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. in Scotland will be transformed Nobody bothers to factor in and looks likely to be open to a the Tories and UKIP’s sole policy direction informed by the elected representative is univer - vision of the Yes campaign and sally condemned for his ugly ultimately a fresh look at the in - racist attacks on Scottish minis - dependence issue. ter Humza Yousaf. For Scotland’s left there is Welcome to the reality of much to welcome in these de - Scottish politics with only velopments with the SNP de - weeks to go until a UK general manding an end to austerity and election. opposing Trident renewal as a Bemused unionists who, just part of any type of deal it could last September, were hugging do with a minority Labour and kissing under the Union Westminster administration. Jack as Project Fear paid off However welcome as such a and delivered a No vote are now PHOTO: Craig Maclean policy shift is, it leaves much to counting down to defeat in what First, how did we get here surge for the Scottish Socialist be addressed if Scotland is to will seen by many as the second and secondly what to we need Party, the Greens and most take a course which advances the half of the independence match. to do next? There is no question spectacularly the SNP, and at interests of people and planet. that the drama now unfolding is the same time is dire news for Smell of panic firmly based on the fact that the the business-as-usual unionists. Dogma The smell of panic from the recent indyref campaign not Of course the demise of Lib Key to this is a break with the smug London pundits is over - only fought for a Yes vote but in Dems has been long predicted, blind faith in market economics powering whether its Guardian doing so built a process of mass and the Tories dismissed years and privatisation which has dom - cartoonist Steve Bell increas - engagement which went be - ago, but for Labour, so long top inated UK politics sine 1979 and ingly shrill efforts or any one of yond the democratic issue to dog, the outlook is doubly grim: is the ruling dogma of the EU’s a dozen “grown up” Westmin - look at what kind of Scotland wipeout in Scotland and failure unelected ruling commission. ster scribblers and politicians might flow from it. to win in Westminster leaving It is this dogma which keeps unsure whether to portray Scots While the mainstream politi - them facing a meltdown in their railways private, power firms in voters as fools or lunatics. cians debated currency union, EU former stronghold. the hands of profiteers and has Tories have a cartoon membership, oil and so on, in vil - Labour’s plight has been seen the demise of large Salmond bogey man, suppos - lage halls, town meeting up and worsened by the fact that, since swathes of manufacturing in - edly serious journalists queue down Scotland a much more they lost power at Holyrood in dustry. Along with legal shack - up to parody and misrepresent deep discussion developed in 2007 they have moved right - les on trade unions and the low any alternative posed by the which a view of what was possi - ward as Scotland moved left, wage/zero hours culture this ap - Scots electorate to their dismal ble was forged and that view—on and far from solving the prob - proach has seen a massive shift austerity consensus while comic poverty, equality and peace—de - lem, the anointment of arch of wealth and power from the duo Danny Alexander and veloped a growing conviction Blairite Murphy as leader has many to the wealthy few. Paddy Ashdown dip into the in - that another world is possible. simply made things worse. The task of the SSP and the sults book as they beg for Tory What has resulted is a grow - No amount of noisy left- wider left is to develop and popu - voters to save them. ing understanding that, despite sounding policy pronounce - larise policies which address is - Two questions arise for the the dismal drumbeat from the ments look like altering the fact sues such as pay, scarce housing, Left in this unprecedented con - Westminster elite that austerity that Labour is tied into a policy fuel poverty, free public transport fusion and disarray besetting the is the only way, an alternative is of austerity and nuclear and many others to construct a beleaguered band of former Bet - not only possible but essential. weapons increasingly rejected policy offering distinctive socialist ter Together comrades in arms. This underpins the membership by Scottish voters, and that their answers to Scotland’s challenges.

