ScottishLeft Review Issue 115 January/February 2020 - £2.00 'best re(a)d'

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comment Regroup and resist – but how?

ell, the polls were stunningly the editorial for the September/October class. The fly in the ointment was that accurate so we well and truly 2019 issue of Scottish Left Review said: Labour left activists thought it would be had our ‘Friday the thirteenth’. the vote winner and forgot at the same W Meantime, Labour continues to get a Welcome, readers, subscribers and time that the credibility of the overall ‘sore arse’ by sitting as many different supporters then to an unhappy New message – ‘real change … for the many ways as possible on the Brexit fence. Year. We’ll all need 2020 vision to get not the few’ - contained in the manifesto It’s understandable given the split over through this year and the next ones was dependent upon things other than Brexit amongst its core supporters. because it’s all too glib to say all we reviewsthe manifesto itself (like Corbyn). But it would have been far better to need to do is just resist and rebel. For have declared a crystal-clear position This brings us to the situation in a start, that doesn’t take account of – whatever that may have been – take Scotland. But before getting there, some the difficulties in doing so before 12 the inevitable, short-term hit and then perspective is needed. The Tories won December 2019 – like the sabotage of move on to campaigning on that position 365 seats (+47) with just under 14m the Labour right, the timidity of the instead of ever grudgingly changing on votes (43.6%, +1.2%) while Labour won SNP leadership, the division over Brexit, shifting sands. 203 (-59) with just 10m votes (32.1%, falling union membership and the like. -7.9%). This may suggest the result was And after 12 December 2019, the hold Labour’s final position on Brexit took that rather more a Labour defeat than a of many of these forces will be all the to the nth degree. Polling analyst firm, Tory victory. And, though Labour won stronger. Plus, there’s the demoralisation Datapraxis, calculated that a maximum 2.5m less votes than in 2017, it wasn’t of those who campaigned for a Labour of 0.8m Labour voters switched to the the worst result since 1935 as the government – given that many saw the Tories, while the Lib Dems gained at mainstream media like to say because manifesto as seeking to deliver socialism- least 1.1 million votes from Labour, the that only looks at the parliamentary and the divisions amongst the working Greens 339,000 and the SNP a quarter of arithmetic. In their time, Blair, Brown, class with many having voted Tory for a million. Miliband and Kinnock fought elections the first time. Then there’s the issue of Corbyn where Labour won fewer votes. Let’s start with one unpalatable truth himself. Whilst we must not forget that This again highlights the thoroughly which only hindsight can now really it is wholly unhealthy in any type of reprehensible nature of our first-past- verify. The election was won by the Tories democracy to so heavily have the fate of the-post voting system and the virtues of long before the election was called. a political party tied to the fate of their proportional representation. According to the polls, it was in August leader – and which forces in our political So, Scotland was an unmitigated disaster just after Johnson was elected Tory culture are responsible for this, Corbyn for Labour with only one of the most leader. What this signifies is that issues did not measure up. Before the election right-wing of Labour MPs being the like how Brexit, anti-Semitism, media – like over the dispatch box at PMQs (sole) one to be returned. Although far scrutiny and so on had taken their toll on – he so often failed to hit the target or from the only factor contributing to this Labour long before the 29 October when land a killer blow. In the election itself, near wipe-out, it’s hard to understand the election was called. There was only he looked tired and lacklustre. His rage the stupid tribalism inherent in politics the smallest amount of regaining ground seemed somewhat unconvincing. Of in Scotland that stopped Labour from by Labour in the face of a twin juggernaut course, it didn’t help that the media saying, even opportunistically: ‘We’ll of the Tories and the SNP. mostly gave Johnson a free ride. But it’s support the democratic right to have a also the case that Johnson was fairly Unfortunately, Labour was in so many second referendum on independence. Teflon-like because of the frustration ways the author of its own fate. It But when it comes, we’ll campaign over Brexit and his promise to ‘Get Brexit didn’t recognise that its 2017 campaign against independence.’ Ironically, that is Done’. couldn’t simply be replicated for 2019. the position of the Scottish Labour left Sure, Labour led by Corbyn could be All this is such a pity because Labour’s allies, the Communist Party. Instead, expected to have come under fierce manifesto was genuinely radical and what we had was Richard Leonard’s attack. That should have been taken progressive. It wasn’t socialist and more hard-line opposition to a second as read, prepared for and batted off. couldn’t deliver socialism per se as referendum than that of Corbyn and Even during the election campaign, the many supporters insisted. Recall the McDonnell. This does not sit well with attacks for (wrongly) being anti-Semitic unfortunate use of the ‘A Britain that Scottish Labour’s support for the Claim of could have been prepared for. Only the works for all’ phrase. But it could have Rights. Only now are some senior voices charge of being anti-Semitic was new in made a massive and positive difference in Scottish Labour – like Neil Findlay and any sense - albeit from 2016. On Brexit, to the material conditions of the working Monica Lennon – as well as hundreds 2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 of left activists via Scottish Labour for We’ll get some sense of this from the it will not countenance an unofficial Radical Democracy breaking cover to elections for leader and deputy-leader referendum or extra-parliamentary say that. Instead, Scottish Labour policy positions fairly soon. How will Johnson’s action. What difference will Scottish in the election was not support for a professed ‘one nation’ Toryism fair Labour’s new – yet to be defined - second referendum unless the SNP won under the tensions between free traders constitutional offer have on its level of a mandate for it in the 2021 Holyrood and protectionists, liberals and social support? elections. If it holds to that line in any conservatives and ‘true blue’ southern We asked these and many other discernible way, then it will easily gift shires and ‘blue collar’ northern Britain questions based around a ‘what the SNP that policy commitment (and to within the Tories? happened?’ and ‘what do we do now?’ the exclusion of growing discontent over In Scotland, most immediately we need perspective to a range of left activists the SNP Scottish Government’s handling to think about the Alex Salmond trial of health, education and transport). and commentators. We hope that out which begins on 9 March. Whatever the Scottish Labour will likely face another of this some consensus may begin to outcome, the SNP will be damaged as wipe-out in those 2021 elections emerge and then out of that consensus Salmond is pitted against Sturgeon. But some action may be taken because in the That the SNP won (effectively) 48 seats who will be the beneficiary and what battles ahead, words will only be worth given the situation in Kirkcaldy and will it do for support for independence? anything if they result in effective action. Cowdenbeath is all the more significant Further ahead, is the third in a row In this regard, some have mentioned when one considers its manifesto was (2015, 2017, 2019) win for the SNP ‘getting the [non-Tory cross-party] thin and based upon fairly explicit at Westminster the beginning of a band back together’ of in the form of a support for independence and stopping permanent trend for it? Will the results Constitutional Convention from 1989 or Brexit. But, again, some perspective is of the Holyrood elections in 2021 a Scotland United from 1992. Recalling needed as this was not quite the re-run cement this in the run-up to the 2024 both these phenomena, it seems of 2015 when the SNP won 56 of the Westminster election? Most would apparent that the mass mobilisations of 59 seats. The Tories still have six seats expect a Tory Westminster government Scotland United will be necessary but albeit it down from 13 in 2017 and are to be a great recruiting sergeant for the they will only become sufficient when now confined to the Borders and the SNP and the cause of independence part and parcel of a wider programme of north-east. The lack of a surge from the (especially as a left unionist project is in political change. LibDems was epitomised by Jo Swinson decline or on the defensive now). But, • losing her seat. The extent of the SNP Although this ‘thanks’ should have gone probably, the most strategic dilemma in the last issue of 2019, the editorial victory is better measured by recognising for the SNP is that having won so committee of the magazine wish to that from 2017 to 2019, the party’s handsomely again, how will it not look publicly record their gratitude to all share of the vote went up from 37% to impotent and adrift when a Section 30 those involved the in the production and 45%, with the Tories falling from 29% Order is again rejected? How long can it publication of Scottish Left Review – the to 25% and Labour sliding from 27% to dial up the rhetoric without seeming like proofers, the readers, the cover designer, the typesetter, the web uploader, the 19%. The results of the 2015 election wearing the emperor’s new clothes? Will for vote share were 50%, 15% and 24% printers, the subscriptions manager and it manage well this tension in the run up the like. So much of this labour is voluntary respectively. to the Holyrood elections in May 2021? that without it Scottish Left Review simply The seeds of Labour’s defeat on Brexit, This is where it is likely to be because would not be able to keep going. it seems, were also sown many years earlier. The legacy of Blairism and ‘new’ Labour still reverberates for many in the ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 north and north east of England. Feelings Editorial comment: Regroup and resist – but how? ...... 2 of being the victims of globalisation led Battered, bloodied and bruised: down but not out, Richard Leonard says when the people speak, political parties must listen ...... 4 many working-class people to vote for Where and what now for the Scottish left? .Kenny MacAskill offers suggestions on how to build a united a lying Tory toff despite a radical Labour anti-Tory, democratic alliance...... 5 manifesto. It seemed as if class hatred Independence, yes, but for whom and from what? Grahame Smith says resolving constitutional matters had evaporated. So, the ‘blue tide’ can unlock social and economic progress ...... 6 breached the ‘red wall’. But with Brexit Towards a constitutional crisis: Scotland and Britain after the general election Michael Keating says being done – in as much as Britain will choppy waters lie ahead for both defending and defeating the union ...... 7 leave the EU on 31 January 2020 – and Against the lie machines – Labour and anti-semitism Mike Cowley reviews ‘Bad News for Labour: Corbyn no longer leader by March, will Antisemitism, the Party and Public Belief’ ...... 8 the Tories retain this support? Will they Responses to #GE2019: Chris Stephens, Neil Findlay, George Kerevan, Bryan Quinn, Siobhan McCready, become the workers’ party and people’s Gavin Lundy, Jim Sillars, Stella Rooney, Róisín McLaren, Maggie Chetty, Vince Mills, Secretary, Morgan government as they say they are? Horn, Myshele Haywood ...... 9 COP25 ignores demands for climate justice Mary Church ...... 16 Let’s now look at the future. Did too Chileans want to ‘smoke opium’ and so much more Oscar Mendoza ...... 17 many of the left put too many of their Microphones, megaphones and class Albert Brenchat Aguilar ...... 19 eggs in Labour’s basket and not sensibly Why our peace movement must be intersectional Tim Gee ...... 20 anticipate the result (given that polling Surveying the unspoken concepts underpinning higher education Patrick Phillips ...... 22 methodology had been improved ‘The Only Game in Town’ part 2 Campbell Martin ...... 24 Film & book reviews Jackie Bergson, Gordon Morgan, Rory Green, Sean Sheehan, Sandy Hobbs, since 2017)? Will Labour swing to the Colin Fox ...... 25 right, and does the election result Kick up the tabloids Vladimir McTavish ...... 31 mark the end of the Corbyn project? 3 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Battered, bloodied and bruised: down but not out Richard Leonard says when the people speak, political parties must listen he election result was grave for my view that instead of expecting the will be ready to legislate for and Labour. Though we tried to break people of Scotland to come home to implement in government. And, we Tthrough the din of Brexit and Labour, Scottish Labour must come should be prepared to work on this with the issue of a second independence home to them. On the doorstep, it other parties and civic organisations if referendum, we failed. And while we was clear that many voters liked and and where possible. tried to be positive and set out what we supported our manifesto but doubted With Britain’s now imminent departure were for and what a Labour Government whether we could be trusted to from the EU, it means we need an would do, the general tone of the implement it. urgent plan for the devolution and debate was negative. ‘No’ and ‘stop’ Despite repeated insistence by Corbyn, decentralisation of repatriated powers. were the key words dominating the McDonnell and myself that there would Exiting the EU should not bolster the election campaign in Scotland. be no pacts, deals or coalitions with centralised British state. It must mean After the campaign, I looked back. I other parties, there was a false message new powers at a Scottish and local level joined Labour in 1982 which meant that promoted by our opponents. Thus, and be backed with new demands for the first general election I campaigned many swing voters, particularly in parts active regional policy and investment. in, and indeed, voted in, was in the of Glasgow and Lanarkshire where we I do not believe that the answer lies newly created Stirling constituency in won seats, and came closest to winning in the creation of a separate Scottish 1983. It was a harsh experience, not seats in 2017, decided they could have state, with its separate Scottish currency, so much for me as a young student, a Corbyn government and its policies at a neo-liberal economic model with but for the people who had lost their Westminster by voting for the SNP. worker flexicurity, and significant jobs in the local factories which had economic power and control resting been closed because of government outside Scotland. To bring about change economic policy, who were looking for we need democratic representation work and looking for new hope. Harsh and intervention at the level where too, although we did not yet know just economic power lies. how harsh, for the people of the eastern villages: those mining communities to We could decide to create a new the east of Stirling, in the neighbouring political state but withdrawal from Clackmannan constituency, who a Britain would open up a significant year later were to be engaged in a democratic deficit in the economy. I brutal struggle with the government to We will conduct a swift review and think it would be a profound mistake. In defend their jobs, their pits and their one that is evidence based backed this century, we should not be putting community. up both by the best available data, new borders and national boundaries up. We should be bringing them down. I fear that we are in for a repeat, as from the British Election Survey and the failed experiment of austerity and candidate and activist feedback. But By the Scottish Parliament election in an economic policy which is designed more importantly we will undertake an 2021, the SNP will have been in power to serve the interests of the City of outward looking engagement with the for 14 years. Its record on the NHS, London is revived. Labour’s manifesto, people and those communities who public health, education, the economy, if implemented, would have improved share many of Labour’s values and who the funding of local services is coming the lives of millions, from guaranteeing want to see real change, but who no under increased scrutiny. People can see a decent wage, extending employment longer look to Labour to deliver that. No growing evidence of under-resourced rights and union freedoms, to ending one should doubt my determination to and poorly managed services, letting Universal Credit. With its Green learn and, more importantly, implement down pupils, patients, staff and working industrial revolution, Labour was the lessons from this serious defeat, people. however uncomfortable this may be for first party in British political history That is why Labour needs to listen some in Labour. to produce a serious and workable and learn. And it is also we why need plan to tackle climate change. And, It’s clear twenty years on from to start to win again: not for our own there was a clear promise of renewed devolution that the British state sake but for the sake of those people investment in our economy, people and is too centralised. There are huge and communities that need a Labour public services. By way of contrast, we imbalances of power in the economy Scottish Government committed to now face a ‘hard’ Brexit and no chance too. In our manifesto, we promised equality, economic democracy and real whatsoever of the people being given a to set up a Constitutional Convention change. That is the challenge that lies final say on Johnson’s tawdry deal. to decentralise power. Learning the ahead. Nevertheless, voters have sent a strong lessons from the Scottish Constitutional Richard Leonard MSP is leader of the message to Labour and it would be a Convention, we now should establish a Scottish Labour Party grave mistake not to listen. With defeat Constitutional Convention in opposition. must come humility. This is why it is This could develop a blue-print which 4 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Where and what now for the Scottish left? Kenny MacAskill offers suggestions on how to build a united anti-Tory, democratic alliance he elections over and the debacle indyref there must, and will, be. The create unity either behind independence has come to pass. The country signs of change growing within Scottish or just the Scottish people’s right to Tnow faces a Tory Government Labour are promising. However, Labour choose their own future. It can be that the Scottish people loathe and must resolve that issue. The best action the basis to show the world that it’s fear. Parties need time to grieve and that the SNP can take is a self-denying not one party but the people who are to have their celebrations and it’s ordinance to stay out of its debate. By all demanding it. inevitable that there’ll be reflections means wish them well but it’s for Labour That can also be a forum that seeks and even recriminations. But they must to resolve, and name calling is not just to add to, rather than detract from be concluded quickly, carried out with pointless but also poisonous. other activities taking place. Marches dignity and magnanimity and most of all there are going to be and rightly so. there must also be unity on the Left. In any event, the likelihood of a referendum in the short-term is slim. The anger that exists needs led and The SNP must avoid triumphalism. It Indeed, more likely nil. That additional channelled, not simply be allowed should remember ‘what goes around time is no bad thing given the failure to dissipate. That is a key role for the comes around’ as politics is cyclical. And, to have resolved some critical issues left and goes far wider than simply in any event it’s both an electoral turn from 2014 or to have restored the elected representatives. Showing off as well as being entirely counter- campaigning machine that was so continued opposition will be essential productive as a strategy. For Labour, effective back then. Demands for a to maintain morale at home and doing it needs to try and avoid bitterness, second referendum, of course, must still so collectively and harmoniously will be no matter how hard that can be for be made as the irredentist refusal by essential. As with previous campaigns many individuals who gave their all the Tories is a democratic outrage and such as the Poll Tax, it needn’t preclude but have paid a heavy price. Despite individual actions by groups and a the deep divide between the two variety of tactics being used. But large monoliths in Scottish politics, agreement around central tenet there’s much more that unites them of Scottish democracy is essential. than divides them. That’s always That will also provide opportunities been the case and most certainly is to show the level of opposition in now. Scotland to a global audience. Most importantly of all it must be But, in addition, there needs to remembered that the election is be discussions at all levels across behind us and it’s the future that’s the left and within the labour before us. What was said or done and union movement. Both the in the campaign is past and even SNP and the Scottish Government more importantly the positions must be an integral part of that taken in the 2014 independence but equally both of them need referendum are history, if not also to display respect for the role irrelevances. It’s not about