally in Productivity remains alarmingly poor Congress in 2012: seeking to enforce them. with almost no increase for a decade, Running as a red line through the worse even than Britain’s. And largely It is for this reason that the Labour programme of Economic Governance as a consequence Scotland’s exports manifesto correctly notes the need is the idea of turning wages into are equivalent to only 12% of its GDP for access to, but not membership of, the main instrument of adjustment: as against 22% for Britain and over the EU single market. currency devaluations (which are no 40% for Germany. In terms of free movement, however, longer possible inside the Euro Area) Correspondingly Scotland’s there is another and perhaps more are to be replaced by a devaluation employment profile reveals a compelling reason for ending with the of pay in the form of deflationary hollowing out of skilled employment EU’s requirement for free movement. wage cuts. To achieve this wage and a greater reliance on unskilled This is that enforces an immigration ‘flexibility’, labour market institutions and temporary labour. The Chartered system that is institutionally racist. which prevent wages from falling are Institute of Professional Development Those from the EU are ‘free to come’ perceived as being a ‘rigidity’ which (CIPD) submission to the Scottish – even though usually driven by should be eliminated. Parliament in 2015 outlined the economic compulsion. Those from This is the real logic for the EU’s free detrimental consequences of anywhere else are not. The wives, movement. We need a non-racist Scotland’s ‘ flexible labour market husbands, children of those settled immigration policy instead – one in which permits and sometimes in Scotland from Africa and Asia are which the trade union movement promotes the use of low tenure jobs’. excluded. has a say and which matches our Cheap, flexible employment provides Today, EU governments have a economic needs. a temporary, but only temporary, legal obligation to search for and John Foster is Secretary of Radical alternative to investment. deport ‘illegals’. The number of Options for Scotland and Europe For the future, these trends are a such deportations run to tens of (ROSE) www.radicaloptions.scot matter of acute concern not just for thousands annually. Under EU regulation 2016/1624 the EU Border international competitiveness but Cover: also for Scotland’s workforce in a and Coastguard Agency, FrontEx, is to take responsibility for uniform Nadia Lucchesi wider world where many routine and ([email protected]) repetitive tasks will be automated. enforcement across the EU. Last year, Scotland’s ‘labour intensive’ it forcibly deported 10,000. This year Proofing services: employers will go to the wall. the figure is likely to reach 20,000. If Bob Thomson and John Daly your skin is black or brown, you are Communications and It is precisely these problems suspect. Those who support the EU’s organisational development: which Labour’s activist industrial free movement should reflect on this. Carole Ewart policy seeks to address. It aims It is in its application a ‘whites only’ Editor Email: to use three main levers: public policy and is today felt as such by the procurement, public ownership one in ten of existing Scots who came [email protected] and public investment. All would, to this country from Asia and Africa. Web: www.scottishleftreview.org to a greater or lesser degree, This is why the Labour Party is Tel: 0141 424 0042 be incompatible with the EU’s correct to stress that its policy will competition rules which disallow Address: not discriminate on the basis of state aid, state ‘monopolies’ and Scottish Left Review, race. Outside the EU’s single market, interference in the labour market. 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields, there will be the opportunity to EU rules would equally prohibit the establish non-discriminatory labour Glasgow G41 4PL use of public procurement as a tool market regulation integrated with to require union recognition or local Printed by sectoral collective bargaining to sourcing – steel for infrastructure or Hampden Advertising Ltd, redress current power imbalances. pharmaceuticals for the NHS. 403 Hillington Road, G52 4BL, Equally, there will be the freedom to Tel: 0141 429 1010 Even mandatory sectoral collective develop an industrial strategy that 7 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Breaking bad Brexit Mike Danson sees dangers ahead in any kind of Brexit

n April this year, the Policy supply chains that stretch across the Considering standard measures of Forum panel of the Scottish continent, able to realise economies labour market flexibility shows that IEconomic Society addressed the of scale within the single market. national, rather than EU, regulation implications of Brexit for Scotland. Also, the Scottish economy has dominates working conditions across The consensus across the hundred seen advantages from access to developed countries. Therefore, international participants was that mobile workers from the enlarged Britain, with one of the most flexible withdrawal from the European EU in the period after 2004 which labour markets in the OECD and Union, and the single market has allowed a change in the labour the least regulated in the EU, itself especially, would overwhelmingly processes employed in food and has decided over the last 40 years have negative consequences for drink, hospitality and agriculture to adopt such a neoliberal regime. the economy. There were no industries in particular, benefiting This confirms both that workers voices of dissent either publicly rural Scotland and areas of sustained are better protected everywhere or privately in this regard, with out-migration by offering the else in the European Union that all views across the spectrum of opportunity to retain and enhance we are leaving, and that our political economy clear about the value added here. current competitive advantages in impacts on workers, businesses, Against this background, all securing inward investment and migrants and communities. A later estimates of the implications of competitiveness are apparently conference of academics, politicians, leaving the EU - as measured in reliant on being at the extremes of policymakers, and business and terms of GDP, employment, and real European labour market flexibility. civic society leaders at Heriot-Watt wages - are of adverse effects on The out-of-work benefits for those University in mid-May reached the the Scottish economy. There is no who retire or lose their jobs in same conclusions, spotlighting the avoiding a continuation of the initial Britain are poorer than any of our imminent and ongoing problems negative results of the Brexit vote neighbours in the west and north for agriculture, education, financial with increased inflation, falling real of Europe and poverty for workers services, rural communities and wages, job losses and postponed higher, again pointing to the EU as export companies especially. These investment. In the longer term, even not being the constraint on better meetings were informed by in-depth with standard remedial measures, conditions for the working class of and intelligent analyses of labour GDP would fall under a Norwegian- Scotland and Britain but something markets, international trade, public style (‘soft Brexit’) relationship with more nationally driven. Leaving finance and investment in particular the EU by between 2.0% and 3.1%, the EU is indeed no guarantee of and of the economy generally. real wages by between 2.9% and improved conditions for workers. Presentations by trade unionists, 4.3%, and jobs by 1.2-1.8%; none A major element in the Brexit debate farmers, employers and of these is a trivial figure. A ‘hard and vote was around the impact entrepreneurs complemented Brexit’ would see GDP declining by of immigration on the wages of UK the modelling and commentaries about 5.3%, real wages by 7.2% and workers; reviews of the evidence on Scotland’s future from leading employment by 3.2% on average. (see footnote 2) show these are economists and were consistent There are no forecasts from any relatively small in aggregate. with the approach of the Scottish credible agency that do not offer However, the analysis hints that Government as outlined by similarly pessimistic scenarios, low-wage workers may tend to lose Michael Russell, the Minister for UK even on optimistic assumptions. out while medium and higher paid Negotiations on Scotland’s Place The Norway model would mean workers gain overall because of in Europe. The issues identified continued membership of the four the segmented structure of Britain highlight that 180,000 EU nationals single markets – goods, services, economy and labour market. While – most of them workers – are living capital and labour – but with no there may be substitution for low in Scotland; 115,000 workers here opportunity to shape EU rules and skilled ‘native’ workers, Bell and are employed in EU firms; half of all regulations, though contributions to Elliott in a recent paper for the Royal international exports are dependent the EU budget would be reduced by Society of Edinburgh concluded that: on EU markets; and many more about 20%. The ‘hard Brexit’ or WTO ‘... the effects of EU immigration on jobs are in international companies (World Trade Organisation) model employment and unemployment attracted here to access the EU would mean a prolonged period among UK natives do not seem to single market. Beyond this, many of complex trade negotiations, be significant’. Any demands on the small and medium-sized enterprises reducing EU budget contributions public purse are also small from EU (SMEs) as well as branch plants and ‘freedom’ from the single migrants with an expectation that are intrinsically embedded into market restrictions. they contribute in net terms in the 8 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 short term and markedly positively as revealed above, most of the deals, where we set the standards over the years. economic issues impacting on and rights. Rather they would workers – natives and migrants suggest a weakened and desperate In summary, membership of the EU here – should be laid at the door economy trying to persuade trading and especially of the single market of successive UK governments and partners across the world that they for labour has been benefiting their neoliberal approaches rather could overcome the higher costs of Britain’s economy allowing GDP than as inherent to the EU itself. production created by withdrawal and real wages to grow – other A ‘soft’ Brexit will lead to Britain from the single market by identifying things being equal, the reason continuing in much the same way economies of scale and somehow for stagnating and falling living as now but with reduced support quickly initiating a new industrial standards for most being down to regions and industries and a revolution; alternatively, the option to the austerity policies of the reduction in inward investment. The is to pursue autarky or economic Westminster governments and scope to pursue renationalisation self-sufficiency, in a mass self- establishment. If anything, the EU of the utilities, railways, ferries delusion that the country can has offered some protection and etc., to improve workers’ rights and achieve a reborn manufacturing lower limits to what Britain could do introduce minimum requirements sector alongside retaining its current to its own. Going forward, we are into public contracts would not be expenditure on maintaining its asked to put faith in these national changed under a Norwegian or Swiss post-colonial and imperialist world institutions to seek trade deals that model of Brexit. Already we can position. Given the legacy of low will enhance workers’ rights and find nationalised industries across levels of workplace innovation and impose minimum labour market the EU, much better employment investment, ongoing low rates of conditions? and trades unions rights, innovative productivity, high levels of poverty So, is it just a matter of comparing and inclusive forms of public and inequality contrasting with the Norway model losses of a soft procurement across the EU; the offshored wealth, this is not the Brexit against the opportunities constraints on development and position to start making promises of offered by the WTO model where redistribution are to be found in jam tomorrow. the negative effects can be balanced Westminster and the City, not Brexit will hurt women, the poor, by ‘… the benefits of international Brussels and Berlin. vulnerable and disadvantaged trade whilst simultaneously making That leads onto the apparent model communities the most, according sure that the workers share in that Labour and some commentators to a recent Scottish Women’s the benefits from trading and in the Scottish Left Review believe Convention report, and any are not exploited … reject[ing] can be achieved with a ‘hard Brexit’ debate must recognise this before any involvement in trade deals – an economy with trade deals suggesting a hard line, though that threaten our public services negotiated where Britain is free to even a soft leaving will damage all. like the NHS opening them up impose conditions that would not Aberdeen will be the hardest hit city to competition from US and be possible within the EU umbrella. in Britain, and all Scottish cities will threatening them with legal action The reality would be somewhat suffer. Working with progressives as would happen with TTIP’ as Neil different: outwith the tariff-free across the continent to reform the Findlay and Alex Neil MSPs asserted European Economic Area and EU offers socialism, not a retreat into in the November/December 2016 without the weight of the powerful isolationism. edition of Scottish Left Review? This EU negotiators and market area to appears to be the promise held out Mike Danson is professor of secure preferential deals, Britain by those on the left who favour Enterprise Policy at Heriot Watt would be disadvantaged from the Brexit, of whatever form, including University outset. Without economies of scale Labour under the leadership of and scope offered by membership Jeremy Corbyn who, according to of integrated supply chains, with the director of the Scottish Centre further devaluation against major Editorial Committee on European Relations, ‘shares the currencies meaning imported higher Bill Bonnar Bill Ramsay delusion that there is a ‘softer’ Brexit input costs, and excluded from Cat Boyd Lilian Macer that gives full single market access access to funding and participation Sarah Collins Gordon Morgan while not respecting free movement in networks and collaborations of Moira Craig Tommy Sheppard of people’. innovation – funded by billions of Carole Ewart Dave Sherry In brief, there are three basic R&D euros from the EU – Britain Gregor Gall Stephen Smellie scenarios facing Scotland and would be deficient in securing trade Editor Bob Thomson Britain: remaining in the EU, a deals and markets on our terms. Tommy Kane Convener ‘soft’ or a ‘hard’ Brexit. The former These would not be the conditions Pat Kelly is the current position with all its that strengthen the bargaining Vice Convener. flaws and needs for reform but, position to demand more favourable

