ScottishLeft Review Issue 93 June 2016 - £2.00 'best re(a)d' 'best

1 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016

 Trade Union Recognition agreements on all construction sites

 Adherence to collective agreements

 Direct employment

 No blacklisting

 No public contracts for blacklisters

 No Bogus self employment or umbrella schemes

 Protect skills

 Proper apprenticeships The Rank & File was born out of an attack on the skills of electricians in 2011 by eight of the major mechanical and electrical construction companies in the UK. We have also been in the  Health & Safety forefront in the fight against blacklisting with our partners, the Blacklist Support Group. We seek

the adherence of collective agreements on all construction sites and recognition of all elected shop stewards and safety reps. The Rank & File, who is made up mostly of Unite members but Contact: also count members of GMB and Ucatt among our ranks, are determined to change the face of construction for the benefit of working people by transforming the attitudes of companies in the Email: [email protected] industry to realise the benefits of having an organised workforce. To do this we need the assistance of clients such as the Scottish government, local authorities, NHS and Scotland’s Universities and Colleges through their procurement processes, in line with the Scottish Unite Scottish Rank and File government’s Fair Work Framework. Together we can make a difference. @ScotRankFile

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

2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 feedback

comment - All change and all stay the same

he tectonic plates of Scottish and Sturgeon. The Westminster - to have triumphed because of their politics have moved again. But election last year was a highpoint stance on not taxing the rich, their Tthe third part of the tartan and Salmond’s landslide of 2011 stauncher defence of the Union and trilogy did not end as was expected. was not replicated. The Holyrood Ruth Davidson being a more able After the referendum in 2014 came election was a boring campaign by leader than Kezia Dugdale. If this is the SNP landslide in the Westminster and large, with not the same sense the case, the other side of the coin general election. This trend was then of the Westminster bogeyman to set reviewsconcerns Labour itself. The continued expected to deliver a majority SNP the heather alight. Turnout was down decline of Scottish Labour started with government at Holyrood, giving Nicola compared to the referendum (85%) its domination by ‘new’ Labourism Sturgeon her own personal mandate. and last year’s Westminster election and working with the Tories in Better It was not so much that the polls (71%) at 56%. So much for the new Together. But it has continued with a were wrong as in 2015 (with regard to 16-17 year old voters and ‘generation leader that voters don’t trust despite Labour) but that the little cognisance independence’ of engaged voters moving to the left on policy issues. was taken off the late polls suggesting making a big, positive difference. The fact that Dugdale was allied to the SNP lead was slipping. The beneficiary of the SNP stumbling Jim Murphy and opposed to Corbyn Either the tactics of #bothvotessnp was not the left but the Tories. Now before he was elected Labour leader did not do the trick (given 5% clearly ahead of Labour as the second has been part of this. Indeed, one less voted for it on the list) and/ largest party (in seats and votes), the unnamed Labour activist quoted in or the gloss is coming off the SNP Tories appear – compared to Labour the Sunday Herald (8 May 2016) said: ScottishLeftReview Cover and illustrations: Nadia Lucchesi Issue 93 June 2016 Contents ([email protected]) Proofing services: Comment – All change and all stay the same...... 3 Bob Thomson and John Daly Feedback...... 4 A predictable surprise? Malcolm Harvey...... 5 Communications and School report - progress is possible. Larry Flanagan...... 7 organisational development: The last fantasy election? Jim Cuthbert...... 8 Carole Ewart Patient at continuing risk. Lilian Macer...... 9 Trade union development officer: Neither Holyrood nor Westminster. Gordon Munro...... 10 David Brockett Back to banning the bomb. Veronika Tudhope...... 11 Editor Email: EU: better out than in. Ian Davidson...... 13 [email protected] ‘Fixit’: the lesser of two evils. Colin Fox...... 14 Big Brother in Scotland. Tommy Kane...... 15 Web: www.scottishleftreview.org It’s trade but not as we know it. Liz Murray...... 17 Tel: 0141 424 0042 Trade Union Bill is now law. Carolyn Jones...... 18 Address: The unending imperialist war. Andrew Murray...... 19 Remembering the blood of Spain. Mike Arnott...... 20 Scottish Left Review, Imperialism abroad – racism at home. Jock Morris...... 21 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields, No liberation from technology. Allan Grogan...... 22 Glasgow G41 4PL Self-employment and in-work poverty. Mike Danson & Laura Galloway ...... 23 Recalling a great Scottish socialist novelist. Dave Sherry ...... 24 Printed by Agony of chronic pain. Dorothy-Grace Elder ...... 25 Hampden Advertising Ltd, Failing at the first hurdle. Gregor Gall...... 26 70 Stanley Street, Book reviews...... 28 Glasgow G41 1JB, Vladimir McTavish’s Kick up the tabloids...... 30 Tel: 0141 429 1010

3 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 ‘She is a New Labour politician who over a host of issues like tax. For the liberalism. Whether a re-invigorated backed an Old Labour agenda’. Greens, progress on tax, fracking and federalism or confederalism can alter land reform will be paramount. But the contours here remains to be seen. The Greens did not do as well as Labour must go further and provide expected (at least one list seat in • Scottish Left Review would like the resolve to organise resistance each region) and did not surpass pay its respects to Ken Cameron their highpoint of 2003. But with to austerity (which will now come (1942-2016). Ken was the FBU six MSPs rather than two, they in a different form given the fiscal general secretary from 1980 to may wield greater influence with settlement). In other words, it must 2000 and helped Jimmy Reid and a minority SNP government than become Corbynised. Only by doing Bob Thomson in gaining the support before. For RISE and Solidarity, the so can Labour shed its skin of ‘new’ of the FBU for the magazine when election was yet another disaster. Labourism, a variant of neo-liberalism it was launched in 2000. Bob While Solidarity outpolled RISE, their called social liberalism. Its dismissal of Thomson commented: ‘He was combined Scotland-wide vote was further movement on the constitution a good trade union negotiator, a miserable and puny 25,000 (with was a big mistake taking into account always seeing the bigger picture as the Trade Unionist and Socialist that the figures show that a majority well as maintaining himself as an Coalition gaining 3,500 votes from six of traditional Labour supporters voted international socialist’. constituency seats), being well behind ‘yes’ in the referendum. UKIP in meltdown’s 46,000. Neither The issue of unspoken issue of social Tommy Sheridan nor Cat Boyd, the liberalism will remain central. The candidates with the so-called ‘best worldview of the SNP is that the Feedback chance’, came anywhere close to economy in Scotland needs to be It was with some sadness and being elected on the Glasgow list. more efficient and productive in increasing anger that I read Derek For those that aspire to something order to generate more employment, Torrie's contribution in the last more radical than the mainstream private wealth, and the public issu. His was a ‘defence’, if I may can offer, it shows not just that a tax revenues to pay for its social grace it with such a description, disunited left is not credible but programme. In other words, the which has been offered by the that a pre-existing party (Solidarity) SNP has a social liberal approach to Tory Government, the right wing remained soiled goods and a credible economy and society. Its approach is press, anti- Corbyn Labour MPs new electoral outfit (RISE) cannot not entirely neo-liberal for the state in and, God help us, Jackie Baillie. He be created in a mere nine months. Scotland does seek to act to promote even used the term ‘deterrent’. Moreover, both Solidarity and RISE some elements of social justice and Fortunately, his views are opposed exaggerated their chances of success social equality - but it is not social by the Scottish Government, because they misunderstood the democratic either for its does not the Labour Party in Scotland ramifications of the independence seek to redistribute wealth or use (belatedly), the STUC, the Green campaign. As it was a political and the state to act to change market Party, the SSP, RISE, the Scottish ideological campaign and not a outcomes by way of public ownership, Churches and much of civic struggle over material grievances (like regulation and intervention. A Scotland. Finally, he states that the poll tax), it concerned making Corbynised Scottish Labour could, he would not stand up in front propaganda and not agitation or mass thus, present a genuine social of his members and ask them to action. Consequently, what long term democratic challenge to the SNP. put their jobs at risk ‘on the basis left radicalisation could come out of of political principle’. There you Has the issue of independence have it – surely, the case for the it was, unfortunately, limited. Lessons been parked for the moment? Yes from the success of the Anti-Austerity most immoral and expensive job must be the answer in terms of any creation scheme in history. Alliance and People Before Profit foreseeable referendum (should in the north and south of Ireland ‘Bremain’ win out). While there is a Andrew Sanders urgently need to be learnt – most still a majority for independence in obviously that being a local councillor the parliament, the Greens are less is a good springboard to national ideologically attached supporters Editorial Tommy Kane office. and Sturgeon is more cautious Committee Pat Kelly So where does this leave us in than Salmond was. But so long as Bill Bonnar Lilian Macer parliamentary terms until the next Labour under Corbyn shows itself Cat Boyd Gordon Morgan Scottish elections in 2021? If Labour is as making insufficient headway Tommy Sheppard Davy Brockett Dave Sherry to regain its credibility, it must show against the Tories (with the elections Sarah Collins Stephen Smellie that its turn leftwards is genuine, results across Britain neither Moira Craig Bob Thomson long-term and more extensive. Along pushing him back nor forward), then Carole Ewart with the Greens, it must drag the SNP independence for many on the left Convener Gregor Gall to the left so that the SNP does not will remain the way to crack the nut Editor seek to rely on de facto Tory support of escaping from austerity and neo- 4 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 coalition government in Scotland, A predictable surprise? an undergraduate exam question in a course on Scottish politics I Malcolm Harvey surveys the victors and the vanquished completed asked the following hakespeare's Macduff asks opposition will make delivering question: ‘Left-wing and nationalist, ‘Stands Scotland where it their manifesto in its entirety rather just not as much as Labour: is this Sdid?’ After this month’s difficult – but, as we saw from the reason for the SNP’s continued election, the answer appears to be 2007-11, the party know how to electoral weakness?’ Now, with the a categorical "no". Ruth Davidson's make minority government work, fortunes of the parties reversed, detoxified Conservatives hoisted and Nicola Sturgeon has already the question can be recast of themselves to second, doubling indicated a willingness to work Labour. While this may well be their representation. Labour's across party lines to build consensus an explanation – the SNP are, at decline was at once shocking and on an issue-by-issue basis. The least, perceived to be more social expected – the former hegemon in opportunity for the party now lies democratic and, naturally, more Scottish politics reliant on regional in reaching out beyond their core to nationalist than Labour – it is likely MSPs to save face. Patrick Harvie work with those with whom they do an explanation which will not help and Alison Johnstone will be joined not necessarily agree. Scottish Labour that much. They by 4 more Green MSPs, including The Scottish Conservatives – or, don’t want to be a nationalist the Parliament's youngest ever, perhaps more accurately, the party – though, post-referendum, and may find themselves courted Artists Formerly Known as the this appears to be where most of by the SNP for support. And the Scottish Conservatives – gauged their voters have gone – nor do Liberal Democrats, buoyed by their audience perfectly and they particularly want to be a left- Willie Rennie's surprising victory in were rewarded with a revival that wing party, at least as far as Jeremy North-East Fife, held steady with 5 surpassed even their most optimistic Corbyn’s leadership goes. Trying MSPs, surpassing all expectations. expectations. Utilising a strategy to appeal to the Yes voters who Though falling two seats short of a championed by her rival Murdo abandoned the party for the SNP majority, the SNP's maintained their Fraser in the leadership election 5 allowed the Conservatives to target dominance of Scottish politics, albeit years ago, Ruth Davidson avoided the No voters that were concerned they will be required to reach out using the Conservative brand as with the Union and Labour’s across the chamber. much as she could in election commitment to it. In the end, And yet, the more things change, literature. Campaign boards in neither group voted for the party in the more things stay the same. The fields across the North-East carried the numbers Labour are used to in SNP dominated the constituency candidate names in the party’s Scotland. vote – as they did in last year’s distinctive blue, but more prominent For the Scottish Greens, trebling General Election – and returned was the slogan ‘Ruth Davidson for a their seat numbers must be seen as to government, as they were Strong Opposition’. The Conservative a good outcome, especially given prior to the election, and the one brand may remain toxic to some, their position as the only other pro- before that. The constitutional but focusing on the leader and independence party in Holyrood issue dominated the campaign, as their intended role post-election, as and the SNP’s status as a minority it has dominated Scottish politics well as positioning the party as the government. An increase in numbers for the past half-decade or more. primary defenders of the Union was and an increase in potential Ruth Davidson positioned herself a strong suit, and the party played influence suggests those Green as the ‘real’ opposition to the SNP, that hand well. MSPs will play a significant role in continuing a theme the party have Scottish Labour’s woes continued, the forthcoming session. However, adopted since her election as leader. but with no appetite to appoint a two points are worth noting. First, And Labour’s decline is also nothing seventh new leader in nine years, the election result for the Greens new, their fall to third another Kezia Dugdale appears set to stay was, once again, significantly lower staging point on their dramatic fall on as leader with the difficult task than pre-election polling, which from hegemony. of rebuilding on her shoulders. heightened expectations of as The SNP’s failure to retain majority The immediate aftermath of the many as 10 MSPs. Second, despite government will be both a election prompted much (rather zipping their regional lists for gender disappointment and an opportunity literal) soul-searching within the balance, and pairing those lists in for the party, though their 63 seats party, and a renewed ambition to line with expected levels of support, was only a reduction of one from declare the ideas and principles that the party returned 5 males MSPs the 64 they ended the previous the party stands for – just as soon to a sole female MSP. This speaks session with. A disappointment for as they identify what they are. In to the fact that the party over- obvious reasons – an emboldened 2003, after Labour had returned to performed expectations in some 5 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 regions (West, and Lothians) and 5,344 votes he secured there was a attempting to maintain support for slightly underperformed in others considerable distance short of what their preference. Tax will become (North-East, South) where they was required for a seat. On the other an issue, with the more significant were squeezed out by the increasing end of the political spectrum, RISE power to vary income tax levels Conservative vote. (Respect, Independence, Socialism, devolved, and a clear left-right division between government and The Liberal Democrats, though Environmentalism) did not. With major opposition. displaced as Scotland’s fourth party, 10,911 votes representing 0.5% of will be relatively cheered by their the list vote, RISE were outpolled The initial devolution of a Scottish results: retaining Orkney (against by the Scottish Christian Party Parliament took some time to bed a significant SNP campaign) and (which stood in only 2 regions) and in, but now there is a generation Shetland, despite the legal case Solidarity, who competed for the of voters who were born after surrounding Alastair Carmichael MP, same voters. The fragmentation of the parliament was established. and re-gaining North-East Fife and the left – a common theme across Further powers have strengthened Edinburgh Western on the back of European history – continues in the parliament, and party fortunes strong candidates, hard-working Scotland, though on this occasion have fluctuated significantly in the local campaigns and a measure of is unlikely to have cost the left devolution period. Post-election, pro-Union tactical voting. The return any seats, since their combined commentators have spoken of an to Holyrood of Mike Rumbles as a vote remains far short of the level ‘Ulsterisation’ of Scottish politics, list MSP for the North-East offset required to gain representation in but that seems a gross misnomer the loss of Jim Hume in the South, any of the regions. for politics in Scotland. Rather, the albeit the party are now, like their What’s next for Scotland? Well, reference point may be the southern Westminster representatives, 100% the now-minority SNP Government part of that island, and the politics male at Holyrood. faces a dual challenge from Ruth of the historic Irish Free State, where Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael originated And what of the parties who did Davidson’s party: a reinvigorated on either side of the Treaty debate. not make it into Holyrood? UKIP’s conservative Unionism and a main Where that leaves Scottish Labour expected breakthrough did not opposition on the centre-right. is the existential question they materialise, though they did double There will be a requirement for currently face, but post-referendum their share of the regional vote collaboration across party lines to Scotland, this looks like the new (from 1% to 2%). With just over deliver manifesto commitments, normal. 46,000 list votes across Scotland, while the new powers of the there remain more Gaelic speakers parliament may be utilised as Dr Malcolm Harvey is a Research (c. 57,000 according to the 2011 each of the parties looking to Fellow at the University of Aberdeen census) than UKIP voters in Scotland. derive advantage from the new and the Centre on Constitutional Their Scottish leader David Coburn parliamentary arithmetic. The Change had identified Highlands & Islands as constitutional question will remain his best chance of election, but the a running sore, with both sides

