ScottishLeft Review Issue 90 November/December 2015 - £2.00

Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 1 ASLEF CALLS FOR AN INTEGRATED, PUBLICLY OWNED, ACCOUNTABLE RAILWAY FOR SCOTLAND (which used to be the SNP’s position – before they became the government!)

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

ScottishLeftReview Cover and illustrations: Issue 90 November/December 2015 Nadia Lucchesi Contents ([email protected]) Comment – Ninety not out...... 3 Proofing services: Labour is the only Britain wide anti-austerity party now - John McDonnell ...... 4 Bob Thomson and John Daly How the contest was won - Martyn Cook and Tommy Kane ...... 5 Communications and Kez + Jez = something spezial? - Lesley Brennan ...... 7 organisational development: Challenges for Corbynmania in Scotland - Daniel Kenealy ...... 8 Carole Ewart Corbyn challenges cosy consensus - Tom Mills ...... 10 Corbyn and the anti-austerity movement - Phil McGarry and Keith Stoddart. 11 Trade union development officer: Corbyn’s challenge: to survive and prosper - Eric Shaw ...... 12 David Brockett Workers’ rights are human rights - Carole Ewart ...... 14 Editor Email: Indyref 2014: nation vs class - John Foster and Neil Davidson debate...... 16 [email protected] Lessons from America on the Trade Union Bill - Sarah Collins...... 18 Union political funds - Jim Slaven ...... 19 Web: www.scottishleftreview.org Real reform or a missed moment? - Will Dinan...... 20 Lessons from Greece: reclaim the state, reform the EU - Peter Lomas...... 21 Tel: 0141 424 0042 Sulphur + brimstone for BBC - Leslie Mitchell ...... 22 Building worker links - Davy Brockett...... 23 Address: Managerialism in the public sector - Gary Fraser...... 24 Scottish Left Review, The trouble with foreigners - Chris Sharpe ...... 25 741 Shields Road, Modern apprenticeships in Scotland - Margaret and Jim Cuthbert ...... 26 Pollokshields, Sources to read about the struggle ...... 27 Glasgow Book reviews ...... 28 G41 4PL Vladmir McTavish’s Kick up the Tabloids...... 30

2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 Comment: Ninety, not out t the risk of sounding ageist, we’d of 79’ was all about given that it sought To use former US president, Lyndon like to proclaim we’re 90 editions to organise the ‘Scottish resistance’ to Baines Johnson’s, salty phrase, they Anot out – rather than say we’re Thatcher and the Tories, advocating need become quickly well versed ‘in 90 editions young. Publications and direct action and industrial action to farting and chewing gum at the same organisations like ours exist and operate mount that resistance. time’ in terms of taking initiatives to on very little in the way of money and An occupation or work-in would be a counter-balance the obvious reactions bodily resources. Printing, postage and good start and be more than merely they have to make to government website costs have increased. We have saying that the Scottish government policies and actions (as well as the not made a financial appeal in many was thinking about nationalisation or attacks on them). years. So please consider making a one forlornly seeking in Westminster for Here in Scotland, Dugdale seems to have off or regular donation – take out or give Scotland to be exempted from the Trade sensed the way the wind is blowing someone a subscription to the magazine Union Bill. But even if this seems a bit so she is more likely to have to move as a Christmas gift. farfetched the SNP Scottish Government towards Corbyn than vice-versa. Time The where, when and how can be found could be bolder and more radical using will tell whether it will be enough on our website at existing and new powers, including though but trying to reluctantly follow www.scottishleftreview.org/join-us EU directives to oppose, to delay and Corbyn will not be sufficient as that will and www.scottishleftreview.org/shop mitigate much of the Tories attacks on lack the killer instinct needed to take on Of course, we still accept cheques by families and workers. the SNP. ‘snail mail’ – see form on page 30. Scottish Labour’s conference in Perth What does all this mean for the rest Okay financial appeal over, let’s get has just taken place as this editorial is of the left? The battle for next May is down to the politics. Are the wheels penned. After a less than successful a peach coloured fight for sure. The coming off the SNP bandwagon or British conference on the Trident issue, Greens, RISE, Solidarity and maybe are the gripes just really those of the the advance in Perth is being contested. assorted others will all battle to say chattering classes so that next May As the themed articles in this edition give us your second vote as it will be the SNP will steamroller Labour again? attest to, Corbyn has much potential wasted on the SNP given the D’Hondt Property deals and difficulties over to transform Labour but also much method used (where parties winning education and health especially have challenge (especially from factions within more constituency seats are precluded started to take the shine off the SNP’s Labour, especially the Parliamentary from winning so many of the list seats). lustre while many of its 56 MPs have Labour Party). Momentum – the new Voters decided to do this in 2003, sunk into near oblivion in the public organisation of Corbyn supporters – resulting in the ‘rainbow’ parliament. mind. has its work cut out to help Corbyn It seems the Greens are best placed to and McDonnell get Labour in shape Yet if the general mood of the public benefit from this while others still face for fighting the 2016 elections on a the challenge of brand recognition and is the Tory Westminster government successful and radical basis. is the rightful bogeyman then the SNP political credibility. The ripples from would still seem to be best placed – in There have certainly been a few teething Greece (Syriza’s capitulation) and Spain problems for Corbyn and McDonnell so this majority public mind – to fight the (Podemo’s waning star) do not augur far. All of these will be easily forgotten Tories. The corollary is that Labour in well. if they not only do better in responding both Scotland and Britain is still not the Our on-theme articles consider many of to the Tories but even more critically opponent it needs to be to change this these issues while our off-theme ones take their own policy initiatives and calculation. But the rub is that the SNP look at a variety of hardy perennials start mobilising their supporters outside is better at talking the talk than fighting from class and nation to workers’ rights parliament into a visible fighting force. the fight. Yet talking the talk is better and modern apprenticeship. Of course, Momentum has a role to play than nothing in this mind set. How long here but it is not the meetings it has or Pen-ultimately, we are delighted that will that mind set last? its behind-closed-door actions that will the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is If the SNP wanted to do more than count. Rather it will be the campaigns, to give the third annual Jimmy Reid this, it would need to see itself as the numbers attracted to them and Foundation lecture at the University of more than a centralised parliamentary what leverage they develop that will be Glasgow (see p15 of this edition). She party. With over 100,000 members critical in overturning austerity. will address the issue of workers’ rights as human rights which takes on added (and their families and friends) as well Corbyn and McDonnell need to get their importance with the third reading of as its modern, high-tech campaigning skates on – let’s see what comes out of the Trade Union Bill just beforehand. organisation, could it not think about the Labour Assembly Against Austerity The lecture is already overbooked but mobilising these masses to oppose a in London in mid-November. But surely, there may be some return of tickets. whole number of Tory acts, ranging from there are no shortages of ideas given There will also be a livestream of the welfare cuts, the Trade Union Bill and Corbyn’s leadership campaign itself, lecture to the STUC headquarters with letting the steel industry perish? This the deployment of radical tax expert, a debate following this. Please visit the would supplement any fine speeches Richard Murphy, and the move of in the debating chambers of Edinburgh Andrew Fisher from head of policy at Jimmy Reid Foundation website (http:// and London. the PCS union to head of policy for reidfoundation.org/ ) for the details of Although Nicola Sturgeon was still at Corbyn. Indeed, Murphy is a voluminous these. school at the time, she should ask the writer and Fisher recently published the We wish all our readers/supporters a old lags of Alex Salmond, Jim Sillars and book, The Failed Experiment: And How good festive break when it comes and Roseanna Cunningham what the ‘Group to Build an Economy That Works. we’ll see you again early next year. Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 3 Labour is the only Britain wide anti-austerity party now John McDonnell calls for the winds of change to blow away cobwebs of the old politics his summer marked a paradigm Tam Dalyell. Although, the debate has leader, Kezia Dugdale, is to inspire shift in Labour’s recent history moved on since last year, the desire for people and to regain our vigour again Tand British politics. Jeremy’s a better nation has not. as the party of progress that is for the election represents a change in the many, not the few. Therefore people who share with us party which, to be frank, no-one would Our catastrophe was matched by the have predicted a year ago. But no-one many of the same values should know they have a space to express these SNP’s triumph. Its apparent stance should be under any illusions about the on austerity came through clearly in origins of his win. views. Enabling that space means that we need to get back to being more the same way the Tories ‘long term It wasn’t simply about his undoubtedly like the movement that created our economic plan’ cheap slogan did. persuasive and polite demeanour and party and being interwoven across I honestly welcome a genuine anti- his inspiring campaign. Rather, it was all our communities and civic society. austerity SNP in Scotland but I a win that reflects the huge desire for This is why Jeremy and I were pleased challenge it to stick by its word on change and hope across Britain. to launch Momentum last month – a this. The truth is the SNP’s record is That is why as Shadow Chancellor I grassroots network organically born out coming under increasing scrutiny. It have the huge honour of developing of Jeremy's leadership campaign. welcomes Tory cuts to corporation tax Labour’s economic policy and vision Momentum intends to be a gateway while proclaiming its anti-austerity that rejects austerity. I intend to deliver for people who feel unsure or want credentials. on that by working alongside Jeremy, to know more about joining Labour It needs to put its rhetoric into action. colleagues in Parliament, and across yet still want to stand with us and For example, will it now support Kezia’s the whole Labour membership and campaign on shared causes. It calls on stance on using the new powers over wider movement. people to organise in every town, city taxation at the Scottish Parliament to Our economic vision is clear - to and community in the campaign for mitigate the impact of Tory cuts to tax balance the country’s finances by social justice. I urge anyone who wants credits on working people? to get rid of the Tories and build that ending the unfair tax cuts to the We are clear we want to redistribute wealthy, opposing austerity, tackling better society we all know is possible to get involved. wealth and rebalance our economy. tax evasion and avoidance and Whereas, the SNP despite having the investing for growth. To make these power and the ability to turn rhetoric plans a reality, I’m bringing together So, if the SNP is into reality - has not introduced one an expert panel of leading economists redistributive policy in eight years. including Danny Blanchflower, former Bank of England Monetary Policy serious about So, if the SNP is serious about tackling committee member, and the Nobel poverty and challenging austerity, I Prize winning economist, Joseph tackling poverty call on it to fix the Scottish NHS, which Stiglitz, to test and test again our fully Audit Scotland say is under so much costed plans. and challenging pressure. I call on it to reinvest the money it has taken out of colleges Having this unstinting vision is quite austerity, I call and ensure young people - and those clearly resonating with people. Since seeking to re-train and start again Jeremy ran for leader, the numbers on it to fix the from the most deprived areas - get joining increased dramatically, with the opportunities others receive. new sign-ups equating to more Scottish NHS Likewise I call on it to sort the widening than the entire Conservative Party educational attainment gap between membership. Those numbers still However, we must point out flaws Scottish children, which we know continue to grow. Many are young wherever we find them and yes is all too often determined by the people who represent the future of that means a focus on the Tories at socio-economic circumstances of our Labour. Jeremy is aiming for one million Westminster but it also means that children. members. I think we can do it. we cannot ignore the failings of - and the choices made - by the Scottish If it doesn’t then then perhaps the Of course, we want to restore the Government either. SNP's anti-austerity stances is just faith many Scottish people once had in games that reflects the old politics – Labour but has now dwindled. But we In Scotland, like elsewhere, Labour spin and deception in order to gain one also want those on the left who were has traditionally been seen as the over your opponent. Only time will tell. inspired by the referendum campaign vehicle for transformative change. But time is not on the side of people last year to remember they have a Yet somewhere along the line we who need change the most. That is place in Labour still, and that they can have badly disappointed people. This why if you want to oppose austerity use that energy to achieve our shared disappointment hardened after the then you must stand with and help socialist aims. referendum, culminating in May’s strengthen the only British-wide anti- electoral catastrophe. austerity party. After all, the history of the Labour left and Labour in Scotland are intertwined Our job now, working alongside our John McDonnell MP is Shadow - from Keir Hardie to Jennie Lee and excellent and energetic new Scottish Chancellor 4 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 How the contest was won Martyn Cook and Tommy Kane provide an anatomy of Corbyn’s challenge