9 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Where stands the cause of independence now? John Bratton argues the independence movement can learn from Corbyn he summer recess is a time for and central bank, and a National ‘yes’ movement are divided. The reflection. Jeremy Corbyn is Investment Bank (NIB) to fund pro-independence movement needs Tusing the break to campaign investment in social housing, public clarity and unity on Scotland’s in Scotland in constituencies where transport and renewable energy. A position within, or outwith the the SNP hold wafer-thin majorities. NIB would also fund an industrial European Union. Membership of Nicola Sturgeon is rebooting the strategy that helps SMEs innovate the single market and the customs SNP’s approach to independence. and improve productivity. The onus is union – the Norwegian model – is In doing so, she should reflect on the pro-independence movement a desirable option if coupled with a on the real story of the general to provide a convincing economic promise to hold a plebiscite for full election: the ideological shift in strategy that is environmentally EU membership once Scotland is a British politics. For three decades sustainable, socially just, and can sovereign state. Tory and Labour administrations deliver high quality public services: a Finally, there is the democratic have peddled the falsehood that vision of democratic socialism fit for argument. A cacophonous chorus of ‘there is no alternative’ (TINA) to the the twenty first century. Anglo-neoliberal model. Labour’s voices have pronounced that indyref2 manifesto ‘for the many, not the few’ The second argument relates to be taken ‘off the table’. But, however demonstrates that a progressive left- social justice. Neo-liberalism is the unionists parties spin it, the 2016 of-centre agenda can resonate with more than just an economic system. Scottish parliamentary election, the working class voters. It has a political and ideological council elections and the June result agenda: a minimalist state and the has given the Scottish Government a Although the June results should not privatisation of the self. The Grenfell ‘triple-lock’ democratic mandate to be interpreted as majority opposition Tower disaster is a totemic testimony hold a referendum. Post-Brexit, there to independence, the SNP hierarchy of deregulation and a culture that is another good reason for a second and the wider pro-independence stigmatises and marginalises the referendum before 2020. The British movement must learn from Corbyn’s poor. Social class continues to state is facing an unprecedented policies, which, in contrast to the determine life chances. Disclosure of crisis. Naomi Klein has written that SNP’s, addressed many working class the BBC’s pay scales exposed gender neo-conservatives wield power concerns and connected to young pay inequality, but it also revealed through ‘the shock doctrine’: using voters. As Carolyn Leckie observed class and race inequality. Few top people’s disorientation following a in the last Scottish Left Review, in earners at the BBC are working class major crisis to push through right- the general election 64% of voters or Black or Asian. Class dictates wing measures. While the Tories in Scotland voted for progressive children’s futures and, at the other are in disarray, the SNP leadership manifestos offered by the British end of the age spectrum, it accounts and the wider pro-independence Labour Party, the SNP and the for decades-long inequalities in areas movement should capitalise on Greens. The campaign to deliver such as health and life expectancy the political crisis to advance the a majority ‘yes’ vote must build between rich and poor pensioners. argument that independence is the on those 1.7m plus voters. In this road to a progressive, democratic The broken neo-liberal model has context, the case for independence Scottish state. has to be advanced around four created a largely deregulated, central arguments. non-union and atomised labour We need a manifesto ‘for the many’ market. The SNP hierarchy needs that sets out a radical programme, The first is economic. The broad left to acknowledge the connection just as audacious and transformative politics of the 1970s campaigned for between reduced levels of union as the reforms undertaken by Atlee’s an alternative economic strategy as membership, collective bargaining (1945-1951) Labour Government. A a counter to corporate capitalism. and growing social inequalities. manifesto that addresses multiple By comparison, Corbyn’s raft of The left case for independence crisis, that meets the needs of policies is not that ‘radical’ but must espouse policies that will Scotland’s working-class majority, and they are a welcomed alternative to strengthen workplace unionism, fix that can inspire and win a majority further privatisation. The Scottish a dysfunctional labour market and for independence. Parliament needs additional fiscal help redistribute wealth through pay tools - corporation, dividend and John Bratton is emeritus professor, bargaining, and progressive taxation. wealth taxes - to mitigate the impact co-author of ‘Capitalism and Classical of neo-liberalism on the social fabric The third argument concerns Brexit. Social Theory’, convenor of Yes of society. It needs its own currency The British Labour Party and the Stockbridge and a member of Unite. 10 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Reclaiming our economy Richard Leonard outlines bold plans to reconfigure economic relations in Scotland radical industrial strategy for supply chains and good quality local co-operative ownership for six Scotland has been launched jobs. Most immediately, if there decades. Over 83,000 workers are Aby the Scottish Labour is to be a major house building employed in over 250 worker-owned Party which aims to address some programme, redoubled investment enterprises, where surpluses are of the long term and underlying in non-carbon technologies or reinvested rather than redistributed weaknesses of the Scottish significant public transport upgrades, to short-term speculative economy. The strategy identifies then we need to educate, train, shareholders. As a result, during the the production gap as well as the invest, and critically, plan to lock in current economic slump jobs have productivity gap and so the case the economic benefits. been retained and wage solidarity has been safeguarded. for a properly resourced Scottish And, it is time we looked at different Investment Bank, a new approach frameworks and ownership So why shouldn’t this part of the to pension funds and a managed structures in order to build world - which was home to the reduction in working time. up resilience to takeovers and Fenwick weavers, where Robert It points to the crisis in business build in greater democracy and Owen wrote ‘A New View of Society’ research and development accountability to the economic and established New Lanark - set funding and the overly narrow system. itself the vision of becoming ‘the Mondragon of the North’, a northern manufacturing and so export base: One example, featured in the European beacon of cooperation? ten companies in Scotland account strategy, is the forceful case for for 45% of all business R&D with promoting direct worker ownership. If we can have a community right fifteen companies account for It is proposed that in the event of a to buy land, why can’t we have 30% of all international exports. change in ownership, or redundancy workers’ rights to buy business? And, it signals the manifest and and closure, workers should have a It will mean a better resourced immediate challenge of automation, statutory and preferential right to and a more powerful Cooperative climate change and Brexit while buy the business they are working Development Scotland. But why advocating a new era of regional in. Thus, not the conversion of shouldn’t those who create the policy, of economic planning for full public ownership to cooperative wealth have a right to own the employment with unions playing a ownership, but the transfer of wealth they create? There are sound full part, and practical steps to open private to cooperative ownership. industrial and economic reasons up the corridors of economic power to promote worker ownership to In Italy, such a provision was to women. boost employment and to forge an established as far back as 1985 alternative to footloose capitalism. One recurring theme is the need to with the ‘Marcora Law’. Here state But there are underlying political tackle the growing centralisation and funding matches a contribution and social reasons too. the over concentration of economic from the workers themselves. Over ownership. Scotland increasingly the last three decades, over 250 A century ago GDH Cole declared looks like a vulnerable branch plant employee-owned businesses have that if democracy ‘is good in the economy, with 35% of our economic been established this way, most State and local government, it is and industrial base overseas owned. as worker co-operatives, and over good … in industry also. Indeed, Economic ownership matters, 9,000 jobs have been saved. The only in an industrial democracy not least because with ownership co-operative economy in Emilia can a truly democratic society be comes power. If we are to achieve a Romagna in Northern Italy alone built’. We need economic as well redistribution of wealth and power gives 80,000 workers an ownership as political democracy, with labour to the many from the few, it will stake hiring capital instead of capital require decisive action to back it up. simply hiring labour. A future based In France, the Social and Solidarity on equality and common ownership So, it is time we had a Scottish Economy Law passed in 2014 gives is something worth striving for, and Investment Bank worthy of the legal recognition and incentives it is a future which working people 0 name, working as a pro-active agent to workers to buy their business all too often encountering drudgery, of economic change, investing when it is to be sold off. The alienation and exploitation at work - patient capital and taking strategic social economy in France in which will campaign and vote for. public interest stakes. It is time we cooperatives play a part is well had a public procurement policy established. And, in the Basque Richard Leonard is Scottish Labour’s which was properly planned in order country in Spain, Mondragon Economy Spokesperson and Central to maximise the benefit to local has been a shining beacon of Scotland MSP 11 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 For a people’s ScotRail Stuart MacLeod sets out a plan for better rail transport in Scotland

cotRail hasn’t had a particularly public sector bidder. current government was forced to call good press these last few months an early general election, franchises The option of simply taking back the though there is a positive story such as Great Western could be among S franchise into public ownership when to tell. The franchise, managed by the first to return to the public sector. the franchise expires -there is a break Transport Scotland (part of Scottish Others could include CrossCountry, clause which allows for termination half Government) specified a lot of positive which operates to Edinburgh, Glasgow way through the contract, but again it improvements expected from the new and Aberdeen. is a legal minefield - could be seen as operators, including better passenger contravening both EU and British laws. If the Scottish Government was able to facilities, new rolling stock, staff However, the Tyne and Wear Metro take up the option to end the franchise and wider community benefits. The and the West Midlands trams (Midland (at the half-way stage in 2020) that successful bidders, Dutch Railways- Metro) were both recently taken back would allow time to prepare for the owned, Abellio, came in with high transition assuming Labour wins in expectations among many rail lobby into public ownership, without so much the next two to three years. Even with groups. Over two years on, it seems of a murmur from government or EU. a Tory government in Westminster, to have gone sour with calls to strip Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) particularly with a slender majority, Abellio of the franchise. Last autumn, in commented: ‘the move will enable allowing Scotland to secede from the response to poor reliability, thousands TfWM, which is the transport arm of 1993 Railways Act could be possible, signed a petition calling for that. The the West Midlands Combined Authority but infinitely more difficult. new managing director is a well- (WMCA), to plough millions of pounds respected figure in the industry but of future profits back into expanding If Labour is in power, committed to has a major job on his hands in turning the network’. public ownership of rail, a lot of careful round ScotRail’s fortunes. There are two new factors at work thought is going to be needed to ensure that this does not mark a retreat to the Scottish Government’s transport which may help the prospects of a old British Rail (BR). This is particularly minister, Humza Yousaf, announced he publicly-owned ScotRail. One, ironically, an issue for Scotland. It is hard to is looking at radical alternatives when is Brexit. If Britain leaves, clearly the imagine the Scottish Government being the franchise comes up for renewal. directives on competitive procurement happy with its existing powers over rail Speaking to The Sunday Herald in need no longer apply. There would, of being handed back to what would in early July this year, he said: ‘We have course, be the not insignificant issue effect be a London-based BR. Currently, narrowed down the possible vehicles of British government policy. Whilst ScotRail works in alliance with Network that could potentially take forward a managing the ScotRail franchise has Rail, which is still a Britain-wide public sector bid. Transport Scotland been devolved to Scotland, franchising organisation ultimately responsible are now working on gathering further policy hasn’t and as things stand the to the London-based Department for evidence and I will narrow down the Scottish Government would require Transport, overseen by a Tory secretary options further once that exercise is Westminster approval, by changes to of state and subject to the whims of complete. The Scottish Government is the 1993 Railways Act, to be able to HM Treasury. committed to creating a level playing run ScotRail without having to put the field for rail franchising in the future’. contract out to tender. A few months It’s easy for the left to see ‘public ago that might have seemed unlikely. ownership’ as self-evidently a good Previous campaigns for public But now, with the distinct possibility of thing, though some might argue that ownership of rail have come up Labour forming the next government – a tightly-specified franchise (such as against difficulties with EU legislation, with a strong commitment to rail public the current ScotRail) delivers much of which makes full public ownership of ownership – it starts to seem possible. what you’d want to see. The reality is rail difficult, as well as UK