Katie Bonnar: attainment gap Colin Fox: it’s time to won’t close without determined make the socialist anti-poverty action case for independence • see page 9 • see page 10 £1 • issue 483 • 9th – 22nd September 2016 scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com Scotland’s ‘National Conversation’: WE NEED TO PHOTO: Craig Maclean POVERTY HOUSING TeAnd loLw pKay an d ABObuilUd 150T ,000 ... zero hours – £10/hr affordable social minimum wage homes to rent for all, NOW PRIVATE PROFIT nationalise railways, energy, GREEN ENERGY and essential harness our services resources for TRIDENT people and planet scrap nuclear subs – not profit WELFARE stop benefit – no to NATO sanction harassment – sack ATOS & CAPITA ScottishSocialistVoice.wordpress.com /ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice WELFARE The Scottish Government’s welfare ‘conversation’ needs to be two-way by Sandra Webster DON’T PASS ON TORY AUSTERITY: the SNP should protect folk from Tory policies, which we know will only worsen LAST WEEK the SNP called (PHOTO: Simon Whittle) for a conversation with Scot - land. For those of us who called for such a debate during the ref - erendum this is nothing new. The SNP conversation is noth - ing but a number of questions where you can respond yes or no. Quite one sided. However after The Smith Commission, difficult powers have been given to the Scottish Government. Time to look at how the Scottish Government should use these for the better good and for us on the left to have a two way conversation. care for them, the dreaded doctors rather than the assess - this policy where being a few The Smith Commission gave ATOS and CAPITA assessments ment of professionals who have minutes late, or having to miss an difficult benefit decisions to cause so much fear. People with no knowledge of an individual’s appointment means your benefit make to the Scottish Govern - disabilities are being perceived need? Such a system based on an is cut. A friend, Michael, had his ment. These include disability as scroungers. If you can walk individual’s need would put less benefit reduced to £50-a-week. and carers benefits, benefit sanc - from the car park or you go people in stressful situations. How is anyone supposed to sur - tions which are the scourge of alone—you’re fit for work. Despite the Carer’s Bill being vive on this? We need an end to many communities. ‘Michelle’ spoke to me of her praised, this is a piece of paper benefit sanctions. experience: “I have spina bifida without any teeth. Carers con - The Scottish Government are SNP: left of centre? and have received DLA since I tinue to be paid lip service too having public meetings to con - Difficult decisions have to be was a wee girl. I rely on my car and the new social care powers sult on benefit changes. One plan made. For the SNP government to get out. The assessment was have little impact on carers lives. is a Scottish social security sys - they can no longer protest to be terrible. I went alone and didn’t The SNP propose to raise tem. Language is important but left of centre. know what to say. The PIP as - Carer’s Allowance to £75 per what matters most is a change in This is their opportunity to sessment made me feel vulnera - week, but for those who provide how we view the welfare state. show how different Scotland ble. I was only awarded low rate health care for much more than could be and indeed should be. PIP so could have lost my car. the working time directive, this Tory food stamps They have to “hold the door” Thankfully I was allowed to keep will change nothing. Carers de - For socialists, it means a safety and protect folk from the Tories it until my appeal which I won. serve a living wage like other net for all. One of the questions policies which we know will This process is dehumanising.” workers. in the Scottish Government’s re - only worsen. For many people Would it not be better to read Workers are seeing a cut in view is should we use goods or with disabilities, and those who reports from individual’s own working tax credits which money to give to claimants. This subscriptions groups such as The Child is exactly the attitude of the To - Poverty Action Group and the ries who want to give cards to poverty alliance. Low paid buy food. Another step closer to work is not the answer but a liv - food stamps. This is a challenge To subscribe, see: scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com or fill in this form ing wage is. In the meantime for the SNP—we need actions and send it to: SSV, Suite 370, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow those in poorly paid work more than words, to show how G2 6LD. Phone: 07810205747. Cheques payable to ‘Scottish Socialist Voice’ should not have to fear Univer - different Scotland can be. Name........................................................................................... sal Credit and a demand to seek The SSP will be contributing more