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6 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 School report - progress is possible Larry Flanagan argues education can improve with funding and the right policies uring the election, education What is proposed in the new National organisational restructuring would be was centre stage in terms of Improvement Framework does not a time consuming distraction. manifesto commitments to constitute high stakes national testing, D Tension exists between national ‘close the attainment gap’, ‘improve thanks in part to the EIS campaign and local government over the standards’ and, even to increase against such an approach, although Scottish Government’s intention to funding, in one way or another. Whist the nuance is often lost on journalists pursue its education agenda, with and commentators. welcome, the EIS cautioned against or without COSLA support. This creating a narrative of failure around The potential direction of travel has been made explicit in the new Scottish education simply to score is ominous, however. We see this National Improvement Framework political points. echoed in the FM’s softer comments which moves significant leverage There remain significant challenges about ‘Teach First’ – an accelerated around standards away from councils facing schools and colleges (and route into teaching for high flying in the direction of Holyrood. Whilst universities) but we are building on academics, avoiding the need to local authority control of schools significant success in our system. become a qualified teacher. This should be defended, councils need Even a cursory review of some of the will fundamentally undermine to demonstrate how they are adding international commentary on Scottish our world renowned induction value to the education process. education reveals its inclusive nature, programme and the General Teaching From an EIS perspective, it has commitment to social justice, high Council. In England, ‘Teach First’ been depressing to note COSLA’s professional standards of teachers, and academisation combined to biggest recent educational battle has and commitment to career long undermine the teaching profession, been around challenging Scottish professional development building leading to the current crisis around Government’s commitment to maintain on a highly respected induction recruitment and retention. teacher numbers. Scottish Government programme. All recognised and The FM has said she’s ‘not ideological’ is already experimenting with providing celebrated by significant voices. This about these matters but she some direct funding to schools. This success should be the starting point should be. These aren’t incidental can be a good thing if it is a way of for policy development. developments for they are part of the ring-fencing education spending and Intense focus is correctly placed Global Education Reform Movement, potentially empowering schools. But on closing the attainment gap – an the agenda Michael Gove and his there are limits and drawbacks for aspiration almost universally shared successors so damagingly pursued and economies of scale may be lost; not all by politicians, certainly one which the the drive to privatise public education schools have democratic structures for First Minister (FM) embraced, and an (which is globally worth $50bn). spending money; and head teachers agenda in which teacher unions such are already overworked without taking In Scotland, we have a free as the EIS are firmly engaged. on more duties. public sector education system, But if it was as simple as wishing democratically controlled by local and What is clear is additional resources it, we’d be there already for the national government, and built upon a are required to deliver improvements challenge of overcoming the impact comprehensive model of entitlement in education and in a coordinated of poverty on educational attainment and inclusiveness. We should fight and planned manner otherwise the is a deep and complex one. Schools to protect these characteristics – not impact will be blunted (with sufficient make a difference but action in the succumb to the vacuous vanity of teachers to deliver them). The election classroom, in isolation, has limited being seen to do something different focus on education provided a strong impact. Government needs to for the sake of it. basis for developing a consensual simultaneously address poverty at approach to policy development and The SNP manifesto mentioned source. And, a danger exists that in implementation. Teachers try instilling ‘regionalisation’, with some seeing this wishing to demonstrate progress, it into pupils an understanding that as an indication of Regional Boards looks at short-term approaches which cooperation and collaboration are being created to take education out of create the illusion of action but which more effective and progressive than direct local authority control. Whilst fail to address the manifest issues. competition. Let’s hope the politicians remaining a possibility, it is unlikely understand this too. National assessment is a case in point. any firm proposals exist. Of much The FM said she’s interested in ‘what greater interest is the developing Larry Flanagan is the general secretary works’. We know national testing notion of looser regional/district of the Education Institute of Scotland doesn’t work - look at SATS in England, educational leadership groupings (EIS) union and was a principal teacher the US’s now abandoned No Child Left focussed on pedagogical practice and of English in Glasgow before being Behind (aka No child left untested) professional networking. In terms elected to the post. and the OECD report on Scotland of what makes a difference in the which cautions against aspects of classroom, this support model has nationalised standardised testing. much to commend it. By contrast, 7 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 for the abatement of the Scottish The last fantasy election? government’s block grant is related Jim Cuthbert says we’re sleepwalking into big financial trouble to the change in rUK tax revenues. So by cutting tax rates less then he 2016 Scottish election was the actual scale of cuts in revenue rUK, Scotland gains more from the notable for being conducted in expenditure on non-protected indexation factor than it loses in Ta strange, make-believe world, services, and where will these tax revenues – and so is an overall where some key issues were almost occur? gainer. Scotland is, in effect, gaming completely ignored. Three such The second issue relates to capital the indexation arrangements in the issues are likely to intrude into this expenditure. The SNP government new fiscal settlement. cosy world long before the next one has been assiduous in developing This, however, is potentially a in 2021. ways of funding capital expenditure dangerous game. In the long run, if Let’s start by looking at the fiscal from off-balance sheet methods. Scotland’s economy, and therefore context. In the light of Osborne’s For example, the SNP’s Non-Profit tax revenues, does not grow as fast 2016 budget, the Scottish Distributing (NPD) programme is as rUK, the indexation arrangements Government’s Departmental expected to deliver over £2.2bn of in the fiscal settlement will penalise Expenditure Limits (DEL) revenue capital expenditure in the years 2014 us very severely. Raising tax rates (the amount the Scottish to 2017 alone. However, revenue relative to rUK could accentuate government would have got from funded methods of providing capital such a process, particularly at a time the old Barnett formula to spend imply a contractual commitment when a major part of the Scottish on current services) is projected to for the public sector to make future economy, relating to oil, is in secular drop by about £1.2bn in real terms revenue payments to repay capital, decline. The public, therefore, from 2015/16 to 2019/20 – a drop of and for services. deserved a mature debate about the almost 5%. This is a severe cut. Some of these payments fall directly balance of risks involved in deciding But, of course, this time the Scottish on central government (e.g., in to game the fiscal settlement: but government has got significant the form of support payments to this debate did not take place. tax powers: so the SNP propose local authorities) and John Swinney All three of these issues could to use new, and old, tax powers has a prudential rule to ensure well become critical during the to raise an extra £2 billion or so, that these central government new parliament. If so, while the from changes in income tax, council payments do not become too large. major consequences could be tax, and business rates. But this But other contractually committed very uncomfortable for Scotland, £2bn is spread over the lifetime payments fall upon local authority we would at least have one minor of the parliament. A charitable budgets, and no-one seems to be consolation. Never again are we interpretation of the figures suggests keeping an eye on what proportion likely to be subject to a fantasy that not more than £880m extra of local authority budgets is being election campaign, where such vital in tax would actually be raised in pre-empted by such contractual issues are ignored. 2019/20. payments. So the second big issue Jim Cuthbert is an independent which was glossed over is: are The SNP manifesto made a large economist and statistician (see local authorities going to hit future number of new spending promises http://www.jamcuthbert.co.uk/ ) budgetary problems because of on current services: to give two over-use of revenue funded capital? examples, an extra £500m pa by the end of the parliament on the NHS The third issue relates to income revenue budget, and another £500m tax. Paradoxically, the SNP is pa in doubling free years of early proposing to raise £1.2bn extra education. These two measures over the life of the parliament alone come to more per annum than by cutting income tax. This will be raised from the tax changes. apparent paradox arises from a quirk in the new In other words, funding the fiscal settlement. In the rest manifesto commitments is going of the UK (rUK), income tax to use up significantly more than is rates are being cut (in being raised from the tax changes, the form of an increase and will therefore imply even in the threshold for deeper cuts in expenditure on non- the higher rate tax protected services than Osborne’s band) by more than cut in the DEL. This is the first big in Scotland. But the issue that was glossed over. What is indexation factor 8 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Patient at continuing risk Lilian Macer assesses the health of our NHS here is a growing financial current financial crisis, health boards equivalent to number of beds in the crisis in NHS Scotland. NHS will not be able to deliver. new Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in spending is not ‘protected’ Glasgow. IJBs need to be properly T The Tories proposed to protect from austerity measures. With little funded to deliver the quality and health spending in Scotland with the scope to deviate from the current capacity of social care to get people health budget rising annually in line footprint of acute services this into social settings. with the Barnett Consequentials. As year, for the first time ever, health expected, they’d move away from Decisions that should be based on boards are potentially producing a universal service with as a starter care and clinical need are heavily unbalanced Local Delivery Plans. the re-introduction of prescription dependent on financial and human There’s an increase demand to move chargers which they have estimated resources (like the ability to recruit, to community-based services but to generate £65m by the end 2021. train and retain a skilled and fairly with no political appetite to provide paid workforce). The current NHS sufficient resources of trained During the campaign, a number of Scotland Healthcare Strategy staff and finance, the shift will not NHS services were debated but the (published in February 2016) takes become a reality. main issues focussing the minds little account of the new integrated of the parties were major trauma With the SNP not returning an overall approach to health and social care centres, integration of health and majority, this will potentially give provision. It rightly focuses on social care and GP out-of- hour rise to consensual politics within the ensuring safe, effective, person- provision. Scottish Parliament - something that centred and sustainable services UNISON has called for in relation to Labour committed to investing in delivered through a workforce that the NHS for some time.So how will four major trauma centres (Glasgow, has the right skills and competencies the party manifesto commitments Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen), and is able to achieve the best translate into delivering healthcare something it says the SNP has possible outcomes for patients. It for the Scottish population? NHS broken its promise on. The SNP is notable this strategy does not Scotland remains a priority within manifesto highlighted the same have a Ministerial Foreword giving the party manifestos but the shape four trauma sites but referred to government support. and focus differ in some part in the trauma network. If this does Additionally, the strategy has little policies and funding commitments. become a reality, it will mean one insight into the potential drive major trauma centre in the West towards future public service Scottish Labour stated it would and three in the East. The former reforms which the SNP highlights protect the NHS from privatisation, will be required to service 2.6m require structural and regulatory with commitments to fully support people covering Ayrshire and Arran, change. This will undoubtedly UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter in Dumfries and Galloway, Forth impact on local council’s provision social care. However, this needs Valley, Greater Glasgow and Clyde through the IJB. There is a need to be seen in the context of health and Lanarkshire. Notwithstanding for the union movement to move and social care integration with geographical dispersion, surely there from a reactive mode to more of a significant service and budget is the need to examine the case for proactive engagement to influence responsibility moving to the three in the East or to increase the the decisions that will shape public Integrated Joint Boards (IJBs) number in the West. services for the next generation. established in April 2016. This Staff governance arrangements and All the manifestos highlighted the significant reform of public service work emanating from the Fair Work huge pressures on GP delivery provision opens the door to Convention give us some leverage to further privatisation of social care services and made commitments to seek to achieve this and be a voice (and potentially health services) invest here. The Ritchie Review of for the workforce on how best to commissioned by the IJBs. 2015 made 28 recommendations achieve quality outcomes for our for health boards to ensure they Both SNP and Labour gave citizens and taxpayers. could provide out-of-hours services commitments to increase health (among them multi-agency teams). Lilian Macer is the Convenor of spending in vital areas: health UNISON Scotland and an Employee visitors; advanced practitioner in One of the main pressures on NHS Director at NHS Lanarkshire nursing and AHPs; and medical spending is delayed discharge. It is staffing with a particular focus on estimated the current number of GPs. All this comes with a price tag patients in hospital across Scotland and unless fully funded, under the who do not need to be is the 9 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Neither Holyrood nor Westminster but … Gordon Munro argues local government independence is a wilting flower he work of local government as it gets to grips with tactical voting. Tory fortunes in Scotland as they just got a lot tougher with show willingness to accede power Swings to the Tories in the north confirmation that the agenda to cities in a way that the Scottish T east and south west show that of the centre right will dominate the Government has not done to date. their strength there is returning new Parliament. The SNP and Tories and the mixed results in Edinburgh, There is an irony in that ’nationalism’ agree the new taxation powers combined with the fact that nearly is the dominant narrative in should not be used to increase the 45% of the electorate did not vote, Scotland and the ’independence’ basic rate of tax or the higher rate of show that how power is wielded and word is invoked as a part of that tax to provide more income - which who holds it in Scotland at Scottish narrative. Yet when it comes to could have been used for services Parliament, City Council and citizen local government, it has seen a provided by local government. level needs to be reviewed. COSLA’s diminution of power and the taking Even the limited tax raising ability challenge to the new Parliament away of its ‘independence’ since the of the Council Tax, approximately to work with it in the first 100 days creation of the Scottish Parliament 12% of local expenditure is raised of the new Parliament to deliver 5 17 years ago. When you consider through taxation, is restricted pledges to a) make Scotland’s public that 50 years ago councils raised with a maximum of 3% and token services local by default; b) redraw 50% of their finance locally, it is tinkering with the top 4 bands the partnership between local maybe time we framed the debate rather than a wholesale revision and national government; c) give about local government in Scotland as was promised by the SNP. Even communities financial choices; d) as ‘autonomy’ versus ‘centralism’. by the SNP’s own figures, this will open up Scottish democracy; and e) This would reflect ‘local variation’ only raise a maximum of £300m in join up thinking on reform. and the fact that doorstep issues Scotland which is less than has been in this campaign were really about Applying this approach we could, removed this financial year from services delivered by councils as if taken up, begin to renew local local government. opposed to rhetoric delivered government so that rather than by parliamentarians and their Reduction and restriction of finance continue the ‘rate capping’ and ‘wannabe’ successors. is one thing but it is also clear that demolition approach used by the UK powers will continue to be removed Government in the 1980s towards Gordon Munro is Labour councillor from councils and centralised. local government, a different way for Leith ward on Edinburgh City Mention was made of education is taken in Scotland. This would Council being removed and administered continue the work of the by local boards and the integration Scotland Act 2003 and that of Scottish Left Review of health and social care is still a the Christie Commission but, to The Scottish Left Review is a non-profit making publication. contested area in local government date, increased centralisation Please subscribe or make a donation by going to www. which could be removed and scottishleftreview.org where you can pay by credit card has been the only change. This or by filling in your details in the form below and returning centralised by the new Scottish agenda contains dangers as to Scottish Left Review, 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields, Government. Councils will not just well as opportunities but doing Glasgow G41 4PL be hollowed out but reformation nothing is not an option. including a reduction in number of Name Council’s is also on the agenda. So Another challenge from a Address what can be done? different source is the City Deal agenda promoted by the COSLA has called for a summit to UK government. This too has ‘redraw the partnership between dangers and opportunities, but Tel: local and national government‘ does give power locally in a way aimed at delivering a new that has seen councils queue E-mail: framework with ‘local variation’ in up to take part as a potential what Scotland wants and to a certain solution to the squeeze on Subscription/Donation extent that is what is demonstrated their finances by the Scottish by the election results. Whilst the Date: Government. Westminster’s 193 debate in Scotland tends to be willingness to take this Subscriptions: £18 (waged), £14 (unwaged), £24 (local restricted to the primary colours of organisations), £30 (national organisations. forward and the absence of Donations will be gratefully recieved. Cheques should be black and white and all the depth of a considered response to the crossed and made payable to: Left Review Scotland Ltd. Twitter, Scotland’s politics are, in fact COSLA challenge could aid You can also subscribe/donate online at and in practice, more sophisticated www.scottishleftreview.org 10 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Back to banning the bomb Making demands in the new political landscape remains the priority says Veronika Tudhope rident is a reserved issue, so Unfortunately, and negatively, the independence is the likeliest route how can the recent Holyrood invisibility of Trident in the election to nuclear disarmament. At Scottish Telection results affect it? During campaign might also be an expression CND, we are planning a summer the campaign, Trident and nuclear of a general poverty of aspiration campaign to drive this point home, weapons were not mentioned very around the Scottish elections. In coinciding with the SNPs planned often. Because it’s devolved, because some of the larger parties, there summer campaign for indyref 2. appeared to be a genuine lack of parties feel their stance is well known So what’s changed as a result of vision of Scotland as a nation with or for some other reason? the election? Without an overall its own place in the world. This may Despite this all the parties published majority the SNP must compromise/ be lack of confidence, or down to a manifesto position about Trident. work with other parties and the main selection of candidates not yet used The SNP has clearly been against opposition is no longer Labour (24 to looking beyond local politics. And nuclear weapons all along. An anti- MSPs) but Conservatives (31 MSPs). yet, we can look further. Scotland Trident agenda has been pursued; What can we hope for? That the can align herself with the 127 nations supporting a cross-party group, anti-Trident parties acting together in the world who reject nuclear sending delegates to international without succumbing to point scoring; weapons and are calling for a global leaders of all anti-Trident parties conferences and calling debates. ban. It has been difficult to support the signing up to support the Global Ban; settled will of the Scottish People Labour unites strongly in anti-Trident against nuclear weapons. position; small tweaks to the law to protect protestors and try to hinder The Greens have been consistently convoys are made; some government against Trident within their wider funding for the disarmament remit of seeking peace. Specific It is universally acknowledged that movement is provided; an active manifesto promises support this. The one of the main benefits of the cross-party group for nuclear 6 MSPs were elected on a ticket of referendum campaign was to unite disarmament gains engagement from ‘bolder Holyrood’ so can be expected our disparate parties and factions all parties; and myths are debunked to use their pivotal position to help (though we condemned Labour and such as the erroneous jobs argument the SNP move towards a nuclear free the Tories for doing this). For a short promoted by Jackie Baillie Scotland. time, it looked as though we could Plenty to be going on with there, Labour has been a bit of a mess, learn to lay aside differences to unite then! fudging the answers at hustings in campaign-based politics, thus, until the manifesto was eventually also giving voice to people who find Veronika Tudhope was vice-chair of published, a position complicated the party system toxic. Sadly this Scottish CND for several years and by the unions. Unite is divided over temporary unity slipped during the is now a staff member. She was a Trident replacement and GMB is election campaign but opposition to candidate for the Scottish Green Party definitely in favour while other Trident provides an opportunity to in 2016 Holyrood election and the unions, and the STUC, take that regain it. 2015 Westminster election. traditional view that bombing trade In the British context, unionists elsewhere is unacceptable. the next challenge will The Scottish Labour conference be the Trident renewal in November took an anti-Trident vote. What form will it take? position forcing Dugdale to reverse And when will it be? Of the 59 her position to being against Trident. Scottish MPs, 58 have stated they In theory, of the 24 Labour MSPs only will vote against renewal. This is likely one, Jackie Baillie (with majority of to show a clear divide between the 108!), is in favour of Trident. will of Scotland the will of the rest No change with the Conservatives of Britain. staunchly supporting mass Possibly there will be a similar destruction, now with twice the division of opinion over Europe. number of MSPs. This rise in numbers Scotland will have moved further means that even though Scottish again from the position of the Labour has changed its position, rest of Britain. In this context, it Trident might now have more support will be easy to make the point that in a Scottish Parliament, not less. 11 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Welcome The Jimmy Reid Foundation will bring together voices and minds from across the spectrum of left politics in Scotland News Scrutiny Latest Updates Search the site • A Daughter’s Search Reflections Click the button below to make a monthly or a one off donation. 1st step is to sign up to • Scottish fiscal become a member of the Foundation. settlement negotiations In a carefully constructed but Scrutiny – a place sharply critical assessment of for debate and • Lobbying Woes Donate Now the recent Institute of Fiscal discussion on politics Studies (IFS) report entitled, today. • Worker’s Rights are

