ScottishLeft Review Issue 113 September/October 2019 - £2.00 'best re(a)d' 'best 1 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 113 September/October 2019 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 Ocer ASLEF the train drivers union- www.aslef.org.uk STUC 2018_Layout 1 09/01/2019 10:04 Page 1 Britain’s specialist transport union Campaigning for workers in the rail, maritime, offshore/energy, bus and road freight sectors NATIONALISE SCOTRAIL www.rmt.org.uk 2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 113 September/OctoberGeneral 2019Secretary: Mick Cash President: Michelle Rodgers feedback comment Like many others, Scottish Left Review is outraged at the attack on democracy represented by prorogation and condemns this extended suspension of Parliament to allow for a no-deal Brexit to be forced through without any parliamentary scrutiny or the opportunity for parliamentary opposition. Scottish Left Review supports initiatives to mobilise citizens outside of Parliament to confront this anti-democratic outrage. We call on all opposition MPs and Tory MPs who believe in parliamentary democracy to join together to defeat this outrage. All the articles in this issue (bar Kick up the Tabloids) were written before reviewsthe prorogation on 28 August 2019. t has long been a shibboleth on the Who will benefit from Brexit? of contradictions. This is certainly true radical left, following from Marx and as Boris seems to be prepared to engage In the lead article in this issue, George Engels, that politics in the last instance in Keynesian-style reflation to try to aid I Kerevan explains this perplexing situation bends to the will of economics. This him in a general election and prevent any because he examines the fractions – is because capitalism – the system we economic meltdown following Brexit. maybe factions - of capital that exist at have lived under for over 150 years – is Pragmatism of both an economic and the moment. Those that will economically a fundamentally about pursuit of profit. political sort then? In the grand scheme benefit from EU withdrawal are what he Politics is merely an expression of this of things, Johnson is a neo-liberal but his calls the ‘Del boy’ capitalists - the Aaron and there to facilitate it. And yet, it seems is also an opportunist. He has not been a Banks, James Dysons and Tim Martins of politics is trumping – no pun intended longstanding ardent ‘leaver’. He is a more this world - and they are bankrolling the – economics at the moment. We have a recent convert. What particular political political reactionaries who believe in a now dominant political faction of the Tory capital he has - compared to Theresa particularly virulent form of British (maybe party intent upon delivering a ‘hard’ Brexit May - is that he would have a better just English) nationalism. Together, they – actual or via a ‘no deal’ – in order to chance of selling to the Brexiteers a deal have created a new form of right-wing deliver upon its long-held goal of regaining that she couldn’t - being one that falls populism. They seek to have a ‘people much British political sovereignty from the short of their maximum programme. He versus the politicians’ general election to EU. And yet the major representatives of sees himself as a disruptor for a super- either bring about their preferred type capital, like the CBI, vehemently oppose charged neo-liberal project. His bombastic, of Brexit or cement it after it the deed is this. Even if a new found economic nirvana bumbling buffoonery is but a cover for this done. Those on the left that supported is to be gained, there will be a lot of dark project which includes bringing in – and still support - withdrawal need to pain and disruption before it is arrived more private companies to deliver public wake up to the manifest reality of this at. So, how to explain this conundrum? services and deregulating the workplace. intention. Are Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg etc It is the new form of right-wing populism ‘anti-capitalists’ – even of a reactionary Returning to the radical left (and Karl which under cuts the Brexit party in order nature? Or, are they the representatives of and Frederich), another shibboleth is to bolster the Tories. In this issue, Peter a particular fraction of the capitalist class? that capitalism – and its politics – is full Lynch lays out the personnel resources Johnson is now calling upon to bring this ScottishLeftReview Issue 113 September/October 2019 project to fruition, showing that it is about Editorial comment .................................................................................................................................... 3 much more than just Brexit. All this shows Feedback: Fascism and the far-right Bob Fotheringham .........................................................................4 Brexit and the rise of the ‘Del boy’ ruling class George Kerevan .............................................................5 that this August has not been the normal The revolution of radical reactionaries? Peter Lynch .............................................................................. 7 ‘silly season’ where formal politics takes a Independence via Brexit break up? Chris Stephens ................................................................................ 8 break and newspapers chase inane stories Labour’s political prowess – powerful progress in prospect! Stephen Low .............................................9 to fill their front pages in order to make up Threats but also opportunities – the Brexit bouncing bomb in Wales Leanne Woods ..........................10 Backstop, borders and Brexit Gerry Carroll ........................................................................................... 11 for the shortfall in ‘hard’ news. A charter for workers’ rights in Scotland: developing devolution .........................................................12 ‘New’ SNP but same old party lessons? Kenny MacAskill .....................................................................13 The other sides of the on-gong crisis The Scottish Government doesn’t care about poor people Robbie McLaughlan ..................................15 in politics in Britain, of course, involve Drug-related deaths: communities come together Angela McCormack ...............................................17 Labour, LibDems and the SNP. New Unions support ‘Skolstrejk for Klimatet’ Stephen Smellie .....................................................................18 Time is tight: revolting against extinction Dylan Hamilton ....................................................................19 LibDem leader, Jo Swinson, does not to NHS wholly-owned subsidiaries – differences between Scotland & England Jackie Williams ...............20 care that she seems to have overplayed Making hi-tech a rule for revolutionaries Linda Somerville ...................................................................21 her hand by saying that the official Reuniting the left in Scotland John Dennis ............................................................................................ 22 leader of the opposition does not have ‘Old’ history for ‘new’ times – the Scottish Labour History journal Ian Gasse ......................................23 Iranian uranium – Peter Lomas .............................................................................................................. 24 first call on being the caretaker prime Elie of the mind: private schools and social closure Chris Holligan .......................................................25 minister if Johnson and his government Film/book reviews .................................................................................................................................. 27 lose a motion of confidence, prorogue Vladimir McTavish’s Kick up the Tabloids .............................................................................................. 31 parliament or suffer a major legislative 3 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 113 September/October 2019 setback (like the revoking of Article term hit and then move on to campaigning in Edinburgh. It’s been another torrid time 50). She’s been rather illiberal and on that position instead of ever grudgingly for Scottish Labour, especially on the issue undemocratic in doing so – but this changing on shifting sands. Polling wise, of independence. Asked many questions is because she’s putting her party’s Labour has gone from being quite well in an interview during the Edinburgh interest first and foremost. In terms of ahead to quite well behind on account of festival, John McDonnell responded MPs, the LibDems are so far back from the Boris bounce. But how long will that to one by saying Labour Westminster the ‘I agree with Nick (Clegg)’ times of last? And, there are dangers for Labour if government would not reject a request 2010 – because of their backsliding on it seeks to lead a government of national from the Scottish Parliament for a Section student fees and the like – that they are unity. Political unity is not possible at the 30 order to allow another referendum. prepared to do anything and everything moment. Class unity is not desirable at any Corbyn repeated this – again adding that in order to help turn their new found time. For example, who would be in the Labour would campaign for a ‘no’ vote. Yet popularity into more MPs. We should,