law which Whilst the Tories will do everything that a publicly-owned railway, if done enforces franchising of the rail network. possible to avoid what could well be properly, could re-invest any surplus So one option which the Scottish – for them - a catastrophic election, it into the railway and develop a much Government has been looking at is doesn’t need many by-election losses stronger ethos of social and economic creating a public sector body, or using for them to lose their tenuous hold responsibility. Potentially, it could an existing one such as CalMac Ferries, on power, even with DUP support. A empower both workers and users of to mount a bid for the franchise. This Westminster Labour government within ScotRail, offering real control instead of is fraught with difficulty. For one thing, the next three years is far from being a mere ‘consultative’ power. the typical cost of mounting a franchise pipe dream bid is around £10m, quite apart from A starting point for a ‘People’s ScotRail’ the preparatory costs of creating or Labour’s stated policy has been to take should be full devolution of both adapting a public sector body equipped franchises back into public ownership ScotRail – the train operator – and to prepare a bid. A second issue would upon expiry. The responsible body Network Rail, as infrastructure operator be potential legal challenges from other could be Network Rail, which is - to the Scottish Government. That, bidders, who would inevitably claim government-owned and responsible for in effect, means one organisation unfair advantage was being given to the Britain’s railway infrastructure. If the responsible for both train operations 12 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 and infrastructure, taking the current ‘world-class, environmentally-friendly well as Network Rail and Department ‘alliance’ – in which there is one and socially-inclusive railway’ which is for Transport south of the border, a managing director for both ScotRail and fully integrated with buses and ferry strong focus within Scotland is equally Network Rail – much further. Again, operations. But it needs to go beyond important. There are specific needs under current EU law this is difficult nice words and become something within the central belt, the Highlands to achieve in full. But potentially, post- which both workers and passengers can and other parts of Scotland which Brexit and with Corbyn in No10, it could feel proud of, something that they are require a regionalised management become a distinct possibility. part of. supported by stakeholder boards which include both staff and community Going beyond the traditional Structure and governance will be representation as well as local approach of state ownership will be a crucial. There are models worth looking authorities and business interests. challenge facing a People’s ScotRail. at within Britain such as Glas Cymru, Integrating existing train operations the publicly-owned water company for There is a more radical model which with Network Rail will be challenging Wales. Within Scotland, Lothian Buses could embed real worker and user but not impossible. Retaining good has many useful lessons to offer. But participation in ScotRail through a co- relationships with Network Rail south finding a model which incorporates operative approach. This could be seen of the border will be important, with both worker and user involvement as a more risky strategy for the Scottish access to some of Network Rail’s within a framework set by the Scottish Government as it involves ceding day- expertise and resources when needed. Government is a big but exciting to-day responsibility to an outside challenge. There are a number of body. However, a co-operative ScotRail But what sort of public enterprise options. operating within a broad framework will the new ScotRail be? Scotland laid down by Government and reviewed has a tradition of public ownership in One approach is for ScotRail to become on a regular basis, could provide the transport sector. Lothian Buses an arms-length company owned by the right balance between public is owned by four local authorities the Scottish Government, enjoying a accountability and an entrepreneurial with Edinburgh having a 91% share. close and positive relationship with approach in which workers and users It runs a fleet of 650 buses and Transport Scotland, which would set are the owners. This would be a employs over 2000 staff. Last year, its overall objectives. However, it must challenge for the unions who would it made a profit before tax of nearly have commercial and operational have to change their own adversarial £12m, £6.6m of which went to its freedom within an agreed framework. culture and sit down as, effectively, owning local authorities. Not a penny Railways can sometimes suffer from part owners of the business. Employees went to individual shareholders. Its being too narrowly-focused, stressing could automatically have shares in the vision is ‘to be an integral part of the operational over wider social and co-operative while users – anyone who future success of Edinburgh and the economic outcomes. ScotRail could lives or works in Scotland – could again Lothians by providing world-class, have a strategic board, accountable buy shares in the business. But, being environmentally-friendly and socially- to the Scottish transport minister, a co-op, you still only get one vote no inclusive transport’. Strathclyde with a carefully selected (by open matter how many shares you own. Both Passenger Transport owns the Glasgow recruitment) board which reflects the workers and employees would have Subway, a unique example of a non- nation’s diversity and brings high-level a very direct stake in the success of franchised vertically-integrated and skills and expertise to ScotRail. Not ScotRail. publicly-owned railway. CalMac ferries only should these include transport, operate 29 vessels providing essential engineering, financial and commercial A People’s ScotRail is within our services to the Highland and Island skills but also backgrounds in grasp. By bringing the railways of communities and is owned by the sustainability, community development, Scotland back together again with Scottish Government. It returns an strategic planning and culture. Above clear management focus, there is annual sum back to its owners. So the all, both users and workers should potential for cost savings and avoidance idea of public ownership of transport have representation. Employee of duplication. Social ownership will services is ingrained in Scotland’s representatives could be elected by ensure that any profits are kept within politics. Buses, ferries and the subway their colleagues. The Scotrail managing Scotland and used to re-invest in – as well as water - are all examples director should be a member of the creating a modern, accessible railway of successful, socially-responsible strategic board and carry out its’ that meets the nation’s needs. By businesses providing essential services instructions. developing new forms of democratic and contributing to the wider good. social ownership, rail will not be for Below that, an executive board the few, but the many. The trick will be A People’s ScotRail would have the comprising executive directors finding the right way forward to achieve opportunity to create a new kind of should be responsible for the what could be a new form of public railway which is part of the fabric general management, implementing enterprise. of Scotland’s economy, culture and government and strategic board communities. It could build on the objectives. Key roles should include Stuart Macleod is a pseudonym of an positive work already being done Operations, Infrastructure, Customer, experienced writer, researcher and with communities, supported by Commercial, Sustainability, and Safety. commentator on the railway industry in both ScotRail and Transport Scotland. A strong national focus will be essential, Britain. Adapting, Lothian Buses’ ‘vision with close relationships with other train statement’ it could be the pioneer for a operators that also serve Scotland as

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General Secretary: Mick Cash President President: PSeaneter P iHoylenkney 14 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 More than no monarchy Graham Smith sketches out what a modern republic would look like epublicanism is a principled their community and the nation as state is important and it needs to be objection to hereditary power a whole. And, they’re accountable done by someone who is genuinely Rthat stems from a clear belief through regular elections. independent of the government in equality and in good government and above day-to-day party politics. Parliament then is the starting – government that is good for That can’t be the Queen, because all point, the cornerstone and the all of us and which must mean she can do is what she’s told by the foundation of our democracy. In representative of, and accountable Prime Minister. And it can’t be the the family of institutions that make to, all of us. Yes, the royals are up Speaker of the House of Commons up our constitution, it should be to no good and the monarchy is either, because he’s already got an paramount, deferring only to the will secretive and corrupt – yet that’s a important job, but one that’s not of the people. Rather than taking on symptom of a rotten system and it is independent of MPs. an air of pomposity and grandeur, the system that is at the core of the we should cast our parliament as a This role is one of defending the republican message. simple assembly of representatives, constitution by acting as a non- The monarchy is a source of there to do a job. partisan check on the power of considerable prime ministerial government and parliament, as So it is time we renegotiated the power, power that – Theresa May’s the president does in Ireland and contract between the people and predicament notwithstanding – elsewhere. The president can also our representatives. That contract, makes the PM one of the most steer a country through political in the form of a written constitution, powerful leaders in the democratic crises and deadlocks, as we’ve seen should be clear about who has what world. It is this centralisation of across Europe over the past decade. power, how they got it and how we power that the left and right should An elected head of state can do get rid of them. And a new written be equally concerned about. When all this independently, and also constitution can set limits on the power is exercised by so few, too represent the nation as we truly are, power of politicians, government few people are represented by the speaking for us and to us at times of and parliament alike, such as saying decision makers and so the interests celebration and tragedy, in a way the they can’t change the constitution of many are ignored. The power Queen never can. without a referendum, can’t call a of those who are unrepresented in referendum on the whim of a prime Republicanism leaves no room for Downing Street is limited and their minister and can’t rob us of our hard a secretive and corrupt monarchy, voices muted. And, at the heart won rights. but a republic is so much more than of this centralisation of power lies an absence of a royal house. The Let’s take a step back and look at the Crown: the source of political democratic republican cause is the the system as a whole: a written power and authority. The Crown’s cause of democratic reform taken constitution, a contract between powers are in the hands of the prime to its final and logical conclusion: a people and parliament; a fully minister, and the whole system is fully reform constitution founded on skewed toward government being in elected parliament; a government the simple idea that we are an equal, full control of the political agenda. without Crown powers but with sovereign people. limited power – enough power to What’s the alternative? Well, it’s govern effectively but not to govern Graham Smith is head of Republic, not that difficult to work out: a unchallenged; a shift in power the UK’s national republican parliamentary democracy that is from government to parliament, campaign. Republic is fast growing genuine in its democratic credentials underscored by an elected upper into a serious campaign for in practice as much as on paper. house the government doesn’t rely change. Republic is routinely in the If we go back to basics, re-think on for its majority and can’t rely on press, supports local campaigns and parliament not as sovereign but for support. holds national events around the as the representative body of a country. In November, Joan Smith sovereign people, then we can Here, I would emphasis that a will be delivering the annual John imagine some simple ways to government has a mandate to Campbell Lecture on the threat King radically improve how our politics govern – but it is the whole of Charles poses to our democracy (see works. parliament that has a mandate to www.republic.org.uk) legislate. So if government wants The essence of democracy is that to pass a law it must persuade and we are equal citizens with the right convince MPs, not instruct them. to govern our own lives. So we elect representatives who are relied And then we come to the role of upon to work in the best interests of head of state. The job of head of 15 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Make Britain part of the non-nuclear club Arthur West surveys the possibilities after the signing of a new treaty n 7 July 2017, negotiators point for changing perceptions’. movement in Scotland will be working hard to pressurise individual representing 122 countries Within Scottish CND, we also take politicians and political parties to agreed a treaty which seeks heart from other treaties such as O support this very important Nuclear to lead to the destruction of all those that banned biological and Weapons Global Ban Treaty. A small nuclear weapons and the permanent chemical weapons, land mines team of activists from Scotland prohibition of their use. The treaty is and cluster bombs. There is now attended the negotiations as civic called the Treaty on the Prohibition clear evidence that that shows society representatives and they are of Nuclear Weapons and it has how these types of weapons once currently reporting back at various now been formally adopted at the regarded as acceptable are now meetings which are taking place United Nations. It will now be open widely reviled. Scottish CND is of the in different parts of the country. for signature by any United Nations firm view that whilst the treaty will member state from 20 September, Scottish CND has also set up a not immediately eliminate nuclear special working group so that work and it will go into international law weapons, it can over time further when it is officially signed by 50 on the treaty is given sufficient focus de-legitimise nuclear weapons and within our overall activities. It is also countries. In the words of Elaine strengthen political and legal norms G. Whyte Gomez, the Costa Rican to be hoped that those who claim to against their use. The treaty is also Ambassador to the United Nations take a multi-lateralist view in relation very timely and relevant given who chaired the conference which to the abolition of nuclear weapons present day tensions between the agreed the treaty: ‘The world has will find themselves able to support US and North Korea. been waiting for this legal norm for the treaty. 