scoring and rights of others. Defending debating points against each other the social and civic infrastructure that matters but how we now unite that our foremothers and fathers to protect our people. established for us is our duty, and seeking to have both the powers and the attacks are coming and will be Global warming threatens humanity and timing rest with Holyrood is correct. relentless. Just what the nature of that debates on Brexit and the constitution opposition will be can be discussed but Bringing Scottish elected politicians and will be irrelevant to future generations it’s likely to be wide ranging and across parties together is essential. Whether unless this crisis is resolved. Moreover, multiple fields. Thatcher’s election in 1979 saw an that’s a constitutional convention unprecedented attack upon Scotland’s as before, a convocation of elected So, it’s time for unity. Structures need industry. Nationalised services were parliamentarians from both chambers established and tactics discussed but privatised and older industries were or a wider gathering can be discussed the political sectarianism that has devastated. Now, 40 years on, we face and agreed. It might be best to blighted Scottish politics must end. an attack upon the social infrastructure avoid a political party or the Scottish To paraphrase, now’s the time for all of our country. The welfare state and government hosting it and it’s perhaps good people to come to the aid of the even the NHS are in Johnson’s sights something where the STUC could step in country. whatever pledges he has made. Far from as it’s done before. Kenny MacAskill is the SNP MP for rolling back the gig economy, its likely to Whoever calls it and whoever attends, East Lothian. Previously, he was a SNP morph into something larger and fear it must be held soon. Building on the MSP from 1999 to 2016. He is author and uncertainty will escalate amongst anger that currently exists rather than of ‘Glasgow 1919: The Rise of Red EU nationals who have chosen to make allowing despondency to settle in is Clydeside’ and ‘Jimmy Reid: A Scottish Scotland their home. required. It must address the high-level Political Journey’. Discussion and debate on a second constitutional challenge and seek to 5 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Independence, yes, but for whom and from what? Grahame Smith says resolving constitutional matters can unlock progress on social and economic issues fter such a momentous election of union membership or to pay higher debate has moved on. For the 2014 result, almost everybody will have taxes for better public services and the referendum, the STUC presented a Aan opinion on why it turned out Norwegians not to have a state-owned detailed case for enhanced devolution. as it did. Was it simply a Brexit election? energy company. The ‘Vow’, cooked up by Gordon Brown Was there a Corbyn factor? Was Labour and taken forward through the Smith Blair might have been right when he said too radical and its spending promises Commission, may have contributed to the British public wouldn’t vote for such too unconvincing? Was the demand the ‘no’ outcome but it hasn’t quelled policies. That’s hardly a surprise when, for indyref2 a determining factor in demand for further constitutional for forty years, they have been deemed Scotland? In time, psephology will seek change or support for the SNP (largely at extreme and continually denigrated by a to answer these questions. So soon after Labour’s expense). vocal faction within the party advocating an election, and before such analysis is them. The First Minister has made it clear available, those first out the traps with that she will now push for indyref2 This opinions tend to be either defeated Alongside progressive polices, a further has left Labour in a quandary: it cannot candidates, leadership contenders or victim of the election would appear hold, as it has, the overall election result their supporters, or opportunists keen to be the value placed by voters on gives the Tories a Brexit mandate, and to exploit the situation for their own properly researched evidence or on simultaneously maintain the result in political ends. So, treat what I am about politicians that tell the truth. Either Scotland cannot be viewed as a mandate to say with that in mind. people were so focussed on the demand for indyref2. for Brexit that they simply weren’t I hoped we could have more than a listening or, and considerably more The democratic wishes of the people ‘leave’/’remain’ or ‘yes’/’no’ election. worrying, they heard but simply didn’t of Scotland need to be acknowledged. Alas, there was too much at stake. As care. It also seems significant numbers The Scottish Labour movement unions, our job was to try to ensure prefer a ‘strong man’ Prime Minister should support indyref2. But it should parties focused on the everyday issues than the more collegiate, collaborative also confront the question of what that affect our members and present and less confrontational one Corbyn independence actually means in a progressive programmes that appealed offered. If that view prevails, it will modern geo-political and economic to working people backed by evidence inevitably influence the election of context. and not populist soundbites. If we the next Labour leader and the nature were successful, I was convinced that No country exists independently. of Westminster politics for the next voters would reward those who offered Whether Scotland’s currency is the £, € decade. progressive visions for our society. or its own, the ability of its government Of course, drawing sweeping to act independently will be constrained It appears, in Labour’s English conclusions from the result is a by the nature of its trading relationships heartlands at least, I was spectacularly dangerous game given Britain’s electoral and the strictures of a Central Bank in wrong. Any hope that voters would be system. While the Tories won by a huge either London or Frankfurt. Membership open to considering the wider issues majority in terms of seats, they didn’t of the international community comes at stake simply failed to materialise. win the majority of votes. And, they with obligations to abide by on a wide After years of Brexit-dominated politics, didn’t win in every age group and in range of minimum rights. positive messages on tackling poverty every nation or region. and inequality and the radical polices While the question on the ballot paper required to deal with the climate As in 1987, when the Tories last won may remain: ‘Should Scotland be an emergency, automation of work and such a majority, Scottish voters chose independent country?’, the real question decline in our economic and social a different path. Then Labour won is what powers, or what elements of infrastructure were, it seems, ignored. overwhelmingly. Then as now, voters in Scotland’s sovereignty, are Scottish Scotland, held differing constitutional voters willing to share and with whom? We know, from opinion poll evidence perspectives. Then, but not now, The Labour movement has nothing to commissioned by the TUC, that many Labour had a compelling offer on the fear and much to gain from constructive longstanding union polices included constitution - a devolved Scottish engagement on this. As in 1987, it needs in Labour’s manifesto were popular Parliament. It was an offer that was a compelling offer on the constitutional with the public. Not only that, they well-established and understood to such question, without which it will struggle are considered the norm elsewhere. an extent that Scotland’s constitutional to get the public to respond to the The French would think it odd not future was not the deciding factor in many positive policies it advocates and to have a publicly-owned and run that or the two subsequent elections. constitutional rather than class politics railway. Similarly, the Germans would Voters were open to consider how the will continue to dominate. think it odd not to actively support parties would address their everyday manufacturing, recognise unions’ Grahame Smith is the general secretary issues like health, education and jobs, central role or require companies to of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and they backed Labour. pay fair taxes. The Scandinavians would (STUC) think it strange not to have high levels In the decades since, the constitutional 6 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Towards a constitutional crisis: Scotland and Britain after the general election Michael Keating says choppy waters lie ahead for both defending and defeating the Union nce again, Scotland and England Brexit. Scottish Labour lined up behind Supreme Court to the constitution, have diverged sharply in their a second Brexit referendum but the however, it is difficult to see this Oelectoral choices. Campaigns in electors do not seem to have noticed, succeeding. both countries focused on Brexit but in given Jeremy Corbyn’s vacillation on the This means that the issue will be settled Scotland equal prominence was given to matter. Labour were equally unclear on politically. Nobody wants to be the the prospect of a second referendum on a second independence vote. Prime Minister who lost Scotland or independence. The outcome was a big win for the presided over the dissolution of the In 2014, Scots voted by 55% to remain SNP, which gained 45% of votes and United Kingdom. Public opinion in in the UK after a campaign in which 48 seats, while the Conservatives fell England, however, may be less rigid. both sides shared the wish to stay in to 25%, losing seven of their thirteen Surveys have shown that almost half of the EU. Two years later, Scotland voted seats. The SNP immediately demanded English voters are content to leave the by 62% to remain in the EU. The ‘leave’ an independence referendum for matter to the Scots, with many of the vote in England and Wales, however, 2020. This is unlikely. First, a new rest having no opinion. There appears to meant that Scotland was constitutionally referendum would require longer to be little appetite for coercing Scotland, obliged to follow. The initial response prepare. Second, there is no guarantee should Scotland really want to leave. of the SNP was to suggest a new of victory. Polls in recent months have Polls have even shown a majority of independence referendum in order to shown support for independence at ‘leave’ voters in England prepared to remain in Europe. That gambit backfired around 50%. In contrast to 2016, polls lose both Scotland and Northern Ireland as some 30% of pro-independence have shown a small majority of ‘remain’ if that is the price of Brexit. Around a voters had backed Leave. In fact, in voters supporting independence. It may fifth of English voters would actually like spite of the logic of the SNP argument be that Scots are sorting themselves Scotland to leave Britain. - that Europe makes independence The Johnson Government is now set on easier - most electors had never a hard Brexit, having abandoned the aim made the connection. Analysis by the of harmonising regulations with Europe. British Election Study showed that, It was quick to take worker protection cross-tabulating the ‘yes’/’no’ vote in provisions out of the new withdrawal 2014 and the ‘leave’/’remain’ vote in bill. Instead, its new working-class voters 2016, there was no majority for any are offered mega-investment projects of combination. Nor were most Scots ready the sort that usually end up absorbing for yet a third constitutional referendum huge amounts of cash. City and region after the turbulence of 2014 and 2016. deals, along with the proposed Shared On the back of this, the Scottish Prosperity Fund, will steer headline- into ‘independence’/’remain’ and Conservative made a remarkable, if grabbing sums to Scotland and Wales ‘union’/’leave’ camps but the alignment modest, revival in the 2017 general but which, in the bigger order of things, is far from perfect. election, winning 13 seats out of 59. are small beer. The biggest imbalance in Taken with the Scottish elections of Third, there is the need for the spatial economy, the uncontrolled 2016, this made the Conservatives Westminster’s consent for a growth of London, is unlikely to be Scotland’s second party, overtaking referendum. The Scottish Government restrained. Labour. The basis of their campaign was has made it clear that it has no desire All of this could increase support for simple – no to a second referendum. to follow the Catalan route of a independence but three issues stand in Accusing the SNP of being obsessed unilateral referendum. The Westminster the way. With Scotland in and England with independence, the Scottish Government would not, unlike the and Wales out of the European market, Conservatives talked of almost nothing Spanish one, send the police in to stop there would be a hard border between else. Since 2017, matters have begun people voting but the unionist side could them. The issue of the currency is to change. The SNP, unlike the British simply boycott and ignore the whole still unresolved. After the Sustainable Labour Party, made little effort to thing. The Scottish Parliament could Growth Commission, the SNP seem to straddle the ‘leave’/’remain’ divide and pass a referendum bill and wait for the have abandoned the ‘Nordic’ model seems to have lost many of its ‘leave’ Westminster government to take it to of small state prosperity in favour of voters to the Conservatives or (initially) the Supreme Court. There, the Scottish economic orthodoxy. Getting support UKIP/the Brexit party. Instead, it Government could present historical for independence convincingly over the doubled down on a strategy of ‘remain’ arguments about the Union, say that 50% mark is still a hard task. (and a second Brexit referendum) the referendum was only consultative Michael Keating is Professor of Politics at and independence (through another or hope that the Court would look to the University of Aberdeen and Director referendum). The Scottish Conservatives the more permissive precedent of the of the Centre on Constitutional Change doubled down on a strategy of ‘no’ to an Supreme Court of Canada some years independence referendum and ‘yes’ to ago. Given the attitude of the British 7 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Against the lie machines – Labour and anti-semitism Mike Cowley reviews ‘Bad News for Labour: Antisemitism, the Party and Public Belief’ (Pluto, September 2019) n conducting their research with such and members left with no support thinking about the genuine threat of a forensic rigour, Greg Philo, Mike Berry, despite public vilification. far right only too happy to benefit from Justin Schlosberg, Antony Lerman discord within the ranks of their political I Philo is critical of Labour’s handling of and David Miller have done Labour, enemies. initial attacks on Ken Livingstone and the movement and the anti-fascist Naz Shah. A clear strategy designed Some startling moments emerge from struggle a considerable service. Their to clarify and defuse was conspicuous Bad News for Labour: research asks our media, a minority of by its absence. Labour was at once • In advancing its national interests, the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) hesitant and overly-defensive. However, the Israeli state is no different to any and a number of Jewish organisations once Shakribarti’s report emerged and other state actor. However, a ‘racist claiming to speak for an undifferentiated Labour moved to accept elements of the state’ has more cause than most community some very hard questions. definition of the International Holocaust to aggressively lobby in defence Their evidence is marshalled throughout Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), before of its fraying reputation. A web of with a convincing academic sobriety. adopting it in full, onlookers of goodwill influence and political leverage is All those whose allegations made less could have taken stock and accepted exposed as working on behalf of likely the possibility of an authentically Labour was acting in good faith. But that Israeli state interests. This is not anti-racist government being elected was never the intention. a ‘Jewish conspiracy,’ and Philo is to office should read this book. It is quick to caution against such lapses. too late to recant, though clearly the The intrigues of a state defending political motives underpinning many its political formation and unafraid of the interventions of the last few to smear anyone or anything which years made such epiphanies wholly threatens its hegemony are brilliantly implausible. Confronting anti-Semitism revealed. Philo clarifies its character; was not in fact their real concern. a state of Israel is not intrinsically Discrediting Corbyn and Labour’s left racist. As conceived under Likud and turn, while shoring up the legitimacy of its far-right partners, however, the an apartheid Israeli state, is. Israeli state has been captured by We are presented throughout with the racists in both theory and practice. kind of evidence that any journalist Throughout, the authors are keen to with a modicum of integrity should provide a nuanced discourse on the have found straightforward to gather. crimes of the Israeli state which does The opening focus group discussions not stray into lazy anti-Semitism. For demonstrate just how effective the this service alone, the book is to be campaign of misinformation has been. commended. Despite referrals totalling a small • The IHRA is exposed as being unfit for fraction of 1% of Labour’s membership, purpose, and Labour’s adoption of its participants express the belief that full terms a consequence of political labour is ‘riddled’ with anti-Semitic pressure which could and should behaviours. An initial pilot study finds Despite other initiatives such as an have been managed better. that respondents believe between 25%- on-line education campaign, the Board 40% of Labour members have been the • Labour politicians and members are of Deputies and others refused to subject of complaints. A subsequent encouraged to be adroit in choosing acknowledge the Party’s efforts. In fact, national poll reveals an average figure when and where they intervene on they were open to misrepresenting of 34%. The lie machine has done its job. the issue. The attack dogs are never them. Labour Friends of Israel sustained satisfied, and there is a time, a place Philo addresses actual instances of the manufactured outrage, and a and an approach which limits the risk anti-Semitism his researchers uncover compliant media – from the tabloid of walking into avoidable traps. in their investigations. He rightly makes right to the liberal press, the Guardian clear a single incident is one too many. in particular – continued the allegations, • Jennie Formby emerges as an unsung But it is clear these cases are not only confecting an environment in which, heroine of events. She inherits a numerically small, but often confirm the as the focus groups confirm, a public dysfunctional disciplinary machine need for political education amongst belief that ‘something must be going where staff are overwhelmed with members whose poor understanding on’ was possible. MPs such as Margaret both workload and public scrutiny, of anti-Semitic tropes demand Hodge is exposed as ruthless in their while others sought to actively critical appraisal rather than public desire to defame and smear Labour, sabotage Labour’s efforts. Formby condemnation. Indeed, Philo draws our irrespective of the consequences for an is far more effective in addressing attention to cases where allegations anti-fascist movement which more than complaints and instituting new have been dropped or found baseless, ever requires maximum unity and clear processes than her predecessor. 