2 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 455 JONATHON SHAFI by Jonathon Shafi MUCH HAS been made in Can Westminster poll open the recent months about the depth of the crisis of the British state. The UK state is used to crisis way for revitalised Scottish left? of course. It has withstood GLASGOW, 1919: Party, and the British State. the British State wars, domestic unrest, general sent tanks into Now, both of these institutions strikes and it has experienced George Square to are in rapid decline, and the serious economic crises. Dur - quench a mass general political conditions workers’ rebellion ing the general strike of 1926, under which their decline is the government sent war ships taking place have been fur - to Tyneside to quell dissent. nished by the radical left In the past, troops, police throughout the referendum. and tanks confronted workers That means, despite the in George Square. surge to the SNP, that the situ - In the 1970s, trade union or - ation remains fluid. It means ganisation and militancy was that there is an opening that will such that it threatened to bring develop more visibly after the the commanding heights of the General Election for socialists economy into workers control. to draw up a framework In recent years we saw mil - through which we can deliver lions march against a war that present crisis in Britain. There fail to resolve themselves over mass radical politics not just in stretched legitimacy in the state is a reason why the political at - a period of time, until it be - the movement, but at elections. to breaking point, a mass stu - mosphere is so fraught. In comes untenable to sustain. dent rebellion which physically short, this is because the crisis They have strategies to New left opposition rocked London, and of course is multi-dimensional. combat the crisis. For one That is the moment where the that most intense period of cri - We are not talking about a thing the privatisation agenda left can set out its stall and start sis, the independence referen - stand off battle with a particular continues at a fast pace, a mass process of replacing the dum. It is often said that people Prime Minster. We are talking though this builds its own prob - Labour Party as the official op - in the UK are indifferent to po - about the long decline of every lems into the situation. If you position in Scottish politics. litical and social regressions, single institution in the British think the economic crisis has Not only will this revitalise and don’t resist. In actual fact polity. Not just the government been bad, the next one stands the possibility of genuine there is in many senses a very of the day, but the media, the a chance of being much worse working class representation healthy history of resistance. financial institutions, national as the shallow recovery built in parliament, it will intensify political structures and local on sand becomes undone. the unstoppable movement to Resisting the system councils. Every level of author - For us in Scotland the re - independence, and open a left The chartists, the suffra - ity is being questioned. In ad - cent and historic political front in Northern Europe which gettes, the anti-apartheid dition, it is hugely underplayed awakening means that there is can relate to and stand with movement and the defeating of the degree to which the con - massive radical potential. His - the development of Podemos the Poll Tax are just some ex - centration of wealth in modern torically there have been two and Syriza in Southern Eu - amples to add to the great min - Britain amongst a tiny elite is primary barriers to the devel - rope. Make no mistake—if we ers strike, the UCS work in and exacerbating frustrations, bub - opment of the movement of work together to achieve so on. In fact, when you think bling away, ready to form the the working class: the Labour this—we can do it. about it, we have resisted the next social explosion. system with tenacity over the At Prime Ministers Ques - decades. Across these islands, tions they may bawl and guf - working people have fought faw, but in the bars of the elite back against exploitation as there is serious concern. The To subscribe, see: scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com or fill in this form they have world wide. This is concern is punctuated in par - and send it to: SSV, Suite 370, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow the bedrock of internationalism; ticular by the situation in Scot - G2 6LD. Phone: 07810205747. Cheques payable to ‘’ the understanding that since land. And that is what adds a the system is global, so too are further dimension to the crisis Name...... the imperatives that drive of the parties of the ‘extreme Address...... movements of opposition. centre’ as Tariq Ali refers to...... So there is a history of crisis, This is a long crisis. That war and resistance which sur - means it is one which pro - Phone...... rounds the British state. But ceeds at steady pace as the Email...... there is something more pro - contradictions in the political g £5 for 2 issues g £10 for 4 issues g £20 for 8 issues found than usual about the framework of the British state

issue 455 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 3 by Colin Fox, SSP national co-spokesperson

GEORGE OSBORNE’S Budget acclaimed UK economic ‘It’s the economy, stupi d’ growth of 2.5 per cent last year, record employment levels and low interest rates. Designed to win the Conservatives a second term in Government he dis - pensed with tradition and avoided increasing duty on alco - hol, tobacco, or fuel. His message to the UK elec - torate was that the Tories, hav - ing inherited an economy deep in recession and deep in debt, had managed to turn the situa - tion around and secure the second highest growth rate in the Western World. ‘But we still LICENCE TO CUT : Osborne is intent on have a long way to go’ he in - making the most sisted warning his plans for fur - vulnerable pay for an ther cuts in public spending economic crisis caused by the banks were the worst yet. It would be ‘No more Mr Nice Guy’ he in - are not going to win the elec - you need to be earning commodation unfit for their ferred as he ‘needed another tion insist the pollsters because £10/hour in order to pay your needs. There are also tens of term to finish the job’. voters do not feel Osborne’s re - own way today and stop qualify - thousands of under-employed The question that inevitably covery themselves. Rather ing for top-up benefits. That then construction staff. Building arises from George Osborne’s they see their own standard of is rationally the level at which the quality public homes for rent is apparent success is why are the living falling year after year. living wage should be set. therefore a far better solution to Tories not streets ahead in the Given such widespread eco - Osborne and Ed Balls are in - the nation’s housing crisis than polls then? Might the answer be nomic discomfort why is Ed tent on making the most vul - leaving it to speculators who that this growth is again based Miliband not streets ahead in nerable pay for an economic leave more and more people on a highly problematic South the polls? Good question. crisis caused by the banks. behind in desperate need of a East of England housing bubble The answer is that Labour The SSP rejects that criminal satisfactory place to live. and it’s associated borrowing? has not been forgiven for its conclusion. As well as introducing a own economic incompetence £10/hour living wage and Low paid jobs in getting Britain into the 2008 Alternative budget launching a massive public sec - Might it not also be said that debt-ridden recession in the Our ‘alternative budget’ tor house building programme most of the new jobs created first place. would move to solve the we would also cut class sizes, are casual, on zero hour con - Furthermore, its proposed chronic shortage of affordable introduce free school meals, in - tracts and lowly paid? And economic solution involves housing in this country. We troduce free public transport to since the average worker is making the same deflationary would build 100,000 new address climate change and im - now £1,800/year worse off cuts and implementing the homes in Scotland each year prove accessibility and replace than they were in 2010 isn’t same austerity measures as to alleviate the appalling pres - the Council Tax with an income each household’s economic the Tories. That then in a nut - sure on local authority waiting based alternative. standing in stark contrast to the shell explains why bookmakers lists, to deflate the speculative These measures would be picture he paints of UK PLC? have installed ‘No overall ma - and harmful house price bub - paid for by increasing taxes on These are of course rhetorical jority’ as the 1/7 favourite as the ble and provide much needed the well off, clamping down on questions. With prices having most likely outcome of the 7 jobs for construction workers. tax evasion and avoidance, in - gone up as wages have fallen May General Election. This issue was brought into troduce a ‘Tobin Tax’ on finan - Britain is now suffering signifi - The SSP’s ‘alternative budget’ sharp focus again last week cial transactions and of course cant deflationary pressure. Most would have emphasised the when the Scottish Federation re-deploy the £100billion ear - people do not have the money need to reflate the economy and of Housing Associations An - marked for Trident II. to buy the things they want and reduce growing inequalities in nual Report announced they Our manifesto for the forth - that is dampening economic Britain today by, for example, in - had demolished more houses coming General Election set - growth. The fact interest rates troducing a £10/hour living wage than they built in 2013/14. ting out all these policies in are at such a historic low reflects and abolishing zero hour con - There are hundreds of thou - more detail will be available in this economic reality. The Tories tracts. The Government admit sands of families living in ac - the next few weeks.