70 years’. Supporters of nuclear weapons The treaty is truly ground breaking The vote on 7 July was 122 countries often use the idea of deterrence to as it has the potential not only to in favour of the treaty and only support their position. Deterrence is outlaw nuclear weapons use but one against -the Netherlands. based on the idea that the only way would also outlaw the testing, Unfortunately, there was no to prevent an attack is to assure the production, possession and participation in the negotiations destruction of the attacker. However, transport of them. Additionally by the world’s nine nuclear armed again as Beatrice Finn from ICAN the very important message to states including Britain. Within has said: ‘Deterrence theory only nuclear armed nations is that Scottish CND and the wider Scottish works if you are ready to use nuclear the treaty outlines a process for peace movement, there is no weapons otherwise the other side destroying stockpiles and enforcing surprise that Britain and other will call your bluff. Deterrence is also commitments made to remain free nuclear weapon states have not based on a perception that leaders of nuclear weapons. It is sad that the backed the treaty. However, what are rational and sane’. current British Government remains the British government and the It is time to applaud those countries disengaged from such a positive other nuclear weapon states cannot who have voted for this important development which is supported ignore is that there is a widespread treaty. It is also time to use the by so many countries. However, acceptance and support for the treaty as a further mechanism to rid political pressure and the speed of treaty across the world. Scottish CND our country and our world of the events can mean that things change and our partner organisations will very rapidly in today’s world. scourge of nuclear weapons. The be using this international support force and power of any modern day Arthur West is chair of Scottish CND for the treaty to increase public nuclear weapons exchange would pressure on the Government to not only affect the attacking country review its position. and the country being attacked. As Beatrice Finn, executive director Organisations such as Medact, an of the Geneva-based International NGO of medics against war, weapons Campaign to Abolish Nuclear and environmental destruction, Weapons (ICAN), said: ‘This treaty have pointed out nuclear weapons is a strong categorical prohibition explosions anywhere in the world of nuclear weapons and is really will have extreme and long lasting rooted in humanitarian law. It environmental consequences provides a path for nuclear-armed as well as damaging agricultural states to join. We are not necessarily productivity. expecting them to sign the treaty right now, but it is a good starting Scottish CND and the wider peace 16 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Making of a mess: orange and green, and red, white and blue Brian Campfield examines the underlying forces of Northern Ireland’s political impasse he current political fall-out in did engage in cliff edge negotiations election in March 2017, Sinn Fein Northern Ireland, triggered over a number of years, part of which made major advances and the DUP Tby Martin McGuinness’ involved challenging the austerity emerged much weakened and resignation as Deputy First Minister impact on the North. However the with less power. The DUP response in January 2017, is the result of a British Government made no real to the RHI scandal and its initially deterioration in relationships caused concessions. contemptuous dismissal of the case primarily by the DUP stubbornness In some respects, Sinn Fein’s capacity for an Irish Language Act mobilised on a number of important issues to stand up to the Tory austerity voters in the nationalist communities which Sinn Fein claimed related was undermined by its ‘power’ to come out in large numbers to to previously agreed elements of sharing colleagues in the DUP. vote. the Good Friday and subsequent The DUP, voted against much, but The next test was the snap agreements involving the North’s not all, of the austerity measures Westminster election called by political parties and the British and in Westminster, but once these Theresa May in June. The DUP Irish Governments. These issues were adapted, they argued for the topped the poll increasing their seats included dealing with the legacy of application of austerity to Northern to 10 in an election which witnessed the past, a Bill of Rights and an Irish Ireland on the basis that it was part the further demise of the SDLP and Language Act. of Britain. the Ulster Unionist Party. The DUP The issue precipitating McGuinness’ The pro- and anti-austerity political advance in this election was, in many resignation was the scandal of the fault lines in the North were respects, the result of the unionist Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) effectively drawn along unionist/ community’s reaction to the Sinn scheme and ‘the arrogance of the nationalist lines with Sinn Fein and Fein success in the March Assembly DUP’ was cited as the last straw. the SDLP taking a more anti-austerity election. Both British and Irish Governments stance and the various unionist And, thus it goes. The DUP, staggering also bear a significant responsibility parties not prepared to take a stand after the results in March, were on for the crisis and should not be against the British Government. their feet with renewed confidence permitted to wash their hands of the On a number of occasions, the - something they would parade in problem by categorising the impasse Irish Congress of Trade Unions, in full view as May now depended on is a result of a ‘failure to agree’ on cooperation with the Scottish and the 10 DUP Westminster MPs for the part of local parties. Wales TUCs, had some initial success her survival. The problem with the In the period leading up to in forging an alliance of the three Tory/DUP deal is not the financial McGuinness’ resignation, Sinn devolved governments in opposition concessions in Northern Ireland’s Fein was under pressure within its to the financial settlements for the favour but that the DUP is now heartlands about what nationalists devolved regions. central to maintaining the austerity regarded as the DUP’s contempt for Sinn Fein’s association with agenda across all of Britain. both Sinn Fein and its constituency. implementing the Tory austerity These complications have been It needs to be remembered there is agenda also left it vulnerable to over- compounded by the Brexit a small but vociferous Republican simplistic criticism by some on the referendum outcome. The Sinn opposition to Sinn Fein and Sinn left that they were pro- austerity in Fein narrative on the Good Friday Fein’s inability to deliver its full the North and anti -austerity in the Agreement pointed its supporters agenda has rendered it increasingly Republic of Ireland (RoI). Sinn Fein towards an eventual united Ireland, vulnerable to attacks from a variety weathered these storms, using the within the European Union, with the of political groups within the argument that a return to Direct Rule disappearance of all manifestations Republican community. would hand all decision making over of the ‘border’. However, the In addition, the problems created to a right-wing Tory government and position of the British government for the devolved administration it was able to demonstrate that some on the single market and the by the Westminster austerity has mitigation of the effects of austerity, customs union raised the prospect especially in the case of welfare compounded the problems. While of border controls on both people reform and the bedroom tax had the Northern Ireland devolved and goods. This is seen as a major been secured. administration had no say in the set- back to the goal of a united level of the Block Grant, Sinn Fein In the Northern Ireland Assembly Ireland and the greater integration 17 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 of the two economies in Ireland and Dublin, the additional jobs are political equivalence. the development of an all island not likely to match the number of The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement economy. jobs lost and these jobs will not was effectively forced on the DUP, be of much benefit to the workers The position of the DUP, always who opposed it in 1998, and the and communities dependent on opposed to membership of the EU, current logjams are symptomatic agriculture and food processing has further exacerbated the divisions of its unease and distaste for the businesses which are negatively between it and Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein’s political historic compromise the impacted by Brexit. This will lead to main demand now is for special Agreement represents. The DUP is a a further skewing of the Republic’s status for Northern Ireland, within reluctant partner in power sharing economy, with an increased the EU, while the region remains and it is difficult to envisage how, dependence on transnational part of Britain. However, Brexit issue of its own accord, it will escape this corporations and the financial sector, will not be the main obstacle to a contradiction. It is likely to require and in a country which already return to the power sharing devolved more forceful intervention by a suffers from a serious over-reliance administration. British Government, which in turn on Foreign Direct Investment. Brexit has also created a narrative will only act in a more decisive way within mainstream politics in the The conflict in the North has been if the Irish Government takes its RoI which has elevated the border regarded by some on the left as responsibilities serious. a problem solely of sectarianism question to a higher plane with even Fifty years ago in 1967 the Northern and by others, also on the left, as Fine Gael, the main government Ireland Civil Rights’ Association was a problem arising primarily from party, talking about a united Ireland, founded in Belfast. The civil rights Britain’s presence in the North. something which is extremely movement was forced off the streets There is also the temptation to unusual and virtually unprecedented. by the military campaign to secure treat both unionist and nationalist/ But the primary concern within the a British Declaration of Withdrawal. republican as two sides of the one RoI political establishment is not That campaign contributed, in its coin and all that is required is for the peace process, given its laissez own way, to the community divisions working class communities and faire approach to resolving recent becoming more entrenched than political interests to overcome political stalemates in the North, they had ever been before. Now we sectarianism and build a society but the potential impact on the are experiencing political deadlock based on equality and social and economy in the South arising from again. Brexit. A significant percentage of economic justice. The historic compromise that the RoI trade is with Britain (especially But such an approach disregards Good Friday Agreement represents agricultural exports). The prospect the reality of Britain’s historical role was necessary at the time but twenty of the imposition of trade barriers in Ireland. It ignores the imperial years later it is becoming clear that it and tariffs on Irish exports to Britain project and the historic democratic is in danger of becoming an historic and the potential loss of jobs is injustice caused by the partition of cul- de-sac. exercising the minds of everyone in Ireland in 1920. It fails to recognise the Republic, including the union that the underlying political fault There is renewed talk about movement. lines that exist today have not shifted advancing negotiations to find a If Brexit does result in a negative in real terms since the early part of resolution to the current impasse. impact on jobs then the RoI the twentieth century. The recurrent Something will have to give or Government will be forced to seek crises in the North stem directly from another form of words on the assistance or special measures from the distorted political system created contentious issues will have to be the EU, given its special position by British imperialism in the early found to allow all parties to extricate relating to it being the only EU 1920s. It has all the hallmarks of a themselves from the hooks, on which country with a land border with political maze whose entrance and all parties caught themselves. A Britain and a comparatively high exit have been blocked. critical discussion within the left is needed to consider how the cul- de- dependence on British markets for Essentially, the Unionists still - for the sac can be overcome and in a way its trade vis-à-vis other EU countries. main part - exist within the psyche of that transcends the usual polarised The EU response to any difficulties Empire and are fighting a rear-guard political discourse. That essentially is caused by Brexit could reopen a long action to maintain some semblance today’s primary challenge. dead debate on the EU within the of the dominance that was granted RoI. to them with the establishment of Brian Campfield is the former General Despite expectations that the RoI the Northern Ireland ‘state’. It would Secretary of the Northern Ireland will benefit in some ways from be a mistake to view the pro-union Public Service Alliance, NIPSA and Brexit through relocation of financial and nationalist/republican interests the immediate past President of Irish services and other business to in Northern Ireland in terms of Congress of Trades Unions (ICTU). 18 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Grenfell and housing: putting profit before people Dave Sherry says neo-liberalism is at the root of the housing safety disaster

