British Unionist Myth Exploded
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© Patricia M`Cafferty, May 2004. Abstract
PATRICIA MCCAFFERTY WORKING THE 'THIRD WAY': NEW LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS, AND SCOTTISH DEVOLUTION THESIS PRESENTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW MAY 2004 © PATRICIA M`CAFFERTY, MAY 2004. ABSTRACT Labour's election victory in 1997 was heralded as a new era, the dawn of a Third Way, a novel attempt to chart a unique political course overcoming the perceivedlimitations of both New Right and Old Labour. In this thesis I explore the era of New Labour generally and, in particular, the impact of the Third Way on working lives. Key to my analysis is New Labour's attempt to synthesise oppositional interests,in particular those of capital and labour. This involves a crucial rhetoric of flexibility, competitivenessand partnership. My research explores the rhetoric of New Labour in relation to the reality of this new force in power. It does this by: " drawing out key features in the development of New Labour, especially its relation to Old Labour; " examining central elementsof New Labour ideology; " arguing that Scotland should be seen as central to the transition from Old to New :Labour; " utilising a case study of industrial relations developments in a major electronics factory in the West of Scotland and, to a lesser extent, key developmentsin public sector employment. My main finding is that where New Labour's ideology promisespositive benefits, the form of its implementation has negative impacts for workers. Since I take New Labour as a process, my thesis concludes with a more speculative exploration of possible future developments,both in relations to New Labour's role in them, and their possible impact on the New Labour project. -
Post-Brexit: Thatcherites Snatch Power
Rail guards stand firm: RMT Coup and counter strikers hold private train coup: tyranny in operater Abellio to account Turkey • see pages 12,10&11 • see page 8 £1 • issue 481 • 5th – 18th August 2016 scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com POST-BREXIT: THATCHERITES SNATCH POWER As Labour implodes, the choice is independence or a generation of Tory rule • SCRAP TRIDENT! Jobs not bombs • NO TO RACISM! Refugees welcome • END POVERTY PAY! £10 min. wage Thanks to Eddie Truman for the inspiration EDDIE TRUMAN EDDIE TRUMAN: hundreds have paid tribute to Eddie, who died on July 1st. Eddie was a founder member of the SSP and made friends across the political divide through a lifetime of tireless activism. Eddie is pictured above with former SSP MSP Frances Curran (photo: Craig Maclean) and left, with his partner Catriona Grant. A Voice -style tribute was handed out at his funeral Hundreds remember Eddie Truman: socialist, polemicist and grandfather by Ken Ferguson has deprived us all of years we analysed the world every mo - old grandfather but a carer for should have been able to share ment he was awake. his grandchildren. EDDIE TRUMAN, one of the with him and for me, as I am “He analysed it politically, “Last year Eddie started to founder members of the SSP, sure with others, leaves an socially, and economically. He become unwell and from mid- long term socialist activist, aching of sadness and regret. analysed it through philosophy April until his death on July 1st, photographer and polemicist in At his funeral at a packed and music. His analysis and he was in hospital three times. -
SLR I15 March April 03.Indd
scottishleftreview comment Issue 15 March/April 2003 A journal of the left in Scotland brought about since the formation of the t is one of those questions that the partial-democrats Scottish Parliament in July 1999 Imock, but it has never been more crucial; what is your vote for? Too much of our political culture in Britain Contents (although this is changing in Scotland) still sees a vote Comment ...............................................................2 as a weapon of last resort. Democracy, for the partial- democrat, is about giving legitimacy to what was going Vote for us ..............................................................4 to happen anyway. If what was going to happen anyway becomes just too much for the public to stomach (or if Bill Butler, Linda Fabiani, Donald Gorrie, Tommy Sheridan, they just tire of the incumbents or, on a rare occasion, Robin Harper are actually enthusiastic about an alternative choice) then End of the affair .....................................................8 they can invoke their right of veto and bring in the next lot. Tommy Sheppard, Dorothy Grace Elder And then it is back to business as before. Three million uses for a second vote ..................11 Blair is the partial-democrat par excellence. There are David Miller two ways in which this is easily recognisable. The first, More parties, more choice?.................................14 and by far the most obvious, is the manner in which he Isobel Lindsay views international democracy. In Blair’s world view, the If voting changed anything...................................16 purpose of the United Nations is not to make a reasoned, debated, democratic decision but to give legitimacy to the Robin McAlpine actions of the powerful. -
Renewing Economic Democracy