hen it was announced Jeremy of the party that changes brought in Street stalls to sign up new members Corbyn’s campaign to become at the behest of the right, designed to and register supporters were held WLabour leader was successful, dilute the power of the unions, and across the country, as were phone there were hardened campaigners broadly opposed by the left may have banks to speak to thousands of and elected representatives overcome ultimately led to the success of the individuals who had a vote. The unions with emotion. They have given literally Corbyn campaign. Under these new backing Corbyn encouraged their decades of their life to winning Labour rules, the first hurdle for the fledgling members to opt-in to the leadership to a socialist agenda, suffering defeats campaign was simply getting Corbyn election and use their democratic right and insults from others (both inside on to the ballot paper. Despite the to help select the new leader. and outside Labour) and being made promotion of OMOV as enhancing This groundswell of grassroots activity to believe that what they were doing democracy, there is little doubt that was complimented by an inspirational was pointless. So it was no surprise that it was meant to be a democratic message for change from Corbyn many were crying with happiness, and process that was controlled by the himself. Instead of engaging in negative not a little sense of vindication. Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) in so or personal attacks, the campaign Corbyn becoming leader isn’t enough far as it was be the gatekeeper which spoke explicitly about socialist ideas in itself, of course. One leadership decided who got on the ballot paper. in an open, positive and persuasive election is not enough to change society, In other words, it was supposed to way, catching the eye of many younger nor even Labour, but it does present a prevent someone like Jeremy ever people who were hearing these ideas significant break with recent tradition getting on the ballot. for the first time as well as making and opens up numerous opportunities The rules compel 15% of the PLP (in many, who had become jaded with for socialists to make gains. To put the this instance, 35 MPs), to nominate Labour’s rightward shift, to look again scale of the victory in to some sort of a candidate to secure a place on at Labour and either join or become context, the last time the right was as the ballot. As noted, given the PLP’s registered supporters. concerned about a leadership election gatekeeping role, this was always going A key point in the campaign was the was Tony Benn running in 1981. Even to be difficult. Let’s remember John Welfare Reform Bill vote on 20 July. then, it has to be remembered that this McDonnell’s leadership attempts saw The other candidates abstained, was only for the deputy leadership, and him fail to secure sufficient nominations. and subsequently dug themselves a that Benn had served in the Cabinet, That was compounded by Corbyn being deeper hole in trying to justify their unlike Corbyn who has resolutely comparatively late to announce his bid, absurd position; Corbyn took a clear remained on the backbenches and has which meant many MPs had already and principled position. After this broken the whip more than any other declared for their preferred candidate, point, many voting in the contest, and Labour MP (but always on the basis of leaving limited scope for gaining the in the wider public, began to realise principle and always with thoughtful required support. Behind the scenes, that Corbyn was presenting a genuine explanation about why he made the ordinary members, who wanted a alternative, and one that so many have decision that he did). genuine left-wing candidate, began to been looking for, for so long. As a result we now have a leader (and mobilise via social media. Contact details In August, a series of public rallies shadow chancellor) who are openly for MPs still to declare were drawn up, were announced across Scotland, and anti-austerity and pro-public ownership and members within their local areas were sold out within hours of being and who are articulating a vision of were encouraged to email, phone, tweet advertised. Venues had to be upgraded a rebalanced economy that invests and message them with arguments to meet demand, which in itself was a in our people to create jobs paid for for nominating Corbyn. Several MPs sign of just how much Corbyn’s ideas in part through more progressive subsequently stated that they were had caught the imagination. It was taxation and tackling the scandal of bombarded with messages and gave remarkable that so many people, both tax avoidance and evasion. This is their nominations as a result of this party members and non-members, were the new brand of Labour politics, the effective social media campaign. turning out to hear a politician speak as paradigm shift if you like, that will From here, the serious groundwork part of an internal Labour election. occur as a consequence of Jeremy’s began. A central campaign team began This culminated in packed rally at the election as Labour leader. It is worth lobbying unions for support, and set Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow. By this examining how we got here, and why up a network of regional organisers. point comparisons were being made to this campaign was so successful. In Scotland, we already had significant the ‘yes’ campaign in the referendum – We should start by thanking Eric levels of experience; the Scottish in that people were becoming inspired Joyce. His drunken head-butt in Labour Campaign for Socialism group by a positive campaign of hope that Westminster’s Stranger’s Bar started had been central in helping build the they saw had the potential to be a the chain of events that caused a Neil Findlay and Katy Clark Scottish vehicle for change. selection procedure in Falkirk, which leadership campaigns at the end of There was definitely commonality, led to (unjustified) accusations of 2014. Although unsuccessful in those but there were also fundamental illegal interference from Unite and races, it built the foundations for differences. An indicator of this was which eventually resulted in the Collins Jeremy’s campaign just a few months the fact that our rallies didn’t end Review and a move from the electoral later. Not least by giving many new, with renditions of Caledonia or Flower college system to ‘One Member One young volunteers experience and a of Scotland, but with the Red Flag Vote’ (OMOV) and the registered network of contacts across the country and the Internationale. In contrast to supporters scheme. that would help quickly mobilise an narrow discussions on the constitution, It is not an irony lost on either wing effective campaign. or attempts to smuggle in left-wing Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 5 ideas to the essentially nationalist programme of the ‘yes’ campaign, Jeremy’s campaign was inspired by class politics, which was openly and explicitly at the heart of all that was being done. On 12 September the results were announced. With almost 60% of first preference votes (and not taking in to account all the second preference votes that Corbyn would have received) there was no doubt that there was still socialist life in Labour. For so long suppressed due to a combination of wider societal events and the disproportionately influential MPs of the views of members and affiliated exciting prospects for the left in a the PLP, there was a now a genuine supporters, and also reach out to generation, should sign up at http:// sense of grassroots members regaining groups and social justice campaigns peoplesmomentum.com and follow control of their party. outside Labour. The ultimate aim it to on Twitter (@peoplesmomentum) Before the night was out there build a genuine mass movement that and Facebook (facebook.com/ were discussions taking place (over can challenge the orthodoxy of the past peoplesmomentum). numerous celebratory drinks) about 30 odd years and present an alternative Martyn Cook is parliamentary assistant how best to harness the energy that vision with socialism as its essential to Elaine Smith MSP, Secretary had been unleashed. In the months terms of reference. of the Campaign for Socialism, since the result, discussions have been The recently announced organisation, Scottish Representative on the UK taking place with left groups in Labour, Momentum, is beginning to form Labour National Policy Forum and such as the Campaign for Socialism, these structures and links. Although in Scottish Organiser for the Corbyn to build a broad coalition. We all its formative stages, it emerged from leadership campaign. Tommy Kane know that one leader, as significant as Corbyn’s campaign (though remains is a parliamentary researcher to Neil Corbyn’s win was, is not enough. separate to him) and will continue Findlay MSP, co-editor of ‘Class, Nation Now we have to organise both beyond his term of office. Anyone and Socialism: the Red Paper on insideLRD TUC Labour Sept15_Layout to bring about 1 10/07/2015 genuine 14:09 Pageseeking 1 to support this initiative, Scotland 2014’, and a member of the democratic structures that will reflect and join in what is one of the most Scottish Left Review editorial board. FIGHT ANTI-UNION LAWS

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General Secretary: Mick Cash President: Peter Pinkney

6 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 Kez + Jez = something spezial? Laying out her step plan, Lesley Brennan says Jez achieved the impossible so why can’t Kez? orbyn won with a huge Step 3 - Kezia ought to be given an to ensure that going forward the mandate by standing by his opportunity to develop as an authentic Party’s actions and priorities are in Cprinciples, offering mainstream leader assuming she addresses the line with agreed values. These values Labour thinking, (which included re- fundamental problems within the Party, will underpin our purpose including distribution and public ownership) in such as the fractures, the burnout, and, policy priorities and electoral goals. clear contrast to both Tories and SNP. works to resolve these. Healing the Having a clear sense of purpose similar He recognises Labour cannot win in party requires building resilience. to Corbyn’s plan will help motivate Scotland without change; and Labour activists and win back voters. Step 4 - individuals and organisations cannot have a path back to power in that demonstrate commitment to their Step 6 - autonomy encourages 2020 that fails to speak to Scotland. values through their behaviours are motivation but we need autonomy to Interestingly, a poll reported in the more resilient. Unfortunately, over strengthen our Party and Jeremy is Guardian stated: ‘more than a third of recent years, the electorate and Party supportive of this. Autonomy is critical people who voted for the SNP in the members have questioned the Labour for our survival especially over policy as general election say they are more Party’s values as it has not always it will strengthen our political position likely to vote for Labour now Jeremy is acted in accordance with these. The with respect to our opponents, and we the leader’. This all sounds great but ray of hope is Jeremy’s election, which may develop different policies on issues how does Scottish Labour fit in? demonstrates members and supporters such as welfare and Trident from the Scottish Labour is in a peculiar place want a Labour Party that is committed UK Party. To ensure policy documents following the defeats of 2010 and to its core values whilst aiming to win reflect the membership, increased 2011, the referendum, the 2015 2020. democracy is needed. wipe-out, the lengthy and tetchy UK Step 5 - Jeremy and his team Step 7 - Kezia, with Jeremy’s help, leadership campaign, and umpteen understand the importance of building needs to heal a fractured party. A party Scottish leadership contests. Thus, a broad consensus to deliver a decent that is divided will never succeed and Kezia Dugdale has a colossal challenge society, which was demonstrated by to win a majority in 2020 and 2021. of inspiring and leading party members the inclusion in his plan that ‘Labour To increase Party unity, in addition to whilst recognising that many are must become the party of economic clarifying our values, concerns and experiencing burn-out and becoming credibility AND economic justice’. comments need to be raised and detached from the Scottish party. Kezia must engage with members in heard, such as at conference and policy Kezia working cons tructively with a values clarification exercise in order meetings. This will help strengthen our Jeremy can facilitate change in the commitment to the Party. Scottish party. Jeremy is an authentic With people feeling discontent with leader, meaning that he is self-aware, politics and looking for change, this genuine, confident, self-assured and has had some in Scotland become is highly committed to his values. obsessed with where the powers Kezia shares many of these attributes lie. I believe Kezia can overcome but can still learn from his leadership this by tapping into Momentum, style. So here are my step-by-step which consists of trade unionists, prescriptions on how Kez, with a light campaigners and activists, to touch of Jez, can achieve the almost strengthen our Party and the impossible task of resuscitating the labour movement. Scottish Labour Party. It may seem an impossible Step 1 - the path to Scottish Labour’s task for Kezia to turn around current position has been long and Scottish Labour; however, a few winding so there needs to be realistic months ago, it seemed that expectations for May 2016. It will Jeremy had an impossible task! take at least another five years to Scottish Labour needs to end build a solid base before Scottish its downward trajectory. Labour can defeat the SNP at Kezia needs to develop as an Holyrood. authentic leader and learn Step 2 - many Scottish from Jeremy. With strong members, who were very guidance, Scottish Labour active in Jeremy Corbyn’s can start to regain support leadership campaign, took by having a clear sense of very little interest in the last purpose, autonomy and Scottish one even though we unity. had been actively involved Lesley Brennan a Labour in previous one supporting councillor in Dundee Neil Findlay. I do feel and contributor to the members – me included – forthcoming third edition of ought to overcome our own ‘Is there a Scottish road to ambivalent attachment to socialism?’. Kezia.

Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 7 Challenges for Corbynmania in Scotland Doubting whether Corbyn will turn around Scottish Labour, Daniel Kenealy nonetheless sees a way forward. any believe that the election was once again competence, and the Probably less of an impact than many of Corbyn should turn the tide SNP triumphed once more, this time might think, or hope. of Scottish Labour’s fortunes. with an unthinkable majority. M On competence it is really for Dugdale The party has witnessed a devastating With defeat in the much anticipated collapse in support since the independence referendum, it was and her Holyrood frontbenchers to do independence referendum, losing all understandable many began to wonder the hard work. If Corbyn continues to but one of its 41 MPs at the May 2015 if 2011 was the SNP’s high watermark. preside over a shadow cabinet riven general election. The story of Labour’s Alas, it was not. Having been defeated with disagreement, and a broader decline in Scotland has, by now, been in the voting booths, the SNP won the parliamentary party containing many quite well analysed. The Scottish aftermath. The referendum acted as a who would rather see him deposed, electorate stopped listening to it, but catalyst, further territorialising Scottish then he may do a rather bizarre service why? The answer is a complex one politics. It brought to the forefront of to Scottish Labour in making them that blends short-term dynamics with many voters’ minds the question, ‘who positively competent by comparison. longer-term ones, and that mixes SNP will best defend Scotland’s interests in a But that is hardly the impact Labour pull factors and Labour push factors. devolved UK?’ supporters are hoping for. Dugdale needs to get Scottish Labour focused It was Labour that established the That Labour joined forces in the on recruiting articulate, creative, and Scottish Parliament in 1999 and referendum campaign with the Tories ambitious candidates for Holyrood. If emerged as the most powerful political in ‘Better Together’ served to further that cannot be done in time for 2016 force in this new political landscape, alienate many of its identifiers, feeding then she should start at the grassroots leading coalition governments for eight the notion that the party was ‘Tory- with the 2017 local elections and build years. But, having created Holyrood, lite’. The referendum also catalysed from there. Ultimately, the perception Labour had no narrative about the another trend, namely the SNP’s of competence will return to Scottish purpose of devolution. Through its growing reputation – and it can only Labour through a mixture of SNP years in office it failed to cultivate a be called a reputation, as their record mistakes, new Scottish Labour talent, reputation for competent government. in government does not substantiate and a clear and coherent message from In parallel, UK Labour, of which Scottish it – as the party perceived to be at the Scottish Labour. Labour was so often seen – and often heart of progressive politics and social treated – as a mere branch office, justice. was moving firmly to the right in That Labour Attitudes data reveal SNP supporters government. are more to the left (although not joined forces in The SNP was all-too-happy to step markedly so) than Scottish Labour into the vacuum. Following the first supporters, which creates a puzzle. the referendum Holyrood elections, it became the Why are voters with left-wing attitudes political opposition on the devolved backing a party that has introduced campaign with political landscape. With the public so few progressive, left-wing policies perception that the SNP was a battler in government? The answer is that, the Tories in for Scottish interests, an advocate in politics, perception and narrative for more powers for Holyrood, and matter just as much as policy. ‘Better Together’ a competent government in waiting, Scottish Labour’s challenge now is a served to further the SNP took office in 2007. In the complicated one. Partially, as Kezia 2011 Holyrood Dugdale has pointed out, it has to gain alienate many of its elections the ear of the electorate again. But the identifiers, feeding beyond this are some more concrete issue requirements. First, it has to regain the notion that the a reputation for competence – often very difficult to do as an party was ‘Tory-lite’. opposition party. Second, it must convince the electorate it has sufficient autonomy to On autonomy, Corbyn has said of do what a majority believes Dugdale, ‘She’s the boss’. The greatest the SNP does – stand up service he can do for Scottish Labour for Scotland’s interests is to act as if he means that. The early within Britain. Third, and signs are positive but the work must perhaps most tricky, is it has continue. Dugdale’s vision of Scottish to understand the dynamics Labour in which grassroots members, of Scottish social attitudes and working through local parties, can public opinion, and craft policy develop policy is the right vision. But accordingly. So let’s call it the CAP how the Scottish Policy Forum interacts (Competence, Autonomy, Policy) with the National Policy Forum remains challenge. Will Corbyn have an impact? a thorny issue. 8 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 Whilst the idea of a fully independent they are supporting progressive Environmentalism), and the more Scottish Labour Party has not been principles without having to make any established Solidarity Scotland, taken up, a mechanism has to be found of the sacrifices that go with it. are failing to break through in any to allow Scottish Labour politicians, significant way, and the notion of a The job of positioning Scottish Labour including MPs (presuming in the future Syriza-style coup is fanciful. Given that should fall to Dugdale, not Corbyn. If it that there are some), to back distinctly the British Election Study confirms does not then Scottish Labour will be that those on the far left were the Scottish Labour policies even on non- failing their autonomy challenge. What ones most disappointed with the devolved issues and even when they Scottish Labour needs to do is develop referendum result, it is hard to see the contradict the UK Labour line. Corbyn a clear narrative that both encapsulates unionist Corbyn attracting them. can have his biggest impact on Scottish the policy failures of the SNP and, at Labour simply by recognising this the same time, begins to put the case The Scottish Greens remain a different challenge and taking it seriously. for Scottish Labour. proposition with polls suggesting they could snatch several list seats On policy, the challenge is greatest, I am no political strategist but, for from Scottish Labour. Their leader, because the data available reveals what it is worth, the message should Patrick Harvie, continues to be a well- the incredibly messy and complex be about the SNP being all style regarded figure although anecdotal interaction between left-wing attitudes and no substance when it comes to evidence suggests that Corbyn’s and attitudes towards independence. progressivity, equality, and fairness, leadership has proven attractive to By May 2015 90% of those voting and Labour is where the authenticity Green party supporters in England. A ‘Yes’ in the referendum backed the is. This should be coupled with a new similar dynamic could be replicated in SNP (about 40% of whom were and open mode of policymaking that Scotland; it’s too early to tell. Labour voters in 2010). Winning back harnesses much of the enthusiastic individuals who clearly want to leave energy uncorked by the independence Scottish Labour faces many challenges Britain is a tall order for a unionist referendum. and must play a long game if it is to party and it is hard to see how Corbyn What of other forces on the left of govern again from Holyrood. The could help here. Dugdale’s attempt Scottish politics? It remains too early challenges are not impossible to meet to diffuse the issue, by saying Labour to say exactly what Corbyn’s impact but, as Scottish Labour begins the members could choose how to vote in will be. The empirical data simply task, it may be advisable to proceed a second independence referendum, does not give us the basis to reach largely ignoring the unpredictable, and has been hailed by some as shrewd but any firm conclusions. However, it’s potentially short-lived, Corbyn factor. risks looking like opportunism and the hard to see Corbyn having much Daniel Kenealy is a lecturer at the abandonment of principle for electoral impact here. The polling evidence University of Edinburgh’s Academy of reward. suggests new movements such as RISE Government. But there is more to the policy (Respect, Independence, Socialism, challenge than the constitution. Scottish Labour has been outflanked by the SNP on the left, but perhaps not quite in the way that it thinks it has. British Election Study data shows those who voted Labour in 2010, but who have moved to the SNP since the referendum, are both more in favour of equality in society and more likely to think that the SNP is the party to deliver that. Nearly three-quarters of those lost voters favour income redistribution and three-quarters of them saw the SNP as delivering that (versus slightly less than half who felt the same about Labour). Surely Corbyn must help on this front by shifting the perception of Labour in a left direction? Yes, in the broad sense that it makes it nigh impossible for the SNP to paint Labour as ‘Tory-lite’. But the battleground for Scottish Labour now ought to be Scottish politics and devolved public policy. And here it must be remembered that Scotland is not crying out for a socialist policy agenda. The facile notion that Corbyn’s socialism will speak directly to many more people in Scotland than it will in the rest of the UK simply has no basis in the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey. Indeed, a good working hypothesis is that many are supporting the SNP because it makes them feel as though Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 9 Corbyn challenges cosy consensus Tom Mills argues the media has meted out special treatment for the ‘enemy inside’ t the beginning of October most basic ethical and professional it transpired Corbyn had not even the Complaints Committee of standards on an industrial scale. attended, affirmed the right of Iraqis Independent Press Standards to resist occupation – a right which A Most of us are too weary to be Organisation (IPSO) – the sham happens to be recognised in the regulatory body set up by the big outraged by the political and moral Geneva conventions. news corporations in response to, depravity of the press. But if we take Corbyn has been attacked for opposing and deviance of, Leveson – ruled on the professed values of the media the renewal of Trident despite the UK a complaint from Ivan Lewis MP. The seriously – Guardian and BBC included being a signatory to the Nuclear Non- Labour right-winger had featured in – then what we have witnessed is Proliferation Treaty which commits a Telegraph front page story on 15 remarkable. signatories to undertaking 'effective August with the headline ‘Labour The overall message seems to have measures in the direction of nuclear grandees round on ‘anti-Semite’ been Corbyn and his supporters – disarmament', and steps towards Corbyn’. who make up the majority of Britain's 'complete disarmament'. The offending article quoted from his largest political party – are simply Corbyn has also been attacked for New Statesman op-ed the previous beyond the pale. This is not just a lamenting the extra-judicial execution day. In it, he had written Labour question of unfavourable coverage. of Osama Bin Laden, despite his arguing needed 'a leader who can build a new One can disagree with Corbyn and his supporters. There has been a general Bin Laden should have instead stood vision' so it could 'hold the Tories to trial being in clear accordance with the account for their attacks on working failure to engage in any serious way with the policy ideas they advocate. Universal Declaration of Human Rights and vulnerable people'. His proposed and the International Covenant on Civil visionaries were Liz Kendall, Yvette Many of the Corbyn and his and Political Rights. Cooper and Andy Burnham, in that allies’ views and positions have order - anyone but Jeremy, whom been attacked and ridiculed are The Bin Laden smear was echoed he accused of being soft on anti- based in international law or by Cameron in his Tory conference Semitism. mainstream macroeconomics. A speech so it’s important to recognise good number have significant public the media is not operating in isolation Lewis had not though, he noted here. There has been two-way traffic in his complaint, actually accused support, and some are completely uncontroversial. This has led to some with the 'political class', with much Corbyn himself of antisemitism as of the ammunition coming from MPs curious lines of attack. One article, the Telegraph implied. IPSO upheld like Ivan Lewis. The corporate friendly, by the Telegraph's political editor, the complaint, ruling the article pro-war faction of Labour seems as yet Peter Dominiczak, in September, for was 'significantly misleading', thus unwilling to concede defeat handed out example, reported Corbyn 'appeared breaching of Clause 1 of the Editors' by democracy to it. Code of Practice, which states the to blame George Bush and Tony Blair press 'must take care not to publish for using the September 11 attacks The reaction of the news media to inaccurate, misleading or distorted in New York to allow them to go to Corbyn’s rise has to be understood in information'. war'. This, he suggested 'raise[d] this broader context. The corporate questions about his suitability to press is by its nature hostile to more It was a curious ruling in some ways lead’ Labour. democratic and egalitarian politics, and because though plainly misleading, in that respect its reaction is not in the the article was not in the least bit A BBC Panorama programme broadcast least bit surprising. unusual. Taking the same standards shortly before Corbyn was elected applied by IPSO, and examining blamed him for the death of British The BBC is supposed to be impartial coverage of Corbyn's campaign and troops in Iraq, despite Cooper and and the Guardian is, by reputation, his subsequent Labour leadership, Burnham voting for the illegal war, and left-wing. Yet both have looked not would lead to the conclusion the Corbyn against. The BBC's rationale to 'civil society' to define reasonable media has cheerfully violated its was that a conference in Cairo, which boundaries of politics, but to the state and the cluster of corporate friendly institutions and networks in and around it. The hold these networks have over Labour suddenly, and unexpectedly, collapsed this year. Tom Mills has a PhD in sociology from the University of Bath where he works as a researcher. His thesis examined how the end of social democracy and rise of neoliberalism impacted on the BBC. His forthcoming book on this is published by Verso in 2016.​ He is a former New Left Project editor.