he Grenfell fire and the appalling was used on 30,000 buildings across cladding and balcony enclosure work loss of life was a disaster waiting Britain. Lack of adequate fire safety was completed. Again further fire- Tto happen. It sums up everything is another deadly symptom of how stopping measures were carried out rotten in Tory Britain - gross inequality, council housing has been neglected afterwards. social cleansing and a political elite for decades. Mismanagement and From the 1950s on, 1,000 high- for whom the working class is both decline is the result of deliberate rise blocks were built in Scotland. feared and ridiculed. A week after, a underinvestment by successive Despite recent demolitions Glasgow rattled Theresa May promised those governments. forced to move would be rehoused in still has the highest concentration in The week after Grenfell, the Britain, with 96 of them scheduled 3 weeks. There are over 1600 empty Washington Post ran a story about properties in the area, most owned for refurbishment in the coming the Trump Organisation’s activities years. This work will be done through by the super rich, yet over 2 months in India. Under the headline, ‘Where on survivors are left struggling in ‘a business partnership’ with the corruption is a building material’, construction firm, Wates and at a temporary accommodation or in hotel it described how Trump’s company rooms. At a Grenfell Action Group contract value of over £83m. Since is buying up tracts of land in India’s 2005, any new high-rise built in campaign meeting last week, one of booming cities where bribing officials Scotland must be fitted with a suitable the survivors called May’s promise, ‘a is the way to get building regulations sprinkler system. But there is no law lie to the newspapers’. relaxed. compelling landlords – private or Overcladding was chosen at Grenfell The next day CBS News reported the public -to retrofit pre-2005 high -rise partly to make the tower more firm that supplied the cladding for blocks with such a system. There pleasing to the eyes of the local rich. Grenfell Tower is New York -based and should be. Kensington and Chelsea council – the knew the materials were unsafe for a wealthiest patch in Europe - saved high rise. They claimed it wasn’t their In 2010, when the SNP government £5,000 by choosing inferior cladding responsibility to enforce UK building accepted a savage Tory cut to the that is banned far and wide because it standards. Scottish Block Grant from Westminster is so highly flammable. Yet the present and responded by cutting the set-up encourages this kind of cost Scotland’s devolved housing policy is Scottish social housing budget by an cutting. Indeed, £369m will be spent not exempt from such chicanery. The unprecedented 35%, Alex Salmond refurbishing Buckingham Palace, yet SNP government is happy to privatise responded to the outcry, saying it was there was no money to put sprinklers services and tender public works to not as bad as what had happened in construction companies implicated in flats a stone’s throw away. Many England and Wales, where Cameron in blacklisting. While it’s true Scottish who died in Grenfell would be alive had cut the housing budget by 65%. for the sake of the cost of a sprinkler building regulations are generally Despite SNP promises to the contrary system -£200,000. tighter than their English counterparts, Grenfell could have happened here. nothing has changed for the better The authorities estimated the dead at There are 3 occasions in the recent since. But health and safety may be 80 but the real figure may never be past when it nearly did. the rock upon which the neo-liberal known. Undocumented migrants will Concerns about cladding were consensus founders. For years the not come forward and report deaths highlighted in a parliamentary report Tory media loved to bang on about if they fear resulting deportation. It into the Garnock Court tower block how ‘health and safety and red tape is probable that more people died fire in Irvine in 1999. Prompt action by had gone mad – a needless burden on in Grenfell than in all the terror fire crews meant people were rescued business’. After Grenfell, their gas is at incidents in Britain in the last 15 years from the twelth floor. The report a peep. The ideology that puts profit yet nobody responsible for Grenfell called for a tougher testing regime, before people is failing. Our side needs is dragged off for questioning. On the use of non-combustible materials to push home the advantage and the Sunday following the fire, Tory and contained a stark warning. In topple this weak, hated government. chancellor, Philip Hammond, admitted 2009, a fire at Waddell Court in the the cladding used was illegal on a Dave Sherry is a retired Unite member Gorbals saw an elderly man killed. building as high as Grenfell. To date, who until recently worked in housing The subsequent investigation called there have been no arrests. maintenance and development and for improvements to fire stopping was secretary of the Unite Scottish Grenfell is about more than the measures. Two years ago a fire spread Housing Associations Branch. shortcomings of Kensington’s Tory across 8 storeys at a GHA tower block council. The cladding fitted there in Springburn, just two years after 19 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Firefighters demand justice over Grenfell Denise Christie shows that the Grenfell disaster is part of a wider systemic failure

he morning of 14 June is one services and those who deliver them It’s vital that fire appliances that no firefighter in Britain will has to end and the best tribute we can respond quickly and in numbers Tever forget, with the images we pay to those who lost their lives is to to incidents. This is known as the all saw showing the horrific events fight for justice and ensure a disaster ‘speed of response’ and the ‘weight unfolding being unprecedented. like this never happens again. The FBU of response’. This would have been Watching our brothers and sisters stands in solidarity with the tenants critical for an incident such as Grenfell. going into that building time after and residents of Grenfell and we will There is grave concern that the time to rescue people in desperate work with them to uncover why this continuing austerity driven cuts are situations made us proud, but also terrible fire occurred and what could having a detrimental effect on 999 concerned that there would still be a have been done to prevent it. response times and the vital lifesaving huge loss of life despite their efforts service firefighters provide. The FBU has already started to pull and, tragically, this was the case. In together the key facts and issues The risks in our communities are over 20 years working in the fire and surrounding this incident. As in all always changing and the job of a rescue service, I have never seen a fire such cases, the FBU will make a firefighter changes with them. It’s pose such a huge threat to life. thorough investigation as to what vital to nationally assess these risks The Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) happened and why. Our investigation to ensure the fire & rescue service watched the developments with a will address all factors which will remains suitably resourced with mixture of horror, anger and pride. have impacted on this incident. This enough firefighters who have the This appalling tragedy is already the includes the issue of the building itself skills, equipment, and infrastructure to worst fire disaster of recent times in (including any alteration made to it), deal with them. Britain – and the full death toll is not fire safety issues and the operational The continuation of budget cuts to yet known. It is appalling to think that planning and response. the SFRS is unsustainable. The SFRS a fire on this scale and with this loss It will not have been lost on anyone needs long-term, strategic investment of life can take place in the richest that, within days of the Grenfell to recruit firefighters and ensure the borough in the capital city of one of disaster, government ministers were safety of the public. the richest nations in the world. A key re-emphasising their determination The FBU’s priority has always been task for the FBU now is to identify how to stick to their 1% pay policy. Pay firefighter and public safety. We have this was able to happen. restraint has left firefighters more than a long history of campaigning on The firefighters’ bravery and £2,000pa worse off. What was even these issues and will continue to do professionalism, including those that more galling was the cheered reaction so. These campaigns also include the took the calls in the operational fire from the Tories after they had won the strengthening up of fire, building and control rooms, has rightfully been vote to block a pay rise for firefighter’s housing regulations. The fire statistics recognised by most. What also must only days after praising them for their for fire deaths for 2015-2016 have be recognised is that these women bravery during Grenfell. increased from previous years. In the and men are also trade unionists - last decade, Scotland has had a higher Questions have been asked if the trade unionists who have previously rate than England and Wales for fires, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service been demonised as militant and anti- fatalities and casualties. The increase (SFRS) could respond adequately to an establishment for standing up for fair in these fire statistics at a time where incident on the scale of Grenfell. At its pay, fair pensions, workers’ rights and fire budgets and firefighter numbers height, there were 250 firefighters and against cuts to their profession. The are being cut is concerning. 40 fire engines. night of Grenfell will have been the It is time to end the continued cuts to toughest shift of their lives with the Since 2013, Scotland has seen over the SFRS. Year on year budget cuts are memory running deep for a long time. 700 frontline firefighters’ jobs lost impacting on the frontline and staff and five out of the eight emergency The Grenfell disaster may be at the morale is at rock bottom. If we want fire control rooms have closed which heart of the political debate today, a world class fire and rescue service, has disproportionately impacted on but it has been the FBU which has then the onslaught of cuts must cease women. The year on year cuts to the consistently raised concerns on public immediately and investment provided. fire budget is now impacting on the service cuts that impact on fire safety, Cuts really do cost lives. frontline, despite assurances from the fire protection and fire resources for Scottish government. Staffing levels Denise Christie is the regional many years. have depleted so much that there treasurer of the Fire Brigades’ Union in Grenfell has to be – must be – a can be no guarantee that frontline Scotland moment for a major change of appliances and operational control direction. The war on public safety has rooms are adequately maintained and to end. The relentless attack on public crewed at all times. 20 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Is strike action over? Stephen Smellie argues unions have to be smart in the new circumstances

NISON members in Scottish balance of industrial power back on identifying small groups who councils voted by 62% for towards workers. However, the could take effective action on behalf Uindustrial action on pay this prospect of a Labour Government is of the wider membership who would year. However strike action did not some distance in the future. support them through financial take place due to the turnout being means. Union campaigns and lobbying are less than the 50% required under successful. The UNISON victory There are risks in a selective or the Tories’ recently implemented to abolish Employment Tribunal smart strike strategy such as this Trade Union Act . This was the first fees and decisions on Equal Pay with employers seeking to threaten big test of unions’ ability to deliver show that legal campaigns can be the selected group of members and industrial action under the new laws successful. The Living Wage was members feeling isolated. However, and UNISON failed. A ballot of Unite won for council, NHS and social care these are issues which unions should members in the North Sea industry workers in Scotland through lobbying be able to overcome. similarly failed to get the turnout and campaigning, not strikes. The UNISON ballot was preceded required for action. All unions are This involved winning arguments recognising that the new law is a by an online consultation where and building alliances to pressure members received emails and texts, major hurdle for getting a positive politicians to adopt and implement vote for strike action. and social media was utilised to raise the policy. awareness on top of the traditional Unions are considering their In launching its ‘Pay Up Now’ material produced by the union response to this Tory law which is campaign, UNISON aims to involve and branches. Many unions hold designed to further weaken the members in building support for consultative ballots and these will power of unions. None of them an end to the public sector pay become more frequent with unions should be considering giving up on cap, including targeting Tory MPs having to find ways of engaging with industrial action as a way of taking in marginal constituencies in the members, visiting workplaces, having forward workers’ interests. However, run up to the Chancellor’s autumn more face-to-face conversations, responses have to recognise that statement. If such a campaign, taking and organising more workplace strikes were not the be-all and advantage of the relative weakness discussions. Such intense member end-all of union campaigns. Pay of the Tory government, is to be engagement exercises are more campaigns which are an annual successful, it will require thousands difficult with restrictions on facility round of claim/offer/reject/ballot- of members to be involved. time and a decrease in the number for-strikes have spectacularly failed of shop stewards. Therefore, union However successful political actions over many years. Regardless of the staff will need to be deployed in a and campaigning cannot be relied new anti-union laws, it has been targeted way building support for upon to achieve improved pay, stop clear for some time that union strike action. campaigns needed refreshed and attacks on jobs and end austerity policies. Not on their own. Therefore, The in-depth organising campaigns revitalised with some new, or maybe unions must find ways to engage which unions talk about but seldom some old, ideas. with members in campaigns that manage to sustain will need to be Nye Bevan wrote in In Place of Fear will lead to more of them taking delivered in order to turn around that after the defeat of the miners part in ballots for industrial action. member disengagement and re- in 1926 that ‘from then on the This will involve many things and discover the industrial action tool. pendulum swung sharply to political consideration of different tactics in The issue we have to face up to is action. It seemed to us that we must different situations. that members are not engaged and try to regain in Parliament what we participating in union activities. All of PCS recently successfully balloted had lost on the industrial battlefield’. the strategies referred to above must a small group of members in be about developing better organised The hope placed in a Corbyn-led Sheffield DWP over the closure of unions and involving members more Labour Party coming to power a Job Centre. These members were who will then be more ready to take reflects a similar view and, thus, is concentrated in the one workplace, part in union action, from signing the part of a strategy to achieve ends could talk issues through and engage online petition to voting for strike that are beyond us on an industrial directly with union leaders, before action. level and repeal the laws that the decision to ballot was taken. weaken us. Unions will, and should, This illustrates an option for unions Stephen Smellie is depute convenor of continue and increase support for to consider. Rather than consulting UNISON Scotland and a NEC member Labour in the hope that laws can be thousands of workers spread over of UNISON changed in the future to swing the many workplaces, they could focus 21 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Trying to make sense of ‘October’ Ian Gasse highlights a weekend of film in Dumfries reconsidering the October Revolution of 1917