4 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 455 JOHN M cALLION by John McAllion

THE RECEPTION given to the Coalition’s pre-election SOUNDBITE LABOUR STILL budget was universally hostile among what remains of left of centre newspapers in Britain. An Observer editorial de - SIGNED UP FOR AUSTERITY scribed it as “a manifesto for a LABOUR MP Government to continuing with RACHEL REEVES: more divided and less humane even more austerity than was ‘We are not the Britain”. One leading Guardian party of people on inflicted by the Coalition over columnist called for Labour benefits. We don’t the past five years. “outrage” against George Os - want to be seen, The Labour leadership is borne, a Tory politician her and we’re not, the running scared of being por - party to represent employers dismissed as the trayed by the Coalition parties those who are out “chancer Chancellor.” of work.’ as deficit deniers and simply In response, Labour’s will not contemplate fighting Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls the forthcoming election on an commented that he wouldn’t anti-austerity platform. “change anything very much” No-one should therefore be in Osborne’s tax and spending surprised by labour’s continuing proposals except for a few rightwards drift as the general minor changes in the levels of election looms. Labour’s out - capital spending and tax right condemnation of the VAT breaks on offer. Even the re- biggest winners will be the an additional £30billion of pub - rise to 20 per cent in George invented Jim Murphy strug - richest 20 per cent of taxpay - lic spending cuts to achieve Osborne’s first budget in 2010 gled to sell such a comment ers. Labour will not change this goal. These cuts will fall has now been replaced by a as Labour “outrage” against this tax cut for the rich. overwhelmingly on in work pledge not to raise it any further the wicked Tories. The much hailed “help to buy welfare benefits and on public in the next parliament. ISA” that offers a 25 per cent services in the poorest parts of Labour press stunts Treasury gift to first time buyers the country. Cost of living crisis Yet that comment reveals saving for a house deposit Not only has Labour com - Their claim that a cost of liv - more about the current state of through an ISA account will mitted to matching the Tory ing crisis had been caused by the Labour Party than does cost another £2billion over the cuts planned for the first year a 20 per cent VAT rate has the avalanche of press re - next five years. Experts predict of the next Parliament, but in a been conveniently forgotten. leases and stunts being rolled that this will benefit the wealth - recent Commons vote they That “crisis” rate will stay out under Murphy’s leadership ier to a greater extent and do also joined the Tories and the under a Labour Government. of his party’s Scottish branch. nothing for the vast majority of Lib Dems in the lobbies to On taking office Rachel Despite Tory rhetoric about young people living in areas of support a budget responsibility Reeves, rising star and Shadow helping hard working families, housing shortage and already charter that endorsed the ad - Minister for Work and Pensions, savers and first-time house crippled with consumer debt. ditional £30billion of cuts. infamously warned that Labour buyers, this was a budget that Outstanding personal debt Only five Labour MPs voted would be tougher than the To - did nothing for the poorest, lit - in Britain now stands at a stag - against in a 515 to 18 majority ries in cutting the benefits bill. tle for low earners and lots for gering £1.432trillion. The for the cuts. Ed Balls tried to She has now followed this up better off families on above- STUC has denounced these excuse his party’s betrayal by by insisting that Labour is nei - average incomes. ISAs as “bad” policy with arguing that Labour would only ther the party of the welfare The raising of tax free per - major distributional impacts. implement “sensible” cuts and state nor of those out of work sonal allowances to £11,000 Labour isn’t listening. by claiming that a vote against and relying on benefits. over the next two years was The Coalition obsession with austerity would allow the Tories Most benefit claimants, of hailed in the Tory press as deficit reduction and reducing to characterise Labour as “irre - course, are already in work. saving “workers” £900 a year the national debt has carried sponsible” on deficit reduction. Those workers will now be tar - on average. In reality, three with it enormous social costs Balls has repeatedly em - geted by the £30billion cuts she quarters of the £14billion an - for the weakest and most vul - phasised that, like the Tories, and her party have voted for. nual cost of this tax cut will go nerable among us. Over the a Labour Government would The big three Westminster to better off taxpayers on lifetime of the next parliament cut the deficit every year, get parties are all committed to above average incomes. the Tory Chancellor plans to the current budget into surplus deficit reduction and to auster - The country’s five-million eliminate the present £90billion and reduce the national debt ity. A vote for any of these par - poorest paid workers who deficit and to move into surplus “as soon as possible in the ties is a vote against the earn less than the new thresh - in 2017/18. In addition to cuts next Parliament”. These state - interests of the vast majority of old will get nothing at all. The already announced, he plans ments commit the next Labour working class people.