Issue 30 September/October 2005 scottishleftreview £2.00 WHAT NEXT FOR EUROPE? scottishleftreviewIssue 30 September/October 2005 Contents Comment ........................................................2 Do we need Europe anyway? ........................12 André Brie Feedback .........................................................4 Power/imbalance ..........................................16 Ian Davidson Five years of SLR ............................................6 Sanctuary in Europe? ....................................18 Robin McAlpine Bob Thomson Another constitution .......................................8 Renewing economic democracy ...................20 Henry McCubbin Andy Cumbers The motor of neoliberalism ..........................10 Uncle Sam hasn’t lost the plot... ..................22 Bob Crow Derrick White Blair in the lead). That we got there under the propulsion of Comment this coalition is all we need to know to assume that this isn’t over. Blair has defiantly told us all that he is going to address o many it may feel like having a debate about the future shape the concerns of those who voted know by giving them a double Tof Europe is like having a debate about whether a dead mouse helping of what they didn’t want in the first place. He is like would have preferred cheese or chocolate. Surely the decisive a Victorian schoolmaster pouring twice as much cod liver oil rejections of the proposed European constitution in France and down the throat of the child who complained. Holland – along with the almost certain rejection -
But Fair Wages, Benefits and Union
Bedroom Tax: As the Voice went to press, the High Court in London ruled the Bedroom Tax did not unlawfully discriminate against disabled people. Here we look at the brutal reality of living in the shadow of eviction caused by the tax. • see page 5 £1 • issue 421 • 2nd - 15th August 2013 facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice RETREAT: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said he was “embarrassed” by revelations that his Church’s own pension fund has links to Wonga - the payday lender he had said he wanted to put out of business NEITHER WONGA NBUTO FAIRR W ATGEHS, BEENE FBITS IANSD UHNIOON RPIGHS TS • See inside - pages 2, 6 & 7 facebook.com/ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice NEWS Royal baby media blitz can’t bcy Keon Fenrgusocn eal ConDem claswosrld o f mwisery foar the r many alongside opulence for the DAY after day of royal baby few. overkill with colour This however is a world supplements, mindless TV endorsed enthusiastically by coverage and sick-making all the No parties and most “experts” gushing may fill the shamefully by the misnamed media but back on planet Labour Party. Scotland the reality of the Without the participation if ConDem class war continues. Labour in Better Together, the Elsewhere in this Voice we No camp would be exposed look at the continuing impact as the pro-bosses, anti- of the war on welfare and worker bunch they are. wages which is slashing That’s why the Yes living standards and driving campaign needs to ruthlessly increasing numbers into the expose the fact that Labour arms of loan sharks. -
EXIT the BRITISH ROAD SCOTLAND 18/ 9 Make Tories History People Not Profit Scrap Trident Choose Your Government
Armed police: cops with Rejecting UKIP: guns could routinely be on pics from the demo the streets in the Highlands in Edinburgh • see page 11 • see page 2 £1 • issue 438 • 16th –29th May 2014 facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice EXIT THE BRITISH ROAD SCOTLAND 18/ 9 Make Tories history People not profit Scrap Trident Choose your government WESTMINSTER More fat cat rule Austerity & cuts Bombs not jobs Rejected Tories rule AS THE Tories take the lead over Labour in the UK and showing growing Yes support are suppressed and both promise more austerity, nuclear missiles and savage evidence mounts that the scares and smears of Project attacks on the poor, the prospects offered by staying in Fear are failing. the United Kingdom looks less and less attractive. From the Oxford Union to the trade unions, the Scottish No wonder the No camp faces mounting panic. Socialist Party is driving home the message that Uncharismatic Better Together boss Alistair Darling independence opens the way to a more just, democratic faces the push, Scottish Office polls – paid for by us – Scotland, putting people before profit. facebook.com/ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice OPPOSING UKIP INDY LEFT SAYS NO: the pro-independence Scottish left descended on Edinburgh Corn Exchange on the evening of Friday 9 May to declare Scotland a UKIP-free zone and tell Nigel Farage and his nazi Scottish Defence League and Britain First minders that their politics of hate and lies will never be welcome in our country PHOTOS: Craig Maclean (top left, bottom right) and Scott Macdonald 2 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 438 EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson TWO YEARS into their relentlessly negative campaign – codenamed, in best Biggles style, as Operation Fear – early signs Growing smell of fear of a change of tone if not message are emerging from the bowels of Better Together. -
• NO EVICTIONS • VOTE YES to MAKE the TORIES HISTORY Facebook.Com/Scottishsocialistvoice @Ssv Voice NEWS Playing Party Games