10 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 Corbyn and the anti-austerity movement Phil McGarry and Keith Stoddart welcome the Corbyn advance but worry about duplication of efforts he People’s Assembly had some 100,000 folk marching past the TTory conference in Manchester on 4 October followed by a week of meetings, concerts, comedy nights all full with people calling for an end to the government’s policies of austerity. Scotland with its own STUC supported demo in Dunfermline the day before made it clear that the country was against austerity regardless of whether it emanated from Holyrood, Westminster or even Brussels. Tories at their conference were left in no doubt that the People’s Assembly was the leading anti-austerity group throughout Britain. These activities were building on earlier demos held in London, Glasgow and unexpected as it was, has the majority. Swansea capitalising and channelling immeasurably helped us in this. The During his campaign he correctly people’s anger at what was happening panic in both ‘new’ Labour and Tory both to them and their communities. argued austerity is not an economic elites along with their friends in the necessity, it’s a political choice. He These demos led to an explosion of banks and financial institutions is not local campaigns on a variety of issues promised a real living wage; Labour only because Corbyn won but why he would force Starbucks, Vodafone, that were causing concern and fear for won. working class people. Amazon and Google etc. to pay their Corbyn is not part of these elites despite fair share of taxes; there would be cuts There are campaigns opposing the being a long term parliamentarian - he to subsidies paid to companies taking wholesale sell off of housing estates, has always stayed true to his beliefs, money but not providing the jobs; cuts to benefits and local services, working locally while thinking globally. and there would be cuts to the billion ending of working tax credits for With his work within CND, international pound tax breaks given to buy to let many, job losses, end of school solidarity movements alongside landlords for repairing their properties, bus services, education, the fight continuous support for unions and the whether they undertake the repairs or for peace and against fracking, all wider labour movement in the struggle not. in some way relating back to the for change and justice, he stands apart However, Corbyn’s problem is that struggle against austerity. It seemed from many in the Parliamentary Labour most of those who sit behind him in that there was no issue large or small, Party. local or national that did not have a parliament will have no truck with grouping either promoting or fighting His candidature characterised by much of his programme. At present, against it. simplicity and clarity of message clearly they are waiting for the opportunity ignited a latent resentment to the to discredit him aided by their allies The People’s Assembly, building on perpetual spin of the wealthy and their in the capitalist press and in business the earlier demands of the People’s representatives with their justifications elsewhere by whom Corbyn is seen as Charter, brought together these for inequality. In other words, Corbyn a threat. activists and the wider union and made class and class inequality an Corbyn recognises this and calls labour movement. Together they have issue. become the political counter offensive upon his supporters to remain to the war being waged on our class by As he put it: ‘Since the dawn of history engaged with politics locally building the forces of capitalism largely, led by in virtually every human society there grassroots campaigns to support the Tory party (but aided and abetted are some people who are given a great those in parliament. This is interesting by an assortment of others including deal and many more people who are - not because it is wrong to build up those who supported ‘new’ Labour). given little or nothing. Some people community supports - but because have property and power, class and rather than directing those new So-called ‘anti-austerity’ policies with capital, status and clout which are activists towards the People’s Assembly attacks on the poor’s income and denied to the many’. he has set about creating a new workers’ rights to organise in protection organisation Momentum. of their interests via the ‘Trade Union In saying this, he exposed one of the Bill’ are their current weapons of fundamental illusions of capitalism, It is being launched in an attempt to namely, that we’re not all in this keep the army of volunteers that had choice. It is opposition to these actions together and that neither national developed throughout the leadership that is the Peoples Assembly’s frontline identity nor middle class aspiration can campaign engaged and probably also fight for the coming period. deny the fundamental structuring of in the hope that they will become We believe Corbyn’s victory, society that allows an elite immiserate full Labour members rather than Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 11 supporters. A political party seeking to The plan is to begin campaigning on We see MSPs and other elected recruit members from its supporters is local issues inside and outside Labour members from Labour and perhaps not unusual and its part of what they do. with Momentum’s intention to act more significantly the SNP joining in What is unusual is that it plans for nationally as an umbrella organisation demonstrations and actions organised Momentum to become a social for local groups across the country. by the People’s Assembly. No doubt movement similar to the people’s However Momentum does not plan Labour members whose spirits were movements. But rather than a loose to have any formal links with other lifted by Corbyn’s victory are now more arrangement where people come organisations, although it will work able to push their representatives into in and out often based on specific with other campaign groups and trade beginning some form of challenge to issues, Momentum intends to be unions on issues like TTIP and the Trade cuts has helped this. a membership organisation with Union Bill. SNP members are now no longer able branches, campaigning against national This is unfortunate as the anti-austerity to claim the moral high ground of being and local cuts, promoting voter movement is not the property of one Scotland’s anti-austerity party and are registration and encouraging members party. The People’s Assembly’s success fearful that a Corbyn-led party will to develop local campaigning initiatives. in mobilising across divisions against challenge the Scottish Government’s All of this would appear to duplicate those actually implementing austerity own record of support for the politics the work already being done on the and the cuts shows this. This is its of austerity and cuts while not being ground by local People’s Assemblies in greatest strength - it has been able to written off as ‘Red Tories’. partnership at least in Scotland with do this by remaining unaligned to any In Westminster, the Tories are not local Trades Union Councils and major party. In Scotland, it took no position now having the easy ride they enjoyed unions. on the independence referendum under ‘new’ Labour. So his victory will Momentum’s organiser Jon Lansman recognising that there is not a YES or help those opposing the attacks on in the Morning Star describes it as ‘the NO anti-austerity campaign only the working people not least by the fact biggest movement of the organised campaign against austerity. that he presents an alternative to what left for decades and that it will ‘create In Scotland, we have seen in local has become the established orthodoxy a space for debate and creative government a limited ‘Corbyn effect’ (even though Momentum may pose solutions’. with some councillors perhaps some issues for the wider anti-austerity campaign). That we have had to rely on Somewhat tellingly he also said policy emboldened by his victory showing the Lords to challenge the changes to would be “debated and agreed in a themselves willing to engage albeit tax credits shows however there is still democratic Labour Party’. So not with in a limited way with uniions and the much for our movement to do. the wider labour movement but within People’s Assembly. Often this is to a Labour party made more democratic discuss how to lessen the impact of the Phil McGarry is the Chair and Keith by increasing the membership through cuts rather than opposing them but it’s Stoddart the Secretary of the People’s their involvement in Momentum. a start and one that we can build upon. Assembly Scotland