issue 455 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 5 WORKPLACE by , SSP time’—when busy spells in their Wetherspoons staff; Burger Labour and the SNP: abolish national workplace business demands it. Underem - King; Dominos Pizza; Sports ALL Zero Hours Contracts. organiser ployment has become the new Direct; Pizza Hut; Subway; They’re ALL exploitative, so variation on unemployment. Next; Cineworld; universities... scrap the lot and instead offer YOU COULD be forgiven for All too often workers rely on Social care relies on a vast army secure contracts, with guaran - forgetting that the working class two or three different part-time of ZHC workers—including the teed hours, whether part-time or make up the vast majority of the jobs to try and pay the bills. social care wing of the Church full-time. population, judging by how our The pinnacle of job insecurity of Scotland! Jobs are not the only issue interests and aspirations are ig - and lack of workplace rights, The Tories and Lib Dems working class people need to nored or trampled on by politi - are Zero Hours Contracts. have shown in action they are judge the rival parties on. Pay is cians representing the tiny An estimated 200,000 work - parties that view cheap, casu - equally important. minority who have grabbed ers in Scotland alone are living alised, insecure jobs as a virtue. The much vaunted new jobs most of the country’s wealth— the cruel insecurity of Zero Labour has belatedly tried to are overwhelmingly low paid, as the 1 per cent. Hours Contracts (ZHCs). This appease the demands of the well as insecure. Two-thirds of Then the election looms, so gives all the flexibility to the working class voters they rely on people who found a job in 2014 mainstream politicians who hold the working class in con - tempt suddenly spout nice- sounding promises in a cynical drive for votes. Jobs is one of Workers ask: the critical issues to judge the competing political parties on. The Tory/Lib Dem Coalition makes hay of falling unemploy - ment. But scratch the shiny sur - face and you find an ugly reality. Unemployment figures WHOSE SIDE ARE have fallen as a result of 1.5 million new jobs since 2010. But a new wave of self-em - ployed makes up an incredible 32 per cent of these. eTmployHers, all tEhe risk aPnd low Aby prRomising TmeasurIes oEn youthSare p aiOd less thaNn £7.65-? an-hour. Now new research shows 80 incomes to those working for employment. And they repeat - The government—and its al - per cent of the self-employed them. It means being contracted edly trot out the same two legedly impartial adviser, the are living in poverty! These are to work for a particular em - phrases about Zero Hours Con - Low Pay Commission—have the mostly people who would ployer, but with absolutely no tracts, phrases that should be audacity to boast that a full 1.2 rather have a secure job but guarantee of how many hours seen for the cruel deceit they are! million workers will ‘enjoy’ the can’t find one and end up self- of work you will get each week. Labour promises to “tackle 20p rise on the over-21s national employed rather than rely on in - Workers on ZHCs have ab - Zero Hours Contracts”. What minimum wage next October, ris - secure, part-time and temporary solutely no automatic entitle - the hell does that mean? Why ing to the giddy heights of £6.70 jobs—the main types created ments to sick pay, holiday pay not say clearly they will ABOL - an hour. That should be a source since 2010. or redundancy pay. They are ex - ISH them? of shame, not boastfulness. pected to be on call, unpaid, But what do the other parties Zero Hours Contracts waiting by their phone or emails Dodgy word-games offer? As the TUC reported, only to find out when they’re Their other phrase, especially Labour is trying to work the one in 40 of the new jobs are wanted. And real life experi - used when they are targeting biggest con-trick in modern full-time and permanent. There ence proves that contrary to the trade unionists for votes, is that times with their pledge cards are still 80,000 fewer full-time baloney about the flexibility af - Labour will “abolish exploita - promising an £8 minimum jobs in Scotland than before the forded to workers, when people tive Zero Hours Contracts”. wage. What they coyly hide 2008 recession. decline a shift offered to them, Unfortunately, that same from the casual reader or lis - Many of those removed from they frequently aren’t offered phrase has also been repeatedly tener is that they won’t intro - the unemployment figures are any more for days or weeks used by the SNP leadership. duce it until 2020! eking out an existence on low- after, as bosses exercise their Watch out for the deceit in So what do they expect mil - hour contracts, typically of 8-12 power to punish them. that word ‘exploitative’. Does lions to survive on for the next hours a week. This gives all the These are rife and spreading in that mean they’ll keep ‘good, five years? And how much bet - power to the employers, who every High Street and retail park. non-exploitative Zero Hours ter than today’s £6.50 will that can tap into this ready-made Over 90 per cent of McDon - Contracts’?! be worth by 2020, if any? And pool of reserve labour to do alds workers are on them: The SSP has an honest, sim - what about the fact they make extra hours—but with no pre - 82,000 in total. Boots employ at ple alternative to the dodgy no promises of scrapping the mium rates of pay for ‘over - least 4,000; 80 per cent of JD word-games played by both lower youth rates?