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12 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 to keep it afloat. We will inevitably EU: better out than in be drawn into the crisis, and the Ian Davidson argues boldness is require to liberate ourselves from neo-liberalism subsequent European recession will damage our own economy. But ‘what is to be done?’ as someone once said. Overthrowing the present hegemony is simply not possible within the existing EU structures. Unanimous decisions of all 28 governments would be necessary to rewrite those Treaties which enshrine neo-liberalism and the forces of capital. The vested interests supporting the ECJ and its capacity to expand EU competencies in favour of aced by big decisions, the value added products, and dumping free market solutions are simply too default position of too many in surpluses, thus destroying their strong to allow a frontal assault. the Labour Party for too long domestic and export markets, F Even a radical Labour Government has been to find reasons to work causing impoverishment for millions would find itself crippled by with, rather than to challenge, the and mass migrations). EU rules. Public ownership of status quo. We need the courage We continue to hand over huge the railways would be ruled to argue for change as working amounts of money, over which we within usually results in absorption. inadmissible, as would ending or lose control, to an EU elite who And so it is with the debate on this reversing the privatization of the remain committed to ‘ever closer referendum. ‘We know it’s crap NHS. And, similarly public ownership union’ by mission creep. While – but there is no alternative’ is a for the energy companies would be remaining, we lose control of common refrain, while those who ruled out. Public economic planning argue ‘Another Europe is Possible’ our borders, and of the ability to would be subject to rulings of the fail to admit that another EU is not. determine how many people come European Court. into our country. The EU is firmly in the grip of neo- We cannot win from within. Of liberalism with Christian/Social The left has been traditionally afraid course, there are risks which come Democracy confined to the margins. to tackle these issues for fear of with change. Often exaggerated. Jacques Delors’ gains were 30 years being called racist, but we must Remember the warnings against ago, and have not been repeated. recognise the class dimension of introducing the NHS, or the National Economic austerity rules with uncontrolled immigration. Those Minimum Wage, or not joining the constant diktats on competition, who benefit are employers, who Euro. But the Left has always stood privatization, drastic reductions use a reserve army of labour to for change, for hope and aspiration. in public spending to centrally hold down wages and conditions; We need to reject the ‘crap-but’ determined targets, attacks on those who lose are workers of chorus and TINA. all nationalities, who have their collective bargaining and fierce cuts We need to look forward, not bargaining strength reduced while in the social wage. back to the times following the having to complete for underfunded, Second World War. We need to look EU policy continues to be driven and thus scarce, public services. by the needs of capital and multi- outwards to the world, nor restrict nationals, with legislation co-written Individual migrants are not the ourselves to the top left-hand by business lobbyists, and the problem – it’s the scale that causes corner of Eurasia. Leaving the EU European Court of Justice (ECJ) difficulties. Yet the economic and could free us from neo-liberalism regularly ruling against unions and social planning which could set and austerity, not inevitably but workers whenever their interests migration targets, dependent upon potentially, whereas remaining in clash with business. sectional and regional needs and an EU of bankers and multinationals capacities, is illegal under EU rules. condemns working people to an The Common Agricultural policy ever reducing share of National (CAP) continues to absorb the And, the crisis of the Euro means Income. Be Bold - Vote Leave. (And largest share of the budget, keeping that things will only get worse. The remember, Cameron goes if we win, food prices high, benefiting rich currency is inherently unstable or get close). farmers disproportionately and and unsustainable and the EU will impoverishing the Third World (by be forced to seek additional fiscal Ian Davidson is the former (Labour) restricting imports, especially of powers and to increase austerity MP for South West Glasgow 13 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 ‘Fixit’: the lesser of two evils in the EU Colin Fox outlines the hard but necessary tasks for left ‘remainers’ he socialist case for remaining healthcare and education across change. Admittedly recent reforms in the European Union is the continent. Rich in resources and have been driven by the right, by Tnot straightforward. Nor is it talent it could ensure Europe’s great neo-liberal finance capital and not easy to sell to a disengaged public. wealth is shared out among all its the left. But all EU Treaties reflect Superficially, ‘Brexit’ appears more citizens. There is no lack of ambition the political balance of class forces attractive inferring as it does that ‘if in that goal. in Europe at the time. And, in recent we leave the EU, our problems will decades these have reflected the But if our objective is to be over’. supremacy of French and German transform the EU along these capital particularly. The opinion polls suggest, lines, the question is how? Left arithmetically at least, the left could ‘Remainers’ are therefore obliged Leaving the EU because of its neo- tip the balance on 23 June. This to bring forward detailed plans liberal programme is a cop out. potential was highlighted when to democratise and ‘socialise’ the It implies Westminster does not Cameron met TUC leaders and EU. The idiosyncratic former Greek employ the same agenda or pose agreed to drop features of his anti- Finance Minister, Janis Varoufakis, the same risks. No, the left must union Bill in return for their backing provides some suggestions in his face the harsh realities behind our his case to ‘Remain’. recent book, And the weak suffer pan-European weakness. That is what they must? one lesson from Greece we must Ironically, the left’s case for learn. The Italian left has a saying remaining is hindered by Cameron He refreshes the French triptych ‘la lotta continua’ - the struggle who threatens, inter alia, ‘Tough ‘liberty, fraternity and equality’, continues. And that ‘struggle’ needs new restrictions on access to our arguing: ‘No European nation [or a serious programme and strategy to welfare system for new EU migrants. people] can be free as long as transform the EU. Those who seek to They will not have access to benefits another’s democracy is violated. oppose the EU’s attacks on working until they have worked here for None can live in dignity as long people need to link up far more up to four years’ if he wins. This as others are denied it. None can effectively. That is the conclusion attack on migrants is one of many hope for prosperity if another is that confronts all of us on the left differences ‘Remainers’ on the left pushed into permanent insolvency regardless of the outcome of the have with the right. and depression’ [p233]. Varoufakis vote on 23 June. proposes several basic demands It is little wonder the SSP describes such as open transparent decision- Colin Fox is the national co- a vote to remain in the EU as making to undermine the secrecy spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist ‘the lesser of two evils’. For both of the Brussels bureaucracy, the Party (SSP) propositions are bedevilled by primacy of the rule of law applied unattractive arguments and dubious equally to all and the terms of trade ‘bedfellows’. This is a referendum regulated to be mutually beneficial EU referendum only UKIP and the Tory right wanted. and fair to all sides. Such basic And tempting as it is to adopt the info point demands are far reaching in their attitude ‘my enemies defeat is my implications for the future of the EU. How do the unions line up victory’, the left must resist it and examine the political circumstances The answer to the ‘How?’ question on ‘should I stay or should I rather more objectively. The choice then is by mobilising those political go?’ for the EU referendum? then is not between left and right. It forces of like mind to transform the Those for a critical ‘stay’ is a tactical question. EU in this direction. Tariq Ali and Neil are: Unite, UNISON, GMB, Davidson are among those on the The EU is an anti-democratic USDAW, CWU, UCATT, FBU, ‘left leave’ side who disagree with organisation gripped by neo-liberal BECTU, TSSA, and Musicians’ this approach. Speaking to them finance capital. The socialist case Union (plus the STUC and both after a recent RISE election for remaining is about changing that rally in Edinburgh, they insisted the TUC). Those for a ‘leave’ are: utterly. It is about working to convert EU was an untouchable bureaucracy ASLEF, BFAWU and RMT. The the EU into an organisation that puts closed off to such reforms. NUT has decided not to take the needs of 500m people ahead of corporate elites. A 21st century EU But in my view they are wrong. a position and, as we went to could guarantee full employment The EU is entirely constrained by press, the PCS union had not with a living wage for all. It could European political realities and yet decided upon its position. push for publicly provided universal therefore constantly subject to 14 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Big Brother in Scotland Tommy Kane makes the case for an inquiry into undercover policing in Scotland he Undercover Policing is the malpractice by officers in for better and more secure terms Inquiry, otherwise known as the SDS and NPOIU who were and conditions for the members Tthe Pitchford Inquiry, was undercover, including how they and for safer and improved health announced by Home Secretary, even entered into sexual relations and safety on building sites. Not an Theresa May, last July. Its purpose with people they were spying unreasonable objective you would is to ‘inquire into and report on on. One woman likened this to think given building sites are still undercover police operations ‘being raped by the state’. What seen as being amongst the most conducted by English and Welsh must be fundamental is how the dangerous workplaces in Britain Police Forces in England and Wales information gleaned from all today. since 1968’. The inquiry’s scope types of police spying is then used The extent of the collusion will ‘include but not be limited against working people, especially between the state, and the likes to, whether and to what purpose, as it has come to light recently that of the blacklisters, will hopefully extent and effect undercover police working people were prevented be exposed during Pitchford. operations have targeted political from gaining employment as a However, evidence of the extent and social justice campaigners’, result of their political and union of state surveillance on so-called covering police undercover units, activities. ‘subversives’ and ‘subversive the Special Demonstration Squad Collusion between the state activities’ already exists. The (SDS) and National Public Order - elements within the police Shrewsbury Three, Grunwick Intelligence Unit (NPOIU). and intelligence services, strikers, British Leyland unions, May felt bound to initiate such business, corporations and their the 1984-1985 miners’ strike, and an inquiry because of growing representative bodies and some the peace and Anti-Apartheid and compelling evidence in the media – has been occurring movements were all victims of that undercover police had and used against working people spying and undercover police systematically abused their and their representatives since the activity. position, impacting upon peaceful end of the First World War, the It was said in Peter Taylor’s and law abiding individuals and extension of the franchise and the programme, True Spies, that in the organisations targeted with emergence of the labour and union 1970s there were over one million dubious and sinister policing movement as a serious force in paper files on people. In today’s practices. However, as we know, British political life. electronic world one can only inquiries can often be about The most prominent organisation imagine the number of people who suppressing the truth, whilst that organised the networks are now having files opened up on offering pretence towards actually against the organised working them. It would be good if Pitchford finding it. Time will tell with regard class was the Economic League, touched upon this systematic to Pitchford. forerunner to the Consulting spying on the The Pitchford Inquiry should to Association. Set up in 1919, its people be extended to Scotland and, if aim was to ‘counter subversion’ of it is not, a similar style inquiry and identify and prevent from this should be launched here by the working those people considered Scottish Government. If not, we subversives. These so-called will have the ridiculous sight of a subversives were, just as they Tory Government acknowledging a are now, activists fighting for the problem in undercover policing and means to provide for the families and end exploitation in the being seen to try to do something workplace. about it, whilst a supposedly more progressive Scottish In recent times, the Consulting Government trenchantly refuses to Association provided acknowledge a Scottish dimension information to multi-national to such police operations, let alone construction firms for trying to do anything about it. blacklisting trade unionists for the ‘crime’ of fighting A key consideration of Pitchford 15 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 country but no-one should hold Strathclyde Police, Paddy Tomkins, information is being provided to their breath waiting on that former Chief Constable of Lothian third parties. happening. and Borders Police, and former Mathieson’s response was woefully The notion that the SDS or NPOIU Chief Constable, Sir Stephen inadequate suggesting a flagrant has not been active in Scotland House. and reckless disregard for the or that Scottish officers have not Two other Scottish Police officers, seriousness of these allegations: been involved and complicit is Eleanor Mitchell and Paul Hogan, ‘I have no knowledge of Police preposterous and has been proven have recently been reported to Scotland having certain individuals to be so through reporting by the have been working for NPOIU. Paul under surveillance. If Mr Findlay Ferret, Sunday Herald and Sunday Hogan was seconded from Tayside has concerns about that, he could Mail. Police to the NPOIU and was said pursue it with Police Scotland. to have worked with ‘key industry If he is dissatisfied with that, he When the offices of the Consulting partners on the work of the could take it up with IOCCO—the Association were raided the names department in order to develop surveillance commissioner— of hundreds of Scottish workers intelligence sharing opportunities which would be able to look were found on their blacklist. and maximise opportunities’. at the matter’. Mathieson, At a meeting in the Scottish This sounds eerily like the type of therefore, sought to absolve Parliament, a blacklisted activist, collusion which sees information himself and his Government from Eleanor Hutson, reported how passed between state agencies and any responsibility in looking into during the G8 the now notorious, businesses and which provides the these matters despite being the Mark Kennedy, was the transport information from which blacklists responsible for police activity in coordinator of activists protesting are constructed. The Scottish Scotland. The First Minister in in Scotland. Hutson was then found connection is also exposed by the another response to Neil Findlay to be on the Consulting Association ex-undercover cop, Bob Lambert, said that there would be no blacklist. Moreover, a report by who fathered a child with a female plans for an inquiry here and that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of activist and worked recently at Scotland would pay attention Constabulary in 2012, A review St Andrews University before and look to learn lessons from of national police units which resigning in the midst of the furore Pitchford. It was an embarrassingly provide intelligence on criminality over his past activity. complacent answer. associated with protest, said: The SNP Scottish Government has ‘Although Mark Kennedy worked Calls have, thus, grown for Scotland ‘form’ in ignoring or obstructing for a national unit his undercover to be included in Pitchford, and if such investigations. It refused to activities were authorised by senior not, for the Scottish Government countenance any inquiry into the officers from the police force that themselves to launch its own inquiry. The response from the disproportionate number of miners covered the particular local area in Scottish Government has been arrested and convicted in Scotland which he was working’. disappointing at best and distinctly during the 1984-1985 strike and Recently, reports have shown obstructive at worst. Its latest always refused an inquiry into how the new Chief Constable of position is it is in discussions with blacklisting in Scotland. Police Scotland, Phil Gormley, had May, but as yet there is still no The case for Scotland to oversight of the activities of SDS sign Pitchford will be extended to be included in Pitchford is and NPOIU. Scotland, nor is it clear whether overwhelming but if it is not While the Ferret, through FOI the Scottish Government actually included then Scotland must information, reported how senior want Scotland to be included in conduct its own inquiry. If not the Scottish police officers attended Pitchford. reputation of Police Scotland will meetings of the Association of Neil Findlay has led the way in continue to be stained and the Chief Police Officers’ Terrorism calling for Pitchford to be extended Scottish Government will rightfully and Allied Matters Committee to Scotland, asking the Justice be exposed for taking the side of (ACPO TAM), which is responsible Secretary, Michael Matheson, in the old order and establishment for counter-terrorism and Parliament whether he shared at the expense of the rights of controlled the units currently being his concerns that Police Scotland ordinary working people. investigated by Pitchford. The will neither confirm nor deny that Tommy Kane is Senior Researcher senior officers who attended ACPO it is monitoring the activities of for Neil Findlay MSP TAM meetings included Sir Willie environmental, union and political Rae, former Chief Constable of activists or say whether that 16 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 It’s trade but not as we know it Liz Murray highlights how a new wave of trade deals are changing the rules of global governance ith trade talks at those in procurement. These things the Scottish government, then it the World Trade are what set these new deals would be the UK government who WOrganisation (WTO) apart from some of their older would fight those cases – but if continually stalling since the 1990s, counterparts. They are not trade the UK government lost then the countries around the world have deals in the way we have known Scottish government would have to turned increasingly to negotiating them in the past, but are part of a pay the compensation. bilateral trade deals rather than neo-liberal drive to deregulate and We’ve known for a long time that the multilateral deals that the WTO to move capital from public into TTIP will hand more power than was set up to foster. private hands. ever to big business. Now we also Recently, however, the character TTIP and CETA give powers to know that when business uses of new bilateral agreements has big business and take them that power to challenge Scottish changed as they aim more and from elected governments, government policy, then Scotland more to consolidate power. And through mechanisms such as the will have to rely on Westminster to the rich countries have put in controversial investor state dispute fight its battles while bearing the particular effort as political elites settlement mechanism (ISDS). Also financial burden if it loses. have become nervous about sometimes nicknamed ‘corporate We believe that the Scottish competition from fast growing courts’, ISDS threatens to have political parties and the Scottish economies like China and India. a chilling effect on governments Government should be very Add to that the recession since passing progressive legislation worried about this, as it could the financial crash in 2008, felt designed to protect public seriously limit their powers to particularly acutely by Europe and health, workers’ rights and the pass legislation in the public the US, and you have the context environment due to the threat of interest. The only parties in power for a new set of ‘mega’ trade deals legal action for compensation by in Scotland who are completely (and the acronyms to go with trans-national companies. opposed to TTIP and CETA are the them!). The impact of these deals is likely Greens and Labour. The Tories Thus, we have the Transatlantic to be as much felt here in Scotland and LibDems remain resolutely in Trade and Investment Partnership as anywhere else. Successive favour, and the SNP are worried (TTIP) between the EU and US, and Scottish governments prided about parts of both deals but have the Comprehensive Economic and themselves on going beyond stopped short of opposing them Trade Agreement (CETA) between Westminster to protect public entirely. the EU and Canada. health, public services and the After the SNP was returned These deals have been environment. Scotland banned to government on 5 May, it’s optimistically described by smoking in public places before important to remember that politicians as ‘the cheapest the rest of Britain, Holyrood set the SNP wants an independent stimulus package imaginable’, with higher targets for cutting carbon Scotland with the sovereignty hopes pinned on them to provide emissions than Westminster did, to take its own decisions. Yet in jobs and economic growth. But the NHS here is less privatised than not opposing TTIP and CETA, it whether or not the modest growth in England and Wales, and Scotland is risking ceding power to both predictions turn out to be correct has set a moratorium on fracking Westminster and multinational (and they are but much disputed), and committed to no new nuclear corporations. power stations. the crucial point is that they rely Liz Murray is head of campaigns on some key structural changes Under TTIP and CETA, these kinds and policy (Scotland) for Global to the economic and political of things could result in trans- Justice Now. For more information systems – and what amounts to national companies suing for on Global Justice Now and its a huge transfer of power from compensation on the basis that campaign, see back cover of governments to big business. they could threaten their profits. magazine. The big prize for TTIP and CETA is And, in addition to this, we recently the reduction or removal of non- learned that if those companies tariff barriers to trade and the sued for compensation for lost opening up markets, especially profits as a result of the policies of 17 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 The Trade Union Bill is now law Carolyn Jones lays out a response to the new legislation he Trade Union Bill received would have introduced statutory possible (see Labour’s Workplace Royal Assent on Wednesday procedures to encourage collective 2020 initiative www.workplace2020. T4 May – the ninetieth bargaining. Instead, it has created a org.uk). To that end, the Institute of anniversary of the 1926 General statutory safety net for employers to Employment Rights (IER) is working Strike – and much of it is likely to fall back on should relations at work on a manifesto for labour law which be in force by the end of the year. deteriorate still further. places unions back at the heart The Act is a shadow of the Bill first of economic, industrial and social The backdrop to this unnecessary proposed, but dangerous details regeneration. Act is the newly empowered state hide in those shadows. Shining a surveillance officer. The Certification light on the dangers ahead and Officer (CO) has powers to initiate Restrictions imposed by the Trade exposing the intentions behind complains, undertake inspections, Union Act include: the Act are vital. If not our kids record names, determine outcomes will suffer as the power of unions • Need to appoint an authorized and impose fines of between £200 to organise, to represent, and to picket supervisor, known to the and £20,000 on any national, defend living standards are choked police and employer regional or local branch. off. • Breaches of the picketing code Some of the more bizarre and It’s true the government inserted will be a criminal offence a clause saying the CO would not extreme proposals have been • 50% and 40% ballot thresholds be ‘subject to directions of any removed. But many of the ‘flagship’ imposed elements of the Tory Bill are now kind from any Minister as to the law. On ballots, the imposition of manner in which he is to exercise • Yet more bureaucratic balloting requirements which will be three thresholds imposes near his functions’. But it’s not the costly, time consuming and open impossible targets for many of manner that is so objectionable. It to challenge by bosses and the those leading the resistance against is the nature of the work that raises CO privatisation and cuts. Promises to concerns and it is the nature of the review and roll-out e-ballots were work that is set by Ministers. • The ballot notice to be given dumped, kicked into the long grass Parliamentary activity has delivered to bosses is extended (14 days) of an independent review. what it can in the face of a while the “life” of a ballot is restricted (6 months) And proposals to bus in agency government determined to silence workers – often vulnerable people political opposition, cull collective • Unions wanting to retain check- coerced into taking jobs under new action, criminalise picket line off will have to win the boss’s Universal Credit rules – still lurk in solidarity and strangle unions with agreement and pay the cost bureaucratic red tape controlled by a the background. • After 12 month research, state surveillance officer. On political funds, though delayed Minister can instruct any public for 12 months, the opt-in system is If this Act, like the 1971 one before sector employers to end facility now law and threatens to undermine it is to be defeated, the immediate time battle will be extra-parliamentary, the political voice of unions. The • All new members will be led by workers responding to bureaucratic nonsense of unions required to opt-in to the political attacks on their standards of living having to declare all political fund expenditure over £2,000 pa stands in and working conditions. Those complete contrast to the privacy and battles are already being fought • A state surveillance officer, the anonymity given to offshore funds and will continue to grow as current CO, will have vastly extended and offshore Tory funders, and is economic policies fail to deliver powers to investigate, condemn laughable coming from a party itself anything other than growing and fine trade unions on a wide under investigation for electoral inequality and lack of opportunity. range of issues fraud! In the longer term, Jeremy Corbyn The idea of giving concessions and his team need to be given Carolyn Jones is the Director of where agreement can be reached the space and time to develop the Institute of Employment Rights permeates much of the Act. But alternative economic and industrial (http://www.ier.org.uk/) if the Government was really policies that will expose the political supportive of industrial relations nature of Tory attacks and show being conducted by agreement, it how another political agenda is 18 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 The unending imperialist war Andrew Murray explains the reason for the continuing carnage he present unending war, in 2001 the USA stood alone as sole The whole-hearted backing given which has rolled from one superpower. Its military budget is as to Saudi Arabia in its murderous Tcountry to another since 2001, great as that of the next ten powers war on Yemen, and to the rulers of has already gone on for longer than in the world combined. Bahrain in their brutal suppression of the democracy movement in the two world wars of the twentieth US policy since the end of the Cold their country, over and above the century combined. Its battlefields War has been to use this ‘unipolar interventions in Iraq, Libya and Syria, have covered a vast region from moment’ to enforce a global order have all had uniformly disastrous Libya and Mali in the west to with its own business interests – and results. All this has little to do with Afghanistan and Pakistan in the those of its closest allies – firmly fighting terrorism, and still less to east, with most of the Middle East in in the driving seat. Even as the do with supporting democracy. between. US has faced a relative economic It is about supporting compliant decline, with the rise of the Chinese The rationalisation has been to regimes, and destroying awkward economy in particular, it has sought fight a ‘war on terror’ against an or inconvenient ones, like Assad’s to bolt in place a world capitalist ‘axis of evil’ to use US President in Syria. The cost in human lives, in regime secure against all challenges Bush’s cartoonish formulations. refugees and material destruction and run from Washington. This has been a falsehood from in Syria alone has been immense. the start. Of the five states which It is no surprise that it has devoted And why did Britain join in the have been destroyed since 2001 the greatest effort to trying to bombing of Syria? Not for Britain’s four – Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen- impose this order in the Middle insignificant military contribution had absolutely nothing to do with East. It is both the source of much but to ‘get a seat at the table’ when the 9/11 attacks or, indeed, with of the world’s oil – and the major the powers redesign the post-war terrorism at all, at least at the time share of the cheapest-to-produce Middle East. of their destruction. and most-profitable-to-sell oil – and Rather than promoting peace On the other hand, the country also a huge market for western arms talks, the Tories have sought to which supplied almost all the 9/11 companies. For the last century, impose wrecking pre-conditions on attackers, and which has funded and the big powers have devoted discussions, thereby helping prolong provided ideological inspiration for extraordinary efforts to keeping the suffering. It could get worse. jihadism – Saudi Arabia – remains a the Middle East ‘safe’ for western Tensions are rising in eastern Europe valued ally of the USA and Britain. business. and in the Pacific as well as in the Terrorism, meanwhile, has become In the case of Britain, the vast Middle East. The role of a mass, a still greater challenge, as the rise influence oil and arms companies united movement against war, of of Islamic State and the barbaric have had on government of both the sort which has developed across attacks in Paris, Brussels, Beirut and parties of late is clear. Their pressure Britain in the last fifteen years, has elsewhere demonstrate. alone would go a long way to explain never been more important. This huge disparity between stated the drive to war. Still more powerful, Andrew Murray is Chair of the Stop objectives and the actual course of however, is the City of London and the War coalition and Chief of Staff events indicates that another agenda the global financial interests which at the Unite union is at work. It is an agenda rooted in direct so much of British policy. the same imperialist impulses which They are now closely entwined with led to the world war one hundred the ruling elites along the Persian years ago – but with one major Gulf, recycling the vast oil wealth difference. Unlike during that great which has been amassed in their slaughter, when several imperial hands. Stability – for business - in powers of roughly equivalent the Middle East feed directly into economic power and military the bottom lines of the biggest of big strength competed for hegemony, businesses.