BEDROOM TAX SPECIAL: As the ConDems try to make April Fools of us all, the people take to the streets to fight back • see pages 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 £1 • issue 414 • 29th March - 11th April 2013 www.scottishsocialistvoice.net AXE THE BEDROOM As 105,000 Scots face the Bedroom Tax attacks, the ConDems award millionaires an eTxtra £A107,000X a year in tax cuts... • NO EVICTIONS • VOTE YES TO MAKE THE TORIES HISTORY facebook.com/ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice NEWS Playing party games bwy Richiei Vetnton h pdespeerately juoggling thpe bills tlo ethat inev’itasbly follo w lwhein pevo - slaeshed bacs k council meetings to survive, as they have to choose ple on rock-bottom incomes are just four a year! THE Tory onslaught on the between heating, or eating, or expected to cough up from £10 In contrast to this stance, the poorest to pay for the million - keeping a roof over their head. to £22 a week. opposition Labour councillors in aires’ tax cuts and bankers’ From the outset, the Scottish North Ayrshire proposed a Mo - bailouts has put both Labour and Socialist Party has been up-front SSP Motion tion very similar to Jim Bollan’s, the SNP to the test. in calling for abolition of the The first such motion raised including the call for no evic - And behind their headline- Bedroom Tax. anywhere by a councillor was tions by the council. The SNP grabbing statements lurks a lot But whilst helping to build a put by the Scottish Socialist delayed a decision, seeking legal of fudge, party political manoeu - movement to bring about it’s Party councillor in West Dun - advice - and their leader told me vring and outright cynicism and downfall, we have also cam - bartonshire, Jim Bollan. -
Scottish Leftreview
ScottishLeft Review Issue 106 July/August 2018 - £2.00 'best re(a)d' 1 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 106 July/August 2018 LRD TUC Sept15_Layout 1 10/07/2015 14:09 Page 1 FIGHT ANTI-UNION LAWS www.rmt.org.uk General Secretary: Mick Cash President President: PSeaneter P iHoylenkney 2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 106 July/August 2018 feedback comment Killing independence ‘stone dead’? eaders will keenly recall the result would square their circle, they have needed reassurance in order to turn of the independence referendum quickly been disavowed of this. The 45:55 into 55:45. Essentially, this was Ron 18 September 2014 – 55% report has created an almighty right- an appeal to the right – of voters, against and 45% for. After the dust had left chasm within the independence business, commentators and the settled a bit and after much grinding of movement. Sure enough, there was reviewsmedia. For them, it was a message of teeth, it was concluded by mainstream already such a chasm but it was a independence won’t scare the horses nationalist and unionist thinkers that relatively minor one while both right and things won’t be that different the critical reason why more voters and left could have continued illusions under independence. were not turned on to the case for in what independence could be. But In making such an appeal, the independence was down to poor now the Wilson report, released on 25 miscalculations have been several-fold. economics – specifically, that the issue May, has shown in a disarmingly explicit First and probably most importantly, of a currency and future economic way what independence would look in appealing to the right, the support growth were poorly thought out in like under the SNP. -
10/Hour Min. Wage NOW • End Zero Hours
“People’s manifesto”: Sandra SNP: John McAllion on Webster on the party that’s not what the new wave of afraid to put people before profit MPs can expect • see page 2 • see page 5 £1 • issue 457 • 24th April – 7th May 2015 scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com Before the election/after the election... INCREASE ACTION AGAINST AUSTERITPHOTO: CYraig Macle an • £10/hour min. wage NOW • End zero hours contracts • Axe anti-trade union laws ScottishSocialistVoice.wordpress.com /ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice SANDRA WEBSTER by Sandra Webster, SSP national co-spokesperson WE SHOULD be proud of our manifesto which is a blueprint A PEOPLEF’EASTURED PHMOTO by CrAaig MaclNean IFESTO for our policies. Policies which visers. A friend with a sick child present our vision of independ - was sanctioned recently as she ence and a statement of intent could not attend her weekly in - that for us independence is terview because her child was only the beginning. ill. This led to her family being af - It truly is a people’s manifesto fected and having to rely on a which puts the interests of hu - food bank. Sanctions don’t only mans before big business. In - affect the individual but punish vesting in people rather than in the whole family. Other reasons global corporations will create a for sanctioning include not ap - more equal society. Trickle plying for 60 jobs a day, or being down economics have been late. We will put an end to this proven not to work in this gov - regime and allow staff to support ernment’s five years in office. -
Facebook.Com/Scottishsocialistvoice @Ssv Voice INDEPENDENCE