6 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 455 WORKPLACE In contrast, the SSP shares the demands of most trade unions for outright repeal of these laws. Laws which price workers out of justice through £1,200-plus fees for Employment Tribunal hearings; make it virtually im - possible to recruit openly to the unions in most workplaces; hamper the ability of union reps to function and represent mem - bers; and ban united action, in - cluding solidarity strikes and those deemed ‘political’. We want to collaborate with workers and their unions to in - stead demand a Charter of Workers’ Rights, including the right to join, be active in and or - ganise unions without fear of victimisation; for full, open ac - cess to workers for union reps and officials; full legal rights from the first day of employ - ment (not after two years!); the re-establishment of free collec - tive bargaining; the right to strike after a majority vote, in - cluding the right to take solidar - FOR REAL WORKPLACE DEMOCRACY : the SSP wants outright repeal of anti-trade union laws ity action with fellow workers; and ultimately for boards of di - The SNP headline their sup - big business parties, the SSP has of Thatcher and the entire state rectors to have a majority of port for the so-called Living persistently demanded a war on apparatus, was a decisive turning elected workers’ representatives Wage, currently £7.85. For poverty pay by the introduction point in the fortunes of the work - on them, for real workplace workers on or just above the of a living minimum wage—cur - ing class—a defeat that could democracy. miserly £6.50 minimum wage, rently of £10 an hour, for all over easily have been an historic vic - Jobs, pay and workplace this would be a very welcome 16, abolishing the lower youth tory if the leaders of other unions rights are central issues to judge pay rise. But apart from the fact rates. We call for that £10 NOW, and the Labour Party had shown any party by. And on their track it is still too low to be accu - in 2015, not 2020 or some other an ounce of the courage dis - record, not just their election- rately described as a ‘living distant date—based on the mod - played by the miners, their fam - time promises! These issues put wage’, it is entirely voluntary, est formula of a legally enforced ilies and communities. them to a central test: whose not legally enforceable, which minimum set at two-thirds me - It is no accident that the 30 side are they on? Working peo - of course allows the SNP to dian male wages in Scotland. years since have been marked by ple, or the profiteers? sound good to workers whilst growing poverty and inequality not offending businesses who £10 now! in the midst of vastly increased Deeds not words have no intention of voluntarily It’s a policy we share with the wealth for the 1 per cent. The working class majority paying that rate. Bakers’ union (BFAWU) and One of the chief weapons fash - population will remain when And to underline their stance, indeed the entire TUC. It’s time ioned and used by the employers the general election circus for anyone not paying proper at - the trade union leaders fought and their governments to drive moves on after 7 May. We tention to the policy of the SNP, for this fine policy, instead of down workers’ wages is the bat - should put the politicians on the they blocked and amended a Mo - handing members’ funds—and tery of anti-trade union laws— spot, spear their falsehoods and tion in the Scottish parliament trying to hand members’ devised by Thatcher’s Tories, vague words, and resolve to last week which called for a min - votes—to a Labour Party that retained by New Labour during build a mass, working class so - imum wage of £10 an hour—not has neither a track record nor their 13 years in government, and cialist party that stands up for now, but in five years’ time, any intention of seriously ban - added to by David Cameron, decent, secure, well-paid jobs 2020. Even that modest plan, put ishing poverty pay. Vince Cable et al since 2010. and workplace democracy. by the Greens, was far too much This general election comes Where is the hue and cry Scotland’s socialist party, the for the SNP, as well as—pre - just after the 30th anniversary of about this vicious apparatus for SSP, is here to stay beyond 7 dictably—Labour MSPs. By the 1984/5 miners’ strike. That keeping the working class in May, to play our part in that way of contrast with all the pro- defeat for the NUM, at the hands ‘their place’? struggle.

issue 455 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 7 WELFARE by , SSP national co-spokesperson

GLASGOW CITY Council Is mainstream primary are the latest local authority to push forward the aims of “propensity to mainstream” policy just buzzword bingo? for children entering primary schools. This means no child CUTS: life is becoming school has an impact on more difficult for families entering primary one except home life. Many parents with disabilities. Many with extremely complex parents struggle to cope struggle to cope just because needs this year will have just because of the of the impact of cuts. access to specialist provision. impact of cuts This is ironic shortly after Instead they will have to the Scottish Government attend mainstream primary announced they may fine for six to eight weeks before councils for children from a decision is made. They are poorer backgrounds not following in the footsteps of achieving as much as their other local authorities but is more affluent peers. this about equality or saving How will this encourage money? teaching staff to choose to Don’t get me wrong, I teach in schools in areas of believe children with deprivation, fining authorities disabilities should have instead of putting support access to attend their local directly into schools where primary. Children learn from support and mentor ship is each other about what being most needed? different means and acceptance of others. All about the money For some children though, However, it is all about the they need the extra support, money. Mainstreaming and the additional support for should also mean that there is Michael is a single parent should not be one selection learning that school brings, funding to support children. from Glasgow who has been but a good choice when a which means smaller classes Alongside the cuts that are told his son will have to child can not only survive but and a curriculum designed to hitting hard are the cuts to attend mainstream, starting thrive and do well. meet their needs. support in school. primary one in August. This is For some children, Classrooms assistants and despite his son having autism mainstream is not the Cuts to support specialist classroom support and being non-verbal. answer. If I had a magic No parent wants to send are being cut back on, He has an assistant to help wand, I would ensure there their child to specialist leaving children to sink or him one-to-one in his nursery. were enough funds for every provision. Many parents now swim. There is also lack of He has been refused child to attend their local are going through hell support in the playground or specialist provision and told school. The reality though is if wondering how their child will at meal times. This lack of his child will have to attend the will is there the financial cope in a class of 30. A support is just setting children mainstream for six to eight support is not. decision to attend mainstream up to fail. weeks before being “Propensity to mainstream” assessed. Michael said: is a great ambition as well as “I am worried sick about being buzzword bingo. how he will cope. He finds The Scottish Government change difficult enough. The have to ensure that funds are Fill in this formJ and osend iit tno: Sc ottishh Sociealist P aSrty, SuSite 37P 0, thought of him being in a class spent on children to support 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow G2 6LD. Or phone: of 30 worries me. I know he them in mainstream. 07810205747. Or join the SSP online: scottishsocialistparty.org/join-us won’t help. He has one-to-one My advice for Glasgow City g I would like to join the in nursery. How is he going to Council? Many parents will g I would like more info on the Scottish Socialist Party manage in mainstream? This be calling you out on this Name...... is madness.” policy. First they came for Address...... Michael is not alone in his adults with disabilities, now ...... concerns. With more and the children. People are Phone...... more cuts, life is becoming becoming more angry. more difficult for families with Not a good idea in the run- Email...... disabilities. Often tension in up to a general election.