19 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Remembering the blood of Spain Mike Arnott recounts the civil war and the commemorations of it his July will see the eightieth Army of Africa over to the Spanish sabotage a nationalist train. anniversary of one of the most mainland, from where they The first of the International Tdefining military and political began their advance which would Brigades were formed in October events of the last century. On 18 eventually lead to the outskirts of 1936, an event whose eightieth July 1936 in colonial Morocco, and Madrid in November. anniversary will be marked this year in mainland Spain the day after, For the ‘democracies’, France with an IBMT/Philosophy Football Generals opposed to the republican outdid Britain in its eagerness for social event in London on the first of government staged a military coup a Non-Intervention Agreement, that month, followed later by a week with the intention of its overthrow. which was signed within 3 weeks of events at the Marx Memorial Tensions had been building in Spain of the outbreak of hostilities. Their Library and the unveiling of a special since the election that February desire to appease fascism, rather memorial at the Gare d'Austerlitz in of a progressive Popular Front than defend Spanish democracy, Paris. The British Battalion wasn’t government, intent on reviving the saw the Madrid government formed until just after Christmas democratising programme of the denied the right to even purchase 1936 and best wishes will surely be 1931-33 government, including weapons to defend itself. Though sent to its last survivor, Stan Hilton, reform of land, education, aspects Germany, Italy and Portugal became now living in Australia. Further of gender equality and regional events in Spain will also be held, autonomy. By May 1936, armed signatories they had no qualms about blatantly supporting their with ambitious plans taking shape groups representing elements of for the traditional Jarama weekend both left and right were openly fascist allies in Spain. The Soviets also signed and provided important in February 2017 and subsequent assassinating members of the other eightieth battle commemorations side in the streets. Conservative military aid to the Government side but this became less sustainable will include Brunete in July and no politicians were able to stir up fears doubt the Ebro the following year. about stability and openly called as the conflict progressed. In the final analysis, the impact of non- Those who might contemplate for the government's overthrow, less strenuous opportunities to encouraging plans for the coup to be intervention on the Republican forces, as opposed to the nationalist remember might like to order in developed by leading figures in the some Brigadista Spanish Civil War military, including General Francisco side, proved the crucial factor in the eventual outcome of the civil war. Ale from the Blackhill Brewery in Franco who would later become its County Durham, with proceeds leading figure. going to the IBMT. The nationalist coup was In the last ten years, a number of immediately supported by military places have renewed or begun units in places like Morocco, the practice of holding an annual Pamplona, Burgos, Zaragoza, commemoration at their local Valladolid, Cádiz, Córdoba and International Brigade memorial Seville. However, rebelling units in like Dundee, Edinburgh, Renton, important cities such as Madrid, Motherwell and Glasgow. There are Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and also groups planning new memorials Malaga were unable to capture their The conflict soon became in their areas such as Inverness with objectives, primarily due to workers’ internationalised. Some of the first the memorial to British Merchant militias taking to barricades and to take up arms alongside Spaniards Navy casualties of the war to be fighting the insurgents in the streets. were overseas competitors in sited in Glasgow. If you have a local These were heady days, captured Barcelona in July for the Workers’ memorial, why not use the eightieth vividly in black and white archive Olympiad, being held in opposition anniversary as a focus for launching film, showing cars and lorries, some to the Berlin Olympics. The first an annual commemoration? To keep with quickly improvised armour, from Britain to fall was sculptor and tabs on events coming up, check crammed with clenched fist saluting Communist Party member, Felicia the IBMT website, or the Scotland militia, heading out from the loyalist Brown, also in Barcelona ahead of and the Spanish Civil War Facebook cities to take on the insurgency. the coup. She volunteered to join page. Virtually from the outset, Hitler the PSUC (Catalan communist) Mike Arnott is the Scotland Secretary and Mussolini agreed to help the militia, the Karl Marx, heading for of the International Brigade nationalists, particularly with the Aragon to defend the republic. She Memorial Trust important airlift of the experienced fell on 22 August attempting to 20 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Imperialism abroad – racism at home Jock Morris says racism’s purpose is to divide and conquer us tanding up to racism is effects of the economic crisis has austerity, Europe is crucifying the not a moral add-on for been mirrored by the response refugees from its own wars and Sthe left - it is a central to the refugee crisis. On the one proxy wars. political dimension of the fight hand, increased electoral support Scapegoating refugees and back against neo-liberalism. for anti-immigrant parties and on immigrants and demonising The racism and concessions to the other, in response to the photo Muslims makes racist and racism of the main ruling political of little Alyan Kurdi, the upsurge xenophobic politics more parties is integral to their answer of practical and political support mainstream. The spectre of to the global economic crisis. for refugees from thousands of fascism is taking corporeal shape The wealthy are hoarding their ordinary people, campaigning, once again in Europe. There is wealth, our wealth, because collecting, delivering, volunteering, another Europe though, a liberal the return on their investments unwilling any longer to leave it and enlightened, sometimes even isn’t high enough. The answer of to the inadequate response of socialist, one, as we’ve seen in governments, British, European governments. Greece, Spain and Portugal when and worldwide, is austerity. Drive thousands supported refugees down wages, working conditions, and in the 150,000 who marched welfare, provision of housing, against racism on March 19 in health and the social wage so London with three and a half that an even bigger share of the thousand in Glasgow. wealth society produces can go to the already wealthy. Then maybe The task for the left, inside or they’ll invest. And most politicians outside of Fortress Europe, is to support austerity because they encourage and give a political are members of that world of the lead to that movement. While wealthy or they subscribe to their fighting for better wages, full- worldview. time contracts, better working conditions, and defending But to get away with a policy of pensions, the health service and impoverishment while retaining If Cameron, Hollande and the like had behaved like the enlightened, so on, it means simultaneously political power they need to appeal standing up to racism and fascism, to a common national interest and liberal representatives of ‘Judeo- Christian’ civilisation they claim to Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. simultaneously divide and rule, In standing up to racism, we demonise a perceived threat and be and supported Merkel’s call to welcome the Syrian refugees, the undermine a main pillar of identify scapegoats. So ‘we’re all in austerity and the rule of the it together’, but the employed are whole political mood of Europe would be radically different. wealthy. We have common cause turned against the unemployed, with the refugees and Muslims for the able against the disabled, Emergency measures would be being taken everywhere, the rule of the wealthy is global the ‘deserving’ poor against the and drives the extreme poverty ‘undeserving’, Muslims harbour empty property requisitioned to provide housing, surplus food and and war that is creating the a threat to our liberal civilization, greatest migration of humanity and immigrants, not employers and clothing distributed, integration programmes initiated. since WW2. Together, we can the government, reduce wages, realise that better world that is destroy working conditions, cause Refugees, instead, are met at Calais possible. unemployment and put pressure and the Macedonian border with on health and housing. barbed wire, bulldozers, dogs, Jock Morris is chair of the Glasgow rubber bullets and batons. We Campaign to Welcome Refugees The refugee crisis has exacerbated and a longstanding SWP member the political polarisation to left now know the decision to reduce and right elsewhere. The rise emergency naval support in the of the populist and fascist right Mediterranean was taken in the and the radical left (like Syriza full knowledge that it would lead and Podemos) in response to the to more drownings. As it crucified Greece financially in defence of