n What’s Left? – a review of all through my whole life. If another Reds (1981), co-written by British new books about the Russian war starts it’s them we must fight’ playwright Trevor Griffiths, to two IRevolution in the London Review and, closer to home, in 1967, of the films commissioned for the of Books in March – the historian Liverpool poet Roger McGough Revolution’s tenth anniversary, Sheila Fitzpatrick, reflecting on the imagined: Sergei Eisenstein’s October (1928) The End of status of the October Revolution, A little bit of heaven fell from out and Vsevelod Pudovkin’s suggests that: ‘[w]ith the collapse the sky one day St Petersburg (1927). Completing of the Soviet Union in 1991, the It landed in the ocean, not so very the programme are a Soviet film revolution shrivelled as a historical far away from the Brezhnev years, Nikita subject’. ‘By 2117,’ she asks, ‘who The General at the radar screen, Mikhalkov’s At Home Among knows what people will think?’ rubbed his hands with glee Strangers (1974), a political thriller- For those of us born between And grinning pressed the button cum-western, and a documentary the Second World War and about that started World War Three. by French film-maker Chris Marker, The Last Bolshevik (1993), which 1980, the influence of the October I make these points about the Revolution was part of everyday life. views the short history of the Soviet impact of the October Revolution in Union through the career of Soviet Because, as Eric Hobsbawm noted the middle decades of the twentieth in Age of Extremes: ‘[a] mere thirty film director Alexander Medvedkin century (and this is to ignore the (1900-1989). to forty years after Lenin’s arrival at renaissance of Marxism in the west the Finland Station in Petrograd, one from the late 1960s) because some Each of the films will be introduced third of humanity found itself living may feel, as Fitzpatrick’s review by a film/history/politics/cultural under regimes directly derived from suggests, that the centenary of the scholar, with Dr David Archibald, the Ten Days That Shook the World’, October Revolution has lost much of Glasgow University’s Film & world politics came to be dominated of its significance as it actually Media Studies, presenting an by the confrontation of the two arrives, for Russia has become a overview of the full weekend, opposing systems of capitalism, capitalist society and economy, October in Film, on the Friday and what was represented as – and and the international enemy of evening, prior to the screening believed by many on both left and western society is now apparently of At Home Among Strangers. right to be – a form of communism, an extreme form of Islam. But the Emeritus Professor John Foster of and of their respective ‘superpowers’, centenary has arrived, so how Glasgow University will introduce the USA and the USSR. should we mark it? the Eisenstein and Pudovkin films on Saturday afternoon, and Dr Ben Despite the success of the American- The answer, for some of us in Franks, also of Glasgow University, British-Soviet alliance of World War Dumfries (with support from will introduce Reds on Saturday II, from Churchill’s notorious Fulton Dumfries TUC and Dumfries & evening. On Sunday afternoon, speech of March 1946 onwards, Galloway Council) and, via the Emeritus Professor Lesley Milne of ‘Cold War’ and ‘Arms Race’ became Scottish Labour History Society and Nottingham University will introduce part of the new international the Scottish Morning Star Campaign Doctor Zhivago and Dumfries TUC’s political vocabulary, and a regular Committee, elsewhere in Scotland, is Ian Gasse will introduce The Last feature of our daily ‘news’, by considering the representation of Bolshevik on Sunday evening. augmented by various crises that the revolution in film. might have provoked all-out war, Full details of Representing Over the weekend of Friday- such as Berlin (1948-1949, 1961), Revolution, which has been Sunday, 27-29 October, the Robert Korea (1950-1953), Iran (1953), supported by Film Hub Scotland Burns Centre Film Theatre (RBCFT) Hungary and Suez (1956), Cuba through the BFI’s Film Audience in Dumfries will be screening (1959 and 1962), Vietnam (1965- Network, are available from the Representing Revolution, a series 1975), Czechoslovakia (1968) and RBCFT box office on 01387 264808 of films from several countries Afghanistan (1980-1989). and website (www.rbcft.co.uk) or – Britain, France and the US, as via [email protected] The ‘Cold War’ mentality, fear of well as the former Soviet Union – Tickets are from £7.00 per screening communism and fear of nuclear war which present different views of (£5.30 concessions). that were encouraged by western the October Revolution, from the governments and media, penetrated David Lean ‘blockbuster’ Doctor Ian Gasse is active on Dumfries deep into our lives. As Dylan sang in Zhivago (1966), based on the Boris Trades Union Council and a member 1964: ‘I’ve learnt to hate Russians Pasternak novel, to Warren Beatty’s of the National Union of Journalists. 22 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 feedback

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Dave Sherry, Russia Reed’s Ten Days That Shook the Crucially, the story as told by Sherry World, charged with the immediacy sustains the dynamism of the 1917: Workers’ of committed reportage, has greatest social movement the world Revolution and remained a classic since publication had yet seen. A couple of errors in the Festival of the in 1919. Much subsequent study this copiously referenced text (the has been processed as a Cold War constructivist artist Malevich is Oppressed, 2017, cottage industry, continuing through mis-named, and the origins of the Bookmarks, pp274, £12.99, to the fall of the Soviet Union and concept of ‘The Servile State’ are mis- 9781910885420 the opening of the Kremlin archives. attributed) do not materially detract from the overall achievement of Mike Reviewed by Stewart Maclennan Radical historians, too, have brought crucial aspects of the revolution to Davis’s exacting brief. riting in the Guardian, Paul new light. As its title implies, Dave Sherry’s Mason warned recently book is a celebration of the Russian this year’s centenary of Following his earlier Empire and W Revolution: A Socialist History of the Revolution and a defence of its ideals. the Russian Revolution would bring Here in Scotland, the Scottish Labour with it ‘an avalanche of reactionary First World War, Dave Sherry has set History Society has organised a bullshit’. This dismal prospect the Russian Revolution within the special conference to commemorate has already come to pass in the contexts of the war and a domestic the revolution and explore related form of at least one ‘new history’, background of tsarist absolutism. themes. ‘Scotland and the Russian much fanfared by the likes of Niall Each episode of a tumultuous Revolution: Impact and Legacy’ takes Ferguson, Fortunately, writers on the year receives intimate depiction place on Saturday 4 November 2017, left have not been slow to counter and scrutiny, portraying both the the threatened ‘avalanche’, with congenital inability of the ruling Stewart Maclennan is chair of the books varying in focus and format class to retain power by means Scottish Labour History Society from Tariq Ali, Neil Faulkner, China other than draconian repression, [email protected] Mieville and John Newsinger, among and the development and occasional REGISTRATION FORM others. To these may be added the vacillation of the revolutionary SCOTTISH Please complete and return with remittance payable to ‘Scottish present volume from Dave Sherry,Labour Historyforces. Society’ This to: impressive synthesis is LABOUR HISTORY SLHS (c/o S Maclennan, 0/1, 64 Terregles Avenue, a veteran activist and prolific writerGlasgow, particularly G41 4LX. effective in restoring to An independent organisation promoting the study of SOCIETY for the Socialist Workers Party, their central roles in the narrative An independent organisation promoting the and published by the SWP imprint,NAME: ...... such eclipsed Bolshevik organisers study of labour history in Scotland Bookmarks. All have undertaken, ADDRESS: in as ...... Alexandra Kollontai and Alexander Shlyapnikov. the words of American geo-historian...... Mike Davis, ‘a singularly daunting TELEPHONE:Similar ...... prominence is given to the task’. words and actions of both named EMAIL: ...... and anonymous figures from the Early accounts of the revolution come(Indicate type of registration as appropriate below) ranks of the popular, working class direct from the field of action. Leon* I am a member of SLHS and enclose Conference fee of £15 Trotsky’s The History of the Russian(waged)/£10 and (unwaged) military organisations which * I wish tocomprised join SLHS and enclose the subscription motor and forces Conference offee the Revolution to Brest-Litovsk wasof £25 (waged)/£15 (unwaged) SCOTLAND AND THE revolution, while the urgent writings written during breaks in the * I wishpeace to attend the Conference only and enclose Conference fee RUSSIAN REVOLUTION: negotiations with Germanyof £20 and (waged)/£15of Lenin, (unwaged) seeking always to focus and IMPACT & LEGACY PLEASEdirect NOTE ALL theirCONFERENCE forces, FEES are examined in was circulated in Britain in editions INCLUDE BUFFET LUNCH published by the British Socialist terms of their critical reception by CONFERENCE 2017 Saturday 4 November 2017 Party and the Socialist Labour Party. both his fellow Bolsheviks and other UNITE Offices, 145 West Regent Street, Glasgow The American Communist, John socialists in Russia and beyond. PROGRAMME & REGISTRATION FORM 23 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Bonni Cohen and Jon He explains that he does his ‘best’ open sewer’; ‘Our atmosphere while emphasising that scientific is not limitless’; ‘Humanity is at Shenk, An Inconvenient argument for man-made global risk’; ‘Mother Nature is the new Sequel: Truth to Power, warming impacts needs ‘grass roots participant in the discussion’. 2016 voices to activate and sustain the ‘Unprecedented’ being the buzz empowerments afforded by the word of the past decade in relation Reviewed by Jackie Bergson Paris Accord’. Thus, film footage to global finance, he brings it in egan, committed leader, includes Gore meeting political to describe phenomena which campaigner and influencer, heads in Japan in 1997 in relation to he links with global warming Nobel Laureate and antidote the Kyoto Protocol, which ostensibly effects, such as the Zika virus and V expired in 2012; also Europe’s survivalist migration. He emphasises to climate change denial; Al Gore personally presented An central involvement in sustaining throughout that true power in Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power Japan’s original momentum, further sustaining arguments and support for climate change will continue to a 300-cinema-strong audience in documenting Gore’s contribution if clear, consistent messages get Britain on 11 August 2017. to driving solar energy costs down for less developed countries and through to governments, businesses From at least 2006, the man has confirming his role as instrumental and investors capable in enacting occupied a strong position for in respect of Paris Accord ratification relevant laws and policies. In more climate change leadership. An to the tune of 150 Nations, including prosaic terms, his words to the Inconvenient Truth (2006) reached India and Chile, in 2016. Mayor of Texas ‘money talks’ ring and influenced hearts and minds on very true. Whereas the Democrat-Republican a global scale, energising scientific political platform may no longer be The power of An Inconvenient facts formerly regarded as ‘crank’ active for him in terms of equal seats Sequel may be that its audiences will theories, to broadcast new, powerful of power, press interviews during the consider the possibility of imagining norms of communication. The film’s release show his willingness a world without climate change question now in the balance is how to lock horns. Gore’s focus upon believers; where development and and why humankind maintains relevant technologies is wide- use of energy and technologies climate change impacts beyond Al ranging within his films and currently ignore impacts upon earth’s Gore’s lifetime. his unique involvement with the atmosphere; where depletion of Using analogies, simple physics less developed countries reveals his fossil fuels meets with alternatives explanations and statistical eschewing of ‘land-line’ technology. which allow toxins and pollutants reasoning during his pre-film He fails, however, to mention that to pour into the air and sea; where interview, he conveyed a context server technologies have long been sight of the bigger picture in relation for learning and doing. For those the subject of criticism for their use to global warming, climate change and all of the resultant impacts is with commercial interests, he of toxic coolants. Gore has, thus, lost. We, therefore, understand quoted figures about solar jobs’ 17 possibly weighed in as seriously as Gore’s obvious sadness when filmed times growth compared with other he is politically able at this stage. talking about recent USA election industry sectors, reflecting results In spite of being faced with climate results. Admirably, he fights on. from climate change industry buy-in change deniers who are in equally if Jackie Bergson has worked in the to date. not much more powerful positions voluntary sector and commercial of influence, Gore successfully A pre-feature short conveys the business development in technology conveys that he is not taking on beauty and fragility of our planet and creative sectors. Educated in and the political world alone: he has alongside catastrophic events which living in Glasgow, her political and broadcasters and film crews, credible relate to cause and effect within the social views chime left-of-centre. global warming and climate change scientists, Climate Change Leaders, discussion. The main film again captive book and film audiences and has Al Gore as its undoubted star, accumulating grassroots support engaging in activism, political and from younger generations in tow. commercial influence and discussion In politically correct and humble with national and international style, respectively, he moreover leaders, and teaching his very own co-credits both the female director growing number of Climate Change and producer of this sequel and the Leaders. The much bigger player, Oscar-winning director of the first according to Gore, is ‘Mother Earth documentary. [who] is the new participant in the Gore also certainly delivers impactful discussion’. sound bites: ‘Using the sky as an 24 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Katherine Trebeck, failure of the Scottish Parliament whether as a devolved country to address these issues. Kerevan within a multi-national Britain, or George Kerevan and looks at the nature of twenty first as a future independent state. This Stephen Boyd, Tackling century capitalism, the problems book collates the main papers, Timorous Economics – of too much capital, too low wages together with a brief appreciation of and too few jobs. He suggests how the authors and an intro and outro How Scotland’s Economy tax, shorter hours and socialised from the editors. As an introductory Could Work Better for Us investment could begin to guide to terms and history, address this. This is very much an McSmorgasbord provides the reader