One year on: Colin Fox Emily: Denise on the mass grassroots Morton on Emily pro-indy campaign Davison’s legacy • see page 5 • see page 9 £1 • issue 419 • 7th - 20th June 2013 facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice Labour, Tories: BITTER AS bankers’ pal Alastair Darling wooed the dwindling band of Scottish Tories in Stirling, Labour unionist splits - led by Gordon Brown - widened. TOGETAH growing reEvulsion R at sharing a platform with the Tories and Lib Dems behind the savage austerity cuts saw the first No camp split, with ‘United With Labour’ going their own way. Former Labour MP and MSP John McAllion lifts the lid on the DAVID CAMERON: master of cuts ALISTAIR DARLING: ‘UK OK’ murky stew - see page 3... facebook.com/ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice INDEPENDENCE bLy Kaen bFergouson ur and Tories: bitter toachigevements itn bhenefiets, her alth and social provision - all accom - As the latest round of benefit cuts panied by crocodile tears and hand slash the income of the disabled wringing about “hard times”. and Bedroom Tax horror tales grow The truth is that Labour is in the anybody looking for relief from midst of a wholesale break with its Labour had their hopes dashed by historic past achievements under shadow chancellor Ed Balls who the cloak of making “communi - warned of “iron rule” and cuts in ties” responsible for services and winter payments to wealthier pen - sub letting key services to the vol - sioners under Labour. untary sector in what will amount The latest stage in the auction to to back door privatisation. prove who can be toughest on the poor, ConDems or Labour, came Fault line as it was revealed that former Anyone with illusions about Labour Chancellor Alistair Dar - being saved from the wicked To - ling is speaking at the conference ries by valiant Labour needs ur - of that isolated fringe group, the BALLS! shadow chancellor warned of ‘iron rule’ and more cuts gently to read the not so small Scottish Tories, as Better Together print and understand that Red Ed, chief. -
Ssv Voice EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson 50 Year Grip on Scottish Politics Is Increasingly Endangered
John McAllion: ‘Labour Party are Scrap Trident: Glasgow committed to even more austerity demo on 4 April. Faslane than the ConDem Coalition...’ blockade on 13 April • see page 5 • see page 12 £1 • issue 455 • 27th March – 9th April 2015 scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com As official report reveals 50% of Scottish wealth is owned by just 10% of the people, Labour’s hatchet-woman Rachel Reeves spells out her party’s policy: We are not the party of people on benefits. We don’t want to be seen, and we’re not, the party to represent those RACHEL REEVES Labour MP, Shadow who are out of work Secretary of State for Work and Pensions We say: • £10/hour min. wage NOW • End zero hours contracts • Axe anti-trade union laws ScottishSocialistVoice.wordpress.com /ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson 50 year grip on Scottish politics is increasingly endangered. NICK CLEGG makes a desper - The likely winners, the SNP, ate bid to rally about to be by contrast have occupied the so - eclipsed Scottish Lib Dems and WWIILLLL UUNNIIOONNIISSTT cial democratic ground deserted makes fantasy world claims by Labour of universal benefits, about his party defeating the SNP. a public NHS, free prescriptions In the heart of Red Clydeside WWOOEESS OOPPEENN DDOOOORR and opposition to Trident and a in Clydebank Ed Miliband twists droves of former Labour voters and turns in what looks like a are set to back them in May. desperate attempt to stem the TTOO RREEAALL CCHHAANNGGEE?? Certainly, the demise of SNP tide engulfing Scottish Labour may be exaggerated but Labour and ignore the likelihood there seems little doubt that that he will need their support to after 7 May, the political terrain form a government after May. -
Ssv Voice EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson
Election 2015: meet the International Women’s Day: SSP candidates who we look at the daily struggles are fighting for workers of women across the globe • see pages 8, 9 & 10 • see page 12 £1 • issue 453 • 27th February – 12th March 2015 scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com SIR MALCOLM RIFKIND JACK STRAW LOW PAID WORKER £1,619/hour £5,000/day £6.50/hour AUSTERITY HYPOCRITES ALL Rifkind: ‘unrealistic’ Low paid workers forI MNPs toI liTve ‘sTimpOly GErecTeivHe 20Ep ‘Rboost’ on £60,000 a year’ to minimum wage ScottishSocialistVoice.wordpress.com /ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson ONCE AGAIN the harsh spotlight of publicity has lit up the two faced money grasping hypocrisy behind Westminster’s pro-austerity politicians. Two of the supposed Mother of Parliament’s “honourable gentlemen”— both ex-foreign secretaries Tory Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Labour’s Jack Straw—were caught offering their services for hire to what they thought was a Chinese firm but turned out to be a journalistic sting. Rifkind, a failed Edinburgh MP moved to upmarket Chelsea, explained that it was “quite unrealistic” for MPs to live “simply on £60,000 a year”. Research by the Daily Telegraph and Channel 4 WESTMINSTER GRANDEES’ GREED revealed that the going rate for Sir Malcolm’s services was £1,619 an hour. sEuppXortPer oOf waSr anEd S AUplaSyerTs inE theR deIfeTnceY of i t, HYpoPliticOs whCich Rcan IhaSrneY ss This from a man who was mayhem and a key figure in the Labour Party, is about to them to meet the needs of Secretary of State in the long running New Labour pay the price for their Better people and planet.