8 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Despite this, the prevailing hysteria frames her as complicit in racism and ineffective in office. Responses to #GE2019 We asked a further range of left activists and commentators to provide their Glasgow University Media Group assessments of what happened and what we should do now have a long and honourable record of with a clear offer to Scots that they interrogating moral panics and media Chris Stephens, should have the right to choose its own narratives rooted in the legitimisation SNP MP, Glasgow South West future, SNP voters, some voting SNP for of class power. Their analysis of events The full-scale horror of Labour losses the first time, were motivated just as which threatened to overwhelm only becomes evident when visiting the much as Tory voters were. It was clear Labour led by politicians with histories House of Commons. So many familiar from very early on polling day the SNP of standing on the frontlines of the faces gone to be replaced with Tories vote was coming out, with indications anti-racist struggle provides the first who appear to be everywhere. Turn exhaustive overview of a campaign across Scotland that it was going to be a a corner and they are with their new satisfactory day. aided and abetted by a foreign power Commons lanyards thinking they own determined to silence its critics at home the place. The political divergence between and abroad. It provides activists with voters in Scotland and other parts of an understanding of how to engage The warnings were evident during the Britain is so great that an independence with the Palestinian struggle while campaign, with all SNP candidates referendum is now the only way to solve acknowledging the fears of a Jewish noting that the Tory vote was strong and this dichotomy. Encouragement should motivated, and with a sense of concern diaspora as the far right mobilise again. now be given to those seeking to resolve that if it was like this in the urban belt of This is an invaluable guide to framing this issue, and to assist those who find Scotland, it would be similar elsewhere. our arguments in fraught conditions and themselves seeking a political space Yet we hoped a hung Parliament could confronting a lie machine determined to to support firstly a referendum and/ still be achievable if Labour could hold poison the well of public discourse. or independence. For some this will be its own in other parts of Britain. Alas this the SNP, the Green Party and for others And, as John McDonnell rightly did not happen, and the Westminster a re-establishment of RISE or other predicted, allegations of anti-Semitism Parliament hosted several Labour left groups. For others, it will be using did indeed ‘hurt’ Labour at the polls. colleagues in shock and putting together internal devices to encourage Labour or Beyond the anecdotal evidence of their own thoughts on what went various unions to support a referendum. activists, it is difficult to quantify by horribly wrong. precisely how much. However, the All these developments should be choreographed intervention of the Chief encouraged. Indeed, unions have a Rabbi was bound to revive concerns. pivotal role in ensuring that the debate In directing Jewish voters to vote for encourages progressive change. anyone but Labour, we were confronted I will certainly be playing my part to with voices clearly privileging their encourage these developments, whilst own ethnic group (and their very at the same time building support to partial conception of its interests) over resist Tory attacks on unions, on those those targeted by Johnson and the who have chosen Scotland as their right. Here was a PM-in-waiting whose home from other nations, the most racism, misogyny, homophobia and vulnerable and the poorest in our explicit anti-Semitism was a matter of society, and our precious public services. sometimes recent public record. No For those who support independence, matter. The issue was now a political setting out a vision of a different society football, to be used to discredit and defame, not to enlighten. This was I am sure I am not the only one watching and different economic and political recently confirmed again when Stephen television aghast at the interviews with society is more important than ever. Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, former miners admitting they voted Tory in seats which Labour had held declined to withdraw support for an Neil Findlay, article published in his newspaper for generations. It is with no sense of by arch mainstream racist, Melanie satisfaction that I find myself returned Labour MSP, Lothians Phillips, which cast doubt on the ‘bogus’ facing a stronger Tory Government with In a West Lothian community centre, concept of Islamophobia. Yes, Labour a large majority. The challenges are voters going to the polls walked past should have reached out with a more obvious. Brexit that is neo-liberalism a basket containing food donations. emotionally nuanced approach. But ‘on stilts’. With workers protections, It was placed there so that hungry, ultimately, as Philo et al. demonstrate, consumer and environmental protections needy people could help themselves Labour’s detractors were, and remain, in ready to put to the sword, it will take an to donations. A few hours after the no mood for reasoned discussion. almighty effort both within and out with polls closed, my local food bank Parliament to stop them in their tracks. tweeted: ‘Looks like we’ll be busier Mike Cowley is chair of Edinburgh Early indications already suggest that than normal for the foreseeable future, Momentum/Campaign for Socialism further restrictions on social security please consider donating food ahead and a member of the EIS FELA National support for the most vulnerable in of Christmas’. Against the backdrop of Committee society will be under attack. a Tory landslide, this tragic comment Scotland chose a different path and, reflects the devastating reality of what 9 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 lies ahead for many of our citizens. But it would damage my community, concentrated among frightened it also reflects the fundamental need to my constituents, my family and my pensioners and the precariat living in change the economy in a transformative country. I pleaded with the then marginalised seaside communities or way so that food bank Scotland and Labour leadership to offer a positive, smaller, de-industrialised northern Britain is no more. progressive alternative to ‘Better English towns. These latter are places Together’. That plea fell on deaf ears and where class solidarity has already As the SNP continues to dominate in the subsequent years Scottish Labour been weakened, unlike the urban Scottish politics, the constitutional conurbations. Conversely, across Britain, future of Scotland and Britain will hog paid a very, very heavy price. the majority of the new proletariat the agenda more than ever. We cannot So, some fundamental questions must of young workers, immigrants, skilled deny the people of Scotland a second be asked and I cannot say this loudly professionals in small companies, and referendum where the majority is calling enough - WE CANNOT RUN AWAY cultural workers voted solidly in a for it. However, there would need to be FROM THE INDEPENDENCE QUESTION. progressive direction. a clear proposition, something that is As a democrat first and foremost I impossible until we know the outcome accept that the people of Scotland In England, Corbynista Labour was of Brexit and that will not happen in have the right to choose their own the force in mobilising this emerging 2020. future. For aforementioned reasons I new proletariat. Factcheck: Labour’s Surveying the ashes of the political think independence could be bad for ostensible loss of vote share in London earthquake, Scottish Labour must now Scotland, especially if we follow the SNP is explained by middle class ‘remainers’ face up to that reality, not grudgingly, Growth Commission proposals. But we switching to the LibDems. Actually, not reluctantly but honestly and with have to have an open, honest, frank Labour’s only British seat gain was in as much positivity as it can muster in and adult conversation about Scotland’s Putney. On Merseyside, where Tory these difficult times. Tens of thousands future and the ‘national question’. austerity has been epically catastrophic, Labour easily held all 14 seats - of former Labour voters voted SNP. You Brexit has shown that leaving a long- defectors like Frank Field were booted only need to assess the swings from standing political union is a very out. In Scotland, the combined vote Labour to the SNP for evidence of that. complex matter - I don’t think it is share of the progressive parties (SNP, These voters cannot be ignored. Nor controversial to say leaving Britain will Labour, Greens) remains the highest should we pretend they will come back pose even more challenges. There are in Europe – around two thirds of the to us any time soon if we don’t address big issues at stake - currency, borders, electorate. This is the best reason for their concerns. EU membership, the end of the Barnett independence I can think of. Suggestion: formula, falling oil revenues and much Scottish Labour might allow a self- more. However, once we have had determination referendum in return for that informed adult conversation, and a French-style Common Programme of if the people accept a new prospectus the Left at Holyrood for 2021. for independence then so be it. That is democracy and, if it happens, Labour In Northern Ireland, the election was should offer its own prospectus for a truly historic, with parties supporting progressive, socialist, outward looking reunification (Sinn Fein and SDLP) and egalitarian independent country. winning more seats than the unionists for the first time. In punishment for allying with the Tories, the DUP lost George Kerevan, its Westminster leader, Nigel Dodds. former SNP MP Conclusion: the real, immediate threat to Britain lies across the Irish Sea. Once Going back to the days of ’Better Elections are a test of the relative internal border checks (implicit in the Together’ will not help us win back strengths of the main class forces. At Tory Brexit deal) become visible, the those lost voters or win elections again. a British level, the election showed horse manure will hit the fan. an almost 50:50 split among working Fighting for perpetual second place by As ever, the biased voting system class (C2 and DE) voters between the fishing in the shallow pool of so called favoured parties of the ruling class. Yet ‘remain’ parties (including Labour and ‘unionist voters’ will never enable Labour Boris barely managed a fragile one- SNP) and right-wing ‘leave’ parties. to win. Not just for the sake of winning point increase in the total Tory vote We’ve been here before: a significant for Labour, but to enable the change and share, compared to Theresa May in element of the Protestant working class transformation our society needs. 2017. He can only re-boot a post-Brexit voted Tory down to the 1950s. Yes, the Prior to the 2014 referendum, I spoke economy through massive, Asian-style election shows the bourgeois right has at over 60 public meetings arguing deregulation which could wreck his new recaptured considerable working-class the case for constitutional change voting coalition. True, Boris’ victory has support. The damage, however, is not as and for the creation of a federal defused the immediate parliamentary bad as it looks and is repairable. Britain based on the principle that crisis of the ruling bloc. But political powers should be devolved unless Crucially, the major working-class unrest in Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is an overwhelming reason not cities voted preponderately for Labour and the looming post-Brexit economic to. I rejected the ‘Better Together’ (London, Liverpool, Manchester) or disaster, mean the ruling order is in ultra-unionist campaign but I was still the SNP (Glasgow, Dundee). Working- existential crisis. Let’s keep our heads opposed to independence as I believed class Tory and Farage votes were and organise. 10 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Bryan Quinn, the general election. Now we are faced Why have we allowed the Establishment Scottish Green Party with a choice in Scotland: Boris and to control the narrative victimising the 5 years of the Tories driving us out of poor, degrading disabled people, and Standing in a marginal contest between the EU and into a de-regulation race to blaming immigrants for the mistakes the Conservatives and the SNP was an the bottom or an opportunity to build of others? How could people reject interesting experience, as the Scottish something new. Even if you disagree positive change and be influenced by Greens cut through the noise to demand with independence, it is hard to justify soundbites, lies and spin from a ruthless climate action. Both parties are paying that circumstances, especially with the right-wing Tory Government? It’s heart- lip service to the biggest crisis facing us, contrasting result, do not merit the breaking, yet here we are again, back the climate emergency. This is a crisis people of Scotland having a say over with a Tory Government that few in which will impact upon the world’s their future. Scotland voted for. poorest the most. The Scottish Greens believe in a greener, A hard Brexit is increasingly likely - fairer, more equal society. We want to working class communities didn’t vote be world leaders in tackling the climate for that to ‘Get Brexit Done’. emergency with investment through They did, however, want out of a system a Scottish Green New Deal that would of government that doesn’t work rebuild the public sector and create 200,000 green jobs in Scotland. We for them, much like the arguments want a society where everyone has the presented by those promoting a vote security of a universal basic income for independence in 2014. Voters instead of the threat of sanctions and continually tell us they want change, to insecurity offered by Universal Credit. be listened to, that they feel let down The people of Scotland now need to and taken for granted by a political class be given a choice. It is up to all of us to who simple don’t get it. We could argue make the case for a new, sustainable all day around Brexit and independence, But while SNP candidate, Alyn Smith, and more equal Scotland that people the emotional and economic case being put out a leaflet inflating his green will want to vote for. made or otherwise. However, like it or credentials, the Tories avoided talking not, as democratic socialists we need to about the climate at all in this election. accept that the people have spoken. The Now we are facing another five years Siobhan McCready, left in Scotland needs to listen. Whilst of them in charge. Climate change was polls for independence sit around the barely mentioned in their manifesto, yet activist, Labour left 45% mark, much of the left vote sits they now have a key responsibility in In the run up to 12 December, there there too. Our people, our communities, solving the crisis, as they sit at the table was so much positivity. Young activists are giving us a message. with other world leaders. Their 2050 net were engaged. Labour was, once again, Politics is in stalemate and Labour zero target only gives us a 50-50 chance getting a hearing on the doors. That is becoming an irrelevance stuck in of staying below the 1.5c temperature hope turned to disbelief and despair the the middle between nationalism and increase needed to avoid some of the minute the exit poll was announced. So unionism. It’s time to develop and worst effects of climate change. Like where does Scottish Labour go next? put forward an alternative socialist the Scottish Government, they are also constitutional offer to people and we particularly bad at meeting targets, which need to discuss this and develop it in makes me doubt very much that they will terms that people can engage with. even meet the 2050 target they have set. The left is too often guilty of overly It is not the only crisis which this academic, complex pitches when we government threatens to deepen. We need to win over hearts and minds have already seen the suffering and Two weeks before, I was out with an offer that resonates. It’s time to deaths caused by welfare reform, and campaigning with young activists. listen, talk and agree a way out of this the continued roll out of the failed Their excitement and energy were mess, for all our sakes. Universal Credit will lead to a further infectious. One conversation sticks in rise in rent arrears and foodbank usage. my mind though. I was asked, ‘So are you excited about a Corbyn-led Labour Meanwhile, Trump seems keen to do a Government?’ My response must have Gavin Lundy, trade deal with Boris. Everyone should seemed a bit flat: ‘This is reminiscent of National Convener, Young Scots be concerned for the rights, standards 1987. We were so sure then too!’ While for Independence and environmental protections we I was managing expectations, I never in It is fair to say that activists around currently have that will be up for my wildest dreams thought the result my age have already experienced negotiation during any trade deals. Boris would be so devastating for those of us enough political drama for a lifetime; claims the NHS is not on the table - I on the Labour left who’ve worked so an independence referendum, an don’t believe him. hard to deliver change. EU referendum, an ordinary general Scotland clearly rejected Brexit and How can working class communities election, and two snap elections. Of has clearly rejected Boris Johnson’s vote for a Conservative Party and all these memorable campaigns, the offer to ‘Get Brexit Done’ and reject policies that leave people, our people, 2019 General Election will be the most another independence referendum at dependant on foodbanks and handouts? depressing to look back on. But at least 11 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 that affords us the opportunity to be saw Labour hugging Tories as they on with a referendum awash with the frank with ourselves. celebrated Scotland voting against its consequences of the Alex Salmond trial, independence - but I took no pleasure and the suspended Holyrood inquiry Across England and Wales, Labour in seeing their work evaporate in the into her conduct, starting again after the was utterly crushed by a vacuous face of an SNP landslide. They wanted a trial. How the activist gallery to which populist and traditionalist conservative better world now, with Corbyn, not after she is playing don’t see they are being movement with an ‘anti-politics’ ethos. independence. That was never going to led up the garden path beats me. In England, where it worked, this happen. manifested itself as ‘Get Brexit Done’. The result of the election is that In Scotland, where it didn’t, this was I hope that these young activists will Scotland is stuck. A group of 48 MPs ‘Say no to indyref2’. Enough politics: now realise that Labour in Scotland is at go to London to demonstrate their everything is fine. best a distraction, and more accurately; impotence. They will shout at Johnston but will have no leverage over him. That The result - which by the time you a vehicle for the right and for the British call for Unionist ‘remainer’ support, are reading this you will have come Government to deny Scotland’s right to and the admission they got it, will to terms with more than I have now self-determination through evidence enable him to mock their demands for – was devastating. Many will have of ‘unionist’ votes. The Scottish left indyref2. The Scottish Government and their own takes but it was ultimately must now be laser focused on winning its Westminster MPs are happily in the down to the failure of Labour to build a independence. So, as National Convener EU’s pocket and will be seen as an EU coalition of voters. I question the idea of the SNP’s youth wing, I say this to Trojan horse in this Parliament. The that being more Brexity or less would those that joined or campaigned for party can hardly threaten Johnston with have made a substantial difference. Labour in 2019: ‘Let’s work together an electoral defeat if he keeps ignoring Indeed, a pro-Brexit stance would have again to break free from Boris Johnson’s them, because there is little political moved Labour’s electoral difficulties to Britain. Scotland cannot wait until the difference between 48 seats they now different battlegrounds than the ones next general election in 2024’. have and a few more. that they ultimately lost on. By the time the election was called, it was too late There is a near future problem of which to ‘bring people together’. This result Jim Sillars, the SNP leadership and membership means continued austerity, economic former Labour and SNP MP seems blithely unaware – what if damage, struggling public services, and Johnston gets a good free trade deal, Nicola Sturgeon never went for an the end of the NHS as we know it. So and Brexit does not turn out to be the unambiguous vote for independence, where then, now? economic disaster with the 100,000 job using the softest language on indyref2 losses that they have forecast? What if with a formula that it was right for Scots it is a success, as I, who voted ‘leave’, to make a decision about our future. believe it will be? Johnston is in a far Something difficult for any reasonable stronger position vis-à-vis the EU than person to disagree. Then, she changed May ever was with her small majority tack, and made the last lap all about or he was before the election. Not only stopping Boris and Brexit, to get ‘remain’ has the political balance shifted, but voters. She succeeded with that late so has the economic one. The German shift, and has been honest enough to economy, whose car industry sells acknowledge that not everyone who 870,000 vehicles to Britain each year, voted SNP supports independence. is wobbly. Some others are not doing This was reversion to normal in SNP well either. So, his chances of getting a election campaigning. Most never good deal improved dramatically on 12 noticed that between 1992 and 2014, December. You can bet the Tories have In Scotland, we must now use yet the SNP never fought an election filed away every claim by Nicola and her another undeniable mandate to agitate on independence. It was always MSPs and MPs of the ‘catastrophe’ she for another independence referendum something else such as ‘A Stronger claimed was inevitable. - a chance to make a clean break from Voice for Scotland’. Failing to build an Has Johnston no problems? The big Tory nationalism. In the rest of Britain, independence vote is the reason we one is delivering to those Labour areas I don’t know what the way back looks were at 29% in February 2014 when that he knows gave him the vote this time like. But it is my belief that the best campaign started. So, another election but put him on probation. I am one of thing for the working class of England goes by and the SNP sought ‘remainer’ the few on the left who never under would be Scottish independence; a Unionist votes, thus undermining the estimated him. Behind the gaffe prone forced realignment of how Britain claim to have a mandate for indyref2. and outlandish buffoonery, there is a perceives itself, an opportunity for Another chance missed to build the ruthless politician who knows the first Scotland to lead by example. independence vote. rule is to get elected, and the second The election featured the interesting Anyway, everyone with any political rule is to get re-elected. In pursuit of the phenomenon of young, left-wing, nous knows that Nicola’s demand for first rule he, a Tory leader wanting to pro-independence trade unionists indyref2 in 2020 is play acting to up the give a signal to working class voters that and political activists joining Labour grudge feeling when Johnston says no. he was not the bosses’ frontman, told to help ensure Prime Minister Corbyn. If he was clever, he would give her a the CBI to its face that they were not It’s a strange thing to say after I Section 30 order and see how she got getting the £6bn tax break promised. 