All, introduction to the issues addressed with a Europe 1.01 primer and is Luath Press, £9.99, pp126, and includes widespread references. useful for anyone needing to know 1910021377 It claims to be only an opening their EFTA from the EEA. gambit in creating a new Scottish Reviewed by Gordon Morgan The Nordic region, or Norden, political economy and encourages comprises five countries: Iceland, further discussion and debate using Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Brexit discussions as a pretext Denmark. Each is focused on in for such discussions. turn. Although the countries have Gordon Morgan is a member of much in common in terms of shared the Scottish Left Review editorial demography, religion and history committee providing a regional identity, they are also very different. Each of the Lesley Riddoch and five have a different relationship Eberhard Bort, with the institutions of Europe ranging from Finland’s enthusiastic McSmorgasbord: What participation in the EU and Euro to a post-Brexit Scotland can more sceptical approach of Norway learn from the Nordics, and Iceland (which are in the EEA but not the EU). The historical and Luath Press, £7.99, pp196, his book outlines a critique political factors at work in each 1912147009 of conventional economics. case are examined and throughout It suggests that post-Brexit, Reviewed by Tommy Sheppard the question posed is: what can T Scotland learn from these diverse Scotland is at a crossroads where it can continue to ignore what ‘people experiences? and planet need’ or really engage Is Finland’s position of living in with communities and create a new the shadow of the Russian bear economics for Scotland. The three analogous to Scotland sitting atop a authors address different aspects of much more powerful nation? Might this failure to address people and the breakdown in that relationship planet’s needs. Trebeck addresses catapult a newly independent the inequalities that underlie our country into the heart of Europe? society and the extreme poverty Just how important is the fishing prevalent and asks why we tolerate sector? In Iceland, it’s undoubtedly poverty and environmental damage? the prime determinant in that Why not deliver a more equal, more country’s decision not to keep its humane and more sustainable distance from the EU. society in the first place by making McSmorgasbord is in essence a A concluding chapter by Riddoch the economy circular and shared? conference report. In October 2016, pulls the diverse contributions Boyd looks at the roots of inequality the policy group Nordic – with Lesley together and considers options and the differences between this Riddoch and the late Paddy Bort at for Scotland. She opens by noting and poverty. He looks at how tax the helm – convened a conference how fast moving the politics of is ignored in addressing poverty in Edinburgh, bringing together this is. Indeed, her piece proves and how it could be used to over 300 people including senior the point. Writing earlier this year, mitigate it. He also examines the policy-makers to consider options for she rules out the possibility of a role of financialisation in creating Scotland post-Brexit. It focused on differentiated single market solution an economy at odds with the what relationship Scotland should for Scotland within Britain, citing the people. He ends by examining the pursue with other European nations, Westminster government’s negative 25 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 response to Holyrood overtures. in the 1980s when he followed his disappeared into offshore bank She was right at the time. But the father into real estate development. accounts. He splashed the Trump name across election has changed things again To achieve his goals, Trump has casinos, hotels, and office blocks. and this might well come back on surrounded himself with fellow His big break came when he was the agenda now.; members of the 1% club. His Cabinet asked to host The Apprentice which But what if Scotland was to become has a cumulative net worth of featured his own developments all independent – what would be the over $14bn. Secretary of State Rex bearing the Trump brand name. best option then? And perhaps more Tillerson was the former Exxon Mobil This exposure attracted a number importantly, how does advocacy of chief executive. It made a fortune of licensing agreements to use a particular relationship with Europe exploiting Iraqi oil. Despite having the Trump logo on leisurewear, build support for the proposition of internal data on the catastrophic perfumes and furniture. The Trump effects of climate change, it ran a independence in the first place? Two brand quickly became a super-brand disinformation campaign claiming broad options would be on the table, thanks to this exposure. Trump it was all junk science. Patrick join EFTA or join the EU. Riddoch realised he could make more money Shanahan, a top Boeing executive, notes the changing attitudes towards from licensing the Trump super- the latter from the Euro body politic was appointed as Deputy Defence brand name to other developers Secretary. At least 15 officials with with Scotland now seen as the good than he could from owning the guys and independence no longer financial ties to the defence industry real estate himself. For example he are on the Trump team just as the the bogeyman it was when partners received over $50m for licensing the were anxious not to upset Britain. homeland security budget is being Trump name for an hotel project in boosted. Five former Goldman Sachs If you didn’t know it before, Panama for no outlay. Every single executives have important roles in however, the main point here is the minute he is President, his super- the Trump administration. Steve variety of bespoke arrangements brand value increases with over 150 Munchin is Treasury Secretary and that individual countries can trademark applications pending in James Donovan is his deputy. Gary achieve in relationships with the 36 countries. His daughter, Ivanka, Cohn is Director of the White House gang of European nations, and who has brand interests in clothing Economic Council, Dina Powell is the willingness of the continental and jewellery, gets a boost as well. White House senior counselor for institutions to embrace them. It economic initiatives, and Jay Clayton might even, as Riddoch concludes, heads the Securities and Exchange be well possible for Scotland to Commission. These appointments have its own relationship with the were all made after the Justice EU, Scandinavia and Britain which Department fined Goldman Sachs no-one has yet charted – a dash of $5bn for malpractices in the sub- haggis on the Smorgasbord indeed. prime mortgage scandal. Vice Tommy Sheppard is the (SNP) MP for President Mike Pence was Chairman Edinburgh East of the Republican Study Committee tasked to deal with the aftermath of Naomi Klein, No is Not Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. It designated the whole area as a tax Enough: defeating the free enterprise zone and $40bn was Trump realised that election Allen cut from the federal food stamp, new shock politics, campaigns were a form of reality Lane, £12.99, pp288, 0241320887 medicaid, and student loan budget television where the best contestant to pay the private contractors Reviewed by Colin Darroch (not necessarily the best candidate) carrying out reinstatement work. would win. The Trump Show is now Naomi Klein has produced a useful Now Trump, Pence, and their pals broadcasting live from the Oval analysis of Donald Trump’s domestic can apply their shock doctrine Office. His blueprint is the battle shock doctrine - where the goal is throughout the USA. plan of Paul Bremer appointed by an all-out war on the public interest Klein maintains that it is not enough George W Bush to lead the Coalition and the transfer of even more to just say No to Trump and she is Provisional Authority following the power to the super rich 1% and a signatory to the Leap Manifesto 2003 invasion of Iraq. From within their corporations. Within hours of which can be downloaded from: the highly protected Green Zone, taking office, Trump announced his Bremer issued decree after decree https://leapmanifesto.org/ intention to slash corporate tax rates transforming Iraq into a free market wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ from 35% to 15% and corporate economy with a 15% tax rate. State Manifesto-en.pdf regulations by 75%. owned assets were sold off to US Colin Darroch is a former Glasgow The Donald became a national figure corporations and billions of dollars District councilor 26 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Charles Stross, Empire who has to cope with conflicting home?’, past events are gleaned loyalties and uncertainties about as a narrative about a young man Games, who are, to use Trump’s delicate returning home from London Tor Books, £7.99, pp331, phrasing, the ‘bad dudes’: the adeptly unfolds. Happiness is a step 0765337568 government who entrap her in Time too far for the central character but the concluding paragraphs are Reviewed by Sean Sheehan Line One or the people of Time Line Three who just might be offering a so finely nuanced as to leave you For devotees of science fiction, democratic alternative. There is the feeling something worthwhile has the publication of another novel usual pseudo-scientific babble that been attained. by long-term Edinburgh resident, characterises much science fiction Charles Stross, is welcome news and – tales of dimensional parameters, Empire Games will not disappoint. It Q-machines and the like – but the is the first part of a projected trilogy basics are easy to follow. and while it builds on his earlier Merchant Princes series, it is a novel Empire Games is a good read and that stands in its own right. Anyone an enjoyable way of passing the reading him for the first time will time on a train or plane journey. have no difficulty getting into the Science fiction addicts will devour it groove but tighten your seatbelts for but I suspect that this kind of fiction a tale that shifts between different is formulaic. But Charles Stross is time lines and alternate histories. hugely popular and is tapping into a need for fantasy adventures. Read at your peril for it may turn you into the kind of geek who will anxiously The final story, ‘And turn the water’, wait for the second part of the tells of a heartbroken couple trying trilogy that is due out in January to cope with a terrible loss. The prose 2018. is pared but precise and becomes a parable about losing faith in the Carl MacDougall, possibility of there being a God but finding a splintered redemption that Someone Always Robs comes from the struggle to go on the Poor, living responsibly and acknowledging Freight Books, £9.99, pp176, the sufferings of others. 1911332139 James Joyce described his short In Time Line One, history diverged Reviewed by Sean Sheehan stories as a chapter on the moral from our own some two millennia history of his country and McDougall ago and was home to a group of Carl MacDougall’s return to short is doing something similar here. world-walkers who could travel stories, after an absence of ten Both writers share insights into and profit by transiting into Time years, will bring little cheer for stupidities of male egos and the title Line Two which is basically our readers who need a feel-good shot story of this collection, ‘Someone world up until 2003. A major to mitigate the harshness of life; the always robs the poor’, illuminates event then changed its history but fiction is too close to non-fiction for the theme as the reader pieces readers will find it uncomfortably comfort. Tales of lost aspirations, together the grim tribulations of a familiar – an intrusive surveillance broken dreams, relationships resourceful woman who leaves pre- state we’re all travelling towards gone awry, dysfunctional families, EU Poland with her husband in the at the speed of light – even if its bereavement, alcoholism – all the hope of a better life in America. She Department of Homeland Security messiness that warps the soul ends up as an illegal immigrant in is kept busy intercepting world- and oppress the characters who Scotland, her experiences narrated walkers rather than denying visas struggle, and sometimes fail, to keep by her daughter, and she comes to to ordinary travelers. In Time Line themselves together. embody the unrecognised heroism Three, England was invaded by the But there are the cracks in that is needed to overcome the French in 1760 and republicans everything where, Leonard Cohen slings and arrows of misfortune that are now governing a democratic bleakly assures us, the light gets in come at those who least deserve it. Commonwealth. and some photons of hopefulness Sean Sheehan is author of ‘Žiżek: A The pacey plot mixes science frame the beginning and the end Guide for the Perplexed’ (Continuum, fiction with espionage and politics. of this collection. In the opening 2012) and a forthcoming guide to Its heroine is a likeable character story, ‘Is this the place you now call Herodotus’ Histories. 