21 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 No liberation from technology Allan Grogan says technology will exacerbate inequality or the last fifty years, our lives better opportunities. This only individual basis without means have continually adapted and works if there are better, higher testing and condition. Through Fimproved with the advances paid jobs provided. this everyone will have a safety net allowing us to alleviate of technology and automation. The job market is becoming more poverty, end extreme poverty During the post-war years, this crowded, with life expectancy and homelessness and eradicate advancement was mutually growing, retirement ages rising and income inequality. beneficial to labour and employer. a worldwide population expected The development of machinery to reach 9bn in coming decades It is time now for this discussion led to higher production which means that thousands of new jobs to be given the importance it led to an increase in wages. Yet need to be continually developed deserves. While politicians dance as the twentieth century ended just to cope with the current around, moving chess pieces and next began the advancement labour market. This is what JFK one space around the board, a of technology has only helped meant in 1963 when he said: ‘To radical shift is fast approaching to increase capital while wages even stand still, we have to move that they are either too blind (in real terms) have fallen. There very fast’. too see or too concerned with is now a very clear and present the next opinion poll to care. Ford describes the current labour danger that automation and Short- and long-term plans must market as a jobs pyramid, which robotics will develop at such a rate now begin to be put in place reflects why half of UK graduates that the Bank of England predicts to ensure we are ready for the are unable to find anything other that machines may take over up to advanced pace of the continuing than what would be described as 50% of jobs in Britain and the US. technological revolution and that ‘non-graduate work’. This has led we have invested in education, In The Rise of the Robots, Martin to the growing inequality in our developing infrastructure, and Ford explains why the threat to society as 95% of total income most importantly developing an human labour by technology has gains between 2009 -2012 went affordable safety net for those suddenly become a daunting to the top 1%. The question we all who no longer find their labour prospect. So citing Moore’s Law, need to therefore ask is how will of worth. This would be a step which states that over the history we be able to produce enough jobs towards combatting a society of computing hardware the level to keep an ever growing population which has and will continue to get of advancement has doubled working? Not only that but a more unequal, with more extreme every two years with the effect society based on who has jobs or poverty and despair; and for an that as we’ve progressed over doesn’t have jobs is far more likely economy currently incapable of time the more advanced computer to further increase inequality, thus, maintaining the equilibrium of allowing the richest to maintain hardware has become, the quicker production and consumerism. If control and have less pressure the next breakthrough comes. we don’t begin to move to address exerted on them to produce Those who have been paying this now, I fear it may be too late to progressive policies. attention will notice this starting to even stand still. It is clear there is a need for both occur. Go into most supermarkets Allan Grogan is the former long- and short-term plans to be and you’ll find self-service convenor of Labour for set out. Indeed, Jeremy Corbyn checkouts where cashiers used Independence and a political and Bernie Sanders plan to to be, Fast food restaurants like activist McDonald's now employ touch increase vocational training and screen order boards in many of creating employment through their establishments. Farm work, infrastructure are positive steps. in particular fruit picking is now Yet these measures will only increasingly done by robots, with provide short-term relief against an new visual perception software. oncoming technological tide. Many politicians have written this It seems the most attractive and off as a non-issue, removing low logistical proposal is to introduce skilled, low waged service jobs a basic income. This would result allows workers to retrain and seek in an income given to all on an 22 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Self-employment and in-work poverty Mike Danson and Laura Galloway show entrepreneurship is a new form of poverty for many elf-employed cycle couriers business enterprise is that it is of employment. This is described in London have been active positive and contributory to lives as exploitative of individuals and Sin Employment Tribunals and to economies yet, using HMRC workforces as organisations shift recently, trying to gain access to statistics on the self-employed, financial responsibilities and duties the sorts of basic rights enjoyed Richard Murphy suggests between of care to individuals on low rates by workers across the country. 77% and 84% of the self-employed of pay and without contractual Our recent report - launched in are in poverty. There is further employee rights. This trend is bad the Scottish Parliament in March evidence of a very different reality for individuals, for organisations, - showed how the reality for for many entrepreneurs than for national innovation and many Scottish entrepreneurs are the media likes to portray, with competitiveness, and for national all too similar to the conditions insurance to pay, expenses to meet economies. Tax and National faced by these workers. Being and uncertainty to address. Insurance receipts have fallen, self-employed, they are not As well as analysis of official while employers have been further entitled to the national minimum statistics, our research is based avoiding paying their fair share of wage, never mind a ‘living wage’. upon testimony from specialist taxation, increasing poverty and Without an employer, they are key informants in Scotland as inequality and impacting on public not entitled to statutory sick pay, they relate their perceptions of sector budgets. maternity or paternity pay, paid enterprise as a poverty context. We Key recommendations include the holidays, training support, and support this with profiles of self- need for more reliable statistical they are reliant on the state and employed people and business- information on the scale of the their own savings in retirement owners which are living in poverty. enterprise-poverty interaction so with no employer contributions The purpose of the research was to that who is benefitting and who to pensions. Is this important for determine if and how poverty and suffering from these structural unions and the left? enterprise intersect. This research changes in the economy and The earliest forms of unions in does not dispute the macro-level labour market is transparent. Scotland were the clandestine view that private enterprise is a net Unions need to consider how they cooperatives of weavers and economic contributor. can organise these poor, reluctant others, self-employed and at the It does, however, highlight a entrepreneurs. And, the arguments mercy of monopoly and cartel hidden form of enterprise; one for a citizens’ basic income are buyers of their work. Today, one- where self-employment is used as strengthened. sixth of the Scottish workforce is an alternative to unemployment, Professor Mike Danson and Laura self-employed, mostly unorganised to mitigate or avoid benefits Galloway work at Heriot Watt with many undertaking work that sanctions, and to address financial University. ‘In-Work Poverty and was until recently the responsibility need as a crisis response. This Enterprise: Self-Employment and of unionised local authorities and type of entrepreneurship is related Business Ownership as Contexts of other public bodies. From being in the testimonies of our key Poverty” by Laura, Mike Danson directly employed with secure jobs, informants and the experiences of and others is available at rights and pensions, they are now our case studies as cynical and at https://pureapps2.hw.ac.uk/ suffering from ‘contractualization’ times exploitative. There is clear and, thus, casualization. Many portal/files/9934375/In_work_ evidence of work at rates of pay Poverty_Enterprise_Report.pdf others have been forced into well below ‘minimum’ or ‘living’ ‘being their own boss’ by a flexible wages. The firms created under labour market and the DWP or are these circumstances are low value self-employed as a way to avoid and, in fact, are likely to have a net In-Work Poverty and Enterprise: sanctions. Self-Employment and Business Ownership negative value in socio-economic as Contexts of Poverty Successive British Governments terms and cause harm to health Professor Laura Galloway