12 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 The left better wake up and smell the must these examine these dilemmas, the proviso that these middle-class coffee. He is going to be hard to beat. and understand the direct link to our representatives would operate in the material conditions. It is a matter of working class’ interests. The breadth urgency to carve out a space to the left between this deal and the reality of its Stella Rooney, of a hard-right Tory party, and the SNP’s execution has been growing. It has now Chair, Unite Scotland Young vision of independence based around ruptured. Labour is now so out-of-touch the neo-liberal consensus. with the class it is meant to represent Members that this election saw Welsh ex-miners Scottish Labour cannot continue to block There are no bones about it: this voting Tory. a referendum simply because it would election was a defeat for the left. Our rather have a socialist Britain. Tragically, The Labour right will argue that Labour next steps merit reflection. But there the ‘British road to socialism’ is off lost due to a manifesto that was too several issues we must consider now the table for the foreseeable future. left wing. Policies like an immediate in the aftermath of the result. Sadly, Labour’s programme for government minimum wage rise to £10 an hour things may well get worse, and we’re proved popular: we must have honest will be derided as economic fantasy. In going to have to show practical solidarity discussions about how this policy this regard Labour’s loss is damaging with one another in opposition to an programme can best be implemented to the entire left, as it associates such uncaring state. in Scotland. Our principles of worker’s policies with defeat. In a pattern, that is We can take a little time to lick our self-determination must guide these exasperatingly familiar, Labour will swing wounds but we must remain alert. interrogations of the British state in its to the right under Keir Starmer while the The Tories will immediately clamp current form. I hope we can have these unions and Labour left will fall back in down on our right to protest and to important discussions in comradeship line with the logic of ‘electability’. take democratic collective action in for we are going to need each other in Just as exasperating is the situation our workplaces. We must oppose any the fight yet to come. in Scotland. The SNP’s 48 seats are infringement on the right to strike not indicative of a rise in support for fiercely, whether this means taking part independence. Unionists voted SNP in civil disobedience or breaking laws Róisín McLaren, because they were the most effective which are anti-worker. National Co-spokesperson, proponents of ‘remain’. Sturgeon is now It’s time to change our political Scottish Socialist Party forced to ask for a Section 30 order, strategies: simply mobilising our existing which will not be granted. The reaction base is not good enough. We are This election was to be won or lost on to this refusal will be to lead the charge obligated to build real workers power. the clarity and popularity of the party’s through the courts. This brings us Not only is this more worthwhile, it is Brexit position. Labour’s was nether not an inch closer to independence. our only hope as we cannot legislate clear nor popular. However, this defeat There is no legal right to a referendum. against austerity and precarious work. represents something more profound. Independence is a political argument Sadly, there is no bill of employment It is symptomatic of the unravelling of which must be won on political grounds. Labour’s electoral bloc. rights, and no end to zero hours’ George Kerevan has postured contracts coming to save us. Self- civil disobedience as a route to organisation is our primary means of independence. Peter Bell argues defence, and our most important work that Scotland should unilaterally is not going to take place in parliament. declare itself independent. These are We must adapt to this vulgar economy tactics, not strategy. Both a mass civil or else face being unable to change it. disobedience campaign and UDI require Unions must expand their organising the moral authority of overwhelming models to include precarious workplaces support for independence to gain as a matter of urgency. Listening to the legitimacy. Therefore, the independence voices of young, migrant and insecure movement’s task is to build support workers is crucial to our recovery. to such a majority that its democratic legitimacy is unquestionable. SNP will We must also attach these principles never entertain extra-parliamentary of workplace and collective democracy action. Compromised by their cross- to the institutions that govern us. We Social democratic parties do not build class base, its vision of independence is cannot endure another five years of the an apparatus for government within fundamentally conservative. Noting this, Tories, and workers in Scotland did not the working class, i.e. thriving branch is it not the Scottish left’s job to peel vote for it. Devolution was a lifeline for structures, popular education, support support off from the SNP to a socialist the Scottish working class, and in the networks, because they are not trying project that can effectively fightback face of a further electoral endorsement to prepare the working class for against a decade of Tory rule? of an independence referendum, the left overthrowing the system and governing. must engage. Instead of this grassroots structure, as Maggie Chetty, former chair, Abstention from constitutional politics Jon Cruddas puts it, Labour relied on is no longer an option. It’s time for us to a historic compromise: the working Communist Party of Scotland truly engage with both the limitations class allowed itself to be represented Boris Johnson’s electoral victory and opportunities of independence. We in parliament by the middle class, on revealed two conflicting strands of the 13 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 thinking of working people in England the Treaty of Union which I suspect While we on the left may sneer at this, - rejection of the Corbyn project and Westminster would like to forget about. like Blair, Sturgeon has found a way to profound alienation. The exception to It should be upping the ante in every keep her influential, middle class, core this is in Liverpool where the people’s conceivable way including on the streets vote happy while poverty and inequality continuing boycott of the Sun has but also maintaining patience so as stop remain endemic in large sections of the insulated them from its racism and anti- the opposition wearing itself out. working-class Scotland, many of whom Corbyn rhetoric. In Wales, Labour and (32%) did not vote on 12 December Scottish Labour should fall in with the Plaid Cymru increased their vote after an and remain well out of the reach of the pro-independence campaign for its excellent performance by Plaid’s Leader union movement. survival as a party. If it was wise, it could Adam Price. re-build Labour from a Scottish base and Of course, I am not writing off the Scotland presented a different outcome cities like Liverpool. An SNP/Labour/ role Scottish nationalism plays in this with its SNP electoral gains from the Green alliance in Holyrood would electoral dominance. As a potent Conservatives, Labour and Jo Swinson’s become unstoppable and be a beacon mixture of grievance and entitlement seat. The LibDems took a seat in Fife for the rest of Britain - a challenge to often feeding off the very poverty from SNP’s Stephen Gethins. Interesting the poisonous Tory Government, a safe it masks, the dominant form of to the ‘yes’ campaign in Scotland is haven for decent, pro-peace politics and nationalism explains and inflames how the English electorate is beginning a green industrial revolution that would a legitimate working-class sense of to echo the ‘yes’ campaign’s 2014 attract our friends and neighbours in the injustice, as national oppression and calls for Britain’s finances to be less rUK and Europe. then directs it to a managed expression concentrated in London and the South of anger at the ballot box. East. It is extraordinary to consider that Labour needs to adopt a much bolder the person to touch on the alienation Vince Mills, strategy, embracing parliamentary of the North East was George Osborne Secretary, Scottish Labour Left and extra-parliamentary struggle with his talk of the need for a Northern that goes beyond winning elections Powerhouse - not that he did anything As you might expect from someone who to transforming society. We must about it as indeed we expect of Boris believes the EU is a major impediment engage with all of those suffering Johnson! to socialist advance and, therefore, voted to ‘leave’, I was not surprised under capitalism. Labour, therefore, Scotland has firmly rejected the Corbyn by the overall vote for the Tories’ ‘Get should support the union movement manifesto - good as it was. We are left Brexit Done’ against Labour (however and other dissident groups when they with a single Labour MP, the centrist, Ian bitterly disappointed I was). I think resist exploitation and cuts and this Murray in Edinburgh South. Scotland’s gut working class hostility to the EU is includes local government. This should politics in the post -election period well placed and I expected the Labour be underpinned by an approach to have been enlivened by the word that collapse in ‘leave’ voting areas. the constitution which maximises the the Labour for Independence is to be capacity for solidarity across the regions established again. Leading figures like I also believed, therefore, that, even in and nations of Britain with the ultimate MSPs, Monica Lennon and Neil Findlay, Scotland, had Labour sustained its 2017 aim of confronting capital at its very have called for the Scottish Government stance of respecting the EU referendum heart, in the City of London. to have the right to hold a second result, it may have been able to appeal referendum on independence. Richard that section of the 1,018,322 citizens Leonard speaks of the need for Labour who had voted to leave in 2016, most Morgan Horn, to become engaged with the debate of them working class and many of Industrial Organiser, Young on constitutional change in Britain. No them SNP supporters - a third of SNP Communist League doubt the subject of federalism will supporters voted ‘leave’ - who felt A Tory majority this big spells even more emerge which always seemed a doomed abandoned by the SNP leadership on disaster for working people and our project – whoever expects Westminster this issue. institutions. The pundits would have you to agree to share its powers must have Indeed, from a class perspective, the believe that this result is a rejection of more than a dash of naivety! depth of support for the current SNP socialism – it is not for 10.5m voted for a The stars of the election have been leadership is difficult to explain. It is not radical manifesto. Labour’s policies were the SNP with substantial gains and just questions about the underfunding popular but constitutional questions the people of Northern Ireland where of some services or mis-management reigned supreme. It is now up to us they punished the DUP for their of others - it is the explicit espousal of who believe in the cause of socialism intransigence, moving support to the a neo-liberal offer on independence to defend it and to continue to bring left/middle ground (Sinn Fein, SDLP and embedded in the Growth Commission. people together under a vision and a Alliance party) and opening the door to This raises the obvious question: in that hope for a better future that is possible. more progressive outcomes in the years case, why did Labour do so badly? For despite the devastating defeat, our ahead. ideas and our principles remain. It is because the SNP has supplanted What for the future? The SNP has to Labour as the ‘the party of moderate Whilst the battle in Labour for its sharpen up its act and ditch policies progress within the bounds of the law’ as leadership now rages, working people like the Growth Commission roundly the Czech writer, Jaroslav Hasek, would still need to be empowered, and for which was rejected by many left have it. The SNP’s politics very much that we look to the unions. For too ‘independistas’. It will also have to reflect its membership, 71% of which are long, the union movement has failed examine the legal options including ABC1 – upper to lower middle class. in its primary purpose of representing 14 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 our class. Over the past 20 years, union We need to organise to fight like we Too often, we worry about winning leaders have become the gatekeepers never have before. We need to take people over. We chap doors when and managers of decline, and the the struggle beyond just resisting the we want votes. What are we actually collapse of membership and overall onslaught of the Tory government and in offering, aside from promises? What industrial clout reflects this. Unions the direction of transforming society in are we contributing to people’s lives? need to organise or we will soon be the interests of the working class. Instead of thinking about how to take rendered unfit for purpose. people with us, let’s think about how to stand with them. Instead of asking Make no mistake, the Tories are coming Myshele Haywood, for their support, let’s consider how to to wipe us out. If we thought the Trade provide support and mutual aid. Union Act 2016 was bad, we are going activist, Scottish Green Party It doesn’t need to be complicated. We to get hit with even worse. We have It feels like the start of a dystopian film. don’t need instructions or permission already seen their plans to legislate Foodbanks. Rough sleepers. Children from on high. But as the Tories continue strikes and pickets in certain sectors curled up in hospital corridors. Elderly to break their promises, we need to be out of existence. We cannot sit back and disabled people dying in freezing the ones who show up, follow through, and watch this happen - when the flats. Refugees dying at sea. There’s and get shit done. We need to rebuild Tories come for the transport workers, a climate emergency brewing, but it trust and solidarity. we need to be strong enough to act in seems abstract and far away. Everything defiance with them, and we need to be looks bleak. Look around your neighbourhood, willing to break the law. see what needs doing, and do it. Get As we enter the third decade of the to know people who don’t attend twenty first century, things are about political meetings. Build relationships. to get much worse. The Tories have Strengthen what the Tories are trying to consolidated their power. They’ve destroy. Volunteer at a library, foodbank, established lying and corruption as or community centre. Perhaps take acceptable in public life. They’ve inspiration from groups like Living Rent, facilitated eye-watering levels of Better Than Zero, the Unemployed inequality. They’ve spread instability, Workers’ Network, or hundreds of small division, suspicion. They’ve empowered organisations working on local issues. the far right. It’s slash-and-burn politics, Where can you put your skills or money and it’s terrifyingly efficient. or time to good use? How do we take down such a monolith? Destruction is easy. Rebuilding is hard. On the left, there’s a tendency to look Now is the time to set aside ideological for the ‘one right answer’, and become certainty. We need to stand together, We need united collective action. It’s evangelical about it. But what if the protect what can be saved, heal what’s the only hope to build power for our concept of ‘one right answer’ is itself been damaged, and prepare the ground class, to reconnect the link between part of the problem? We know that for new growth. the individuals and the collective, the ecosystems need diversity to thrive. workplace and the community, the How can we restore our political people and the political weapon that ecosystem with a single movement or will liberate them. party or ideological position? We can’t Cover: Nadia Lucchesi take down a monolith by building a ([email protected]) We have a hell of a fight on our hands bigger monolith – or a small one in the over the next five years and workers same image. Proofing services: need to be centre of that fight. We are John Wood and John Daly the wage slaves; we are the mortgage and rent payers; we are the ones who Communications and organisational suffer from social security attacks; we development: Carole Ewart are the ones in huge amounts of debt to Editor Email: Gregor Gall subsidise our employers’ low wages and [email protected] our landlords’ extortionate rents; and we are the primary agents of change. Web: www.scottishleftreview.org Tel: 0141 424 0042 Building trust and showing workers that they can take control of their own lives Address: by building collective strength is the Scottish Left Review, only way to undercut a growing divisive, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow racist and fascist rhetoric. We can do G2 6RX this by encouraging and facilitating Whatever answer we think we’ve got workers to look at workplace issues as it hasn’t worked. We need to stop Printed by our class issues; and to transform these expecting someone with a red flag to Hampden Advertising Ltd, issues in to transformative actions. It is come over the hill and save us. Equally, 403 Hillington Road, G52 4BL, up to us to ensure that these links are we need to stop deluding ourselves that Tel: 0141 429 1010 made. we’re the ones with the red flag. 15 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 COP25 ignores demands for climate justice Mary Church argues COP26 in Glasgow in 2020 must be a rallying point for people and planet he outcomes of the longest ever definitely the case with carbon markets. to do their fair share, the chances meeting in the history of the UN With no effective cap in place under the of keeping the planet at a liveable TFramework Convention on Climate Paris Agreement, and no time left to temperature are on a knife edge. Change - the COP25 negotiations in buy and sell the atmosphere (even if it In attempting to navigate our way out Madrid - have failed to reflect the was an acceptable thing to do) carbon of the crisis it is crucial that the voices urgency of the crisis or any grasp of the markets risk fatally undermining efforts of those most impacted by the climate real solutions to the climate emergency. to limit warming to 1.5oC. Not only do crisis are heard: participation of global Rather, governments around the world they divert time and resources away South civil society and indigenous continued to ignore both the undeniable from real solutions to the climate crisis, peoples are essential for climate science and the rising tide of peoples’ they also risk increasing emissions, by just outcomes. The knowledge and movements demanding radical action carrying over a flood of carbon credits small scale, sustainable livelihoods of on climate. That unwillingness to from previous trading schemes and indigenous peoples, rural and forest listen to the people could not have through double counting of reductions. dwelling folks around the world are part been better illustrated than by the If that wasn’t bad enough, carbon of the key to turning the Titanic around. response to a mass action of civil trading also violates human rights, society observers including indigenous especially impacting indigenous peoples Yet Glasgow will be the fourth COP peoples, NGOs, unions and climate and global South communities whose in as many years, and five out of the justice groups in which over 300 people lands and livelihoods are being grabbed last six annual UN climate talks to take were aggressively ejected from the UN to be sold as carbon ‘offsets’. place in the global North. This is highly talks, in a chilling echo of the violent problematic in terms of ensuring global repression in Chile that led to the last South participation. The grim reality minute relocation of the talks to Spain. is that in light of December’s election results we anticipate the continuation Instead, what we witnessed in Madrid of the racist hostile environment was corporate-captured governments border control in Britain, which will put fighting for the interests of the fossil fuel additional barriers in the way of climate industry and elites, unable to see past impacted peoples’ participation. In this short-termism, unable to get out of the context the Scottish Government’s more neo-liberal mindset that has brought internationalist outlook is important: us to this point. All part and parcel of a Ministers can work with the UN to concerted effort over the past decade put pressure on the new Westminster and more by rich historical polluters Government to guarantee strong global to shift the burden of dealing with the south participation at COP26. climate crisis onto those who have done least to cause it and will suffer the worst In terms of what to expect from Britain’s impacts. presidency of COP26, the Conservatives promised to scrap the Department for Two major issues came to a head at International Development and instead COP25 that demonstrate this clearly: the use the Foreign and Commonwealth question of finance for loss and damage, Office to promote British business and rules on carbon markets under the objectives abroad, giving a clear Paris Agreement. indication of the perverse priorities of On the first, rich countries shamelessly With parties unable to come to a the new Government. The manifesto on resisted calls from developing countries consensus on carbon markets in Madrid, which the party was elected ranked by for financial support to help them the issue will be firmly back on the table far the worst of the main political parties recover from the impacts of climate in Glasgow at COP26. Only fossil fuel in terms of their pledges on climate and change that it is no longer possible to companies and other reckless profiteers environmental action. While the Scottish adapt to, offering instead to simply cut stand to benefit from carbon markets - Government is doing significantly better up the cake of existing international this is the part of the Paris Agreement than that, including with its stronger development aid and climate finance that Shell boasted it wrote - and they national climate targets, the reality is into smaller pieces. They also attempted won’t give up easily. that the bar for climate leadership is set dangerously low, and we are far to re-write the Paris Agreement by Next years’ climate talks in Glasgow, inserting a non-liability clause into from committing to a truly fair share of COP26 will ultimately be the litmus test the treaty to protect themselves from climate action. of the Paris Agreement. 