leaders perform multiple functions such Corbyn’s challenge: presiding over the formulation of public policy, shaping campaign strategy and overseeing the co-ordination of to survive and prosper party activities but effective party Eric Shaw looks at the challenges of leadership management is a condition of effective an Corbyn survive? And if so, can leaders combined with the absence of leadership. Party management is about he provide effectively leadership an obvious successor make the effort preserving party unity, mobilising C- for he may linger on but lack the more perilous: any effort to forcibly him collective effort and enabling it to capacity to place his imprint firmly on risks precipitating bitter internal strife. respond swiftly to external challenges. party policy, strategy and organisation. But there is another option for Not only do Corbyn and his closest These are the two questions this article those wishing to terminate Corbyn’s advisers have negligible experience of will address. I will briefly address the party management they are confronted leadership - persuade him to retire first question before moving on, in by a range of managerial obstacles voluntarily. The most likely form this more detail, to the second. more formidable than faced by any would take would be for the bulk of predecessor in a generation. The How secure is Corbyn’s leadership? He the shadow cabinet to threaten mass most obvious of these is the minimal was elevated to Labour’s highest office resignation. They may be tempted to support and loyalty he can call upon with a huge democratic mandate which do so if the party performs very poorly in the Parliamentary Labour Party greatly strengthened his legitimacy. in forthcoming elections (local, London, (PLP). Fewer than 10% of MPs can be Further protection is afforded by the Scottish, Welsh and by-elections), if it considered to Corbynites. Recall almost rules governing a leadership challenges. is lagging well behind in the polls and half of those nominating him did not Triggering a contest requires 20% of if Corbyn’s personal standing sinks to vote for him in the leadership race. MPs nominate a challenger whilst the rock bottom. However, the new leader A substantial segment is implacably incumbent would automatically be on has around a year or so breathing space opposed to him: they do not believe he the ballot. before these particular storm-clouds can succeed, do not want him to and really darken. Not only does Corbyn’s massive will do their best to ensure he does not. endorsement suggest he would be This brings us to the second, more But these are a minority and there are very difficult to dislodge but both the immediate, question: can Corbyn many others who are either preparing party’s traditional reluctance to depose manage the party effectively? Party to give the new leader the benefit of 12 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 the doubt, biding their time or simply evasions and insincerities which have would warn transformative leadership calculate that their careers will best become the stock in trade of so much – calling in the wider party to redress be served by a show of loyalty. This political discourse. the imbalances in the Parliamentary amorphous group, mainly on the centre one - runs a serious risk of heightening Transformative politics would, and soft left, dominate the shadow tensions within the party, polarising of course, provoke entrenched cabinet and the frontbench in general. opinion and alienating many of those resistance in the PLP but its adherents They accept Corbyn has a very who may be prepared to co-operate. believe this could be overcome strong mandate and whatever their reservations (many of which are through mobilization of the extra- It is as yet unclear which option deep) and forebodings about the parliamentary party. Labour’s greatly Jeremy Corbyn will choose. On the one future (often intense) show some expanded membership base, they hand his personal style and attitude willingness to work with Corbyn. But believe, offers a formidable source towards the conduct of politics may they have little ideological affinity to of energy, drive and creativity which predispose him to the consensual. The the new leader and their loyalty will could surmount opposition and appointment by John McDonnell, with be contingent on his ability both to facilitate the pursuit of transformative his approval, of economists such as manage the party in a consensual politics. The democratisation of Joseph Stiglitz, Danny Blanchflower and spirit and to revive the party’s flagging policy arrangements, with the active Simon Wren-Lewis – highly-regarded electoral fortunes. If he fails, their involvement of the grassroots in but scarcely from the radical left – to loyalty will soon begin to evaporate. decision-making would compel MPs the panel of economic advisers can How, then, should Corbyn enact his to accept the democratic will of the be taken as signs of his willingness to managerial role? Broadly speaking, party. Added to this, some Corbynities practice the politics of accommodation. we can distinguish between two are prepared to revive mandatory Further, presumably he is well aware styles of managerial leadership, the reselection of MPs as a pressure point that (in sharp contrast to Blair) he transformative and the consensual. against recalcitrant parliamentarians lacks a firm grasp the main centres of For the former, the leader’s prime though Corbyn himself seems to be decision-making within the party and is managerial responsibility is enhancing lukewarm about this. hemmed in by an array of institutional the party’s capacity to operate constraints. Added to this, he has The alternative approach to party as a vehicle of social or political indicated that his preference is for a management is the consensual transformation. Philip Williams in tolerant, liberal and pluralistic approach one. The core argument here is Kavanagh’s The Politics of the Labour to settling differences within Labour’s that, irrespective of how much Party (Unwin Hyman, 1982) describes ranks. support Corbyn has amongst the this role as that of the ‘pathfinder’ party membership and within the On the other hand, he is, above all, who feels ‘a duty to lead in a particular affiliated unions, he cannot manage a conviction politician, animated by direction’ and is endowed with his the party effectively in the teeth of deeply-felt moral values and ideological ‘own vision and destination in mind’. PLP opposition. The premise behind attachments and may find too much It is a style animated by a clear sense this approach is that Labour’s ruling compromise distasteful. Further, he of mission with the leader’s election stratum must remain a coalition which may well feel under obligation to satisfy platform conceived as conferring a accurately reflects the actual balance of the hopes and aspirations of those democratic mandate for realising it. forces within the party. Corbyn should placed their faith in him during the By contrast, the consensual approach concentrate on widening his political leadership race. His appointment of envisages the leader’s role principally base in the PLP and, therefore, the radical leftists such as Seumas Milne as a stabiliser whose priority is emphasis should be less on driving as his Director of Communications sustaining party cohesion through through the leader’s programme and, in particular, the controversial balancing the various interests and through the mobilization of the wider and abrasive Andrew Fisher as head institutions of views which compose party than on persuasion, conciliation of policy suggest he may indeed be the party. Stabilisers will have their own and compromise. contemplating a more transformative approach. principles and their own sense of the Of course, the assumption here is course they believe the party should that a sufficient number of centre and A concluding though: transformative follow but are prepared to dilute this to soft-left MPs and NEC members are politics can work if the leader enjoys minimise internal party factures. prepared to play ball. Whilst there is the confidence of the electorate at Corbyn may find the transformative a solid block of irreconcilables others, large (recall Thatcher): engaging in option more tempting. He clearly advocates of this approach would argue bold, unflinching and determined envisages Labour as an agency for others can be wooed. Several senior leadership then becomes feasible. radical change, he campaigned on figures – mostly much younger than But in the absence of that confidence, a strongly left wing platform and Corbyn - still have their eyes on their particularly when a party is plagued has repeatedly emphasised that his leadership and may consider their by poor electoral results consensus- sweeping victory has given him a prospects can best be advanced by a defying transformative politics mandate to implement it. Finally, he co-operative rather than a combative may amount to a form of political may well reckon that such an approach approach to him. Their calibrations euthanasia. will have resonance as there is some may be influenced by the powers of Eric Shaw is Honorary Research Fellow, evidence that his authenticity and his patronage and career advancement Division of History and Politics at the clear and forthright leadership style Corbyn has available. Finally and University of Stirling impress many tired of the banalities, above all, exponents of consensualism Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 13 Workers’ rights are human rights Carole Ewart looks at what needs to be done to make human rights effective uman rights defenders and further acknowledges the importance common sense to the application of union activists are united of that work not only in relation to human rights laws, which has been Hby the shared experience of Scotland, but also in establishing and undermined by the damaging effects being demonised by a UK government maintaining standards of best practice, of Labour’s Human Rights Act. It would desperate to justify its decision to which provide a benchmark for human also protect existing rights, which abolish the Human Rights Act 1998 rights elsewhere in the world; expresses are an essential part of a modern, (HRA). The HRA enables us to assert its confidence in, and support for, the democratic society, and better protect and enforce rights including freedom Human Rights Act 1998 as a successful against abuse of the system and misuse of expression, the right of peaceful and effective implementation of the of human rights laws. assembly and the right to form and to convention in domestic law, and That selective strategy contradicts the join unions for the protection of our believes that the principles and values foundation of international law which is interests. that inform the convention, the rights the equal enjoyment of human rights. There is a growing line of people and freedoms that it enumerates For example, as the UK Government who have been demonised by the UK and the Acts that incorporate it into has ratified the International Covenant Government including disabled people law, should be a source of unity and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights who are diagnosed unfit to work by consensus across the whole of society (ICESCR), each of us is entitled to basic NHS GPs but judged able to work by and should enjoy the unequivocal economic, social, cultural, civil, political private contractors, single parents backing of all who are committed to and environmental rights from which who are portrayed as scroungers on upholding human rights, democracy we realise our dignity as individuals. welfare payments, migrants who are and the rule of law. blamed for the lack of jobs for ‘locals’ The rights to a decent standard of and unemployed people promoted as living, social insurance and highest work shy to hide the fact there are no attainable standard of physical and jobs for them. To paraphrase Pastor mental health are to be progressively Niemöller, if we accept that certain realised to the maximum extent of the groups should not have human rights, UK’s available resources. Collective who will be there to stand up for our rights are also set out including the human rights when we need them? right to join a union. Such human rights sit uncomfortably with the UK Divide and rule is an old tactic. GB Government’s austerity strategy. There polling by the Equality and Diversity is clear political gain in portraying Forum (EDF) in 2013 concluded 22% are human rights as a liability so the UK pro-human rights, 41% are conflicted, government can promote an ideology 11% uninterested and 26% anti. The rather than being constrained in sample size from Scotland, although practice by international human rights small, confirms similar views although standards. the results may have changed given the referendum and the general election. The potential clash in the design of UK austerity measures with their impact The Scottish Parliament has declared a It is ironic the SNP is talking about what on people has been raised by the UN view for Scotland in 2014 by voting 100 unites us across the UK just as Cameron Committee on Economic, Social and votes to 10, that it and the Conservatives are continuing Cultural Rights. It has just published re-affirms and re-asserts, on behalf the tradition of Tory Prime Ministers a list of 32 ‘Issues’ that the UK must of all of the people of the community by promoting disharmony in the UK – answer, in writing, prior to next year’s of Scotland, the inalienable human reminiscent of Mrs Thatcher quoting formal Hearing on compliance with rights and fundamental freedoms St Francis of Assisi when she entered ICESCR. that are the common inheritance No 10 in 1979 and achieving quite the The issues include an expectation of all members of humanity; recalls reverse for so many people in Scotland. that a new Bill of Rights will include the particular importance to the Thus, ‘where there is discord, may we all the ICESCR rights, questions about Parliament, through its founding bring harmony’ became ‘where there is the content and impact of the Trade statute, its founding principles and harmony, may we bring discord’. Union Bill, progress on measures to in all aspects of its day-to-day work, Cameron’s intentions on human rights combat blacklisting, actions to ensure of human rights in general and of are detailed in the ‘Queen’s Speech health and safety at work, concrete the European Convention on Human briefing pack which states: steps taken to ensure welfare changes Rights in particular; acknowledges do not ‘disproportionately impact the constitutional responsibility of the The Government will bring forward disadvantaged and marginalized groups Parliament to uphold the principles proposals for a Bill of Rights to replace and individuals’ and inequality in pay and values expressed in the convention the Human Rights Act. This would and conditions. and to respect, protect and realise the reform and modernise our human rights and freedoms that it enumerates; rights legal framework and restore So yes, the UK Government is in 14 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 difficulty internationally about its rights activity internationally and stronger and poverty a thing of the human rights record, and civil society domestically, is expected by the end of past. That does not need to be a can take some credit – the Human March 2016. party political issue. As we campaign to defend the HRA and gather Rights Consortium Scotland’s (HRCS) Ensuring human rights principles and evidence to submit to the UN next 20 pages written submission included standards are respected and promoted year on economic and social rights, evidence from the STUC, UNISON and in the design, delivery and funding of we also need to achieve what the Unite, and UNISON paid for the project public services will re-balance power Scottish Parliament voted for in as the HRCS has no grant income. between people and government, 2014 ‘establishing and maintaining and deliver a fairer society. People can Another development is in respect standards of best practice, which assert their rights and the government, of private sector. The UN recognises provide a benchmark for human rights via public sector agencies, has a duty the role of private companies to elsewhere in the world’. The challenge to proactively deliver those rights. adopt a ‘respect, protect and remedy’ remains to make the rhetoric a reality Unsurprising then that politicians framework on human rights within which positively impacts on people in have invested so much effort into their sphere of influence. No longer Scotland. is it just up to governments to deliver convincing us that human rights are the on human rights. The UN’s Guiding problem rather than the solution to the Carole Ewart is a public policy and Principles (UNGPs) on business and injustices that face too many people in human rights consultant. The full human rights set out how that should our rich nation. paper on which this article is based can be found at http://reidfoundation. be done and has prompted the Scottish Mainstreaming human rights in org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ Government to fund a national baseline Scotland will rebalance the power Workers-Rights-are-Human-Rights- assessment. Private companies, relationships between government 10th-Aug-20151.pdf located in Scotland, will be examined and people, and between businesses and a final report, on their human and workers to make our democracy

THIRD ANNUAL JIMMY REID MEMORIAL LECTURE Scotland’s left-wing think tank. ‘WORKERS’ SupportRIGHTS ARE us HUMAN at: RIGHTS’ SPEAKER: Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister of Scotland Chair: Grahame Smith, General Secretary, STUC Tuesday www.reidfoundation.org24 November at 6.30pm Bute Hall, University of Glasgow Doors open from 5.30pm, tea and coffee available. Free entry by ticket only, tickets will be available online at website shortly. In honour of worker’s leader, Jimmy Reid, Nicola Sturgeon will address the issue of why worker’s rights are human rights and how this can be used in defence against the Tory Governments attacks on workers economic, political and social rights in Scotland. The First Minister and guests will be welcomed by Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, Professor Anton Muscatelli. FollowingU nionthe speech there will Sobe a questionlidari and answer session.ty Our Director, Int Professorer Gregorna Gall, willti make onala short contribution on our work programme to conclude the event. The Foundation has just published a policy paper on the issue of workers’ rights as human rights (which is available on our website). Jimmy Reid was installed as elected Rector of the University in the Bute Hall in 1972 where he made his famous ‘The rat race is for rats. We're not rats. We're human beings’ speech. His archives are maintained by the University and some will be on display prior to the lecture. We are grateful to the University for their assistance in organising the lecture. VISIT the WEBSITE at www.reidfoundation.org

Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 15

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Indyref 2014: nation vs class We are pleased to reprint summaries of the debate between Foster and Davidson from the recent ‘Class and nation in contemporary Scotland’ conference in Glasgow in September this year. he referendum transformed In some ways there is some individuals responding individually to Scottish politics. It is, however, resemblance to the transformation of the crisis of austerity. But there are also Tneither accurate nor politically voting behaviour elsewhere in Europe. three major differences. First, Corbyn’s useful to characterise it as a triumph In Greece, Italy and Spain mass parties election programme - this contained at of nation over class. It was precisely have emerged calling for the rejection least some systemic challenges to the the combination of class sentiment of austerity while at the same time existing order. Second, close links to and national identification which not seeking to challenge existing the union movement. Third, the depth made the movement so powerful and institutions. of the Conservative government’s attack on both working people and the which today defines its potential both In Scotland, this situation holds very union movement itself, a level of class for progressive change and also for considerable dangers. The SNP is both extremism that betrays significant over- populist reversal. a populist and nationalist party which is confidence. In the referendum, the slogans which in the privileged position of being able, won support from Scotland’s most for the next five years, to deflect blame In some ways the 2014 referendum impoverished communities were those for austerity to Westminster. represented the first mass upsurge of rejection of neo-liberal austerity which denounced austerity as an At the same time, it also seeks to policies in Britain. That potential imposition of an external Westminster remodel basic attitudes. It invites the still exists. But it is currently being elite. Benefit cuts, sanctions and falling Scottish union movement to endorse recalibrated in a nationalist direction. real wages were posed as a product of institutions of social partnership within Scotland, it is argued, is different. both class and national oppression. a wider perspective of a European Scottish capitalism will be different. The result was to add another 20% of Union that defends working people and principally working class supporters the associated prospect of developing This is the danger we now face. In immediate practical terms there to the existing nationalist core vote – a West German model of capitalism in are the cuts that will be imposed on voters who as recently as the 2012 local Scotland that, according to Sturgeon local government over the coming elections had been overwhelmingly combines ‘competitive markets with strong social protection and months. How far can the People’s Labour. This process was carried even partnership’ (Scotsman 13 June 2015). Assembly and the union movement further in the general election. This together develop a resistance, involving growth in support for independence This poses a significant challenge to some class critique of the Scottish and the SNP cannot, therefore, be the left in Scotland. Some sections government, that links with similar detached from a mass perception of seem disposed to ride on this populist movements elsewhere? How far can class injustice resulting from existing tiger – in the hope that a future crisis this redevelop a broader union and constitutional arrangements. will offer opportunities for a socialist labour movement campaigning across challenge. More seriously, there are Yet it was also a weak and unstructured communities, stressing the importance indications that sections of the union perception. It failed to distinguish the of organisational strength and class movement see immediate practical slogans of the referendum from what understanding? benefits in responding to the Scottish was on offer. Sterling, NATO and the government’s partnership model. The 2014 referendum did not mark the EU involved endorsing exactly the triumph of nation over class. However, In both cases the danger is that Scottish same neo-liberal, pro-big business its aftermath could – in terms of the politics will become increasingly framework that determined policies triumph of populist nationalism. But insulated from wider struggles at in Westminster. The manifest feeling the Scottish rejection of austerity could British level – struggles which have of class injustice was not matched by equally add strength to a movement the potential, but so far only that, to an understanding of the class power that has the potential to redevelop expose the class character of the British that enforced these policies. Nor is class politics and expose the class state and to redevelop a class-based this surprising. To a great degree it character of the British state and of the mass movement. reflected more than two decades in European Union. which Labour retreated from any class There are indeed some similarities John Foster is a labour historian and a analysis and endorsed exactly the same between the mass base of the new member of the Red Paper Collective institutional framework as that called Corbyn leadership of Labour Party for by the SNP – and did so in a society and the populist movements on The overwhelmingly majority of the where union density has fallen to near the continent. The 250,000 Corbyn Scottish radical left supported ‘yes’ in half its previous level. supporters are, it would seem, largely the referendum and was right to do so. 16 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 Indyref 2014: nation vs class We are pleased to reprint summaries of the debate between Foster and Davidson from the recent ‘Class and nation in contemporary Scotland’ conference in Glasgow in September this year. Socialist supporters of a ‘no’, centred Voter registration drives in working- its class interests for preserving the around the remnants of the Labour left, class communities were one aspect unity of the British labour movement had no way of relating to those newly of this. Even unionist opinion-makers is surely not one of them. And, for two radicalised by the ‘yes’ campaign, in London felt obliged to report the weeks before 18 September 2014, the except to denounce their ‘nationalism’ packed public meetings, debates in ‘yes’ campaign reduced the British and castigate the bourgeois nature of pubs and so on. For the ‘yes’ campaign ruling class to a panic unparalleled the SNP - something most of us were marking the ballot paper was merely since the 1984-1985 miners’ strike. If quite aware of. They have since paid the final moment in months of debate the referendum was so irrelevant, why the price. and activity so that it needs to be seen were they so concerned? as a social movement, not merely One of the reasons why there has another political campaign. Its closest been no Scottish Labour ‘Corbyn A ‘yes’ vote, achieved on the basis of comparisons are therefore not to bounce’ is the party so thoroughly a mass left-wing insurgency, would be found in Scottish history, but in alienated potential supporters that have immediately changed the balance contemporary Spain and Greece. many migrated to the SNP, the Scottish of class forces and open up a new Greens or RISE. Corbyn-mania is But there were weaknesses in the possibilities. In a capitalist society, all the English equivalent of radical campaign. One was an inadequate politics is by definition ‘bourgeois’ independence but has come too late. focus on skilled and organised workers unless working-class interests are Nevertheless, left arguments for ‘no’ in their workplaces. Unorganised or forced onto agendas which would still abound. In essence there are two. precarious workers could be reached otherwise exclude them. in their communities but where The first is calling for independence workers were faced with an alliance What of the future? The main impetus automatically means ‘capitulating of employers and unions arguing for for ‘yes’ was not nationalism but to nationalism’. Nationalism is ‘no’ (as in defence-related industries) social change expressed through the about establishing new states and response was required to challenge demand for self-determination. The defending existing ones, so arguing this even if this had to be mounted danger is it will now become nationalist for maintaining the United Kingdom from outside. Failure to reach, let alone is no less ‘nationalist’ than arguing if the movement becomes an SNP convince, organised sections of workers for Scottish secession from it. These electoral support-group. Thousands at least contributed towards the ‘no’ left opponents argue maintaining the of mainly working-class people who victory. unity of the British state is driven not joined the SNP will change its inner by British nationalism but by class The second argument was the dynamics, but not its overall character considerations. Why then do they find referendum merely concerned as mildly reformist on the left wing of it so difficult to accept proponents of constitutional issues, and whatever the social neoliberal spectrum. This a Scottish state might have precisely the result it would leave the situation is why a left opposition to the SNP is the same distance from Scottish of workers fundamentally unchanged, of such importance. Deranged by its nationalism? but potentially with a divided sectarian SNP hatred, Labour cannot British working class. With claims As a political ideology, nationalism simultaneously oppose the latter party of irrelevance, it’s usually good to involves two inescapable principles: and attempt to win over its new, and examine the attitudes of the ruling the national group should have highly conditional membership, but the class. Who stood behind ‘no’? The its own state, regardless of social radical left can. supposedly neutral institutions of the consequences; and what unites the British state; most British capitalists; Meantime, whatever respective national group is more significant UKIP, BNP, Orange Order; the entire than what divides it like class. Neither attitudes to independence, there are press bar the Sunday Herald; the US of these principles animated ‘yes’ a whole range of issues –defending President; EU Commission; and rulers campaigners, who saw establishing a unions and welfare state, opposition of nation-states with insurgent minority Scottish state, not as an eternal goal to to fracking and nuclear weapons – on national movements like Spain. In be pursued in all circumstances, but as which the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ left can and short, Unionists were supported by the one which offered better opportunities must unite. British and international capitalist class. for equality and social justice in the Neil Davidson was an activist with RIC era of neo-liberal austerity –in other Keeping this company, the ‘no’ left and is a founding member of RISE words as a way of conducting the class should have asked itself whether this struggle, not denying its existence. motley crew could have misunderstood Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 17 Lessons from America on the Trade Union Bill Sarah Collins writes a letter from America after a recent trip there f the Trade Union Bill passes stoppages involving 1,000 or more like the UAW, began putting money and then you can imagine the future workers, the second lowest total since resources into combating these tactics Iheadlines we can look forward to: 1947. using the same publicity methods. ‘Local Authority issues ASBO to pesky All of our unions and confederations Nonetheless, it is clear that it is in the trade union picket-line!’ and ‘Trade need to get a lot better, very quickly, private sector (where density is 7% union fails to give employer 14 days’ at communicating online and through compared to 30% in public sector) that notice of latest tweet – how very dare social media. unions are focussing on their fight back. they!’. And there are three important lessons Third, the model of social movement The list of problems the Bill will for our ‘kill the bill’ campaign. unionism is perhaps the most create and concretise is endless. important. This model could enable First, we need a coherent, co-ordinated Coupled with the pre-existing anti- us to recruit and retain new, younger, strategy which covers all bases. This union legislation, they are potentially members. The Better than Zero seems obvious but it is something fatal. Our anti-union laws are already campaign run by the STUC at the which labour organisers in the US have similar to the USA’s so-called ‘right moment is loosely based on the US complained their own unions did not to work’ legislation. This legislation, ‘Fight for $15’ movement which is an have in Michigan and Wisconsin to a package of anti-union measures, example of such a model. defeat the law, and there was certainly has been in force in some states since no ‘plan B’ for the legislation passing. The idea behind these campaigns is the 1940s. Now covering 25 states, activists outside of the workplace pull the ‘right to work’ laws are designed The ‘right to work’ states have similar visible, professional and vibrant stunts to bankrupt unions. And they have secret balloting procedures and and then do follow-up engagement nearly succeeded. Union density is the reason for this was the same as with the workers in order to unionise now around 11%, down from the peak introduced in Britain, namely the them. This appeals to the idea of of 35% in mid-1940s with that decline government wants to limit workplace social movements where there isn’t has accelerated when ‘right-to-work’ meetings discussing and deciding one sector protecting their own rules have been passed. on industrial action. However, it is interests and where different methods not clear whether all states impose The most recent examples of ‘right of organising can be used. Such forms a home, postal ballot. It seems that to work’ legislation have come from can potentially overcome the picketing some permit secret ballot boxes in Michigan and Wisconsin, two of the restrictions (you’re not a picket if the workplace. This, coupled with heartlands of (de)industrialisation you just happen to fancy a flash-mob e-voting, would ensure internal union and, therefore, two of the strongest on Ashton Lane, are you?) and can democracy. If we can learn something states in terms of organised labour. actually begin growing membership from the US here, it is that it’s not ‘Right to work’ is essentially the same again. going to be enough to simply state our as Thatcher’s ban on closed-shops and opposition to the Bill. We need to put A thorough debate is needed in all aims to develop ‘competition’ within forward our own alternative system unions about the tools and methods to unions whereby workers can pick and balloting is an area in which we ‘kill the bill’. We also require a strategy and choose which unions to join and, can do this. for dealing with the consequences of indeed, can decide not to join a union the Bill if enacted. We have seen in the at all. Second, US unions are faced with US what happens without, and then multi-million dollar union busters, the However, ‘right to work’ goes further with, such a strategy. Let’s use this to scale of which has simply not been for it makes it unlawful for unions to ensure our fate is in our hands. seen in the UK yet. The union busters have mandatory dues, meaning that have extraordinary marketing and Sarah Collins is a founding member of workers who do not join the union or advertising strategies. Only in the past RISE – Scotland’s Left Alliance. who decide that they want to enforce few years have labour organisations, their ‘right’ not to pay membership fees will still be represented – not just through collective bargaining but also by being able to access services offered by the union, e.g. representation. There is also a 50% turnout threshold for ballots on industrial action and similar restrictions as to turn-out when it comes to ‘important’ public services. It is unsurprising then that in 2014 there were only 11 major work