8 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 455 APPEAL Poetry and the SSP by Alan Gay Donate to the Socialists IT IS astonishing how most of us accept the suffering caused by the huge economic divi - sions in our society—£6.50 an hour and zero election campaign fund hours contracts existing alongside bankers’ pay; you could list the inequalities in nearly by Jim McVicar, Scottish Socialist local branches have been working hard every walk of life. Yet we accept this as nor - Party National Treasurer to raise money locally for the mal and tend not see that there is an alterna - campaign, we feel that to develop the tive. Capitalism is only one way of organising THE GENERAL Election takes place general election campaign at local and society. There is another, fairer way. I became on 7 May this year and will give the national level we have to ask our an activist to help bring about change leading people of Scotland an opportunity to let members, supporters and friends to towards socialism. I use poetry as a way of David Cameron and his unelected financially support our campaign. saying things that cannot easily be said in any Tory/Lib Dem coalition government That is why I am appealing directly another way. Poetry is my way of revealing know exactly what the people of to you through the pages of the Voice to what is hidden in the underbelly of capitalism. Scotland think of them. make a pledge or donation to the It might help get members on to the streets. The Scottish Socialist Party after the general election appeal fund today. very positive campaign during the Pledges or donations can be post-dated, TOADS independence referendum, which saw paid now, paid in instalments or on line Toads are those who own mansions the Scottish Socialist Party membership through the party’s website—whatever with swimming pools. increase and new branches of the party method is easier for you. being established in every part of I appreciate that these are difficult The rest of us rent flats. Scotland with a renewed air of financial times for many comrades, but All we own is the power in our backs confidence in the party and the socialist whatever you can afford to donate to which we sell to the Toads ideas that we represent we have the General Election campaign fund is to build more mansions. decided to stand a number of much appreciated by the party and candidates in targeted seats at the every penny and pound that we receive To the Toads, we are a pot general election in May. will go directly to funding our general from which froth is creamed off Like every election campaign the SSP election campaign, ensuring that to pay more of us is involved in, it has to be paid for and socialist ideas are firmly on the political to build even more mansions. unlike the London or Edinburgh based agenda in May. parties the SSP has no rich friends or If you have already made a pledge or They never let us prosper big business backers to bankroll our donation to the Scottish Socialist Party otherwise we would build campaign. general election appeal fund at local or mansions for ourselves The SSP rely solely on the support of national level, on behalf of the SSP, and not work for them. our members, supporters and friends to thank you it is appreciated, and thank finance our campaigns, and while our you for your continuing support. They hide behind smiles telling us they are forced to pay £6.50 an hour so that they can compete HOW TO DONATE: against other Toads You can make a pledge or donation to the Scottish Socialist Party General -the lying toads! Election Appeal in the following ways: • Pay donation direct into the appeal fund bank account through a bank transfer Toads smile a lot account details are The Co-operative Bank. Sort Code 08-92-99 / account number because they swim in prosperity 65094637 (if you pay direct into the account, can you please text me the details of forcing us to work for them. the donation on 07810205747, so we can keep a record of your donation). • Pay by cheque made out to ‘Scottish Socialist Party’ and return to Jim We carry banners saying McVicar at the SSP national office, Suite 370 Central Chambers, 93 Hope GIVE US £10 AN HOUR Street, Glasgow G2 6LD. ‘Our work put you in mansions in the • At your local SSP Branch meeting or directly to your branch organiser or first place. branch treasurer. We own the froth you creamed off. • Email me at [email protected] or text me on Hand it back.’ 07810205747 or and let me know the details of your pledge/donation and I will make arrangements to get it collected. The Toads smile, then waddle-off to • Pay via PayPal, using this email address: [email protected] their mansions • Donate directly to the SSP through the donate facility at our website at and beside their swimming pools, squat. scottishsocialistparty.org/donations/

issue 455 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 9 ELECTION NEWS Paisley and Renfrewshire South Edinburgh South – Sandra Webster – Colin Fox