Professor of Business & Enterprise, have claimed that work is the best and wellbeing for individuals. School of Management and Languages Professor Mike Danson Professor of Enterprise Policy, School of Management and Languages route out of poverty, and that with Dr James Richards, Dr Kate Sang, Rebecca Stirzaker School of Management and Languages More broadly, informants confirm Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh EH14 4AS Scotland enterprise is to be encouraged. an increase in contractualisation of January 2016 Popular rhetoric about private what were formerly ‘regular’ forms Distinctly Global www.hw.ac.uk 23 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Recalling a great Scottish socialist novelist Dave Sherry looks back at the work of Grassic Gibbon on two other books but worked contempt for the backwardness himself into ill health. Tragically, Grey of rural life and the burden of Granite was no sooner published agricultural toil. His primary school than he died of a perforated ulcer teachers were told not to educate before his thirty fourth birthday in the children of crofters. His father, a 1935. dour Calvinist, opposed the idea that his children should learn anything Hailed as ‘the best novel written that might interfere with farm work. this side of the Channel since Thomas Hardy stopped writing’, In 1917, he ran away to become a Sunset Song won rave reviews cub reporter on the Aberdeen Press from the New York Times. Set in a & Journal. When the Trades Council rural community facing irrevocable launched a soviet in solidarity with change as the WW1 looms, it ranks the October Revolution, the 16-year- erence Davies’s Sunset Song old became its biggest enthusiast. went on general release last alongside socialist classics like Silone’s Fontamara and Steinbeck’s Later he described how ‘along with a Tyear. Based on Lewis Grassic cub reporter from another paper we Gibbon’s novel, it had a lot to live up the Grapes of Wrath - novels in which capitalism threatens a class were elected to the Soviet Council, to. Although it didn’t fully succeed, forgetting we were pressmen. its release brought a remarkable of independent smallholders with annihilation. We spent anxious moments with writer back into the public eye. our chief reporters afterwards, Grassic Gibbon was the pen name of It is the song of a young woman explaining that we could not report James Leslie Mitchell during his burst growing to adulthood and the end the meeting, being ourselves good of creativity in the early 1930s. He of an old song for a way of life that sovietists’. remains arguably the most prolific is dying. With the character of Chris In 1919, he moved to Glasgow to and provocative of Scottish writers. Guthrie, Mitchell created what work on Farmers’ Weekly. After a Paul Foot described as ‘one of the His short life spanned the WW1, few months he was sacked for his most remarkable characters in all the Russian revolution, the general Marxist views. Blacklisted by the literature, more remarkable than strike, the Great Depression and the employers, he enlisted as an army any female character in Jane Austen, rise of fascism - the backdrop for his clerk and travelled the world. Posted George Elliot or even the Bronte’s’. best known work, A Scots Quair - the to Mesopotamia, he developed a When it was published, readers trilogy of novels he wrote in the last thirst for ancient history. In 1925 he assumed the author was a woman. two years of his life. married his childhood sweetheart Sunset Song was the first part of his Yet the book was banned from local and left the armed forces in 1928 to trilogy - the most ambitious effort libraries and from the shelves of write full time. When he started on in Scottish fiction since Walter Scott Boots in Aberdeen because it was his trilogy in 1932, the pseudonym created the popular novel. Like Scott, regarded as pornographic. It was he chose was his mother’s maiden Mitchell was a wonderful storyteller the 1970s before Mitchell’s writing name - Grassic Gibbon. but they were worlds apart. Scott won proper recognition in his own His writing is fuelled by his keen was a rich Tory. Mitchell was of country. sense of solidarity with the peasant stock and a socialist. Born the son of a poor tenant oppressed and downtrodden. He In his short career, Mitchell wrote farmer, Mitchell was fiercely proud saw capitalism tear people away seventeen books. Sunset Song of his peasant origins. The crofters from the rural world of his childhood appeared in 1932 and for the next rented their smallholdings on and pull them to the industrial cities. two years, he worked flat out to fixed term leases from the landed His materialist understanding made complete his trilogy. Part two, Cloud gentry. When Mitchell was eight his him a great chronicler of change. Howe, was published in 1933 when family was forced to move south to Dave Sherry is a retired public sector he also wrote another great novel, Arbuthnott in the same way as his housing worker. Still active in the Spartacus, the story of the slave heroine in Sunset Song. Unite union, he is a long standing revolt against Rome. Mitchell captures the haunting SWP member. In 1934, he completed five other beauty of the farm and moorland books including Grey Granite, the between the Grampians and the last of his trilogy. He was working North Sea but he had a healthy 24 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Agony of chronic pain Dorothy-Grace Elder exposes the fear that leads to pain mismanagement ecrecy is suffocating NHS effectively split into two classes the Herald, she got her injections. Scotland. The media is forced of patients. And the unfortunate The same happened when four Sto deal with controlling ‘returners’ can be pushed further other Lanarkshire patients sought spin-doctors instead of real down waiting lists in the rush the Cross Party Group’s help. But doctors. Staff fear speaking up, to tick boxes for the first timers. we can’t know of countless others. even on small matters. As for Even under FOI, Boards refused Dr Richard Simpson, former major controversies, lack of my requests to reveal how many Labour shadow public services protection for whistleblowers is returners were still in the long minister, told me: ‘Waiting times appalling. Spin over appointment queues, claiming this would exceed for repeat appointments are not of ‘whistleblower champions’ is cost stipulations. just hidden, they are being buried’. laughable as all are in-house Board Liz Barrie of East Kilbride is one ‘The Scottish Government and appointees. God help any patients of many patients forced to be health boards should be ashamed or carers trying to get answers as ‘second class’. ‘You wouldn’t let of themselves. The current health even MSPs get sleekit no answers a dog endure the excruciating ministers refuse to intervene and to Parliamentary questions. Health pain I suffer daily’ says Ms Barrie, tell the boards to provide enough is dominated by unelected boards. a mother of two. ‘I was heading staff for this multitude of patients’ Why bother having elections? But for a year over the time my spinal says Ian Semmons, chair of the health ministers allow them to injections needed renewal and I’ve Action on Pain charity. rule. been 18 months over in the past’. Pain services improved when Take a subject affecting 800,000 Gross delay by NHS Lanarkshire Alex Neil was health secretary - in Scotland (to varying degrees) has, she says, meant giving up her he had a history of concern for which should be uncontroversial: job and being on morphine and 22 pain patients. He also stood up to chronic pain. It took 15 months other tablets daily. Boards when needed. But after of struggle by the Parliament’s She has damaged discs, requiring Neil was switched to another Cross Party Group on Chronic twice yearly injections. But NHS cabinet job in 2014, there’s Pain to force publication of the Lanarkshire still doesn’t provide been slippage. Currently, elected waiting lists at NHS pain clinics. enough staff, despite years of ministers seem to be doffing caps Even a Scottish Government complaints about understaffing. in subservience to unelected promise in November 2014 that Ms Barrie says: ‘Being doped up health boards. Maureen Watt they’d be disclosed as late as to the eyeballs is no substitute for was put in charge of chronic November 2015 was broken. So the injections, which lift the worst pain, as public health minister. I had to use FOI and that helped of the agony and reduce the other She stated: ‘In terms of follow force publication. It turned out meds. Lanarkshire’s pain staff are up appointments, we agree this the Government was publishing very skilled and caring. It’s not is very important. However, only the waiting lists for first time their fault there are so few’. our ministerial steering group patients. A letter to Ms Barrie from Heather continues to examine this, in order But most of the 57,000 Knox, NHS Lanarkshire Director to further drive the improvements appointments annually are of Acute Services, reveals current we all want to see’. That’s the for ‘return patients’ needing Scottish priorities. Knox wrote: Ministerial Group which Action on continuing treatment (hence ‘Regrettably, there is continued Pain calls ‘a toothless talking shop’. ‘chronic’). First timers are under increasing demand for chronic pain So secrecy in health is at unhealthy a guarantee of being seen and services in Lanarkshire which is levels and potentially dangerous to treated within 18 weeks. These outstripping the current available the public interest. smaller numbers are bound to be capacity. The increasing number Dorothy-Grace Elder is a former better. of new referrals has impacted on SNP MSP and now not a member of What isn’t publicised is that there the number of available return a party but pro-independence. is no guarantee, no timescale and appointments which has, in turn, no protection for patients needing increased the wait for return return treatments. These are patients’. However, a few weeks still concealed. So sufferers are after I revealed Ms Barrie’s plight in