27 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 Mark Lyon, The Battle at Grangemouth is the author of their members. this book. Lyon is now an industrial The Ineos treatment of Lyon, of Grangemouth: a organiser of the International Stevie Deans, who was Lyon’s worker’s story, Lawrence Transport Workers’ Federation. predecessor as plant convenor, and & Wishart, 2017, 9781912064007, Lyon grew up in Grangemouth other workplace stewards, was pp240, £12.99 and was a long-term employee on deeply repugnant. It was also highly Reviewed by Jim Phillips the site, starting there for the first personal. Lyon’s emphasis on the time in 1980. Various criticisms misbehaviour of Ratcliffe and others rangemouth of the book have been made and might be a little repetitious, but it and its are mainly exaggerated or frankly reflects his everyday experience. large petro- G unwarranted. There was a Battle at These were the individuals who chemicals complex Grangemouth. Lyon’s book makes it made his working life a daily misery; was the scene of clear that historically this was fought their actions were unpredictable, a major political on several fronts, and over at least even volatile, and resulted in severe and industrial crisis a decade prior to the crisis in 2013. downward pressure on the working in October 2013. Unions seeking accommodation conditions and living standards Ineos, the Swiss- with employers, to protect jobs in of Grangemouth employees. The headquartered periods of economic uncertainty, personalised nature of the account owner and are behaving pragmatically. from this perspective is one of the employer, Acknowledging the realistic balance book’s strengths. Lyon grew up in the threatened of forces on a battlefield, and community and began work at the the immediate seeking to retreat, is not tantamount site when Grangemouth was owned closure of the entire to surrender. Nor is it an acceptance by British Petroleum. From the 1950s site, with the loss of just under one that the interests of management until the Thatcher privatisations thousand directly-employed workers and workers are synonymous. The of the 1980s BP operated with a and upwards of 2,000 contract battle in any case was a struggle for large degree of UK government workers. Ineos claimed that the public policy and resources as well involvement, hovering around 50 per site’s already weak economic and as worker rights. Like many other cent of share ownership. In these productive position was being made buccaneering free enterprises, Ineos decades BP was a good employer in impossible by unacceptably high has no apparent compunction about Grangemouth, with a broad sense labour costs. Under enormously taking public subsidy in a number of of community responsibility and heavy pressure, the workforce and forms: government grants and loans, social obligation. More than 5,000 Unite, the largest union on the or loans from banks supported by workers were employed full-time. site, accepted a highly unpalatable public money since 2008, or in kind, There were few if any contract cocktail of employer ‘takebacks’, the through tax relief and other benefits. workers. The company built, owned most important elements of which Lyon’s account shows how the and maintained housing, a social were the end of a final salary pension company made functional business club and other facilities. Lyon writes scheme, a three year pay freeze, and use of the union-Labour party movingly about this secure and eroded redundancy terms. Ineos then link to secure these public goods. confident industrial community. victimised Unite’s local leadership: Union stewards and officials were There is humour too, in the stories of the established rights of workplace routinely asked by Ineos to mobilise the women and men who built this representatives were summarily Labour MPs and MSPs to lobby UK community, with optimism, resilience withdrawn, including office space and Scottish governments for policy and love. The moral economy theme and paid time for union business; and initiatives that would benefit the comes to mind once more: workers key stewards were dismissed from firm or the petro-chemicals industry in Grangemouth and Falkirk came employment on a variety of fairly more broadly. Thinking about this in to regard the site’s facilities and transparent pretexts, one of which moral economy terms, in accepting jobs as community resources and related to the Falkirk Labour Party’s these public goods the firm acquired not the property of the firm. The selection process for a Westminster social obligations which its behaviour sense of loss articulated by Lyon in candidate to succeed Eric Joyce, who in threatening plant closure in 2013 assessing the abandonment of these in 2012 announced his decision not plainly transgressed. What is equally resources by Ineos is keen. Some of to contest the next general election. transparent is the hypocrisy of Ineos Lyon’s critics claim that he makes too This element of the controversy was managers in harassing and then much of the distance between BP emphasised by the firm in advance victimising the union representatives and Ineos, which acquired the site in of the October 2013 crisis as well as who in good faith had sought to help 2005, but there is evidently a moral exploited in its aftermath. the company, in order to defend and qualitative chasm between the A former workplace representative the employment and incomes of employment and business cultures of 28 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 these two highly-distinct enterprises the Panama Paper revelations that the degradation of both their as well as the contrasting political David Cameron had profited from democratic processes and their economies of the 1970s and 2010s. an offshore trust set up by his father identity as nation states’. required significant political repair. Dr Jim Phillips works at the University Unfortunately for those ‘I obviously can’t point to every bit of Glasgow. A longer version of this disenfranchised by tax havens, the of money,’ he said in an interview to review appears in the 2017 annual battle against financial secrecy is ITV, ‘and dad’s not around for me to volume, Scottish Labour History. one in which the business world has ask the questions now’. Setting aside a considerable advantage. Quoting the moral difficulties involved in the Richard Murphy, Dirty the UK’s House of Commons Public then PM profiting from an offshore Accounts Committee, Murphy notes Secrets: How Tax Havens trust, Cameron’s confession that he that of the big accounting firms that was unable to track all his father’s Destroy the Economy, were operating in the UK in 2013, Verso, £12.99, 9781786631671 investments should not be viewed the top four alone employed nearly merely as a political convenience Reviewed by Robin Jones 9,000 people to provide tax advice to but, rather, as a simple statement of companies and wealthy individuals. arlier this year, Jeremy Corbyn fact. As Richard Murphy points out Much of this work was, naturally, released the following statement in his book Dirty Secrets: How Tax aimed at minimising tax paid. regarding his personal finances: Havens Destroy the Economy, it is E Particularly telling is the example ‘I am publishing the detail of my tax precisely this opacity that makes tax Murphy gives of transfer specialists: return here, on my constituency havens attractive. 250 employed by the big four website. I have made it clear that Quoting the Tax Justice Network’s compared to 65 working for HMRC: I think it is right for party leaders submission to a House of Commons ‘[T]he number of transfer pricing to be open and transparent about Select Committee in 2008, Murphy specialist employed by the HMRC their tax arrangements. As you can points out that ‘secrecy is key to has increased since (2013), but the see, my total income for 2015-16 most tax haven operations. Without odds remain stacked in favour of the was £114,342 and I paid £35,298 in it many of those using tax haven companies undertaking the trades.’ tax’. His tax return was subject to structures would not do so.’ One considerable media scrutiny – the There is little evidence that the odds reason for this, as David Cameron question of his £21,192 leadership are going to sway away from the discovered, is the damage that pay being classified as ‘benefits’ was corporations any time soon, though discovery does to reputations. ‘It particularly confusing to his critics. Murphy proposes a number of is very hard,’ Murphy notes, ‘for Others were less cynical: here was a ways in which those odds could be anyone using a tax haven to be tax frank and honest attempt to pay the improved: public country-by-country compliant.’ correct taxes, to disclose that which reporting is one, full registers of was earned, and to promote financial This lack of compliance has a beneficial ownership of companies transparency in the process. significant cost, and nowhere is that and trusts is another. In other words, cost felt more keenly than in the before we can collect tax we must Corbyn is, of course, not the first developing world. Murphy quotes a first collect reliable information. It is a politician to release his tax returns. 2008 report undertaken by Christian persuasive argument, for as Thomas During her leadership campaign Aid that suggested ‘corporate tax Piketty showed in his Capital in the in 2016, Theresa May did likewise, losses to the developing world 21st Century, ‘truly democratic debate stating: ‘It is clearly important for all might be as much as $160 billion cannot proceed without reliable leadership candidates to be open and a year, which was somewhat more statistics’. transparent about their tax affairs. than the combined aid budgets I was very happy to publish mine Robin Jones lives in Paris where he of the whole rich world.’ One today, and hope others will follow works as an predictable consequence of such English teacher. suit’. Her statement and actions then losses is continuing aid dependency. were laudable. It is to her discredit His fiction, For developing countries: ‘[t] articles and that she failed to publish her tax his dependency removes their returns again this year. reviews have autonomy, leaving them exposed to appeared in Media and public interest in the the political will of other countries. the Edinburgh tax arrangements of our political At the same time, it denies their Review, Gutter, leaders is a familiar story, though it elective representatives some Jacobin, the is no less important for its familiarity. of the real choices that would Dark Mountain Donald Trump’s refusal to publish be available if such aid funding Project and his tax affairs dogged him during could be eliminated and replaced Huffington the election campaign and dogs him by taxes. The cost of tax havens Post. still. Here in Britain, in April of 2016, to these places is thus seen in 29 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 VLADIMIR McTAVISH’S Kick up the Tabloids

eptember has always signalled forty characters. Expect it to read The silly season in Scotland officially to me a return to normality from along these lines: ‘North Korea are ended a day or so early, at the end Sthe madness of midsummer. so so SAD. We bomb these BAD BAD of August when there was some For the past twenty-odd years, it has guys now. So long folks’. This should genuine news to report, namely the marked the end of the Edinburgh be accompanied by any vaguely resignation of Kezia Dugdale as leader Fringe, and the return to a life of appropriate emojis, although Trump of Scottish Labour. I, for one, will gigging on the road, and living out of does not appear to have discovered miss her enormously. Not because a suitcase. By the way, the surprise these icons yet. This is bizarre as he she did much to enhance political hit of Edinburgh 2017 was Fat Eck’s himself resembles the emoji for a dialogue in this country, but because chat show ‘Alex Salmond Unleashed’, steaming pile of shit. I write jokes for a living and she was which was a strange title. Can anyone quite frequently pure comedy gold. recall a time when Alex Salmond Trump managed to take time out Fair enough, she was not quite such could ever be described as ‘leashed’? from his demanding schedule of a gift to satirists as her predecessor, staring at the sun and posting rubbish Jim Murphy. However, he had set the September in politics also marks the on social media to visit Houston, bar for pantomime buffoonery so official end of the ‘silly season’. For Texas, to witness first-hand the ridiculously high, it is highly unlikely much of July and August, there is devastation left by Hurricane Harvey. that any of his achievements will ever traditionally no news of any note. No doubt he took the opportunity, be bettered. He was like the Usain That seems to have changed in 2017. as he surveyed the rising waters Bolt of gaffs and embarrassing photo OK, there were such silly season caused by such unseasonal severe opportunities. stories as the President of the USA weather, to deny that climate change Kezia, despite her keen school prefect staring at the sun without wearing is actually happening. demeanour did prove a worthy shades, against all medical advice. The silly season does, of course, exist successor, but I am once again Indeed, Fox News claimed this for a reason. It gives us the chance to conscious of the time delay between to be the most impressive feat reflect on the serious stuff that has me writing this and you reading it. of any US President in history. I happened over the previous ten or She may well have changed her mind suppose Washington’s delivery eleven months. In Scotland this year, by the time this article is actually in of independence and Lincoln’s it gives us the opportunity to get print. Having changed her mind on emancipation of the slaves do pale over the shock of suddenly living in both Trident and Indyref 2, she has into insignificance when compared to a country that now has thirteen Tory changed her mind so often on Jeremy a luminous ball of gas being staring MPs. Many of us still cannot believe Corbyn that no-one is ever able to down by another luminous ball of keep up-to-date on whether she gas. His place on Mount Rushmore it. Who knew there so many angry supports him or not. is now surely guaranteed, doubtless Rangers fans out there? staring straight into the sun. This year’s silly season also gives By the time you read this, she may well have decided she wants to be However, very seldom can the everyone in Britain a chance to take the next leader of Scottish Labour, silly season’s headlines have been in the truly appalling prospect of a jumped ship to the Tories or joined concerned with an imminent nuclear Conservative government propped the SNP. In fact, it’s highly possible war. There is a slight time gap up by the DUP. During the Fringe, I she could have done all three. Or between the writing of this column frequently had to explain the DUP to launched herself into a new career and its eventual publication, so Americans in my audience. I found as a chat show host. Kezia Dugdale hopefully any readers of the Scottish the easiest shorthand was to say that Unleashed? Now there’s three words Left Reviewin Japan or the South they make Donald Trump look left- that really don’t go together. Pacific are still able to read this and wing. Vladimir McTavish will be performing find it amusing. Indeed, hopefully Trump and the DUP do have a his 2017 Edinburgh Fringe show they are still able to read it full stop. lot in common. Both of them are ‘Scotland ‘The State Of The Nation’ at orange, and neither of them believe I guess if World War Three is to be The Aberdeen Comedy Festival on 7 in climate change. The DUP go declared any time soon, it will not Saturday October. be done in the manner of Neville further in also refusing to believe in Chamberlain’s doom-laden, sombre evolution. It has to be said, of course, radio announcement but in a tweet that many of their members do make of no more than one-hundred and a compelling case for that argument. 30 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 ASLEF CALLS FOR AN INTEGRATED, PUBLICLY OWNED, ACCOUNTABLE RAILWAY FOR SCOTLAND (which used to be the SNP’s position – before they became the government!)

Mick Whelan Tosh McDonald Kevin Lindsay General Secretary President Scottish O cer ASLEF the train drivers union- www.aslef.org.uk

FBU Scotland congratulates Scottish Left Review on making it to its 100th edition and is proud to continue its support for the magazine as the premier journal of progressive politics in Scotland

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31 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017 32 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 101 September/October 2017