2020 is the any compensation claims by climate deadline for countries to resubmit their When COP26 comes to Glasgow, impacted people. One of the few silver emissions reductions pledges, known as therefore, both Britain and Scotland will linings of these failed talks is that ‘Nationally Determined Contributions’ be exposed as simply other developed developing countries stood firm and under the treaty. With current pledges countries which have grown rich by resisted this. But expect to see the same putting us on the highway to a hellish 3-4 polluting the atmosphere and causing fight play out next year in Glasgow. degrees warming, and no sign of the rich the climate crisis. The talks will shine a On the second, sometimes no deal really historical polluters who have ultimately spotlight on the Britain’s unacceptable is better than a bad deal. And that’s caused the climate crisis stepping up oil and gas expansion plans - and the 16 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Scottish Government’s support for them to transform our society and economy, all over the world. This is not just about - which is completely incompatible with changing the way we travel, how we a two-week conference in November any claims of climate leadership. produce and consume food, what 2020. It’s about a year of campaigning and activism, learning and strategising, The simple fact is that those responsible counts as work, and how it is rewarded, collaboration and creativity. We will use for causing the crisis - including Scotland what we value and strive for, and how it to transform our movements and put and Britain - must step up and start we connect with each other. climate justice at the centre of what we making some difficult decisions if we are To end on a positive note: with the do. We are unstoppable, and despite to avoid catastrophic warming. There setbacks, we know another world is is no other way forward that bears emergence of the youth strikers possible. Get involved with the COP26 thinking about. It’s time to put an end and Extinction Rebellion the climate Coalition at cop26coalition.wordpress. date on North Sea oil and gas extraction movement in Britain is stronger than com in line with the Paris Agreement, and ever before. COP in Glasgow must now plan for a rapid and just transition of serve as a rallying cry for all who care Mary Church is Head of Campaigns at the workforce and communities. Time about our planet and the fate of peoples Friends of the Earth Scotland Chileans want to ‘smoke opium’ and so much more Oscar Mendoza explains the roots of the revolt and the emergence of new progressive forces social explosion started on Friday underfunded and the services provided multinational group, ENEL, prices have 18 October 2019 in Chile, triggered are not up to the best standards and increased around 4% in the last 12 months Aby mass fares avoidance by mainly accessed only after long delays, queuing adding greater pressures on household students in the Santiago subway, rejecting and frustration. The private health incomes. an increase of 30 Pesos (a few pence) in insurance system provided by suppliers the peak time one-way ticket. It baffled Chile is the only country in the world called ISAPRES, which cover the remaining where water supply is wholly in private most international observers and rocked 20%, is much better funded and private the Chilean political establishment to the hands. Given vast levels of demand by the clinics and hospitals are well equipped. mining and agricultural exports industries, very core. With this explosion, Chile - the Insurance premiums rise continuously, do Latin American neo-liberal poster child and plus severe droughts and wild forest fires not cover many pre-existing conditions heavily promoted by the World Bank and over recent years, prices are very high and and the balance in costs must be fully IMF as the model for growth and stability supply intermittent, contaminated and covered by the individual insured. in the region - has experienced a wave of difficult in places. Hydric resources are being exhausted at an alarming rate in the social and political protests not seen since Pensions, private financial institutions face of government inaction. the return of formal democracy to the known as AFPs (Pension Funds country in 1990, following 17 years of Although Chile compares well with dictatorship under Pinochet. advanced OECD countries and ranks The protest against the fares hike above most of Latin America, education quickly became a national, non-party is highly segregated and quality varies political, wave of mass resistance to greatly. A subsidised private sector, the status quo. By 25 October, over which started in the dictatorship as a 1.2m people attended a rally in Chile’s way of reducing the state, converted capital demanding change. Although Chile’s education provision into a in 2006 up to 100,000 secondary business, with over 60% of pupils students went on strike for weeks and outside the state sector. Most entrants in 2016 three demonstrations against into higher education come from the the pension system were joined by private sector, blocking social mobility. over half a million people, these Lower income families, if they can, protests are of a different magnitude, have Administrators) manage the individual avoid the state sector which is chronically reached every corner of the country and pension savings accounts of people in underfunded, with infrastructure often not involve all sectors of society. Here, I want work. The system, established by the fit for purpose, poorly paid teachers and to focus on its political implications and dictatorship, promised much but 80% of generally poor outcomes. Only the poorest examine possible ways forward. pensioners receive less than the minimum are left with no choice. salary. The richest Chileans do much better Collusion by large businesses has led First, though, let’s recap briefly on why though many are also dissatisfied. to major scandals, which on top of Chileans have lost patience with ‘business corruption, have fuelled the discontent. as usual’. Growing inequality, exemplified Basic services, simply fail to deliver for In 2008, the three largest chains of by the fact that the richest 10% earned 7.8 consumers. The subway, Metro, in public dispensing chemists fixed the price of times more than the remaining 90% of the hands and very effective, carries 2.6m 222 medicines, many for the treatment population between mid-2017 and mid- passengers daily and is fundamental for of chronic conditions, leading to excess 2019, according to the University of Chile’s Santiago residents. It’s also one of the profiteering. The two largest suppliers of Microdata Centre report of 22 October most expensive services anywhere, in toilet paper fixed the price for this product 2019. Low wages are a major factor with relation to incomes, and is estimated for over a decade in supermarkets, 50% receiving the minimum salary. to take up almost 14% of a minimum chemists and wholesalers, again to the Health provision, the mixed Chilean model salary. The Buenos Aires equivalent detriment of consumers. where a state funded FONASA covers costs 6%. In terms of electricity supply, a 80% of the population, is chronically market dominated in Chile by the Italian Corruption in politics between 2014 and 17 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 2017 further alienated public opinion. years since the end of the dictatorship, has selecting its membership: a fully elected Large economic interests were found been largely absent from the streets and and a mixed of elected members and to illegally financing some politicians by restricted to statements by party leaders current parliamentarians. issuing invoices for services rendered – and parliamentarians. Protesters blame it The bigger concessions, however, have usually research, advice and promotion almost as much as Piñera’s government for been made by the opposition who have – which were demonstrably false. Both the ignoring people’s demands over decades agreed to a two thirds majority for right wing and centre left coalitions were and perpetuating the neo-liberal model constitutional changes, which gives a veto implicated. Major corruption was also they rebel against today. found in the army and police during 2018 to the right, and given up on securing The alternative Frente Amplio left, which and many high-ranking officers, including gender parity plus reserved places for erupted onto the scene in 2017, gained former commanders in chief, are facing indigenous peoples and independents. a fifth of the vote in the presidential legal proceedings for the malfeasance The opposition also failed to support elections the same year and sent a of millions of dollars. To cap it all, Chile’s the president’s impeachment for human significant block to parliament (20 political class enjoys salaries, expenses, rights abuses and instead impeached deputies and one senator), has probably pensions and other perks that exceed the resigned Interior Minister, Chadwick, those of much richer countries like Britain. experienced the greatest upheaval a cousin of Piñera’s. This has led to with serious internal strife caused by calls of betrayal and being sold out by This combination of abuses and conflicting views on how to pursue demonstrators and civil society, hence the widespread corruption has led to a serious change. More identified with progressive continuing wave of protests. undermining of public confidence in the social movements, such as secondary establishment and existing institutions. and university students, Frente Amplio The legislation needed to hold a Dissatisfaction with politics peaked during is paying a high price for siding with the referendum for the new constitution was the 2017 presidential election, when parliamentary establishment in efforts to passed by Congress on 18/19 December, turnout was less than 50%. dampen down protest. Firstly, by lending amidst more recriminations and name support to the ‘accord for peace and a calling. The referendum should be After the first weeks of mass protest, held in April. A citizens’ consultation consensus built around the need to new constitution’ signed on 15 November, carried out by the Chilean Association change the constitution and associated seen by protesters as another betrayal as of Municipalities (like COSLA) involved legal framework, imposed by Pinochet in it was done behind their backs (‘cocina’ over 220 out of 330 local authorities and October 1980. The popular cry became or cooked up). Then, more worryingly 2.1m people voted online (93% for a new centred on a Constituent Assembly and perhaps, by lending votes to punitive anti- constitution and 71% for a fully elected urgent improvements in minimum salary, demonstration legislation in Congress. convention). pensions and reversing increases in the The small but influential Communist prices of public services. Party (eight deputies, general secretary Chile will undoubtedly have a new constitution sometime in late 2021. The response of the right-wing Piñera of unions confederation) has sided with Piñera will see out his period in spite of government to the social explosion the street since the start and attacked was predictable, given his Chile Vamos ferociously those who have done deals huge levels of rejection and scorn. Some coalition’s strong ties and complicity with ignoring the popular will. Similarly, the improvements in the economic situation the Pinochet dictatorship. On 19 October, Humanist Party and members of other will take place. However, politicians will the billionaire president decreed a state parties have abandoned the Frente Amplio pay a high price for once more ignoring of emergency, brought the armed forces in protest. the people’s demands. The right will possibly be vitalised as their support onto the streets of major cities and Though the protest movement is non- towns and upped his rhetoric referring favours repression over dialogue. The party political, civil society groups have centre-left will continue its march towards to ‘being at war with a powerful enemy’. come together to form Unidad Social political oblivion but hang on to power Widespread condemnation followed, even (social unity), including unions, public quotas. The alternative left has already from his side, since the protests have been sector staff, university and school students, failed its first real test and will need a largely peaceful, though some incidents feminist groups, campaigns against the lot of effort to recover its credibility. The of violence, looting and destruction pension system, indigenous peoples, communists will remain marginalised and have occurred. The resulting wave of relatives of the victims of the dictatorship excluded, but could gain some electoral repression, which continues, has led to and many others. In spite of their strong terrain. Civil society has spoken and will over 25 deaths, 200 plus people losing support base, government and opposition never be silent again. That much is clear. the sight of at least one eye from injuries have tried their best to exclude them caused by pellets and tear gas canisters, and maintain parliamentary power. This In 2013, José Antonio Gómez Urrutia, hundreds of other injuries and thousands has simply led to mass demonstrations a moderate leader from the social of arrests. continuing unabated. Politicians’ hope democratic, Radical Party, proposed Human Rights Watch first on 22 October, is that the summer recess, starting with a new constitution, fair high-quality the UN Human Rights Commission on 8 Christmas, will dissipate the protests and health, education and pensions, labour November and the Inter-American Human kill off the spontaneous mass movement. and tax reform. Famously, or should it Rights Commission on 6 December roundly be infamously, the then president of the This is unlikely to succeed in the long condemned the Chilean state for excessive Socialist Party accused him of ‘smoking run, especially since the key demand of a use of force against demonstrators and opium’. It seems as if the immense new constitution is only grudgingly being for abuses, including rape and torture, majority of Chileans have decided that conceded. The extreme right of Piñera’s of detainees. They called for restraint, government (UDI) is fighting change tooth they want to ‘smoke opium’ too. thorough investigation and punishment of and nail but has had to give some ground. Oscar Mendoza, a political prisoner in Chile those responsible. Symbolically, the government insisted in between 1973 and 1975, is a retired social For its part, the traditional centre-left the name Constituent Convention, not scientist and a specialist in international coalition, which has governed for over 20 Assembly, and proposed two methods for development and funding 18 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Microphones, megaphones and class Albert Brenchat Aguilar recounts the unseen and forgotten workers that make conference happen and their fightback dish nibbles and pour wine at events up with broken plastic cups, crushed if they are being noisy, or if they are in University College London (UCL). I crisps on the floor and wine on the resting as the speakers or the audience Iserve water at the start. I put chairs table. I pick up as much as I can if the do during events. If the megaphone and tables in place and move them event ends up in time, but sometimes I does not work, my colleagues shout across venues. I pick up coffee cups don’t. However, whether I do one thing louder. from the floor. I test the AV system and or the other, everything is clean in the For two years, I have been passing the adjust the volume of the microphones. morning and ready for the new set of mike to visible people that speak about Speakers arrive, for the most part speakers. invisible people. It is an absolute delight women, and we speak about their trip The truth is that events continue well but I would love that the invisible could and the timely nature of their work. have more chances to speak with the When they are late, there is still time to into the night when my colleagues that clean UCL get to work and until early in visible. Pouring wine, picking up cups, exchange some nice words. They ask for passing the roving mike and calibrating my name and thank me for my work. the morning while many security staff look after the space. Neither speakers the volume can cure arrogance. If Some other speakers arrive, for the nor I see them because my colleagues only I could prescribe these cures to most part men, a little bit anxious. I have already left at 8am. managers to heal themselves and their ask them about their trip. They answer environment. briefly avoiding interaction and looking Along with porters and caterers, outsourced workers at UCL are not paid On 19 November 2019, IWGB workers for familiar faces around the room. I undertook a 24-hour strike following ask them to speak into the microphone a ballot which achieved 98% support. because it is difficult for them to be Another strike took place on 4 heard at the back of the room. Some December. UCL’s feeble response only of them don’t do this because they included a firm commitment to increase believe, I think, the microphone should annual leave and a vague promise to adapt to them and not them to the look at some of the other demands microphone. They get nervous; their - no plan to bring my colleagues in- eyes demand at me, as if yelling, house, and no intention to dialogue that I repair the microphone. I with IWGB and their workers. believe it is them who are broken. My colleagues and my union are I wouldn’t, however, ask the effectively left without a mike. same to others, for the most They do not vote in elections part women. Technology is but they are exploited; they are surprisingly sexist; our microphones invisible but the result of their and loudspeakers pick up and labour is crystal clear. December project lower-pitched voices better. 