25 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 Failing at the first hurdle Gregor Gall argues the Fair Work Framework fails because it’s not statutory revious Scottish Governments SNP’s approach to employment, workplace to guide practice: to signed Memorandums of employers and unions. Unlike help improve understanding of PUnderstanding with the the Conservatives, the SNP finds fair work, benchmark existing union movement in Scotland a positive role for unions in its practice and identify areas where through the STUC. These worldview but like ‘new’ Labour’s improvement can be made. This memorandums were attempts worldview, it is one where the requires real leadership in the to treat the union movement only kind of unions favoured workplace at the highest and as a social partner. However, are those prepared to engage in at every level. For the many the Scottish Government under partnership for a productivity and organisations and stakeholders Nicola Sturgeon has gone further efficiency agenda. This then has beyond the workplace but by establishing the Fair Work crucial implications for the Fair involved in the wider work and Convention (FWC) in 2015 after the Work Framework (FWF), where its employment landscape, we hope Working Together Review of 2014 hallmark is the complete absence that this Framework will also be recommended taking such a step. of any statutory underpinning used to guide their activities in to its aspirations. Thus, in May supporting the delivery of fair The first output from the FWC is 2015, the Scottish Government work in Scotland’. The FWF (p8) the Fair Work Framework. It has launched its Scottish Business continues: ‘These [five] dimensions been developed after consulting Pledge, which it described as cover the scope of workers to with a wide range of organisations a ‘voluntary commitment by ‘have a say’ and to influence and including unions. The FWC and its companies in Scotland to adopt change practices, how people framework aim to not only provide fair and progressive business can access and progress in work, guidance for how the relationship practices in support of our shared the employment conditions they of the union movement and ambition to improve business experience, the work that people Scottish Government is framed but competitiveness and productivity do and how people are treated at also how private sector and other while tackling inequalities’. So as work’. public sector employers should with the Scottish Business Pledge, treat their workforces. So the FWF is relatively strong on the same is true with the FWF. aspiration but as the following The context of the FWC is the Consequently, employers can section makes clear it is entirely worldview of the SNP Scottish only be cajoled not compelled woeful on the means of delivering Government that the economy in to agree to or implement the these aspirations – in other words, Scotland needs to be more efficient recommendations of the FWF so attested outcomes. In its FWF and productive in order to generate that it and the FWC are toothless (p25), the FWC says it ‘makes one more employment, private wealth, tigers. overarching recommendation: and the public tax revenues to The FWF (p5) states its vision is that organisations deliver fair pay for its social programme. In that ‘by 2025, people in Scotland work in the dimensions outlined other words, the SNP has a social will have a world-leading working here, providing effective voice, liberal approach to economy life where fair work drives opportunity, security, fulfilment and society. Its approach is not success, wellbeing and prosperity and respect’ and then askes ‘How entirely neo-liberal for the state for individuals, businesses, can this recommendation become in Scotland does seek to act to organisations and society’ with a reality?’ and answers by stating promote some elements of social the fair work being defined as (p25): justice and social equality - but it that which ‘offers effective voice, First, we put workplace activity at is not social democratic either for opportunity, security, fulfilment the heart of fair work. Fair work its does not seek to redistribute and respect; that balances the must be located in the workplace wealth or use the state to act to rights and responsibilities of and delivered by employers and change market outcomes by way of employers and workers and workers and, where present, union public ownership, regulation and that can generate benefits for representatives. We invite everyone intervention. individuals, organisations and involved in the workplace to assess Being social liberal – and not society’. The FWC states of its FWF critically whether their current neo-liberal or social democratic (p5): ‘Our aim is for this Framework practice supports our ambition – is critical to understanding the to be used by everyone in the and can help deliver fair work. To 26 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 do this, it is important to think about how to apply the Framework in a particular business context; to benchmark policy, practice, behaviours and outcomes against our overarching ambition for fair work and what this means in each of its dimensions; to verify the evidence used to make such an assessment; and to assess and identify the appropriate actions and timescales necessary to make progress and to review and improve in response to changing circumstances. Second, while those directly involved in the workplace must own fair work at workplace level, other stakeholders also have an important role to play. There are models and ambassadors, sharing important lever. Crucially, public a wide range of interested parties information, learning, advice and contracting can be creative in and organisations in the fair work support, awareness, and creating delivering good use of scarce public landscape. a ‘coalition of the willing’. Put resources without sacrificing fair As this quote makes clear, neither bluntly, the argument is that work in the process. Support from the FWC nor its FWF envisage market and competitive advantage the public agencies – finance and using the levers of state power and will induce labour and capital to expertise – can both encourage and compulsion (legislative, regulatory work together in a productivity reward fair work practices’. Despite coalition (see p25 on ‘incentivising acknowledging this, the FWF makes order, financial). Intriguingly, the good practice’). This ignores that an no pledges or promises to use this FWF (p25) then states: equally credible route to profits for lever. And not even being willing Many of the workers and capital is the ‘race to the bottom’ to have an accreditation system campaigning organisations who in terms of competing on low (like the independent living wage spoke to us pointed to legislation wages and labour to compensate system does) further highlights the and regulation and wanted to see for low skill and investment levels, abject refusal to create a regulatory a strengthening of employment and especially when economic system for fair work. Any regulatory protection, easier access to growth is slow or non-existent. The system should also have periodic remedies for breaches of rights, unwillingness to use state levers reviews built in to it as well as the better access to employment even extends to not establishing establishment of robust criteria for tribunals without the barrier of an accreditation agency to verify conducting these reviews. Thus, high fees and better enforcement whether employers have achieved neither the FWC not its FWF are of employment tribunal awards’ or implemented ‘fair work’. social democratic in outlook or and ‘some stakeholders expressed Now, of course, there is a limit to intention. This is again highlighted a desire for greater use of existing what the Scottish Government, if by there being no proposals regulatory and enforcement powers it so chooses, can do given that a to enforce sectoral collective to support fair work, for example, number of the legislative powers bargaining even where the Scottish through more searching use of the relevant to the FWF are reserved Government is ultimately the public sector equality duty. Others to Westminster. But there is no employer as it is the paymaster. focused on who could deter bad evidence that even with those This means that the warm words practice and how. currently reserved powers as of the aspirations will never have force of law behind them. But the FWF then proceeds to devolved powers that the SNP dismiss such views because the Scottish Government would use Gregor Gall is professor of whole tenor of the perspective them to act in anything other industrial relations at the University is that a voluntarily induced than a social liberal way. For of Bradford mutual gains agenda will lead example, the FWF (p25) states that: capital and labour to adopt ‘best ‘Procurement – by government practice’. The FWF talks of role and the public sector – is also an 27 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 feedback