18 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 Union political funds Jim Slaven says opening up union political funds to reflect diversity will make them effective ome time ago, I discussed with The current system creates the mirage are put up for election. Candidates an STUC General Council member of influence allowing union leaders would have to win the nomination Show a number of my branch to make critical speeches at Labour of union members in a democratic members had opted out of the political conference which may soothe a few election and we could use the latest fund as a result of the independence consciences but in reality changes digital technology to facilitate a vibrant referendum. In response, she cheerfully nothing. All the while decent union debate where politicians actually have informed she had no such trouble as members who wish to become active to persuade and engage with union her union had set up their fund in such in parties other than Labour are seen at members. a way that their members signed up to best as eccentrics or at worst traitors to Both systems would not limit Labour automatically while making it the one true faith. themselves to providing funds but would deliberately awkward to find out how However this is not a call simply for encourage members to become involved to opt out. To me this seemed symbolic disaffiliation from Labour or the cry for a in the campaigns of union endorsed of how unions viewed the political formation of a new workers party which candidates. No doubt some siren voices fund more as a statement of political in themselves would solve nothing. of party tribalism would object citing allegiance rather than a means of Rather it is a plea for reform to create a contradictions and the complexity of a influencing the political process. new system that increases trade union different system. I believe the consequence of such an leverage in the political process. But uniformity is not strength and I for approach is a growing chasm between For me the starting point is an one would be quite happy to tolerate a union leaders and their members acceptance that members’ politics are messy system that supports candidates within Scotland and a political fund pluralistic and not confined to one party. such as Partrick Harvie, Cat Boyd, Mharri that is wholly ineffectual in promoting a At the same time unions have their own Black or Katy Clark and Neil Findlay. progressive union agenda. values and policies which the political Surely, this is preferable to a system Consider that despite vast sums being fund has to respect. This would exclude which supports candidates because of directed to Labour and 13 years of supporting racist and anti-union parties the colour of their rosette rather than Labour Government the anti-union such as UKIP and Conservatives but the nature of their values. laws remained, privatisation spread and could create some healthy competition A new approach could fit in with the our manufacturing base continued to among others. temper of the times, reject party decline. All unions seemed to get for The first model would be that we tribalism and respect that union values our money from ‘new’ Labour was pious support candidates and not parties transcend that of party. In doing so, lectures on the need to modernise. depending on their union record. This we could revitalise our members’ Yet unions are not merely wage could mean supporting more than participation in the political process bargainers but a social movement one candidate and different parties in which in turn could drive the union dedicated to the creation of a fairer different parts of the country. values of fairness and justice into the society. Therefore, I’m not making heart of a new political discourse. A more radical approach could look an argument against the concept of at unions having approved candidates John Slaven is a member of Glasgow a political fund but rather a plea for who meet union friendly criteria who Trades Council one that works. Unions who use their political fund solely to support Labour have no recourse short of the nuclear option of completely removing funding. Inadvertently, they are creating a system where they have no leverage to influence the behaviour of the party or candidates they support. No union would enter into pay negotiations in such a weak position. At the same time the current system does not encourage activism or participation from union members who are treated as little more than voting and cash fodder. At best every five years members vote on the continuation of the political levy. When we consider the technologies available how often are members consulted if they endorse the party and candidates their union support? CWU political fund campaign poster, 1995 Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 19 Real reform or a missed moment? Will Dinan examines Scottish government proposals on regulating lobbying he Scottish Government recently taking the initiative and generating to simply being a list of names of published its draft bill to regulate sufficient parliamentary consensus to lobbyists. The register should detail Tlobbying at Holyrood. While progress the debate. who is lobbying, how and why’. this marks a potentially significant During this phase the lines of The SPPA also recommended an development in terms of promoting debate were drawn, remaining open and accessible digital register greater accountability and transparency largely unchanged since. In the pro- to capture consultants and in-house in decision-making, the proposals transparency camp, the argument is lobbyists (including charities) in order have been criticized by transparency a lobbying register would enhance to target ‘organisations who have campaigners and some lobbyists. equality of parliamentary access for significant contact with MSPs or who The issue of lobbying regulation has organisations of all sizes and resource invest significant amounts of money been on the agenda at Holyrood levels as increased transparency into lobbying MSPs on behalf of others’. since Neil Findlay proposed a private would improve accountability, However, the SPPA shied away from members bill to increase transparency address fears about undue influence financial disclosure and lobbying around lobbying in 2012. Since then, and transparency would be the best directed at civil servants that were core the scope and ambition of the planned guarantor to prevent Westminster- elements of Findlay’s bill. type of lobbying scandals emerging in lobbying register has been altered The Scottish Government published Scotland. significantly. To understand this a further consultation in May 2015. outcome, it’s necessary to compare While key issues like financial disclosure Findlay’s bill with the current proposals The issue of lobbying and lobbying scope remained off the in order to highlight the processes regulation has been agenda, the question of exemptions reshaping Findlay’s proposed lobbying for certain types of lobbyists was re- register template. on the agenda at opened and critically reframed the Private members bills are rare at Holyrood since Neil entire purpose of the legislation as one Holyrood. Findlay proposed a register of ‘heightening the transparency of of lobbyists at Holyrood following Findlay proposed a those who are directly engaging with Westminster scandals surrounding private members bill to MSPs and Ministers’ despite direct improper lobbying activity. His bill engagement with MSPs and ministers provided for regulating lobbying in increase transparency being only a small part of the lobbying and around the Parliament, Scottish universe with lobbying campaigns around lobbying in 2012 routinely including civil servants, Government and government agencies, special advisors, online and media covering MSPs, ministers, civil servants The skeptics argue regulation creates a relations as well as political monitoring and regulators. barrier to participation (particularly for small groups), dismissing registration and stakeholder engagement. Consultation is required to advance a as a disproportionate response for Moreover, disclosure of financial private members bill at Holyrood. After Scottish polity which has not been resources supporting lobbying, and seeking submissions from interested tainted by the lobbying scandals. Other communications with officials, advisors parties, the essence of the scheme arguments were the onus for lobbying and regulators has been omitted. emerged. Findlay proposed a Scottish transparency should be on MSPs and It remains to be seen if there is Register of Lobbyists should strike the lobbied, and problems defining appetite to revise the Government’s a balance between straightforward lobbying and demarcating thresholds proposals. Yet questions about the compliance and ensuring that the for disclosure were likely to produce sustainability and impact of the draft information disclosed would make an unfair system that would put bill cannot be easily dismissed. Can transparent who is lobbying, what individuals and groups off approaching these proposals really aid public issues and regulations they are Parliament (without ever being understanding of decision-making? lobbying on, who is being lobbied and substantiated). Will they produce an accurate picture the financial resources devoted to of how influence is brought to bear? influencing political decision making. Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments (SPPA) Committee Unless the answers to these questions The overall purpose was to help inform are an unambiguous ‘yes’ then it is judgements about whether lobbyists was charged with examining the case for a register, instituting a consultation. important that the Parliament properly had influenced decision makers, and This allowed a further examination exercises its scrutiny function over the how. of the merits of a register, and some coming months. Findlay’s proposals attracted sufficient of the claims about the desirability Dr Will Dinan is a lecturer in cross-parliamentary support to go and practicality of lobbying disclosure Communications, Media and Culture forward in 2013, and at this point were carefully interrogated. The SPPA at the University of Stirling. He is also a the Scottish Government exercised inquiry concluded with a report to the founder member of Spinwatch (http:// its prerogative to take over the bill Scottish Government earlier this year, www.spinwatch.org/). and bring it forward as government recommending introducing a register business. Findlay deserves credit for to ‘detail lobbying activity as opposed 20 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 Lessons from Greece: reclaim the state, reform the EU Peter Lomas argues for a Europe of citizens not spivs and speculators n a lecture in Geneva in 2011, the give us pause to think about the long- allows unscrupulous people to do harm journalist, Myret Zaki, told a tale of term development of the Euro and the by manipulating occult and arcane Irecent events in international financial EU. financial devices? Surely, EU reform markets. Early in 2010 the currency- Here there are two opposing models lies in the opposite direction, through speculator, George Soros, joined by of institutional construction. One is revitalising the functions of state - those five US hedge-funds, bought up Greek functional integration: the idea that material services which should be run government debt in such quantities merging states’ inbuilt functions will by the people, for the people, like our that a mass movement of competitors enable economies of efficiency. It's the infrastructures of energy, transport and ensued. The debt interest-rate rose from idea behind the formation of regional communications - precisely those which, 7-8% to 20%, and the Greek authorities, intergovernmental organisations, like since the 'single European market', despite having just received an EU ASEAN and the African Union after the have been sold off to hedge-funds and bailout, declared bankruptcy for the EU: not only trade, but practical learning venture-capitalists, and which they have second time in a year. and saving, will benefit from sharing subsequently and brainlessly been selling The hedge-funds' aims were 1) a killing key tasks across state boundaries. On on to each other. for their investors, and 2) a drastic this logic, it makes sense also to have a It's time to change the EU’s moral basis; weakening of the Euro against the dollar, common currency; but this step comes to throw out this acid of privatisation their preferred currency of transaction. last, not first, in the construction process. and self-seeking individualism which Moreover Soros hoped for a financial The ultimate goal may be integrated corrodes all social relations. This task domino-fall among Euro member-states states, or even a single state - a United is even more urgent than the EU as which would destroy the currency and States of Europe. Or the EU future could a social project (one of the original perhaps the EU itself, an organisation he remain open, somewhere between founding aims) because the EU itself, as viewed as too socialist by far. The leading single state and intergovernmental a convention of democracies - the only hedge-fund, Goldman Sachs, had actually organisation. one of its kind in the world - is nothing advised corrupt Greek governments The opposite view is a purer economism. without moral reform. For this reason before 2010 in ways to conceal their real Currencies precede states. Sound money key functions of state should be taken financial position. Now the firm turned depends on security of property and out of financial markets altogether, and its coat, sharing privileged information to predictability in financial transactions. saved from the speculators, crooks and help undermine that position fatally Sound money underpins the state itself airheads of our unlucky culture. Nothing in this operation was illegal - comes first in the planning process; By the same token, we can justifiably so integratingseveral states depends - hedge-funds being unregulated ask of private investors they concentrate even more upon it. You can envisage a internationally, and Soros gambling their activity in democracies, instead common currency in an organisation like his money in a personal capacity. The of following the lowest common the EU, but only if you also envisage a conspirators themselves never bothered, denominator of wages to countries like single state at the end of the road. after the event, to deny their intentions. China. If successful inventors like Dyson The operation failed only when EU It's because these two models are must invest outwith Britain, why not in leaders bailed out Greece again to diametrically opposed - and probably Greece? It is because there is so little defend the Euro. But the conspiracy always have been, in the minds of advanced manufacturing in that country itself damaged Greek people’s lives, European leaders - that confusion exists that its economy is so fragile. innocent bystanders in the complex about the EU's identity. After all, the For the rest, the neo-liberal economic and confidential affairs of international first-stage and last-stage models for orthodoxy that individual wealth- financial markets. common-currency creation were both creation gives rise to liberal-democracy Clearly, those markets are inherently ignored, and the Euro was invented in has patently been exposed as wrong corrupt and corrupting. According to the middle of the EU's development. and crass by recent experience in China, Zaki, financial speculation now exceeds Given this institutional instability, only where a massive growth in consumerism tax evasion and money-laundering in the in prosperous times can the EU ride out has gone hand-in-hand with maintaining volume of funds manipulated and the large-scale speculative attacks. At least, oligarchy. personal fortunes made. Yet still the neo- if the international financial system is liberal economists dominating policy in to be maintained, enabling liquidity to Let's be clear about our values. A strong Northern societies refuse reform of the continue to flow across borders. Earlier society rests on active ownership of the system. In fact, they increasingly argue this year European leaders chose once shared practical functions of states. And the solution is not more regulation, again to bail out Greece for this reason, beyond Scotland, beyond Britain, we can but no regulation - and that functions even though it meant encouraging fairly ask of private investors that they of state should themselves be open to Peter to pay Paul, through Greek show some European patriotism. being bought and sold. This debate is reimbursement of debts to the IMF. Peter Lomas is a contributor to the live again since the further economic But why defend the system anyway, Common Weal and writes on European troubles in Greece. All of which should when it's so nonsensical? When it issues Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 21 Sulphur + brimstone for BBC Leslie Mitchell says the very basis of the BBC offends the Tories or a few days following the BBC. A swift response à la Sturgeon Governors would have been right general election there was a might have been a braver, riskier but to stand firm, admit some editorial Fdistinct whiff of sulphur and ultimately wiser rejoinder. shortcomings and fight back against brimstone in the air, and the smell still the bullying tactics of government Just ten days after the pensioners’ lingers. The true nature of the Tory ‘advisors’ notably Alastair Campbell. concession announcement was agenda was rapidly becoming clear and made, Whittingdale was back in the The point is that the BBC has a duty revealed a government which seemed Commons, this time to launch a Green to hold power to account and not intent on acts of petty (and not so Paper on the future of the BBC. The surprisingly ‘power’ just doesn’t like petty) revenge. consultation is to cover the BBC’s being held to account, especially On 6 July 2015, John Whittingdale, overall purpose, the services it should when it harbours a strong sense of Secretary of State for Culture, Media provide, and its funding, governance entitlement. and Sport (CMS) revealed ‘the BBC and regulation. This was hardly a The Tories’ behaviour since May 2015 will take on the cost of providing free surprise, especially since the licence fee has put the BBC on notice that it is television licences for those households settlement is due to expire in 2016 and under an existential threat. This is with over-75s’ and ‘the Government [is] such renegotiations are expected to be bullying of a high order, taking strength pleased that the BBC has agreed to play tense and tough. and courage to criticise government its part in contributing to reductions in The Green Paper was, however, a pre- action when the institution’s throat spending’. emptive strike with a far wider and, it is grasped by the hands of those it At a stroke and behind closed doors, has to be said, far more threatening proposes to hold to account. Fagin’s boys had deftly dipped around agenda than any licence negotiation. So far there is little evidence those £700m from the corporation’s annual The government’s aggressive stance in charge of the BBC’s response are budget. Ironically, an earlier deal in became even clearer when the robust enough to take on these tactics 2014 for the BBC to take on the full composition of the advisory panel - which is why Fairhead’s decision not costs of around £245m of its World appointed by the Secretary of State was to challenge the government’s pre- Service operation was rumoured to announced. emptive strike could still prove fatal. have been agreed in order to avoid the Examining its composition reveals Corporation being forced to take on the So it is all the sadder to note in that despite his avowed admiration pensioners’ concession. Scotland support for the BBC has been for the core values of the BBC, seriously eroded. Confidence is lower Now it’s perfectly proper to argue that Whittingdale has manifestly failed to in Scotland (48%) than any other part in a period of austerity the BBC should respect the ethical pillars of fairness of Britain and it’s not hard to see why. take its fair share of budget trimming, and impartiality in his selection of a Poor general coverage of Scotland as and a case can certainly be made that band of advisers not one of whom a nation and accusations of lack of this particular pensioner concession has been identified as an ally of the impartiality during the referendum (originally awarded as a ‘sweetener’ by BBC. So far, in dealing with the licence campaign have weakened Scots’ Labour) should be shouldered by the fee negotiation and the forthcoming confidence. BBC. But that’s not the point I wish to enquiry into the future of the BBC make. the government has had nothing Its Scottish management failed to whatsoever to say about the role of the give any notable coverage to a highly Not only was this deal done in the public and any voice the audience may detailed research report from the dark but the timing could not have have in these deliberations. University of the West of Scotland been worse. The BBC’s whole scope, which landed substantial critical blows structure and funding is up for There is no doubt there are questions on the BBC’s journalism in the run up reconsideration. The decision of the to be asked about the BBC’s conduct to the campaign, accusing it of in-built BBC Trustees to meekly acquiesce of its affairs. It has made some pro-union bias. Curiously, the BBC and accept this deal without any spectacular and serious gaffes both on team fielded no fewer than four of its public debate could still prove fatal to the human, ethical and management top managers wriggling uncomfortably the independence and health of the judgements over the Savile affair and in before the Scottish Parliament’s broadcaster. its squandering millions in its failed and Education and Culture Committee in an subsequently scrapped Digital Media A principled response to government effort to defend themselves and their Initiative. pressure would have been the threat impartiality. of resignation by Rona Fairhead, and The Board of Trustees (and its The SNP’s broadcasting policy for would have brought the Machiavellian predecessor the Board of Governors) an Independent Scotland rests on a manoeuvres of the Department of CMS has not impressed in its leadership and seemingly simple and uncomplicated into the full light of day. Such a stance management. Of course, the BBC has proposal for a Scottish Broadcasting would also have revealed what threats not always been in the wrong. Director Service which would take over BBC were used by the government to force General, Greg Dyke and its Chair, Gavyn facilities, staff and real-estate in such an early and humiliating defeat Davies, resigned over the Gilligan Affair Scotland and would have full access upon those responsible for running the when the management and the (then) 22 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 to BBC1/BBC2 for Scottish viewers power or influence is culture – and its duty as a public institution to in return for supplying a range of here is one of the major reasons why inform, educate and entertain all its programming as it presently does to the the BBC is of such huge international stakeholders, and not just a few. BBC Network. significance. It’s trusted by millions Now it’s emerged the Tories have This whole proposition needs a great because it’s usually right in its facts in their sights selling off Channel 4, deal of critical examination. One and its approach and has a mission another remarkable and unique British example: much of BBC Scotland’s to ensure it remains so. It’s arguably institution. It’s the job of government current contribution to the UK the world’s biggest and finest cultural to satisfy itself that such important network consists of ‘warehoused’ organisation which commissions more institutions are fulfilling their brief in an programming which boosts apparently drama, funds more orchestras, provides efficient and cost-effective way. So yes, ‘Scottish’ production quotas. Such factual programmes and popular the BBC and C4 need careful scrutiny programmes, like ‘Waterloo Road’ entertainment of such overwhelming and good governance, not overt threat; and ‘Question Time’ could be made quality than any other. Its website is not covert attack. A government which anywhere and have no distinctive one of the world’s most visited. fatally weakens these institutions will Scottish cultural content. It’s hard Back home it has been suggested not easily be forgiven by the voter, nor, to see why the ‘rump’ BBC would the BBC should cut down on its more I suspect by much of the world at large. entertain such an unattractive deal. An popular (read downmarket) shows, Leslie Mitchell is a former radio independent Scotland would also need most of which it is argued can be and TV producer. He was a senior to ensure that its worldwide influence provided by commercial alternatives. teaching fellow at Stirling University is facilitated in any broadcasting Here’s the heart of the Catch 22 – if in film, media and journalism until settlement. the BBC provides great ratings success retiring and has written books on It can be convincingly argued Britain it’s accused of unfairly competing with television production management is a world leader in soft power, the commercial rivals like ITV. If it doesn’t, and freelancing in the media and non-coercive exercise of influence. it leaves itself open to accusations contributed to publications on One of the principal currencies of this of cultural elitism and of neglecting broadcast journalism.

Building worker links Davy Brockett started employment with Scottish of 5 pages per visit. From December geographical spread and are currently Left Review (SLR) as Trade Union 2014 to mid-June 2015, we had 128K developing a programme in this IDevelopment Officer last November. visits, 542K pages read and 996K hits category for 2016. All of the above has Although circulation was reasonable, with an average of 994 visits per day. seen a significant increase in financial the Editorial Board felt there were A hit is just going into the website not support either through affiliation or opportunities to increase not only necessarily downloading any articles. donation which has put SLR and the Foundation on a more sound footing. circulation within unions but to also Most newspapers and publications encourage more contributions from a operate a fee or donation for The potential for continued growth union perspective on key issues of the accessing/downloading and within unions requires coordination day. this is something the Board has where we can visit workplaces and In last year, we have implemented a discussed and will upon decide on branches giving the opportunity coordinated plan for SLR to be promoted early in 2016. Our overall circulation to discuss the key issues facing the at various conference events covering of hard copies in the 12 months from movement but also taking into account most political parties and attending November 2014 has increased by current views of the magazine. substantial numbers and we are looking recent RISE, RIC, Morning Star, We’ll be inviting current SLR friends to continually grow and improve on this STUC and other community events. and supporters to a special meeting for the year ahead. Although initial outlay for stalls at such early 2016 to discuss how they feel events can on occasions be costly, We have been successful in about SLR’s contents, whether the the advantage is that this has helped gaining support of Scotland’s two agenda is correctly focused and how with our overall promotion of not largest unions - Unite and Unison - with we can encourage more individuals only SLR but also the Reid Foundation both agreeing to issue the magazine to to contribute articles. and the work we’ve been their individual senior lay committee We believe it is vital for SLR’s future contributing to the movement with in their region. This alone increased that this engagement becomes a the development of various policy our circulation by over 100 per edition. priority if SLR is to not only grow but papers. This is along with the continued to develop in the correct manner. The long term support from subscribers/ One area of feedback we have challenges facing the labour movement advertisers including ASLEF, CWU,EIS, received by attending these events are testing and we want SLR and FBU, GMB, NUJ, PCS, RMT, TSSA, is that many of our supporters are the Foundation to be at the heart of UCATT and UCU - many of whom have reading SLR online, which is currently debates on the industrial and political been with us from our launch in 2000 free and figures for accessing it challenges. Finally, I’d like to thank and order bulk copies. through this media are exceptional. everyone for their support over the During September 2015 visits were We also have made inroads into last year and look forward to having averaging 1040 per day - a visit workplace branches and area another challenging but successful one categorised as reading an average activist committees covering a wide ahead.

Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 23 Managerialism in the public sector: a political critique Gary Fraser a worrying political consensus exists over our public services y purpose here is marry these developments with the Defenders of the system usually argue twofold. First, to discuss financial instability already mentioned, that performance management is Mmanagerialism in the the result is a permanent culture of based on accountability, or following Scottish public sector whilst making fear and insecurity. the public pound, arguments I do not an argument that managerialism is intrinsically oppose. However, these Managerialism is also a discursive linked to the political project we know arguments fail to acknowledge two project; citizens are constructed as as neo-liberalism. Second, to discuss things. First, the relationship between customers or clients, whilst workers key features of what constitutes managerialism and neo-liberalism are routinised into talking a language managerialism. discussed here, and second, the extent of ‘targets’, ‘outcomes’, ‘outputs’, to which performance management Managerialism, sometimes referred ‘evaluating impacts’, ‘quality assurance’ actually takes workers away from doing to as ‘new public management’, has and so on. Managerial language their job. For example, social workers, become a successful organisational depoliticises the realm of the political. sometimes better understood as ‘care strategy for controlling politicians and For example, austerity is absent from managers’ in the current context, note public servants, and for implementing the discourse. Instead, cuts to public spending less time devoted to clients, neo-liberalism. Whitfield provides expenditure are presented as ‘efficiency and more time allocated to routine a good working definition of neo- savings’, or ‘trimming the fat’; I‘ve paperwork, often leaving the frontline liberalism. Taken from his In Place of even heard some senior managers talk work to lesser qualified staff. Teachers Austerity (2012), neo-liberalism ‘is of ‘bend the spend’, or being ‘BOLD’, discuss ‘teaching to the test’. One UK based on reducing state intervention in which in managerial jargon stands for wide study of 11,000 teachers by the the economy, opening up new markets ‘better objectives, leaner delivery’. National Union of Teachers in 2012 in public services and deepening revealed many teachers resented business involvement in the public One of the more ‘undermining duties’ such as ‘low level policy making process’. administrative tasks and the paperwork The neo-liberalisation of the public troubling features of for inspections’, with ‘bureaucracy/ sector involves the state becoming managerialism is the paperwork’ identified as two of the top a purchaser but not always a direct three pressures facing the profession. provider of services. This process extent to which its When teachers were asked to comment involves privatisation, creating new on how they felt about performance markets via procurement where profit practices continue to management, some recorded feelings can be made, and where it can’t, dominate the public such as ‘losing confidence, feeling contracting services out to a closely inadequate, de-professionalisation, monitored third sector whose grants sector regardless of increased workplace stress and have been replaced by contracts and anxiety’. service level agreements. who is in office in One of the more troubling features of The nature of ‘work’ in the Scottish Holyrood. managerialism is the extent to which public sector is also being transformed. Managerialism involves devolving its practices continue to dominate For example, public sector employees budgets to middle managers, the public sector regardless of who are increasingly expected to behave and whilst arguments exist that is in office in Holyrood. Despite the and act like they work in the private devolving budgetary control is based overblown rhetoric of a ‘politics of sector. upon devolution or democratising difference’, when it comes to the Scottish public sector, both Labour and The state is attempting to do two things bureaucracies, these arguments ignore now SNP are wedded to a neo-liberal at once. The first involves increasing the extent to which the ‘devolution agenda. With the SNP, the increasing the productivity of the worker; the of budgets’ has been accompanied managerialisation of the public sector second, an annual commitment to by greater strategic control from the under its watch, coupled with greater reducing expenditure. ‘Increased centre. Moreover, and this is a critical strategic control from the centre, productivity’ is achieved through a point in relation to the implementation highlights a gap between official SNP rigorous culture of managerialism; of neo-liberalism, the devolution of hype and SNP practices. key features of the system include budgets encourages junior managers appraisals, performance related pay, to think of the budget as their own, in Gary Fraser is currently undertaking regular monitoring and surveillance effect creating a ‘fiscal consciousness’ a PhD at the University of Edinburgh; by a computerised bureaucracy, work which makes it easier to devolve his research explores the impact plans with quantifiable outcomes, responsibility for cuts down the way, of managerialism on the field regular target setting, performance sucking many managers into a neo- of community education in local indicators and inspections. When you liberal way of thinking. government. 24 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 The trouble with foreigners Chris Sharpe says xenophobia knows the price of everything and the worth of nothing or more than ten years, I’ve the relatively recent introduction of a contribution of many such families? divided my time between Britain minimum income threshold for spouse To be sure, studies show the net Fand South America. Over my visas. Thus, UK citizens marrying non- economic benefit of immigration to comings and goings, one of the main EU nationals are now effectively treated be positive. Useful information no changes I’ve noticed has been an like second-class citizens, debarred doubt, but do we really want to live increasing hostility to foreigners—or, of an automatic right to family life in in a society in which we measure more accurately put, certain types Britain. If, for one reason or another, at people’s worth by their economic value of foreigners— in Britain. We have one point in your life you find yourself and by default see them as a threat become a deeply xenophobic country classed as ‘poor’ (regardless of any to our material wellbeing? Yet that is (some parts more so than others). previous contributions you might have precisely the type of society we have Perhaps this has always been the case made to your country), there exists become: materialistic, self-interested, – maybe I have merely discovered a the possibility you’ll face the stark ‘aspirational’. reality I was hitherto unaware of. choice between Skype parenthood or Returning from abroad, a colleague involuntary exile from your homeland. The rise of anti-immigration sentiment asked me if I thought people in Britain would seem to have two immediate The injustice of this piece of legislation were selfish. Later that day, I found causes: firstly, the arrival of large is hard to avoid. That is, unless, you words from Jimmy Reid’s rectorial numbers of people from other EU monetise it. After all, why should address going round in my mind: self- member states; and secondly the hardworking people be forced to centred; grasping; bang the bell Jack, apparent scarcity of resources in subsidise the luxury of marrying and I’m on the bus. Reid made his address what remains one of the world’s most starting a family with someone from in 1972, yet his warning seems more affluent countries - a phenomenon another country? prescient than ever and our growing exacerbated by the austerity prescribed hostility to foreigners is merely a If there is a common theme to all our as medicine to the recent protracted reflection of the malaise he painted so concerns about immigration, it an economic downturn. And there a third vividly. irrational paranoia that people who cause whereby immigration provides come to Britain do so with the sole The central issue concerns the set of a convenient scapegoat for the deeply intent of extracting the maximum values with which we, as a society, rooted problems of a grossly unequal possible gain from the welfare state. approach them. Or perhaps Reid’s arch- society. Surely, it’s more reasonable to assume nemesis was right: there is no such There’s no question freedom of most people who come to settle in a thing, just individual men and women, movement represents a major political country are keen to find a job, pay their islands of self-interest adrift on a sea of challenge for the EU, but it is not one way and contribute to their new home. material wealth. If that is the case, we that is going to be solved by a ‘send That low-income families are reliant are certainly much the poorer for it. ’em all home’ mentality and a retreat on state support says more about the Chris Sharpe (pen name) is currently into the illusory comfort zone of ‘Little divergence between wages and the based in Edinburgh, where he is England’. cost of living than it does about any studying for a PhD and works as a opportunistic desire to leech from the Solving the problem constructively freelance translator. public purse. means working together with other EU countries to find commonly acceptable But that’s the solutions, an approach to which problem with Britain’s aloofness in European affairs monetising does not lend itself well. everything. Not everything can—or Leaving to one side the social problems should—be reduced created by British citizens exercising to a financial cost- their right to freedom of movement in benefit calculation. places such as Benidorm and Magaluf, Sometimes benefits back home in a country with an aging are collective. demographic and an extremely high Sometimes they are cost of living the presence of other EU not immediately citizens plays a vital role in our highly tangible. How imbalanced economy. Who else, for to measure example, would be willing to work for the collective a recently rebranded ‘living wage’ (a contribution made masterstroke of Osbornian newspeak) by the members of a that still falls far short of reflecting the family unit over the real cost of living? course of their lives? Yet our intolerance of foreigners is not How to measure solely confined to the EU, as shown by the collective Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 25 Modern apprenticeships in Scotland Margaret and Jim Cuthbert argue they’re not much more than cheap labour for unskilled sectors n 31 August 2015, the school. The split of male/female was imports from elsewhere all depend Independent carried an editorial 60/40. on our re-engineering the economy on modern apprenticeships: towards more manufacturing – and as O Now let’s look in more detail at Cameron had announced his one ingredient in that, we need a highly SDS statistics relevant to how well government was going to increase the skilled workforce in the types of trades the MA programme is likely to be number of modern apprentices [MAs]. relevant to manufacturing, research meeting economic needs. In terms of The editorial argued more quality was and development. These include, for level of training, 36% of participants needed rather than quantity, and that example, maths, science, engineering, were on apprenticeships leading to the types of apprenticeships on offer IT and electrical. qualifications less than school highers were unlikely to make major inroads in level; 61% were on courses leading to On first entering government in 2007, improving productivity. a the equivalent of a schools higher the SNP acknowledged ‘it is apparent Do these conclusions also apply in or HNC qualification; just over 2% that our modern knowledge economy Scotland, where MAs are a devolved were on course for the equivalent will be ever-increasingly reliant upon area of responsibility and where there of an Ordinary Degree or HND; and a steady supply of skilled scientists, are plans to increase the number of the remainder, less than 1%, to an technologists and engineers….. We modern apprenticeships in Scotland Honours degree. In total, less than 3% believe that the primary aim of from 25,000 to 30,000 by 2020? This were aiming for a post-school level the [MA] programme is economic article looks at some of the available qualification. development through enabling evidence. individuals to earn while they learn In terms of length of course, the and develop skills relevant to their job’ Some background: MAs were programmes are between 1-4 years (Skills for Scotland 2007). introduced in Britain in 1994 in long. Statistics are not provided by response to the decline of traditional SDS on the average length by type And Scotland has particular problems apprenticeships, and the loss of skills at of course. However, comparison of in that, in 2015, it is still the case craft, supervisory and technical level, numbers on courses compared with that productivity is lower than the compared to what was happening numbers of entrants suggests that UK average, which itself has lower among other major economies. The the average participant is in a modern productivity than a number of EU new apprenticeships offered work apprenticeship for approximately a year competitor countries and the US. based training leading towards an and a half. Against this background, the Scottish industry approved qualification. They And in terms of subject areas covered, figures given above suggest that the are marketed to young people as a there are 106 frameworks offered aforementioned criticisms of what means of getting the appropriate skills in MA. These are courses designed is happening to MAs down south and to business as a means of getting to cover specific topics such as, for are equally valid here in Scotland. the skilled workforce they need. example hairdressing. In total, the Programmes so heavily based on Apprenticeships are available to highest number of starts was in hospitality, business administration all ages. Training is organised and hospitality at 11.1%, followed by and retail are unlikely to be vital delivered through a training provider. business and administration (10%), ingredients of any policy to restructure The basis of the apprenticeship is a social services (9%), and retail (8%). the economy. They reflect the fact contract: the apprentice has employed Looking only at men, freight logistics that the service sector dominates status and is paid a wage, the length (10%), building (8%) and hospitality the Scottish economy. The continuing of the apprenticeship is at least a (8%) have the greatest number of very low numbers entering modern year, and there is a defined training starts; and for women, social services apprenticeships in engineering, IT, and programme or framework leading to (21%), business and admin with 17%, science based subjects are a cause for qualifications. hospitality with 15% and retail at 11% concern. are the most popular. The Modern Apprenticeship And just to emphasise the point, in programme in Scotland is managed In interpreting the relevance of these 2014/2015, while the number of starts by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) figures, it is worth recalling that both in hospitality was 2,856, the total starts quango for the Scottish Government. UK and Scottish governments have over all frameworks in IT and Telecoms SDS provides funding and support repeatedly stressed the need to turn numbered 736. This is out of a total to employers. In 2014, its operating the economy around from a high number of MA starts of 25,247. expenditure on the modern dependency on the services sector, Many sectors that supply goods to apprenticeship programme and particularly the financial sector, to one us daily have few or no MA starts. skill seekers was £74.5m. According more broadly based. So for example, there are no MAs to its statistics, of those starting Manufacturing, for example, has been for the framework courses of food apprenticeships in 2014-15, 52% were in steep decline: research, development manufacture, or of meat and poultry aged 16 to 19, 27% were 20-24, and and innovation are all at low levels. processing, despite the Scottish 21% were 25 or over: that is, just The competitiveness of our export Government and Scottish Enterprise over half were for young people from trade and our ability to compete with promoting the food sector as being 26 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 a Scottish success story. The country no idea about whether those without below a post-school qualification. is experiencing a massive increase in emails, or those who chose not to And, in May 2015, the Scottish respond to the survey, actually had the hugely subsidised wind turbine Parliament debated modern quite a different view of satisfaction as industry, and yet only two people were apprenticeships. In the final motion, compared with those responding. taken on as MAs. it recognised ‘the success of the And although MAs are frequently Recording that ‘At the 95% confidence modern apprenticeship (MA) publicised as a means of obtaining level, the sample size of 1, 531 provides programme’. In addition, it resolved high level skills, the evidence above on a confidence interval of 2.5%’ seems to encourage ‘employers to consider the level of training provided through at best a brave statement and at worst workforce development and higher the MA programme suggests that the just plain wrong. All one can say is workforce skills that support long-term bulk of participants are not attaining that of the 1,531 respondents, 98% sustainable growth’. Such aspirations, qualifications significantly above found it useful. We cannot attribute fundamental to transforming the school level. This is not surprising as this percentage to the population of all economy, require a grasp of why the we have seen above that the average modern apprentices. It is impossible distribution of MAs is as it is, and what participant is in the programme for only to say, therefore, on this basis how mechanisms can be used to change it. 18 months. satisfied apprentices are with their The evidence we have presented here courses. Without a proper analysis These conclusions might seem to run suggests the MA programme is not of potential non-response bias, the meeting what is required to transform counter to evidence which the SDS has high level of satisfaction reported the Scottish economy: on average, an published on satisfaction with the MA should certainly not be taken as any apprentice will spend 18 months on an scheme. In July 2014, SDS carried out strong indicator of the success of the MA to a level below the equivalent of an online survey of MAs to determine programme. And, of course, the level of higher education. If the government’s their level of satisfaction with the satisfaction says very little about how aspirations are for ‘improved pathways scheme. The report stated the MA relevant the MAs are to the need to for progression to degree-level programme is ‘highly regarded by the transform the economy. qualifications in a work-based setting’, majority of [Mas] with almost all of then it is time for a serious re-appraisal them (98%) saying it is useful and over Following the recommendations of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s of the programme. three-quarters saying it is very useful’. Young Workforce in May 2014, the Margaret and Jim Cuthbert are However, this evidence has to be Scottish Government has set itself the independent economists and treated with great caution. The survey following goal in relation to MAs: ‘ The statisticians who conduct research for had been sent to all MAs with valid number of [MAs] at level 3 and above the Jimmy Reid Foundation (see http:// email addresses (13,600 out of 37,338 to be increased. The target is for 20,000 reidfoundation.org/?s=cuthbert) in training). Just 1,531 replied. And out of a total of 30,000 MA starts to although SDS weighted their survey be at this level by 2021.’ Level 3 is up results on age and gender, we have to the equivalent of an HNC, and is still Sources to read about the struggle iven that we have covered the employment rights in this Gedition and in recent previous ones, if you want to know how the issues are being progressed, what e=Scotland for Scotland http://www. http://tigmoo.co.uk/ battles are being fought and, of course, labourstart.org/2013/state.php?countr Standing loosely for ‘This Great how the struggle is going, the following y=UK&langcode=en&state=England for Movement of Ours’, Tigmoo specialises are the best aggregators of news and England, http://www.labourstart.org/ in union blog content so is good for views. news/state.php?country=UK&langcode= views and analysis. en&state=Wales for Wales http://www.labourstart.org/2013/ http://uniteresist.org/ www.labourstart. state.php?country=UK&langcode=en&s Unite the Resistance is an SWP org/2013/country. tate=Northern%20Ireland initiative established in 2011 to do php?country=UK&langcode=en - for Northern Ireland. what it says on the tin. Consequently, it carries information about strikes and protests. Set up in 1998, brings together http://labornews.uk/ newspaper reporting and union Set up in 2009 and even though it looks sources. Probably, the most like it comes from America, it brings comprehensive of all the various sites together all union news releases from available. Also pages by country so Britain. Similar to the TUC’s Union http://shopstewards.net/ http://www.labourstart.org/2013/state. Newswire Established in 2006 on the initiative php?country=UK&langcode=en&stat (www.unionnewswire.org.uk/). of the RMT union and now sponsored Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 27 by eight other national unions, the news, views and comment on British, www.morningstaronline.co.uk/britain), site carries reports of and appeals for European and worldwide union and Britain’s only daily socialist newspaper, strikes and protests. political issues, and to provide a forum Socialist Worker (http://socialistworker. for debate and discussion. co.uk/), the Scottish Socialist Voice (https://scottishsocialistvoice.word- At http://unisonactive.blogspot. press.com/) and The Socialist (http:// com.es/ UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for www.socialistparty.org.uk/main/The_ http://unitelive.org/ UNISON activists. It brings together Socialist) amongst others. Unitelive aggregates outputs from news, briefings and events from Unite, Britain’s biggest union. a progressive left perspective. From the TUC comes too Stronger Unions which has a domestic and https://usilive.org/news/ international focus. Finally, there is Union Solidarity International which carries a mixture of independently generated reports and union releases. http://strongerunions.org/ Of course, there are also a host of socialist newspapers such as the Morning Star (http://