12 was a setback so we need your In fact, we can refer to microphones help to make the invisible visible. You with a masculine name: ‘mike’. The can support their cause through their space is also sexist because it does hardship fund (https://www.gofundme. not project equally masculine and com/f/ucl-outsourced-workers- feminine voices. When ‘others’ speak, accordingly for their anti-social schedule strike-fund) and visit https://iwgb- I try to push the system to its limits, and have significant worse sick pay, universityoflondon.org/. but mikes have character. Some days holiday pay, parental leave and pension Albert Brenchat Aguilar is the Events they work, some days they don’t. They than their in-house colleagues. They are freeze in front of stressful situations. Curator and Communications Officer not here when the mikes are on. Many at the Institute of Advanced Studies In certain circumstances, they project of them have no other choice, even a high-pitched noise that increases in London. He is also working on PhD if they get injured. My colleagues are at Birkbeck College called ‘Planning exponentially second after second. Once destined to retire in poverty. they get to the climax, they switch off. Ecologies of Knowledge’. There is lots of noise at UCL. On 29 During Q&A sessions, I pick up the October 2019, outsourced workers roving mike and bring it to the audience. along with IWGB made a fabulous noisy At an exhibition opening, a woman protest. They used a megaphone, not a EDITORIAL COMMITTEE came to me to express her hatred mike. Megaphones are, as their name Bill Bonnar Lilian Macer towards those that pass the roving suggests, big. They sound dirty and mikes. This was a moment of anxiety for Moira Craig Gordon Morgan metallic. They burst in the space and Carole Ewart Carolyn Scott her. She couldn’t explain more. I wish I agitate the environment so that people told her her anxiety was caused by the Roz Foyer Dave Sherry respond either with elation or unease. Gregor Gall Stephen Smellie autonomy of the mike and, at the same The megaphone is the microphone of time, by her insecurity and lack of care Editor Chris Stephens those that have no voice, of those that Pat Kelly Maggie Chapman towards those who/what she depended wear no suits, of those that are not on in that situation. Convener Bob Thomson welcomed with wine but who pick it up. Bill Ramsay Vice Convener Some speakers believe that events end People look at them with strangeness 19 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Why our peace movement must be intersectional The word, pacifism, was coined in Scotland in the early twentieth century. Tim Gee asks if is it time to broaden its scope. n 2011, after a racial slur was used masculinity to violence starts early. number later become homeless or on a women’s rights march, writer If you grew up male, the chances are experience PTSD. Ultimately, war harms IFlavia Dzodan wrote a blog called, that someone at some stage gave you everybody; soldiers, casualties, families, ‘My feminism will be intersectional a toy soldier or a gun to play. This often civilians, even those not yet born. If we or it will be bullshit’. The framing was forms part of a sub-conscious strategy of look to those most affected by war, it picked up by others, adapting the title to preparing boys to fight. To some extent is often women of colour, especially if environmentalism and to activism more the strategy works: Most of the world’s they are already experiencing poverty. broadly but it was far less talked about soldiers are non-trans, straight, men. It’s If people are disabled, LGBTQI+, old or in the peace movement. also likely that it has side effects: The very young, the ability to access support vast majority of terrorist attacks are by networks that would help them move Peace campaigners have long pointed men. Most knife crime is by men. Most out of warzones, become even more out the connections between struggles domestic abuse is perpetrated by men. limited. for peace and for equality in its various Most of the politicians who send people forms. Yet the very reason that so In the face of such entrenched injustice, to wars are men. much has needed to be written on it can be hard to imagine what peace these themes is that the transition to would look like. But if we picture a becoming a fully equal, anti-sexist, anti- more equal world, free of racism, toxic racist peace movement has very often masculinity and other discriminatory been resisted. So, I want to argue that worldviews, then perhaps we could the stated aim of non-violent action hold an image – maybe a feeling – of a should be the liberation from all kinds peaceful world within reach. of oppression, which in the process Non-violent revolutionaries often will help end war, and for that matter say the means shape the ends. The climate change too. hierarchy inherent in winning change The word, pacifism, was born in through war tends to be reflected Scotland, at an early twentieth in post-transitional societies. Social century peace conference in Glasgow, approval for violence as a tool of to describe the practice of actively political change very often then gives creating the conditions for peace, as an legitimacy to those who do not like alternative to ‘anti-war-ism’. Very quickly the actions of the post-liberation though - and in particular through the governments to pursue their agendas course of WWI - it became a word through violence. This then leads to principally used to describe what a greater state repression in response. person was against. Indeed, a 2011 study by Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan The term, intersectional, was coined by Racism is another violent mindset, often compared over 300 anti-regime, anti- the academic and civil rights advocate closely intertwined with xenophobia occupation or independence campaigns Kimberlé Crenshaw, in 1989 as a means and religious intolerance. Again, it is over 100 years, concluding unarmed- for understanding how different forms not inherent or natural to anyone, but people power campaigns are more of injustice and oppression compound instead is learnt and, to some extent, than twice as likely to win in whole or one another. The ‘intersection’ is the taught. Among those doing the teaching in part compared to those using armed crossroads where traffic representing are governments, seeking to persuade resistance. racism, sexism, classism, ageism, their populations that it’s okay to disablism, homophobia or transphobia But there’s a problem. While non-violent kill people born elsewhere. This has converges, leading to the risk of harm campaigns have helped transitions domestic effects too, including street being done to any person at the from dictatorships to democracy as violence and abuse against people intersection. well as speeding the end of extreme perceived to share the nationality, injustices in constitutional democracies, For proponents of peace, the frame ethnicity or religion of the places with the method has rarely been followed applies to the outbreak of armed which the government is at war. Thus, by the election of governments willing conflict, where the effects of such Islamophobia has grown in North to renounce violence abroad. Likewise, injustices come together. I make no America and Europe, fuelled by the it’s often said that unarmed struggles claim to know whether the capacity so-called ‘War on Terror’ and far-right like Indian independence and US civil for violence is part of human nature or political forces. rights movements did not have an not. I do say with confidence, though, We also need to talk about class, appreciation of gender equality, and that structural violence is the product as a result the progress achieved was because the people who profit from of systems made by humans, which can not accompanied by improvements in resources won in war are usually the be remade by humans into something women’s rights. rich. Meanwhile, it is mainly workers better. recruited to fight and die in wars for If ostensibly non-violent movements The pathway to ideas that link those resources. If they survive, a great fail to ‘join the dots’ between different 20 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 forms of structural violence during knows no violence will be done by those rhetoric was used to justify the invasion their campaigns, then the chances they were speaking with. Pacifists have of Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, are that the governments and policies called for halting weapons sales to Libya in 2011 and Syria in 2015. Each that follow their revolutions will fail to regimes that would use them in human of these led to countless people being do so too. There are lessons here for rights abuses. killed and led to further conflict. Scotland’s independence movement. Is this just a cop-out? Aside from the Supporters of war will often search Most people would agree that peace duty to follow conscience, there are for the ‘exception to the rule’ against is a laudable goal, and many would few hard and fast rules that apply to violence, before working from there to agree justice must be part of it. But all situations. There are, however, defend the use of armed force more many people and institutions who some. War crimes, torture and capital broadly. But the focus of this argument desire peace and justice do not call punishment need to always and is different. It’s about identifying the themselves pacifists. This partly results universally, publicly and confidently be causes of war and violence and finding from terminology and believing peace named as unacceptable anywhere. ways to transform them. is a condition. But peace is a process, of Pacifists are often asked if we believe Sometimes that mean clogging up the working for justice through nonviolent in defence. The answer is yes but not roads leading to weapons bases by means. By definition, this involves necessarily in the way the questioner sitting in the road. But it also means working with people who are working thinks. In any major war in the world, trying to disrupt the traffic of toxic against inequality, whether or not they you’ll find that combinations of toxic masculinity, racism, classism, disablism, see themselves as peace campaigners. masculinity, racism, classism and other homophobia, transphobia, ageism The pacifist holds that killing is wrong, forms of inequality helped pave the way and other inequalities. If we fail to as are the systems of systemic injustice. for conflict. Tackling such injustices is adopt an intersectional approach, and What then if a group to whom extreme the best route to global security. our movement ends up entrenching inequality, we would be well deserving injustice has been done, decides to Instead, money is poured into weapons takes up arms in the cause of liberation of a great deal of the criticism we get. If like Trident. These weapons don’t we truly do tackle inequality as well as or to defend themselves against an protect us from major threats like immediate threat? To criticise those war though, then we will be forging the climate crisis. Warnings have gone pathways that lead to peace caught up in such a situation is rarely unheeded so violence is now being a route to understanding. To do so perpetrated through extreme weather. Tim Gee is the author of ‘Why I am a without first recognising the violence Nevertheless, governments spend 12 Pacifist’ (John Hunt, 2019). This article of the structures they are fighting could times as much on war as they do on is based on his talk at the Edinburgh rightly be called hypocritical. From a climate change. Radical Book Fair on the book. position of working against the same injustice faced by the oppressed group The goal of the pacifist is to take away though, we may well say that we don’t the occasion of all wars. think that violence is right or effective But would this approach and that it always runs the risk of have stopped Hitler? Scottish Left Review entrenching the same dynamics from With an intersectional The Scottish Left Review is a non-profit making publication. which the group is seeking to liberate approach, the answer is Please subscribe or make a donation by going to www. itself. yes. We now know Nazism scottishleftreview.org where you can pay by credit card grew in Germany thanks or by filling in your details in the form below and returning This is an old discussion and, in practice, to racism, nationalism and to Scottish Left Review, 14 West Campbell Street, pacifists over the years have worked fear among the elite of Glasgow G2 6RX in the same spaces as those who have wealth being redistributed chosen other routes. In the Spanish so they sided with the Civil War (among many other conflicts), far-right. Rather than Name pacifists assisted those displaced by the take these as lessons of conflict by setting up refugee camps history though, elites Address and support. In WWII, many pacifists have used the memory of worked with the Friends Ambulance WWII to justify continued Unit, despatched amongst other imperialist violence. missions to travel with the Free French. In the USA in the 1960s, when parts of Spurious comparisons Tel: the civil rights movement carried guns, to Hitler were used to Quakers in Baltimore and Philadelphia inform the decisions E-mail: found ways to work with Black Panthers to assassinate the Congo’s first democratic to run services for the community. In Prime Minister, Patrice Subscription/Donation South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, Lumumba, to imprison non-violent activists continued the Ghana’s independence Date: non-violent campaign, even after the leader, Kwame Nkrumah, 215 ANC and South African Communist Party Subscriptions: £18 (waged), £14 (unwaged), £24 (local and to put hundreds of began training for armed struggle. organisations), £30 (national organisations). thousands of people in Today, pacifists create safe spaces for detention camps in Kenya, Donations will be gratefully recieved. Cheques should be conversation between different sides in which tens of thousands crossed and made payable to: Left Review Scotland Ltd. in conflicts and act as mediators during died, in response to anti- You can also subscribe/donate online at www.scottishleftreview.org wars. Their pacifism means each side colonial unrest. Similar 21 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Surveying the unspoken concepts underpinning higher education Reflecting on his experience of applying to university, Patrick Phillips gives a critical appraisal ast summer I applied to ‘attend’ - when once again I began to think the academic, or lecturer will neither university. ‘What are you attending through the terms of the ‘conditional challenge nor disobey their institution. Lto, or, for?’ was a question that offer’. Let’s think about the words used Why? It would be a threat to their made me wonder. When we say we here: a condition has now been set, already secure existence, which is are ‘going to university,’ how have which in reality is holding back the the status-quo in reality. What we we imagined, or rather perceived, progress of my own life, a man-made are effectively witnessing here is an what our final destination will look condition (pre-set) to the significance unspoken form of neo-ontology. like when it’s all over? Have we as a of my being in the world. It seems to me lecturers are full of society become too obsessed in the It was an out of date offer - it should resentment, often with themselves possessions of degrees, rather than have been for 2020. Information for wanting to break free from the seeing the reality of the modern contained therein was incorrect; for constraints of the academic bubble illusion of having one? Is it not time example, could I complete an access they inhabit, namely, an educational to reconsider university education course during the summer to start my system that promises everything to as only offering one way of learning chosen degree for September 2019 the student but, in reality, delivers and merely as part of a longer, linear (not possible), and mentioning nothing very little. Lecturer or academic - experience in the context of a lived they know they life? are part of the This was not illusion. They envy my first time everyone from in applying, outside, and yet actually it was my they are envied, fourth. Each time because they have from a different financial security, location, Sheffield, a high salary, a Scarborough, decent pension Edinburgh and and a life-long now my latest, future of learning Inverness. I and intellectual was made a promise with ‘Conditional a moderate Offer.’ But prior likelihood of to this offer, interruption. having spoken on For the the phone with proletariat, the academic a life of but leader about the about the telephone conversation I only moderate admission process as a mature student, interruption is still only a dream. he said ‘if the evidence you submit is had with the academic leader, who at the time was on holiday (why Distance between lecturer and not strong enough, I’ll get you to write proletariat nowadays is a bitter divide, an essay’. At this point of the call, I was are programme leaders receiving student applications if they are still on with the wall only getting higher. A happy, pleased with myself, knowing good example is how universities I had plentiful ‘essays’, which I could holiday?). I was deeply disappointed and naturally angry. today publish thousands of books submit as part of my UCAS (Universities each year, on every subject and aspect and Colleges Admissions Service) What had gone wrong and why of life, and yet the proletariat rarely application. had this happened? For myself, it read them (usually because they can’t seems to me, upon reflection, that I had my recent polemic book, which afford them). Society instead still the whole farce and lack of effective I had completed over a year ago, continues to struggle on, with no real communication has to do with a form articles published online, a manifesto improvement along the way. There is of modern indulgence. Let’s face it, to and future projects which I plan to go a deep disconnection here, between be a lecturer today has really become deeper into the experience of human knowledge and experience, where no a way of escaping from the reality of life. I felt in many ways that nothing definitive link has been made. capitalism, a kind of academic holiday. could stop me now, seeing my chosen Therefore, we must decide, which Life is a breeze. There is nothing really degree as part of my overall life’s knowledge or experience in the to worry about. There are no real destiny. modern world today have we placed challenges (apart from the challenge the most value upon. And yet both, And, then it all came crumbling down itself of being in an institutionalised lecturer and proletariat, still don’t - in my own sense of disillusionment environment), and I say this because 22 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 realise how more than ever they need My complaint to the university was and writing up until now been invalid? each other if we are to truly transcend predominately about the inhumane Also, once I’d completed this course, the mess of today’s economic tyranny admission process and the lack of I’d then have to wait until September and inequality. humanity. How students are treated, 2020 (having applied again through UCAS) and then borrow £6,500pa for Lecturers live today like the social in that the whole process of their four years. All this work and effort just worker in a kind of surreal reality. lives, has been reduced to a game so we can spend a bit of time outside They have to live everyday with the of numbers, filling up budgeting of today’s economy. In so many ways, contradictions of our present system, gaps rather than the essence and universities are proof that education is not here or there, but face-to-face in potential they can offer, not just to the a commodity. ‘disquiet’ with them. I have separated university but to society. This is about the lecturer from the proletariat class the fundamental principle: how can I’m not against the idea of a university because their struggles are different, one contribute to society and place but I still think that the way they even though both desire freedom genuine value upon oneself under are run is to an unethical standard. from today’s ruling-elite. Lectures and such a dogmatic system? Why have Universities today, instead of academics are aware of the struggle we established an educational system expanding the imagination of students, outside but it is a situation which they in which it is only offering one way of are shrinking them through neo-liberal still choose to do nothing about, and being recognised and acknowledged corporatisation. For me, the future often ignore. for not so much achievement but for university will be a place where people experience? can come and go freely – with no more ‘You don’t meet the usual entry Let’s look at the process. We have a barriers, no more admissions, and no requirements’ - what an unjust more ‘entry requirements. They will sentence that has become, being pointless £24 for the so-called privilege to be considered. This covers your be a place where everyone can have unethical and pushing away the access to learning for free in order uneducated and the minimum wage employment history, qualifications, personal statement, life experience and to help improve lives, and crucially, class which many have been forced to society too. become. This sentence came to me the like. My knowledge and experience when I considered asking for a second were still not recognised within the This is why, in Scotland, I’m still in opinion from a different academic construct of todays’ socio-economic shock as to why this hasn’t really leader and of a different degree choice, model. I was, in retrospect, doomed. already happened, Education is already with an email then stating that their The only value I now have in society a devolved power and, therefore, ‘decision was final’ when I requested, today is the level of exploitation which there are no excuses as to why not under the Freedom of Information I am prepared to endure. I was told by to implement such a reality. As the Act, information about how they had the vice-principal of the university that Scottish Government has for a long actually made the decision. in the clearance process of a student’s time now prevented tuition fees from application, the process is purely a being paid for home students with Why have we allowed education to ‘mechanical’ one. Hence, the lack of a the effect that universities in Scotland become a commodity? How absurd personal touch. More excuses - at least are substantially funded publicly, it has become to live in a society that’s how I still see it. universities should run akin to the where the natural desire to better needs of the people. If we want an yourself (not just from an economic From the response I received to my economy no longer based on the perspective) has been reduced to a complaint, in the end, all I was offered measurement of GDP but on the well- UCAS application. And, let us not forget was a demoralising and patronising being of a human life, then ending the this is effectively a modern form of re-worded (and now updated) barriers to learning, needs to happen franchising of higher education, with ‘conditional offer’. I wondered what an now. students being treated as a kind of ‘unconditional offer’ would feel like? financial capsule, sold in a sense, keys Where I could complete, for over £200, Patrick Phillips is an artist, thinker, to unlock (not their true potential) a ‘Thinking and Writing for Study Work writer and dreamer (https:// but their neo-Darwin DNA to obtain and Life’ course? I could not believe it. patrickphillips.blog/). His photo financial security that can (supposedly) It was a slap in the face. I mean what memoir, The Lawyer’s Dream, about a once and for all secure your life, but I have been doing for the last 34 years lawyer who started his own circus, was only if you have in your possession that on this planet. Does my experience published in 2019. particularly special degree. mean nothing? Has all my thinking General election 2019 analysis We would welcome any responses to the analysis contained in this issue – what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s missing etcetera – as we intend to continue our coverage of the implications. Please send any comments, articles or suggestions to the editor, Gregor Gall ([email protected]), for the March/April issue by Friday 21 February at the latest.