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Book reviews

Objectors a roll call of those involved. with a minority movement. At its The largest bloc of resistance lay height the number of prisoners & Resistors: within the broad labourist and approached 7,500. The number Opposition to socialist movement in Scotland. of activists and sympathisers is Duncan traces this history and, at difficult to determine but attendance Conscription and times, provides some good context at public meetings was often War in Scotland to strengthen the narrative. Of impressive. 10,000 people attended some merit also is the last chapter a public meeting in Glasgow in 1914-18, on peace movements and their December 1916. Robert Duncan, activities in the leading cities, What Duncan has portrayed is a Common Print, £7.99, complete with examples of violence history of men and women who and intimidation inflicted by pro-war suffered at the hands of the state 9780993096518 groups. but who showed tremendous In a century that has seen conflict From this reviewer’s perspective, courage and bravery when the in one part of the world or another, the role of the Great British state odds were stacked against them. Robert Duncan has produced a is particularly interesting and In its way it is a small reminder timely little book that reminds us the author traces this through a that human beings are not mere that war in all its guises was met climate of ongoing punishments, recipients of the blind forces of with opposition. At the simplest intimidation and accommodation as history but that choices can and will level, this is a social history it sought to come to terms with the be made. forgotten in a wider historiography objectors. The accommodationist Dr Ewan Knox formerly taught British surrounding the First World War. strategy led to alternative work and American social history at In Objectors and Resistors, Duncan’s programmes and largely involved the Northumbria University aim is not simply to rescue anti-war setting up of labour camps including protestors from the condescension one to build the road between of posterity but to rescue them Ballachulish and Kinlochleven. from abuse, acceptable violence The camps were far from an and vilification that much of easy ride as the example of history has decreed on them. The the Broxburn ‘manure slaves’ title itself reminds us that protest testify. One notable point is was not simply a moral choice of that the camps became centres individuals but part of a movement of opposition and political of organisations actively seeking to education. prevent the war or to bring an end After the declaration of war, to an undoubted carnage. a change of direction was In seeking to right these wrongs, inevitable, bringing about the Duncan has done his own time in the anti- conscription movement archives in rescuing the individuals and again the author traces concerned and has painstakingly this and provides useful insight. given historical record to many of This is partly done with an the brave men and women who examination of the trials and were Conscientious Objectors. This testimonies of those charged is all the more impressive given with refusing to join the military. an incomplete historical record. In all of this it must be However, at times this does read like acknowledged that we are dealing 28 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 parliamentary elections. The SNP’s elections, not least because socialists Is there a Scottish success has been due in large are standing against other socialists. measure to its ability to present Road to Socialism? Re-building that left is likely itself as a social democratic party to third edition to require three things. First, the left of Labour (in truth, not hard Gregor Gall (ed.) engagement in the day to day- to to do). As many of the contributors Scottish Left Review Press, -day struggles against cuts, austerity here demonstrate, however, the Glasgow, 9780955036293, £5.99 and racism. The victory of the SNP’s radicalism is very shallow SNP in 2015 demobilised the ‘yes’ The first edition of this book indeed – and the cracks are starting movement and steered it into appeared just under ten years ago to appear. 152,000 less students in parliamentary channels. Yet as the in 2007. By any criterion, the decade further education than in 2007; the experience of the Syriza government since has been an extraordinary abandonment of the 50p tax band shows, deep-seated change will not one. The return of global capitalist policy for high earners; support for come through parliament. Of course, crisis; revolution and counter- tax cuts for major corporations; and we want socialist MSPs and MPs but revolution in the Middle East; the the willingness of SNP councils in an over-emphasis on electoralism biggest movement of refugees since Dundee and elsewhere to impose will kill our movement. Secondly, the Second World War in response austerity with the same zeal as socialists will only win the hearts to imperialist wars; the growth Labour councils. ‘A big boy in London and minds of recent SMP members of racism and xenophobia across did it and ran away’ increasingly by engaging then in joint action Europe; and so on and so on. will not wash as an excuse for at every opportunity over issues the SNP’s unwillingness to lead a For once it is not hyperbole or such as cuts, austerity and racism. real fight against the Westminster inflated parochialism to say that Most joined the SNP from the left government. Scotland has played its part in this and want to see manifest change global drama. Comparison with That the SNP is currently enjoying - simply denouncing their party as events in Greece is justified, even if such dominance is in large part a ‘neo-liberals in kilts’ will not cut it. unfortunately we have not seen the function of the second feature of Finally, in the face of brutal austerity thirty plus general strikes that the the Scottish political scene, the and growing racism, the socialist Greek working-class has engaged in meltdown of the Scottish Labour. left needs to get its act together. since 2010. Not surprisingly, Labour Party Too many of us are still fighting the For as most, if not all, of the contributors to this book, like most battles of a decade ago. In the face nineteen contributors to this of us, have been heartened by of a brutal ruling-class offensive, the book from across the Scottish Corbyn’s election as Labour leader. need for a united socialist left has left recognise - in a way that Jim In reality, however, there is limited never been greater. evidence of a Corbyn ‘bounce’ Murphy and the Labour leadership Iain Ferguson is an Emeritus north of the border and while Dave never did - the ‘yes’ movement Professor at the University of the Watson is correct to argue that was never primarily a nationalist West of Scotland movement. At the most basic level, Scottish Labour can only beat the it was a movement against austerity SNP from the left, the chances but it was more than that. It was of that happening under the a movement for social change, current Scottish leadership for a different kind of world – and seem remote. independence was seen as a way of Which brings us to the achieving that world. radical Left in Scotland. It Sadly of course the referendum was played an important role in lost and most of the contributors the referendum campaign, here are rightly concerned with particularly in building support grappling with the post-referendum in working-class communities. realities. Three of these realities will What is less clear from these be discussed here. contributions, however, is how it goes forward from here. The first and most obvious fact of Different elements of the left are current Scottish political life is the represented in the book, by and astonishing growth and dominance large saying very similar things. of the SNP since September 2014. At the time of writing, however, At the time of writing, it seems none seem particularly well- highly likely that that dominance will placed to secure a decent vote, be confirmed in the 2016 Scottish let alone win seats, in the 2016 29 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 VLADIMIR McTAVISH’S Kick up the Tabloids

ever in all of the five Scottish Glasgow suburb would be safe Tory was UKIP’s revolting figurehead in parliamentary elections of territory down south, but until Scotland, David Coburn. the post-devolution era has N last May elected Jim Murphy to One part of the problem is that so much nonsense been written represent them in Westminster. the public don’t know what Kezia about the result. According to the Admittedly, that is pretty much the Dugdale stands for. The other part Unionist press (in other words ninety same thing as voting Conservative. of the problem, I suspect, is that per cent of the press), Scotland has This was definitely the most Kezia Dugdale doesn’t know what overnight become a Tory-loving presidential election we have Kezia Dugdale stands for. Having country who have overwhelmingly witnessed in Scotland, with each been fervently anti-Corbyn and voted against the very idea of party running a personality-led pro-Trident, she had to perform independence. Really ? campaign - which explains why ridiculous U-turns when the party Let’s examine the actual facts. Labour did so badly. The TV exposure elected Jezza and voted to scrap the Running on an overtly pro-Union of the leaders’ debates gave a big nuclear deterrent. ticket, the Conservatives polled boost to Ruth Davidson and Willie Much has been made of Dugdale’s twenty per cent of the vote. In Rennie and was undoubtedly a huge tender years. Many people have other words, eight of ten Scots negative for Kezia Dugdale. said she is too young to lead a major utterly rejected the Conservatives’ While Davidson clearly enjoyed parry. It’s distinctly possible that message. Furthermore, while the being photographed driving a tank by time Labour are in a position SNP may have fallen two seats and rodeo-riding on the back of a to challenge again for power in short of an overall majority, when water buffalo and while Oor Willie Scotland, she will be far too old for grouped together with the Greens managed to come out looking the job. the pro-independence parties have statesman-like despite being So we move on now to the European a clear hold of Holyrood for the Union referendum, and with it the next five years. On top of that, the upstaged by a pair of fornicating intriguing prospect of how a pro- only parties to constantly bang on pigs at Gorgie City Farm, young Kez Europe Scotland would react to an about ‘The Second Referendum’ continuously displayed a rabbit-in- English Brexit vote. In particular, were Labour and the Tories. The the-headlights demeanour which that would put the fervently pro- Greens and the Nationalists hardly looked like she was terrified in European Lib-Dems in a difficult mentioned it all and it featured in case some hack asked her a slightly situation as regards a second Indyref. neither party’s manifesto. difficult question. Are they more pro-EU than pro-UK? There was a ludicrous assumption Kezia Dudgale always reminds me of Perhaps, Willie Rennie should do pre-election that there were no the teacher’s pet of limited ability another TV interview at Gorgie City Conservatives in Scotland. In a seat who would sit on the front row in Farm to enlighten us. like Edinburgh Central, it has always primary school and who was always Vladimir McTavish, Keir McAllister, been a mystery to me that people first to put their hand up whenever Stuart Murphy and Mark Nelson will haven’t voted Tory. The New Town a question was asked, almost be appearing in The Stand Comedy is so utterly posh that is socially inevitably giving the wrong answer. Club’s monthly satirical show acceptable to wear a tweed sports Labour’s ideas, according to the TOPICAL STORM at the Edinburgh jacket and crushed strawberry polls, were popular with the voters, Stand on Wednesday May 18 and coloured trousers non-ironically but the leader was not. Whenever Wednesday 22 June at and the and people still did not elect a Tory she announced a new policy, it Glasgow Stand on Monday May 23 until now. Basically, if you live within sounded as if she had memorised May and Monday 27 June. walking distance of a Waitrose, it parrot-fashion and was repeating you should not be surprised if your it back to herself to try to convince neighbours vote Conservative. herself that she believed what she There have always been Tories was saying. She seemed faintly in Scotland - it’s just for the last robotic, which is never a good look twenty-five years, they have voted if you’re trying to court the public. It Labour. Take Eastwood as another speaks volumes that the only party example. The leafy streets of this leader with a lower popularity rating 30 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 STUC Scottish Left Review A4 ad B.qxp_Layout 1 14/04/2016 15:10 Page 1

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