Probably taking its name from the Billy Bragg song, Power in a Union (www.powerinaunion.co.uk/ ) is a website edited by Tony Burke (of Unite) designed to provide information,

abolished by its own coffee table open at page 2, which is Act of Union in 1801 a pity. If you can manage the bias and Book (which ushered Owen Dudley Edward’s right to be in the United right you’ll find 275 pages rich in facts, Reviews Kingdom), but opinions traded as facts, humour and a that Mr Cameron peppering of the type of quotes we all was sophisticated like to stick in the bank for later. How David enough to conceal that from the The core of the book follows a series Cameron Saved hapless voters, who of chapters entitled ‘The xxx Education patently cannot of a Prime Minister’. For xxx substitute Scotland, and May think for themselves. Ouch! sequentially Etonian, Oxonian, Scottish and National. As a concept this sounds Yet Save Us All, He then goes on to state quite like a nice vehicle to drive the story Owen Dudley Edwards categorically that an independent along, but in practice many of the Scotland will be a country divested of topics visited have only a tangential Luath, 9781910021699, £9.99 the nuclear deterrent and that it will connection with the phases of Mr be a shining template for the world Cameron’s learning. Reviewed by Finlay Smith to follow into a utopia of peace and harmony (or something like that). A bit The narrative is dense, but delivered This book will not sell well in the Home with a light and elegant touch which Counties. I’m as assured of this as of a leap, but the reader is starting to get the picture. makes the book an easy read. An Owen Dudley Edwards is assured that unexpected bonus is that you’ll learn the voting population of Scotland ticked I toiled on in anticipation of some a bit about the history of the two the wrong box in September 2014. He balance and some shade to the light, Irelands along the way. It’s a satire so sets his store out early on. At the start but was ultimately left disappointed we can expect some sneering, with of this extended open letter to David and ashamed at myself for being taken politicians being fair game, of course. Cameron, he alludes to the fact that in by the beguiling Mr Cameron. Home For example, Thatcher is described the Union of England and Scotland was Counties readers will leave this on the as ‘crass, vulgar and stupid’ (fair 28 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 enough), Blair as Thatcher’s ‘disciple’ The GMB union is to be commended unionist and social democrat’ (when and Ruth Davidson inexplicably as ‘the for bringing back into print the social democracy meant socialist). It little Colonel’. However, you feel an autobiography of an outstanding figure was the experience of state oppression undercurrent rising that Owen Dudley of trade unionism in Britain. This is the as the organised expression of Edwards might just be having a wee life and works of one Will Thorne. It capitalists’ interests that led Thorne to pop at us too. Wait a minute, is that me comes with a new foreword by Paul realise the state must be challenged he’s talking about? Kenny, soon to depart GMB general so he stood for and was elected to secretary, and an introduction from Parliament in 1906. He knows his stuff, that’s for sure. historian, John Callow, Director of However, to enjoy the book it’s first In 1889, he played a major role in Archives of the Marx Memorial Library. advisable to be endowed with an founding the gas workers’ union and encyclopaedic knowledge of Irish and Leaving school at the age of six, Thorne later helped organise the London Scottish politics or, like me, with Google became a semi-skilled industrial dock strike. These were key events on tap to understand what or who he’s labourer in Birmingham and went in the development of what was talking about. on to found the gas workers’ union known as ‘new unionism’, namely, the in 1889, campaign on behalf of the unionisation of semi- and unskilled The disparagement heaped on the ‘no’ unemployed and fight for the eight- workers. Then in 1925, he sat down campaign is as expected, but some of hour day. Eventually, he went on to with pen and paper to record it all. In the language exercised is questionable. lead the National Union of General and this he was assisted by Eleanor Marx Of the tactics employed by Messrs Municipal Workers, a forerunner of who many years before had help teach Osborne, Balls and Alexander the today’s GMB union, being its general him to read and write. But by the time author asks ‘What is this behaviour but secretary for 44 years and was an east he died in 1946, he was no longer quite terrorism?’ Really? In the world we live London MP for almost forty years. the radical and internationalist he had in now many will find such utterances once been. He recruited workers into hysterical, possibly objectionable. Born in Hockley, Birmingham, on 8 the army for the Great War, gaining October 1857, Thorne’s father died in The book extolls at length Mr a CBE for his pains in 1930, and a fight when he was seven. The young Cameron’s intelligence, craftiness and opposed the Bolshevik revolution in Thorne worked from political genius, carefully masked by Russia. He had also experienced the six in the morning to his success in cultivating an image of defeat and retreat of the 1926 general six at night, with half cossetted mediocrity. All is delivered strike and is aftermath with Labour an hour for breakfast tongue in cheek, but it does make the joining an austerity inducing National and an hour for dinner. reader wonder if one individual can Government. Thorne recalls that possibly have masterminded the ‘yes’ when the spinner he Yet because My life’s battleswas written campaign with the completeness and worked for wanted to in 1925, it concentrates most on the delicacy attributed to him. The book’s reduce his wages from early years of his life when hope was in sleeve notes wonder if David Cameron 2 shillings and 6 pence the ascendancy and everything seemed might be too busy to reply to this to 2 shillings, he ‘went on strike’ close to possible. And because, he was letter. Well, if he expends the same the and never returned to the job. His a humble man, Thorne underplays his time and effort in all other aspects of family was on poor relief. Thorne took own role in many episodes he recounts. his Prime Minister-ly duties as Owen a job with his uncle at a brick and tile Nonetheless, he records the spectacular Dudley Edwards suggests he invested in works, and later, at another brickworks growth of the union and then the the ‘yes’ campaign, then it’s a sure fire further away. At the age of nine Thorne counter-offensive of the employers as certainty he won’t, unless every day has recalls ‘my mother got me up at four well as the internal struggles within the about 500 hours in it. o'clock every morning to give me my union between radicals and moderates Who will buy this book? I suspect breakfast’. It was a four-mile walk to (and which lead to his marginalisation as only likeminded folk who will end by work. He wrote on page 19: a more radical figure). punching the air, exclaiming ‘Aye! See!’ I had to give up this job finally because My life’s battles is not a simply story of then shaking their heads in sorrowful my mother said that the work was a radical that became less radical due agreement that, indeed, the Scottish too hard and the distance too long for to old age or the corrupting influence voter hasnae a clue. But collectively and me to walk every morning and night. of the trappings of Westminster or democratically they ticked another box, I remember her telling me that the 8 those of high union office. In fact, it like it or not. This book is worth reading s[hillings] a week would be missed; is not that at all. The explanation for for many reasons, but don’t expect it someone would have to go short. But it why Thorne moved in the ways he did to change your opinion. If you buy it, I was no use being slowly killed by such belies a simple linear path. Indeed, suspect you’ll already have one. work as I was doing, and it was making as John Callow demonstrates in his Finlay Smith is a manager in part of the me hump backed. It was not until I had introduction, Thorne was still an active aviation business, an ex-RAF officer and been away from the work for several member of the Social Democratic an atypical lifelong Labour fan. weeks that I was able to straighten Federation in 1936. myself out again. My life’s battles is a valuable and Will Thorne; My In 1882, he moved to London and dynamic memoir of a key figure who found employment at a gas works. pulled himself up by his own bootstraps life’s battles There, he became a Marxist and for the benefit of others. Along the way, member of the Social Democratic he became an accomplished orator, John Callow (ed.), Lawrence Federation, soon becoming a branch negotiator and organiser. Whether and Wishart, London, 227 pages, secretary and saying later in 1910 at it is for inspiration, understanding or £9.99, 9781910448090 the Trades Union Congress of that succour in these times, My life’s battles year that he described himself as a is well worth a read. Reviewed by Gregor Gall ‘revolutionary, class conscious, trade Gregor Gall Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 29 VLADIMIR McTAVISH’S Kick up the Tabloids

everal weeks into his leadership of unlikely event of him being elected. An look across the dispatch box at the the Labour Party, it is still far too unlikely event which, of course, came government, and thought ‘What I need Searly to assess what impact, if any, to pass. Cue red faces all round, or a here is a convicted arsonist’. Jeremy Corbyn has made on all but one distinctly-pale-pink face in Kezia’s case. person in Scotland. However, my main disappointment so She, of course, was not alone in far in Corbyn has been his performance While south of the border, lefties predicting ‘The End of The Civilization in Parliament, and in particular his were chanting ‘Jez we can’ and getting as We Know It’ in the event of a Corbyn lacklustre showings at Prime Minister’s understandably excited by Corbyn’s victory. Indeed, it was with a faint glow Questions, where he reads out new vision for Labour, there was less of nostalgia that I read the scare stories questions sent in by the public. excitement up here. His demands for an in the Daily Mail and The Express. It Rather than the gladiatorial verbal end to austerity, and promises to scrap was like being back in the summer jousting of PMQ’s of old, it has the feel Trident may have sounded mould- of 2014 once again, as the right-wing of Cameron taking part in a question- shattering for the people of England, press once again were predicting and-answer session with his local vicar but were hardly ground-breaking financial ruin, terrorist attacks and at a coffee morning in the church hall. policies for voters in Scotland. After the freezing-over of Hell, merely I know we are told that the general all, these are the very same policies on substituting the word ‘Corbyn’ for the public are turned off by yaboo politics. which we voted back in May, to give the word. ‘Yes’. However, with a government such as SNP its landslide. So why vote Labour, Corbyn has been criticised for not we have now, I think most people are particularly since the new leader barely wearing a tie, being a teetotaller, not looking for a Leader of the Opposition gave Scotland a mention in his first singing the national anthem, having who is willing to shout “Ya!! Boo!!” at speech to the party conference ? trousers that don’t match his jacket, this Prime Minister. In fact, Corbyn’s victory only affects riding a bicycle and being vegetarian. Vladimir McTavish’, Keir McAllister and And worst of all for appointing a vegan one person, constituting shaking things Mark Nelson will be appearing in The as shadow minister for agriculture. up big style for Kezia Dugdale. I don’t Stand Comedy Club’s monthly satirical The last of these would appear quite know whether or not she has passed show ‘So That Was November?’ at the far-sighted, now that we are told her driving test, but less than a month Edinburgh Stand on Wednesday 18 Nov that sausages and bacon could be as into her own job as leader of Scottish and the Glasgow Stand on Monday 23, dangerous as smoking or asbestos. Labour, she has already had to perform both shows start 8.30pm. numerous U-turns, pulled off several In the space of a few days, veggies and emergency stops, done a number of vegans have gone from being five-point turns and reversed around nutters and cranks to being ahead a couple of corners. And that’s only a Scottish Left Review of the curve. Furthermore, as a The Scottish Left Review is a non-profit making publication. few weeks after taking the car out of vegetarian himself, it is highly Please subscribe or make a donation by going to www. the garage, so who knows what state unlikely that he took part in the scottishleftreview.org where you can pay by credit card it will be in by the time it’s MOT is due kind of obscene student rituals as or by filling in your details in the form below and returning next May. Also, given that the ‘car’ to Scottish Left Review, 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields, David Cameron did. Glasgow G41 4PL in question is a 1997 Ford Mondeo, with a ‘new’ Labour sticker on the rear My one reservation about the man, on watching his speech to Name window, she’s had to do a fairly swift the Labour Party conference, is trade-in. that he totally lacks the ability to Address Having swept to power in Scotland tell a joke. But is that important? against the heavyweight opposition Boris Johnston can tell jokes, but of Ken McIntosh, or “the other we all cringe at the thought of him Tel: bloke” as Ed Miliband knows him, Kez ending up as Prime Minister. I tell immediately set out her stall as to what jokes for a living, but I wouldn’t E-mail: kind of Labour Party she wanted to see want me running the country. in Scotland. She was very open about Furthermore, Corbyn obviously Subscription/Donation her enthusiasm for addressing the has a sense of humour. Otherwise, deficit (in other words, austerity) and Date: he would not have appointed 190 her support of a multi-lateral deterrent Lord Mike Watson to his shadow (i.e. Trident) as well as making it very Subscriptions: £18 (waged), £14 (unwaged), £15 (local cabinet, ten years after his organisations), £30 (national organisations. clear that she was not going to vote for expulsion from the party, after Donations will be gratefully recieved. Cheques should be Jeremy Corbyn as leader. Indeed, she he was jailed for fire-raising in crossed and made payable to: Left Review Scotland Ltd. was at pains to point out the doomsday 2005. It’s possible Jez took one You can also subscribe/donate online at scenario which could unfold in the www.scottishleftreview.org 30 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015 Issue 90 November/December 2015 ScottishLeftReview - 31 741 Shields Road, Glasgow G41 4PL

VISIT the WEBSITE at www.reidfoundation.org 32 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 90 November/December 2015