23 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 ‘The Only Game in Town’ part 2 – the response as cover-up Campbell Martin gives an update on his expose on the PPP scandal in North Ayrshire hen ‘new’ Labour swept to Now, in a follow-up film called ‘The Westminster governments to privatise power in 1997, the party Only Game in Town 2 - The Cover- public assets. Started under the Tory Wembraced the Tories’ Private Up’, MacAulay Gibson Productions government of John Major, PFI allowed Finance Initiative (PFI) method of set out the ongoing establishment private companies to build and maintain funding public sector capital projects. cover-up around the North Ayrshire public buildings, such as hospitals and However, having ridiculed the funding Council schools PPP scandal. The new schools, while accruing massive profits method while in opposition, ‘new’ documentary shows, I believe, the in the process. Labour, once in government, rebranded lengths to which those in positions of However, it was under the ‘new’ PFI as Public Private Partnerships (PPP) power in Scotland are prepared to go Labour governments of Tony Blair and and massively expanded their use. to prevent a thorough investigation into Gordon Brown that PFI, rebranded as Under the Blair/Brown governments, what happened when North Ayrshire PPP, became ‘the only game in town’. any local authority or health board Council decided to build four new Partnerships UK was an organisation that wanted to build new schools or schools, and why the establishment tasked with promoting PPP to public hospitals was told there was only one does not want such an investigation. sector bodies. Initially, Partnerships UK way to fund their projects. Public Private Shockingly, ‘The Only Game in Town 2 was staffed by civil servants seconded Partnerships became the ‘only game in from the Treasury, then under the town’. – The Cover-Up’ reveals North Ayrshire Council actually knew very little about stewardship of Chancellor of the In 2018, MacAulay Gibson Productions its own multi-million-pound PPP Exchequer, Gordon Brown. Eventually, released the documentary ‘The Only contract. It was not the local authority Partnerships UK itself became a Public Game in Town’, which revealed what that ran the project; the Council simply Private Partnership, bringing into its staff actually happened when North Ayrshire did as it was instructed. Councillors representatives of private companies Council embarked on a project to were told they could not see the final who were also involved in delivering PPP build and maintain four new schools, business case of the deal they agreed contracts across the Britain. funded by a PPP. The film showed until after the contract was signed. In Scotland, the then Scottish Executive North Ayrshire Council only ever had established a body of civil servants one credible and viable bid for its called the Financial Partnerships £380m contract, but maintained – and License to profit and plunder Unit, the official remit of which was still maintains – that another bid had to ensure the public purse received provided genuine competition. In ‘The value for money from Scottish PPP Only Game in Town’, viewers see that contracts. However, in fact, the Financial the second bid received by the council Partnerships Unit was the body that had come from a then newly-formed promoted PPP to local authority’s and company with no office, no accounts, health boards. It was also the Financial no experience in building or maintaining Partnerships Unit that instructed public schools, and which had lied in its bid bodies in how to run procurement submission. processes and how to do deals. The company behind the second bid, Although ‘The Only Game in Town 2 Comprehensive Estate Services Limited The new film also provides evidence of – The Cover-Up’ focuses on the North (CES), claimed to be a subsidiary of a senior civil servants in the then Labour- Ayrshire Council Schools PPP Project, major Singapore-based construction Lib Dem Scottish Executive colluding to the film reveals that the establishment’s firm, but this was proved to be an ensure North Ayrshire Council was told reluctance to investigate what happened outright lie. CES also listed four referees, as little as possible about issues affecting is not actually about four schools in whom the company claimed would the local authority’s PPP project. North Ayrshire. The North Ayrshire vouch for its credibility. ‘The Only Game project is the tip of a multi-billion-pound in Town’ showed none of the referees In addition, ‘The Only Game in Town iceberg that those in power want to had given permission for their names to 2 – The Cover-Up’ shows Police Scotland keep hidden from view. be used. attempting to keep secret a number of documents the force holds in relation Campbell Martin is a journalist and Given these irregularities – amongst to the extent of the Strathclyde Police former SNP MSP. The original Scottish others in the North Ayrshire PPP ‘investigation’ into the North Ayrshire Left Review article on ‘The Only Game procurement process – Strathclyde in Town’ documentary was published in PPP procurement process. Possibly Police was asked to carry out an the January/February 2018 (103) issue – because no such ‘investigation’ ever investigation. However, ‘The Only Game see http://www.scottishleftreview.scot/ took place. in Town’ revealed this ‘investigation’ license-to-profit-and-plunder/ . ‘The Only had lasted just two weeks, before being The Private Finance Initiative, as Game in Town 2 – The Cover-Up’ can handed to the Crown Office Procurator respected investigative journalist, John be viewed on YouTube at: https://www. Fiscal Service with a report stating Pilger, recently revealed in his film, youtube.com/watch?v=19kng8RjBXg the police could find no evidence of ‘Dirty War on the NHS’, has been a criminality. The case was dropped. major element of plans by successive 24 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 feedback

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The Big Meeting (2019), decimation of the mining industry in parallels the appearance of political the 1980s is given due airtime without glitterati, Jeremy Corbyn and Dennis Director: Daniel Draper, editor: Christie taking over the film’s more positive Skinner, enjoying brass band parades Allanson outlooks. Henceforth, banners, books, from a municipal balcony. Such glimpses Reviewed by Jackie Bergson bands, businesses and artworks behind the scenes are reasonably low- The Big Meeting is a documentary populate the film’s attention to the key, even in sight of VIP attendees such by film company, Shut Out The Light, richness and diversity of Durham’s as film director, Ken Loach. which follows from the success of its cultural and industrial talent. Mediating Unquestionably, The Big Meeting has Nature Of The Beast (2017) about now throughout its diverse strata of spoken an extraordinary amount to show-and- former Labour MP, Dennis Skinner. Its words and political imagery: features tell. From touching upon the origins of latest feature-length chronicle of the include an overview of locally curated th political reform through the Victorian 134 Durham Miners’ Gala focuses as mining industry paintings by such as capitalist Methodists, which allowed the much upon the ingrained character Tom McGuiness, Norman Cornish and formation of trade unions; to reminding of this annual event as upon the Ted Holloway and an interview with us that this movement helped create people involved in both organising and filmmaker, John Irvin. Women’s roles in a workforce which became globally attending it. business, in the labour movement and regarded as the best and most powerful in the gala’s traditions are given voice. The film opens with panoramic views in the world. Through the lens of this Mention of such as climate change over local fields, soulfully sound-tracked modern, knowledgeable film, we thus and feminism bestow almost effortless by a full-length record of Paul Robeson observe the sun shining upon the Deep River ripples, contrasting with gravitas singing . The resonant singing ‘political theatre’ of the galas’ musical marking pioneers like Hardie, Bevan and voice of this now-deceased left-wing heritage. Brass band members and Benn. political activist, actor, singer and followers of all ages happily talk un- high-profile friend of British mining Split-screen techniques occasionally self-consciously, on and off camera; a communities signifies film director, energise prosaic footage of the gala, live, Scottish bagpipe elegy ultimately Dan Draper’s, deliberate inclusion in a way which Draper felt echoed resounds within Durham Cathedral, of internationally, culturally relevant the filming of 1960s music festival, profoundly moving all who hear it. aspects of Labour and socialism which Woodstock. The result may be to add a Post-screening, Draper is clearly scope back across history. touch more rock-and-roll flavour which A cornucopia of ground-level sound follows, to join us with people taking part in the current gathering of country- wide galas in Durham. Here, Draper grants first spoken voice to 19-year- old Charlotte Austin, who tells of her family’s mining legacy and of her involvement in Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party. Undoubtedly contributing to the film’s political tone as much as its vitality, a multitude of articulate voices, both ordinary and extraordinary, thus abounds: from people taking part in the 2018 gala event; to voice-overs from such as broadcaster and activist, Paul Mason; to a nerve-tingling recording of actor Richard Burton’s description of miners being ‘aristocrats of the working class ... kings of the underworld’. Bitterness about Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative governments’ heartless 25 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 passionate about the significance of there much is to be done. his own politics: ‘galvanising... [and] The public realm section tapping into 60% of [people in Britain consists of nine chapters who represent the] working classes’ covering participation, being his stated ideal. His inclusion of gender, race, democracy film participants’ vocalisations about and environment amongst working miners’ families having ‘hate- other topics. Two of these love’ relationships with the mining involving dialogues between industry proffers shade over bright experts in ‘participation’ and idealism. Vintage film footage of mining separately humanity and conditions involved reaffirms reasons public service are distinctive. for such dichotomous feelings and the Mike Small imagines a post- polarisation of thoughts about the oil Scotland and points out industry being a lifeline, while it also the major environmental took lives. and economic issues the The Big Meeting could never be Scottish Government needs viewed as a politically impartial film. Its to address. sentiments clearly stand with Labour. Cultures of imagination Nevertheless, those who stand closely deals with the press, enough will value the film’s clued-up broadcasting, arts, take on the Labour movement, within literature, music, the focused context of Durham Miners’ architecture and design, Gala. football and separately In creating a documentary which religion! The authors meaningfully augments imagery around include Douglas Fraser, and beyond the 2018 event itself, Draper Ruth Wishart, Richard clearly aims to enlighten his audiences However, the Holloway and many others about the wealth of political and social editors with assistance from 22 advisors each of whom is well worth reading. understanding which he and his crew have marshalled the contributions to Meantime, place and geographics starts broadcasts. The oxygen which his film some cohesion. with Andy Wightman on land reform deigns to breathe into their observations and follows with Malcolm Maclean of the annual event habitat weaves and The introductory chapter by Neil on Gaelic followed by five chapters on illuminates between and beyond its Ascherson states ‘I have a nightmare’ individual cities or communities. George spontaneous viewpoints. The result is after Brexit Britain ‘will become a place Kerevan suggests Edinburgh could a small masterpiece - definitely worth the young want to leave.’ He compares ‘become a global laboratory for post seeing. the SNP to the pre-1918 Irish Home Rule capitalist living’. John Bone says ‘viewed Party in whom ‘the fires had died down Jackie Bergson has worked in the with a wider lens, Aberdeen’s oil boom on the national question’ and notes voluntary sector and commercial comes to appear as a period of hiatus in ‘impatience always breaks through’ and business development in technology and a story of long-term historical decline’. creative sectors. Educated in and living states we must act ‘As If’ Scotland is already independent. In the wider world, William Walker in Glasgow, her political and social views looks at how events have progressed chime left-of-centre. Many of the following chapters since ‘Scotland’s Future’ was produced suffer from a lack of space. The three in 2014. Trident would ‘again be vexing’ Scotland the Brave? Twenty ‘economy’ chapters all highlight and the entirety of Scotland’s defence Years of Change and the the need to break from the ‘casino issues remain ‘to be negotiated’ post- Future of the Nation, 2019, capitalism’ but lack the space to independence. In the final chapter, explain solutions. The social justice Fintan O’Toole looks at England, Brexit Gerry Hassan and Simon Barrow (eds.) section’s eight chapters covers public and Scottish independence within a Luath Press £14.99 health, the NHS, education, housing, historical literary context quoting John Reviewed by Gordon Morgan and the criminal justice system. Gerry Stewart Mill, George Orwell, W.B. Yeats This is a hugely ambitious book to mark McCartney notes the positive effects amongst others. He states that as an the twentieth anniversary of the Scottish of the smoking and alcohol price outsider, what interests him about Parliament. It consists of forty chapters restrictions whilst noting that that Scottish independence ‘is not that each written by a diverse set of people poverty which is the main cause of Scotland might become a new state, whose biographies alone take up ten health mortality relies in reserved but that it might become a new kind of pages. The chapters are grouped into six powers. Douglas Robertson notes that state.’ This is very much the theme of separate sections plus an introduction whilst slum housing has been removed, the book so it is well worth dipping into and each chapter is restricted to disrepair in private housing persists and and buying. between five and ten pages including ‘rentier capitalism’ has returned. Fergus Gordon Morgan sits on the editorial references and the book overall is 340 McNeill notes that the first report of the committee of Scottish Left Review pages long. This means the book is more parliament was on reform of the justice a dip into rather than a continuous read. system and, however, despite progress 26 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Classic recounted: Edwin between rich and poor, and the forced eviction of thousands and the obsessive keeping-up of appearances, installation of landlordism where the Muir’s Scottish Journey, despite glaring sanctimony, by the clan system had previously existed. The Mainstream Publishing, new edition, middle-classes. In the Borders, he visits third stage, Muir argues, is symbolised 1996 Abbotsford House in Galashiels, once by ‘the pictures of slaughtered animals Commented on by Rory Green the home of Sir Walter Scott. Scott, that disfigure the walls of Highland Maggie Chapman reviewed James along with Burns, whose house is also hotels.’ This is the Highlands as a McEnaney’s A Scottish Journeyin visited, was a literary figure seen as the sporting playground, for its wealthy Scottish Left Review (Sept/Oct 2019). embodiment of the kitsch, sentimental estate owners, many with little My eye was drawn to her review as it ‘Scottishness’ to which Muir and his connection to Scotland other than the brought to mind a book of the same generation of Scottish writer were so land they have inherited, and for those name, one briefly referenced but rightly vehemently opposed. For those baptised who come from elsewhere to enjoy this praised by Chapman herself. This other as the Scottish Renaissance, Scott version of wild Scotland. The majority book is Edwin Muir’s Scottish Journey and Burns represented the idealised of locals, growing smaller in number, from 1935. Muir’s book, not ‘the’ Scotland of the tourist; unblemished, serve one of two purposes; to cook and Scottish journey but ‘a’ Scottish journey, quaint, bonnie, and not the Scotland clean for these visitors, or to slaughter is deserving of all those who visit and experienced by the majority of its animals for them; their own form of revisit it’s pages. It remains an important inhabitants. This rather fictitious non-Industrial subjugation. work, reminding us that national unity Scotland contains little remedy for the large-scale unemployment that Muir Was the independence effort of the is never a given, not least in Scotland’s time, the National Party of Scotland, quest for home rule. sees in Glasgow, a city that once housed such misery for him. Nor does the fine the answer to any of the problems Muir understood better than most that imagery of mist-wrapped hills and discussed? From Muir, a resounding no single Scottish experience exists. mirror-like lochs have anything to say no. This movement was to the poet Different pockets of the country can about that stage of industrialism, also an absurd coalition of political beliefs seem as removed from one another as seen in Glasgow, that stays jammed at gathered optimistically beneath the entirely different worlds might. Muir, human exploitation on its path towards banner of self-government. In Muir’s torn as a young boy from his pastoral, affordable luxury. In the Highlands, a own words, ‘The National Party has Edenic Orkney and unhanded into the region that really does accommodate nothing behind it but a desire and Glasgow slums, likened this shift to the majestic, natural beauty that many nothing before it but an ideal.’ Scottish travelling forward in time by a hundred mistake for the whole picture, Muir is no independence, for Muir, would have years, or witnessing the fall of mankind less sympathetic towards the ordinary to mean socialism - one could not be before one’s very eyes. Such was the people living there. They are as much achieved without the other. enormous difference between these two thwarted by a crass romanticism belying Some things have changed, no doubt, places. Industrial life brought to Muir genuine struggle as the rest of Scotland since 1935. Nevertheless, Muir teaches and his family the gravest misfortunes is. us the importance of going and one might predict to befall those living At his time of visiting, Muir believed finding out for ourselves, of taking the amongst such miserable decay and the Scottish Highlands to be in a responsibility as Scots to understand deprivation. These same circumstances third stage of its decline, something Scotland and all her people. Also, the led Muir to socialism, an awakening that had begun with the punishment poet’s remarks about benign, optimistic he readily compared to his religious afflicted upon the Highlanders following nationalism not being enough remain conversion aged fourteen. Culloden. The second phase of decline entirely pertinent. Belief in Scottish It is Muir the socialist and poet whose would, of course, be the Clearances; the independence must always extend to observations we read as he navigates something other than simple agreement Scotland in a borrowed motorcar, one with the basic argument of the party that dances ‘like a high-spirited colt’ line. For Muir, this means socialism, for when pushed anywhere beyond thirty- others perhaps not. five miles-per-hour. Muir convinces us Regardless, those in favour of from the outset that he is not looking, as independence must understand what a tourist might, for a Scotland historical home-rule would, and should, mean or romantic, but rather the Scotland for all of Scotland. It would be naïve to which presents itself ‘to one who is not assume that we are inextricably united, looking for anything in particular, and is rather than culturally diverse. Instead, willing to believe what his eyes and ears we must take the issues affecting each tell him’. of Scotland’s communities to heart. What then, does Muir see? He sees This requires a concerted effort to fight the kind of ignorance often attributed much about Scotland that he admires, towards those from whom we are trying dislikes, and much that can only be of break. hindrance to anything like progress. He understands and effectively articulates Rory Green is a 22-year old youth the various contradictions and worker from the Highlands who has hypocrisies often found strung together recently graduated in Scottish Culture in the identity of a place. and Heritage from the University of the Highlands and Islands In Edinburgh, this is poignantly characterised by the ugly divide 27 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Slavoj Žižek Sex and the Sex and the Failed Absolute does come The transcendental, on the other from is the re-experiencing of the hand, is the frame that defines the Failed Absolute, excitement that characterised reading coordinates of our everyday reality. Kant Bloomsbury, 2019, £20.00 his first book back in 1989. inaugurated the realisation that what we Reviewed by Sean Sheehan take as reality is shaped by categories Dialectical materialism, for Žižek, Žižek’s first English-language book, The in the mind of the subject (cause and is a philosophy endorsed by the Sublime Object of Ideology, appeared in effect, for example, and substance). fundamental undecidability that 1989 and was