As we move into the last few frantic weeks of campaigning we Around six weeks remain to the General Election, and the SSP continue to challenge the status quo. campaign in Edinburgh South continues apace with leafletting, We have at least two stalls a week one in the constituency and canvassing and stalls. With each passing week many of the new others in the areas we are targeting for the election. These have all activists we recruited during and since the referendum campaign are been very successful and we continue to meet new voters. displaying increased signs of confidence as they gain the campaigning We are building for a public meeting on 9 April in Glenburn (where experience and develop the practical skills that will prove so crucial for Sandra lives) and are grateful for the offer of support from other the party our and our cause, not only now, but in 2016. branches. With blue skies coming we are looking forward to The latest drive has been to build for our upcoming meeting covering canvassing all through the month ahead. the Marchmont and Bruntsfield area to the northern end of the We have to say a huge well done to Lindsay Brown for all his constituency, looking at the additional powers the SSP works to see fundraising on local stalls which have helped us devolved to Holyrood. Between the Edinburgh branches we’ve to arrange printing and other costs. delivered all 5000 leaflets in only five days. Further, we’ve held Also a thank you to all at Strangeways Night successful stalls in the area itself, whilst still running stalls four times a who raised a magnificent £250 for the week on Princes Street. The response? Positive and heartening. election. We are overwhelmed by others’ These stalls for the meeting have found further evidence of what our kindness. canvassing already shows: in Edinburgh concentrated and consistent So we look forward to the door-chapping campaigning has done a great deal to raise the profile of the party and and the continuation of Sandra’s soapbox our programme, and continues to and reaching out to so many new people do so. At one recent stall in the who are keen to hear about our policies constituency, the question of and how they can transform lives. replacing the council tax was raised several times – our proposal for the income based Scottish Service Tax on each occasion proved popular, and a number of votes were wholehearted pledged to the SSP. We’ve raised the SSP’s banner high as the clear Glasgow and credible alternative to austerity. The time and South West opportunity to be building the SSP as Scotland’s – Bill Bonnar alternative to austerity is now. Don’t miss it!

The SSP campaign in the Glasgow Glasgow East South West constituency is now in full – Liam McLaughlan swing. In fact, it could prove to be a biggest campaign on the ground of all Since the last issue of the voice, it’s contesting parties other than the SNP. been a pretty hectic few weeks here Already the first batch of 10,000 leaflets for Glasgow East SSP. As I write, have been delivered door to door. we’ve just came in from a leafletting session in an Easterhouse This highlights , among other things, the ‘scheme’ promoting this coming Monday’s public meeting to Scottish Socialist Party campaign for a highlight our £10 an hour minimum wage demand and end to Zero £10 per hour Living Wage. The party is Hours Contracts with myself, Christine (an ex-councillor for the holding regular street stalls, primarily in Govan and have just held the area) and our national co-spokesperson Colin Fox. first of two public meetings. This was on the issue of UKIP and Tomorrow, we’ll be outside Easterhouse Shopping Centre with our Immigration and took place in Govan with National co-spokesperson, regular stall and our leaflet to promote the public meeting while Colin Fox the main speaker. we’re at it. With six weeks to go, we will hope to be an ever- The meeting was very successful and another public meeting is planned present campaigning force in the area and hope to raise as much for the end of the month. The SSP is also using the local media to great publicity and recognition for the party as possible. effect, particularly the community radio station; Sunny Govan Radio With several local hustings on the way, many more leafletting and which will broadcast an interview with SSP candidate, Bill Bonnar, prior canvassing runs to come, and the possibility of another public to a major hustings with the other candidates. meeting, there’s plenty to be done. The party is also planning to carry out some very specific canvassing. Any and every bit of help is greatly appreciated, and we remain Financially the campaign is going well with the deposit secured through confident of shifting the debate in the area to the left and once some good election fundraising and more money on the way. again highlighting the SSP’s unwavering commitment to bettering The contest should prove to be a tight battle between the Labour Party working class people’s lives. and SNP with sitting MP Ian Davidson no doubt hoping that enough Tory As well as this, in having the only locally based candidate and the voters will tactically vote Labour to secure his seat. So much for ‘vote only candidate pledging to take no more than the wage of a skilled Labour to keep the Tories out’. For the SSP this election is about creating worker in Scotland if given the privilege and honour of a real presence in the constituency and continuing the efforts to build the party. representing the East End, we’ve got plenty to shout about.

10 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 455 INTERNATIONAL AFTER NETANYAHU VICTORY, WHAT NEXT? by Bill Bonnar