hours. This impacts to the consultation on benefits Address....................................................................................... mostly on single parents and but I would urge you to send the .................................................................................................... people with disabilities. No Scottish Government your per - Phone......................................................................................... change since Thatcher then. sonal perspectives as well. Email........................................................................................... I live in the town in the west Bread and roses is not too coast which dishes out the most much to ask. Neither is a kinder, g £5 for 2 issues g £10 for 4 issues g £20 for 8 issues benefit sanctions. It is time to end fairer Scotland. 2 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 483 EDITORIAL National discussion must consider issues facing working class majority by Ken Ferguson STANDIING UP FOR......? fforr tthe Scottttiish Goverrnmentt,, dealliing wiitth Brrexiitt and iitts FIRST MINISTER Sturgeon’s “summer consequences arre tthe ttop independence offensive”—in fact launched prriiorriitty,, wiitth iindyrreff 2 as a on the first official day of autumn in the ffacttorr iin tthiis prrocess rrattherr leafy surroundings of Stirling University— tthan tthe centtrrall iissue (PHOTO: Craig Maclean) was not so much a call to arms as the lat - (PHOTO: Craig Maclean) est example of the growing uncertainty surrounding the details of when a second referendum might happen. In what has been a political hothouse since the Brexit vote in June the question of indyref 2 has taken on a mercurial qual - ity now a certainty, then a prospect, to be held before Brexit only to be held when the terms are known etc. The issue is now set in a swirling fog of uncertainty and confusion with politicians, commentators and pollsters all offering a wide range of opinions and predictions. All this has one clear origin and it is that Brexit was not in the game plan of the SNP government re-elected a few weeks before it happened clearly focused on a within it must guard against. Firstly there reshape the campaign with a clear em - gradualist caution on a second referen - is a growing tendency to put Scotland’s phasis on winning over Scotland’s work - dum qualified only by the famous “mater - relationship with the EU at the heart of all ing class majority by focusing clearly on ial change” clause. politics as for example in response to the the issues of jobs, wages pensions and Then 24 June delivered the material GERS deficit and this can easily slip into the economy which were key drivers of change and, despite winning praise for a position which offers as “Brexit bad, EU the 2014 No vote. her sure footed response in reality Nicola good” story which is at best simplistic. This clearly entails making a case for Sturgeon was just as surprised as the ma - On Brexit, sections of the left, such as both breaking with the British state and jority of the political class in both Scotland the SSP, supported a critical Remain vote with the mainstream failed economics of and the UK. which argued that there was much to crit - the last 30 years supported by main - icise in the EU but a No vote would deliver stream politicians including the SNP. The indy factor a victory to the hard right as has proved Declarations about a second referen - to be the case. Dodging billions in tax dum being “on the table” in the days after However it would be a serious mistake Scandals such as the PFI rip-off, pri - Brexit upped the ante and played well at to believe that those rejecting the far right vate profiteers running railways and a tax least initially with SNP members and the May cabinet installed after Cameron’s de - regime which allows giant corporations to wider Yes camp. mise can find a socially just and progres - dodge billions in tax must end. However as the weeks have passed, it sive alternative in today’s EU which only What is needed is real independence is increasingly clear that for the Scottish last year crushed Greece and is a stan - both political and economic which not Government, dealing with Brexit and its dard bearer for free market neoliberalism. only meets the democratic demand for in - consequences are the top priority with in - Of course, gains on workers’ rights and dependence but opens the way to using dyref 2 as a factor in this process rather environmental protection must be de - that independence to serve the needs of than the central issue. fended but equally the EU needs to the majority not the wealthy few. So we have had expert committees change in favour of people over profit if it Such a campaign based on the need formed, flights to Brussels to meet EU is to play a progressive role in a world for full trade union rights, £10-an-hour leaders, votes for cross party campaign to dominated by big capital.