an immediate sensation, He deemed the core reality of objects quantum physics points towards comparable to watching Pulp Fiction that lies behind their appearance – the as the oscillating nucleus of the when it came to cinemas in 1994, or ‘thing-in-itself’ – to be impenetrable and universe. Dialectical materialism has an seeing one of Alexander McQueen’s ultimately unknowable. unmistakable Stalinist ring but Žižek, runway shows a decade later. There in a book uncharacteristically free of Žižek looks to Hegel and Lacan for was a realisation that the book – nay, the kind of jokes that would once have the radical steps that locate the split the very first chapter ‘How Did Marx gleefully cashed in on this, is deadly between subject and object within Invent the Symptom’ – was intellectually serious in stating the reversal behind the subject itself. And his second electrifying. It distinguished its author how this term should be understood. and proved to be the launch pad for his theorem pinpoints sex as the space where the human animal confronts the rocketing journey to international fame. Stalin defined dialectical materialism in ontological incompleteness that renders terms of an interconnected whole that Fast forward to 2019 and Žižek’s latest everything as torn. Human sexuality is constantly underwent development and book, Sex and the Failed Absolute, characterized by a meta-physical force change, driven by inherently natural induces an instant shot of déjà vu. that spiritualises sexual enjoyment as contradictions. Žižek, instead, proposes Hostile critics might say this is because a goal-in-itself. It is observed how the disconnections and partial perspectives, a lot of what he says here can be Catholic church, fearing this claim to a fueled by contingent changes that found scattered across his previous higher dimension in our lives, ironically occur out of order, either as premature publications. But this would be unfair seeks to keep us at the level of raw failures or as registrations after the because he has accomplished a animality by insisting on tying sex with event. Repetition not development; remarkable and pure distillation of ideas procreation. that, yes, he has been repeating but also unorientables replace evolutionary refining and honing over three decades. progress. Sexuality bears the subject’s indelible failure to fill the incompleteness at the The result is a penetrating new study Contradictions remain ubiquitous but heart of being. Difference between that redefines a term that most would are no longer reducible to a blasé, two sexes, far from marking male and be wary of returning to: dialectical positive-negative struggle of opposites female as positive entities, is the pure materialism. What the feeling of déjà vu (a là male/female, yin/yang and so difference, the inconsistency, that in reading on). Contradiction is constitutive and, cuts into any sexual identity. A part of because it is at the Žižek’s reservations about #MeToo is its heart of everything, whatever arises inability to recognise the antagonisms is necessarily that undercut notions of an individual inconsistent and possessing an inner identity prior to not-All. What we social mediation. think reality ought The third theorem transposes the earlier to be -- something two into unorientable surfaces – the substantial and Möbius strip and the Klein bottle – as whole - is deeply ways of understanding and visualising thwarted by its the puzzles and paradoxes of quantum own impossibility of physics. The explication of the kind of being. This deficiency materialism at work in the universe is in reality is what fiendishly intricate at times and requires underlies the first of close reading. It bears testimony to the the theorems that power of the Lacanian death drive, the Žižek structures his self-reproducing loop of desire that book around. Reality endlessly embodies its lack by aiming is marked by a failure for something that it knows cannot to realise itself, arising be reached. Žižek’s death drive is the from a fundamental pursuit of what he calls ‘less than incompleteness. At nothing’ and the intelligence and energy a sub-atomic level, that fuels his drive gives life to his there are no ‘bits’ of dauntless endeavour. solid stuff, there is no Sean Sheehan is author of ‘Žiżek: A core or dense centre, Guide for the Perplexed’ (Continuum, just a proto-reality of 2012) and’ A Guide to Herodotus’ quantum oscillations. Histories’ (Bloomsbury, 2018). This is materialism without - as we ordinarily understand it - matter. 28 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Gardner Thompson, Legacy a movement. Given the hostility in Eventually, after the Second World many European countries which some War, Britain had to admit defeat in its of Empire: Britain, Zionism Christians displayed towards the attempts to satisfy both Jews and Arabs and the Creation of Israel, minority Jewish communities, it is not and withdrew. The Jewish colonists, Saqi Books, £20.00, 9780863563614 surprising that the idea of a Jewish for that is what they were, were better Reviewed by Sandy Hobbs homeland would appeal to many of organized than the native Palestinians Sixty years and more ago, when those discriminated against. Two points and, thus, established the state of Israel involved in socialist politics, I had many must be made, however. The potential we have today. homeland was not always seen as Jewish comrades. When I and other Thompson’s book is essentially a work Palestine. Theodor Herzl, who organized socialists organised the first Glasgow of history but, of course, he argues that the first Zionist Congress in Basel in meeting of the Campaign against looking at that history has implications 1897, saw Palestine as the ideal setting Racial Discrimination, there was a for current politics. He says that this is but considered Uganda and Argentina as friendly report in the local Jewish press. a ‘uniquely difficult’ colonial problem possibilities. Many Jews were strongly Observing politics today, that past left over from an ‘earlier age’. Only the opposed to Zionism. certainly seems like a ‘foreign country’, ‘central players’, Jews and Arabs, can to use Hartley’s phrase. Prominent Thompson treats the Balfour Declaration bring about a resolution. However, socialists, including the leader of the as the key event leading to the setting Thompson suggests that if any external Labour Party, are accused of hostility up the state of Israel. On behalf of Lloyd agency can play a part, it is Britain. It of Jews, so-called ‘anti-Semitism’. George’s (British) government, the should shed ‘stale partisanship’ and seek There are still Jewish socialists but the Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour issued justice and peace. loudest Jewish voices seem to be those a statement saying it would facilitate Thompson does not explore what might complaining of anti-Semitism on the the establishment of a ‘national home be involved in Britain following such left. What has happened? It is difficult for the Jewish people’ in Palestine. a course. One current problem is that not to see this as due at least in part to The British Empire was at war. The supporters of Israel loudly proclaim any a mythical notion of Israel. There seems Declaration assumed a future victory criticism of its policies as anti-Semitic. to be a widespread belief, especially and the consequent breaking up of This is despite the fact that there are amongst religious Jews, that Zionism is the Ottoman Empire. This transpired. Jewish critics of these policies. At the two millennium old desire of Jews to Palestine came under the control of present, ‘anti-Semitism’ is employed so return to their ancestral homeland and the British, rather than the Ottoman, widely that socialists in the Labour Party that the state of Israel represents the Empire. This was later approved by a are severely constrained because the fulfillment of that goal. League of Nations mandate. National Executive seems unwilling to Gardner Thompson’s Legacy of Empire The wishes of the existing population distinguish between criticism of ‘Israel’ treats the history of Zionism and Israel of Palestine were not given high and hostility to ‘Jews’. rather differently. Zionism emerged priority. The Balfour Declaration had in the late nineteenth century as The pressure that many British Jews are referred to the need not putting on socialists derives from their to prejudice their civil and quasi-religious conception of the State religious rights, but how of Israel. However, Israel is not God- could this be achieved if given. It has arisen from a number of another population was actual historical contingencies. These to be introduced to their contingencies are clearly outlined in territory against their will? Thompson’s book. Therein lies the Essentially this was power book’s political significance. Socialists politics at work. British generally can find in it justification government promotion of for arguing that Israel is essentially a a Jewish homeland was colonial power and, as such, exploits the based on perceptions of colonised. As someone who studies the its own imperial interests, social psychology of beliefs, I am aware coloured by prejudices. It that irrational beliefs are difficult to did not view favourably break down. Conceptions of Israel which the large-scale migration seem to be common amongst Jewish of European Jews to communities are essentially mythical. Britain. To Lloyd George, People often stick to emotionally Jews were the people satisfying but irrational ideas. As a of the Holy Bible he had socialist, I hope that this book may studied from childhood. contribute to the global struggle against Zionism’s main proponent all forms of racism by giving strength to was Chaim Weizmann, a those who are seeking realistic and fair cultured British academic. solutions to the political problems in By contrast, Palestinians Israeli and Palestinian relations. seemed to Britons at the time to be relatively Sandy Hobbs is a founder memory of the backward people, who International Society for Contemporary might benefit from the Legend Research. His archives are entrepreneurial skills available at Glasgow Caledonian of Jewish incomers. University. 29 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 Shoshana Zuboff, The Age about him and his students. Although maximization.’ ultimately unsuccessful, his quest Social conditioning is now the ultimate of Surveillance Capitalism, nevertheless shows how Facebook and prize for these technological ‘Masters Profile Books, 2019, £10.99 Cambridge Analytica pilfered data from of the Universe’. Their position papers Reviewed by Colin Fox millions of people during the 2016 US were written by the infamous Harvard Whilst reading this international election and Brexit referendum. behaviourist and author of Walden bestseller by Harvard academic, Networking was supposed to offer Two, B.F. Skinner. ‘The real problem Shoshana Zuboff, I also happened to solutions to millions of problems in the is not whether machines think but watch the Netflix documentary,The form of social connection, access to whether men do’ Skinner insisted in Great Hack, about the 2018 Cambridge information, time saving convenience his 1960s heyday. The founders of Analytica scandal. Both the paperback and support. But, said Carroll, ‘so how Google, Facebook and Microsoft today and the film exposed a practice that did the dream of the connected world see surveillance capitalism through claims human experience to be a free tear us apart?’ his same logic of accumulation. raw material for commerce. Google They see machines becoming more invented this ‘surveillance capitalism’ The misuse of information, data sets and more invincible. Whereas the on a scale that is both astonishing and patterns of behavior has been part tyranny of Mussolini, Hitler and and disturbing, conducting more than of the answer and on an unprecedented Stalin operated through the means 1.2tn internet searches annually and scale. ‘Project Alamo’, the code name of violence, according to Zuboff, 21st manipulating freely all the information Cambridge Analytica gave to their century ‘instrumentation’, surveillance it finds. The market value of Google now goal of winning the 2016 election capitalism and totalitarian power exceeds $600bn with 2bn customers campaign for Donald Trump, targeted prioritises behavioral conditioning. using its services every month. 5.9m people unbeknown to them via Advertising accounts for virtually every individual Facebook ads in bell-weather On reflection, it’s perhaps little surprise dollar Google and Facebook earns. states among those they deemed ‘the surveillance capitalism developed in the twenty first century amid such ruthless Both corporations, declares Zuboff, are persuadables’. Such was the slender neo-liberalism. ‘It arrived on the scene ‘like an invasive species of predators margin of victory for Trump in the with democracy already on the ropes’ who drive its business at speeds neither end that this pivotal act could well concludes Zuboff. With its enormous public institutions nor individuals could have made the difference between his wealth and political influence in mind possibly follow’. These ‘predators’ winning the White House and losing. she is reminded of Thomas Paine’s know everything about our lives yet This data was taken from millions of wisdom when he advocated increasing ‘their operations are designed to be people without their knowledge. And the capabilities of common people as unknowable to us’ she adds. ‘They revel like David Carroll’s all requests to know against aristocratic privilege ‘because in a world in which technology users are what was taken were refused. After a body of men holding themselves no longer customers but raw material in a prolonged enquiry, The House of accountable to nobody ought not to be an entirely new industrial system‘. Commons Culture Select Committee trusted by anybody.’ In The Great Hack, New York University Report on Cambridge Analytica in 2018 Surveillance capitalism is, argues Zuboff, professor, David Carroll, tries to find concluded that British election laws a tyranny that thinks itself invincible out what information Facebook holds are no longer fit for purpose because social media privacy has been so and she is reminded of an earlier era of compromised. Guardian investigative danger. Writing in 1940 the US former journalist, Carole Cadwalladr, went Trotskyist and author of The Managerial even further concluding that since Revolution, James Burnham, forecast Facebook refuses to let people have the victory of German political leaders access to their own data ‘It is impossible via ‘A new managerial class composed to have free and fair elections’. of executives, technicians, bureaucrats and soldiers who would concentrate all ‘Those companies who once claimed power and privilege in their own hands: to embody the promise of information an aristocracy of talent and privilege capitalism as a liberating and democratic built on a semi-slave society’. George social force’ concluded Zuboff, now Orwell was scathing of Burnham’s believe regulations to be burdensome ‘cowardly’ pronouncements and and safeguards restrictive. Surveillance accused the right-winger of ‘bowing capitalism clearly intends, therefore, to down before fascism’. Hannah Arendt, keep democracy at bay. equally dismissive, declared his forecasts Zuboff asks three questions about the as a perversion of egalitarianism that functioning of the world’s digital media sought to treat all others as insignificant. platforms: ‘Who knows what data they ‘Surveillance capitalism is a profoundly have?’, ‘Who decides what they keep?’ anti-democratic social force … an anti- and ‘Who decides who decides?’ To the egalitarian juggernaut’ concludes Zuboff first: The machine, the elite executives who is determined to insist humankind at the top of Google, Facebook, does not succumb to the claimed Microsoft, Amazon and Apple. To the inevitability of surveillance capitalism’s second: The ‘narrow business model’ ‘illegitimate power.’ determines the parameters. To the Colin Fox is National Co-spokesperson of third: ‘Financial capital bound by the Scottish Socialist Party the disciplines of shareholder value 30 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 VLADIMIR McTAVISH’S Kick up the Tabloids

s the bells rang in the New back end of 2019. Your first re-action to order any food you want from a Year and 2019 drew to a close, would be: ‘What the fuck’s going on? whole range of local restaurants. Amany on the left were still in Have I entered some kind of parallel And that food appears at your a state of shock that a philandering universe where everyone lives in front door very quickly due to the sociopath who had lied to the world ruled by Dom Jolly?’ futuristic miracle of some poor bastard cycling up a steep hill with a country, lied to MPs, lied to the Indeed, if you had been in a coma massive fridge on their back. Queen, attempted to shut down due to an accident where you’d lost Parliament and dodged multiple the use of your legs, and you were If you work for Deliveroo. You don’t medias interviews had still managed informed about this on regaining have a boss or a line manager. to win an 80-seat majority at the consciousness, you would probably Instead, you’re employed by an General Election, on a manifesto assume you would qualify for algorithm. Which is futuristic and which essentially amounted to three incapacity benefit, only to be told sinister. But your working conditions words ‘Get Brexit Done’. ‘No, you don’t, you’re fit to work. come straight out of the pages of Britain has now voted twice in the You were assessed three years ago Charles Dickens, cycling hundreds space of three-and-a-half years to when you were still in the coma. of miles a week in the pouring rain commit increasingly masochistic You’ve got a job in a call centre, but on a zero hours contract. Young acts of self-harm. I’m still unclear you’re actually up on a disciplinary people today fall into two distinct which was the worse, voting for right now for taking a three-year categories. They are either clinically Brexit or voting to put Boris Johnson toilet break’. obese, or they are anorexically thin because they spend their entire in charge of Brexit. Either way, if Anyone who had been in a coma working week cycling hundreds you’re vaguely left-leaning and don’t for ten years would struggle with of miles delivering food to lazy fat live in Scotland, the future is pretty conversational English. You’d be bastards. It’s Boris’s Britain in a bleak. At least, we in Scotland have a wondering what the Hell this thing nutshell. potential way out of this mess. Brexit was that everyone was talking In fact, the only way in which Britain about. And it’s not the only word or I imagine our vocabulary will have could be more fucked up would be phrase to have entered the lexicon in more new words by the end of if enough members of the Royal the past decade. ‘Food bank’ wasn’t 2020, most of them synonyms for Family were to be wiped out in a a term in common use at the start of ‘shitstorm’ Happy New Year! plane crash to put Prince Andrew on 2010, and ‘zero hours’ was a concept the throne. yet to find its name. We’ve had two Queen’s Speeches Ten years ago, ‘No Deal’ wasn’t a in Parliament plus one Queen’s threat to the country’s economy, Speech on TV within the space it was one half of the title of a TV of the last two months. Added to show that somehow resurrected the fact, she’s already been given the moribund media career of Noel a whole pile of bullshit from her Edmunds. ‘Vape’ wasn’t a word ten Prime Minister as to why she had years ago. Not only would you not to suspend Parliament, I reckon she understand what the word meant, probably hasn’t got a clue what the you’d also be utterly flummoxed by Hell is going on around her. Either the number of people on the streets that, or at the age of ninety-four, she sucking fruit-scented water vapour just assumes she’s suffering from out of contraptions that looked like Soviet-era sex toys. ‘Uber’ wasn’t a dementia. word ten years ago, unless you speak But then, so do quite a lot of the rest German. Nor was ‘deliveroo’. of us. We live in such grim times, Deliveroo sums up the age we live the only solace many of us have is in. It’s futuristic and Victorian at the to pretend we are imagining current same time. If you’re too lazy to get events, rather than witnessing the off your arse and walk to the kitchen country plunge off a cliff. to cook your own meals, you can Imagine if you had been in a coma get the futuristic technology of an for ten years and you woke up at the app on your phone which allows you 31 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020 1912 Scotrail.qxp_Layout 1 17/12/2019 11:53 Page 1

ASLEF For train drivers, trade unions & the Labour Party since 1880

ScotRail is failing to deliver for the people of Scotland. The performance of Abellio has been truly terrible. The company has failed to recruit enough drivers, is continually skipping stations, does not have enough rolling stock, has used HSTs that have not been refurbished, and has a history of poor industrial relations. But we don’t want to replace one failing private train operator with another because the model is broken. It is clear to everyone – to businesses as well as passengers, and to everyone who works in the rail industry – that privatisation has failed. The Tories privatised our railways and the SNP refuses to bring our services back into public ownership. But it’s time to stand up for Scotland and run our railway as a public service, not as a vehicle to make a private profit.

Mick Whelan, general secretary Dave Calfe, president Kevin Lindsay, ASLEF’s organiser in Scotland

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 General Secretary: Mick Cash President: Michelle Rodgers 32 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 115 January/February 2020