THE GENERAL election in Is - rael last week saw the re-election of a reactionary, hawkish govern - ment and represents a blow to any kind of peace process in the Middle East. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured a fourth consecutive victory for his Likud led coalition defeating the more left leaning Zionist Union; a coalition comprising The Labour Party and Hatnuah. The Zionist Union went into the election offering the prospect of a negotiated settlement with the Palestinian Authority and a social and economic programme POLARISATION: the left leaning centred on providing better Zionist Union challenged the housing and health care and reactionary agenda of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and the far right tackling the decline in workers living standards caused by ram - of Israelis wanting a negotiated forces in Israel. These latter record of solidarity with the pant inflation. settlement with Palestine and forces are continuously promot - Palestinian people. As was seen While the international media more than willing to embrace the ing their agenda of military con - at the time of the slaughter in tend to concentrate on the im - proposed two-state solution. frontation with the aim of Gaza last summer large num - plications for the wider Middle In fact the creation of the Zion - pushing Palestinian forces into a bers of Scottish people were East situation this was an elec - ist Union in December was in part conflict which they cannot win, moved into solidarity action tion dominated by domestic sparked by a sense of outrage ethnic cleansing in places like with demonstrations, pickets, economic and social issues. amongst many ordinary Israelis at East Jerusalem and ever ex - meetings and the supply of the slaughter in Gaza last summer. panding Jewish settlements. much needed aid. Agenda challenged In the Washington, there was a Their aim is to make a reality The referendum campaign The fact that up until the final sense of dismay at the result. out of the original claims of reac - opened up the debate around what days of the election, the Zionist Now fully committed to a two tionary Zionists. ‘Palestine is a the foreign policy of an independ - Union was running neck and state solution, the US government country without people for a peo - ent Scotland would be. The con - neck with Likud shows that clearly sees the Likud-led coali - ple without a country’. Their strat - sensus was that it would be very there are forces in Israel which tion as the main obstacle to peace. egy, ruthlessly pursued for nearly different from the pro-imperialist challenge the reactionary agenda This may change if the Repub - 70 years, has been to drive Pales - policies of successive British gov - of Likud and the far right. licans win the next presidential tinians out of Palestine killing as ernments and would seek to ally The Zionist Union define election with the Israeli lobby al - many as they can in the process. Scotland with progressive move - themselves as a Left Bloc and ready hard at work to get the ments around the world. also contain some smaller parties American administration back on Breakthrough One of the first acts of an inde - including the Green Movement. track. The creation of a Palestin - For Palestinians the decision pendent Scotland would be to Formed last December they ian state co-existing alongside by a majority of countries who recognise the Palestinian state but polled 18 per cent of the vote the state of Israel is the only fea - make up the General Assembly why wait till then? There is no rea - and won 24 seats as compared to sible solution to this conflict and of the United Nations to recog - son why the Scottish Parliament Likud’s 23 per cent and 30 seats. the only solution which can be nise Palestine as a state was more could not take this decision now. The result shows an increas - embraced by the left. than simple a welcome gesture; it It might have no status in in - ing polarisation in Israeli politics The argument for a Palestin - represented a dramatic break - ternational law but then many of with Likud only able to form a ian state which supplants the through and has given all those the stances taken by the British government through alliances state of Israel has become the al - pro-Palestinian forces around the Government vis-a-vis Israel have with extreme right wing parties. most exclusive property of reac - world a hook to build their cam - no basis in international law. For Along with the above the tionary Islamic fundamentalist paigns around. Britain as ex - the Palestinian people it would Palestinian issue was significant forces and even not all of them pected voted against the proposal. represent a welcome act of inter - central in the success of the Zion - while opposition to a Palestinian In Scotland, we must con - national solidarity and a demon - ist Union showing large numbers state is driven by reactionary tinue to build on our strong stration that they are not alone.

issue 455 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 11 for Socialism, Independence and Internationalism Issue 455 27th March – 9th April 2015 email: [email protected] scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com Promoted by Jim McVicar on behalf of the Scottish Socialist Party, Suite 370, Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD. Printed by Forward Graphics, Elderpark Workspace, 100 Elderpark Street, Glasgow G51 3TR by David McKenzie, Scrap Trident Coalition

“A country is not only what it does, it is also what it tolerates” – Kurt Tucholsky 1933

“Nukes are so 20th century” – Anon.

THE SCOTTISH Stir is seriously aggravating the already developing anxiety within the British state about its sovereignty, identity and power. In the midst of this crisis the question of nuclear weapons goes on being an emblematic and awkward piece of grit, as a key symbol of the old order and its inability to recognise the nature of human security in the 21st century. One of the illustrative features of the crisis is the contradiction between frenetic NATIONAL DEMO attention to borders and immigration on the one hand and the casual acceptance Glasgow Saturday 4 April of invasive and destructive aspects of globalisation, such as TTIP, on the other. Assemble 10:30 March 11:00 Rally 12:00 George Square Glasgow For ordinary working people, this is of course the double whammy—being stripped of rights, decent reward and security if here at home and of all these plus life itself if elsewhere or desperately BIG BLOCKADE on the move. Faslane Monday 13 April Designed to murder millions Non violent direct action training Glasgow 12 April For progressive movements the imperative is to articulate ever more clearly our understanding of global human security worldwide. This is of course one of the good paradoxes of the SCRAP TRIDENT independence movement—to separate so that we can join the world in solidarity. Ballot Thursday 7 May And where better to illuminate the true Vote out MPs who support Trident replacement meaning than up against its antithesis— the insane world of Dr Strangelove? behind our opposition and rejection, that it risking arrest at the blockade we are And as folk more and more realise the is all about love, about peaceful providing training sessions in nonviolent malign realities of a weapon system community, about fairness among us, far- direct action. designed to murder millions, so do they stretching hands of solidarity, deep But there is also need for many to be more clearly see and treasure the things understanding between us and care for there in active support, as legal observers, that matter for humanity. this magical perch. This is why we chose tea-makers, photographers, filmmakers, The demo on 4 April and the blockade ‘Bairns not Bombs’ as the core of our banner drapers, singers, drummers, of Faslane on the 13th have been message. welfare-watchers, transport helpers, designed to provide a good context for We are now beginning to get a sense interview givers, etc. etc. expressing exactly that. that the march and rally in Glasgow on 4 In Scrap Trident, we recently had a mild April is going to be big but there is still time • Saturday 4 April, March and Rally, 11am, but provocative comment about what the for all those who share this vision to go George Square/ Monday 13 April, Faslane writer saw as our negativity, our relentless that extra mobilising step, and in particular Blockade, from 7am. Details of both concentration on the dark. to talk it over with friends and family. events—including a full briefing for the It was a fair point. We all need to The same goes for the blockade on the blockade—can be found at remember the positive vision that lies 13th. For those who might be considering scraptrident.org