Scottish Left Review Issue 87 June 2015 - £2.00

1 741 Shields Road, Glasgow G41 4PL

VISIT the WEBSITE at www.reidfoundation.org 2 Comment – Dark, difficult days ahead

e are entering a period of dark, dark sector, five more years of wealth inequality redistribution from the poor to the rich Wdays. There will be storms ahead and and more and deeper attacks on worker’s and so on. maybe some chinks of light, even a little bit rights, repeal of the Human Rights Act Yet it will not be all entirely plaining sailing of sunshine. But the forecast is a not a good etcetera but also something worse, namely, for the Tories. While Labour and Liberal one, make no doubt of that. The outcome the Tories’ ability to go even further and Democrats are unlikely to provide much that almost no one thought possible – a faster than before in implementing their opposition over the coming months on majority Tory government – gives us not neo-liberal agenda. Get ready for bigger account of not just their meltdowns but also just five more years of austerity in the public and faster cuts, bigger and faster wealth their leadership contests and similar policies to the Tories, the clamour for independence will go up another notch as a means to evade Scottish Left Review this rampant neo-liberalism. It will go up a Issue 87 June 2015 few further notches as next May approaches, Contents with the SNP’s dominance in Holyrood likely to be solidified and, probably, Comment - Dark, difficult days ahead...... 3 extended too. A little further down the line, Scotland at a train station of choice Chris Stephens ...... 5 the Tories will have to deal with their by far Producing a progressive alliance Shona Robison ...... 6 most contentious issue – membership of Stopping the fallen idol falling further Ian Davidson ...... 7 the EU – when the in/out referendum takes The road back to radicalism Katy Clark...... 8 place. Despite the failure to breakthrough at Reflecting on Westminster 2015 ...... 9 Maggie Chapman Westminster, UKIP still gained nearly 4m Organise against Tory austerity now Jim McFarlane ...... 10 votes so this will give confidence to the Tory Standing up for Scotland’s working class majority Colin Fox ...... 11 ‘little Englander’ brigade to their work. Rekindling the roots of radicalism Sarah Collins ...... 12 No sword of Damocles hanging over England’s head Christine Shawcroft .....13 What has happened in Scotland will Taking inspiration from Scotland Leanne Wood ...... 13 renew the long running Edinburgh Zoo Something ended and something begun Michael Keating ...... 14 panda joke. Now, it’s not just applicable What future for the left in Scotland? Bob Fotheringham...... 16 to the Tories but also the LibDems and The SNP: neo-liberalism with a heart? Gregor Gall ...... 17 especially to Labour (given Ian Murray’s Collegiately is fine in theory but not in practice Mary Senior ...... 19 constituency is Edinburgh South). Hats off Further education: not so different up here from down south to the SNP’s formidable party machine for Larry Flanagan ...... 20 not being disorganised and disillusioned by All change? It’s certainly time for a change! Mick Whelan ...... 21 the referendum result as well as to Nicola Participation and the hacker ethic: a model for social change Sturgeon for proving that she did not have Jen Hunter and Sue Smith ...... 22 a poisoned chalice in her hands courtesy One hundred days of SYRIZA Myrto Tsakatika ...... 23 of Alex Salmond and his over-exuberance. Human Rights in Colombia...... 24 She’s gone from the portrayal of the rather Davy Brockett visited the most dangerous place to be a union activist cold, austere ‘wee Scottish wifie’ you would The Blockade of Cuba in 2015: Are Relations ‘Normalised’ Now? not wish to have a ‘stairheid rammy’ with Vicky Grandon ...... 25 to a minor cult leader and celebrity of ‘I’m A phoenix is trying to rise from the ashes Stephen Smellie ...... 26 with Nicola’ fame. The Common Weal and the Nordic Model Peter Lomas ...... 27 But far greater political acumen has been Book reviews...... 29 shown by Sturgeon and the SNP in stealing Vladimir McTavish’s Kick up the Tabloids ...... 31 the clothes of ‘old’ Labour which Labour Cover and illustrations: Nadia Lucchesi ([email protected]) left lying around while simultaneously not Proofing services: Bob Thomson and John Daly providing a genuine, full anti-austerity Communications and organisational development: Carole Ewart agenda. Not so much a case of the Emperor’s Trade union development officer: David Brockett new clothes as austerity would have been Editor Email: [email protected] slower and lesser under SNP plans but still a Web: www.scottishleftreview.org form of austerity nonetheless. And certainly Tel: 0141 424 0042 not social democracy nor socialism either. Address: Scottish Left Review, Of course, Labour gave the SNP the 741 Shields Road, helping hand and ability to do this. The Pollokshields, Glasgow G41 4PL manifesto Labour fought the election on Editorial Committee Gregor Gall Editor Tommy Sheppard was a relatively progressive one (no matter Malcolm Balfour Tommy Kane Stephen Smellie what was also not in it) when compared to what the Tories had on offer. Thus, Labour Bill Bonnar Lilian Macer Bob Thomson would repeal Health and Social Care Act, Convener Cat Boyd David Miller establish a public inquiry into blacklisting, Moira Craig Gordon Morgan freeze energy bills for two years, build 200,000 homes every year by 2020, scrap 3 the non-dom status, abolish employment basis), and it is this which may explain simply not good enough to talk about tribunal fees, give zero-hours workers a Nicola Sturgeon’s emphasis on making how the results for 2015 help the lay the contract after three months, cap rent rises, ‘Scotland’s voice being heard’. Here having groundwork for the coming battles because introduce a mansion tax and re-introduce one’s voice being heard is necessary but this merely absolves the radical left for 50p top rate of income tax. not sufficient to affect change – indeed, taking responsibility for the mess it’s in The problem is that there were loads sometimes having one’s voice being heard right now. Yes, there are certain objective of other and bigger things in Labour’s comes to be a (very poor) substitute for factors like the strength of the media, the manifesto that undermined all this, most affecting actual change. power of employers and the hegemony of obviously, fiscal prudence so that virtually But politics is never that straightforward. neo-liberal ideas. But politics is a two-sided no new spending would be incurred. Any The above expression of voice without coin because there is also the subjective, increases in budgets in one area would affecting change could lead to the accusation namely, how lacking in credibility the come from cuts in others. ‘Austerity with of the ‘feeble fifty six’ but in the short- radical left is and how self-inflicted many a red rosette’, ‘Red Tories’ and ‘austerity- term it is more likely that the SNP will be of its wounds are. If the prospects for lite’ were among the various epithets given seen as the Scotland’s ‘doughty defender’ resistance and radical were as good as the to this. A political party cannot expect to as not only has Labour in Scotland been radical left made out in 2011, 2012, 2013 win voters to its cause with this small array all but wiped out but also because the and 2014, how come there was no sign of of progressive measures in the six months SNP’s definitions of ‘Scotland’s voice’ and this in 2015? running up to May 7 when for the last ‘Scotland’s interest’ will be couched in The biggest social movement is still the five years its message has been austerity via terms of claiming to be socially progressive union movement. It remains something fiscal prudence. against the nasty, neo-liberal Tories. This of a sleeping giant - or a giant with feet Recalling an elementary marketing is at least going to protect the SNP in of clay depending on your viewpoint. The nostrum: Labour’s brand or product was the short-term from a serious backlash by defeats suffered over pensions, job cuts not clearly enough differentiated in the being castigated for being noisy but largely and pay freezes since 2010 (especially in marketplace from its main rival, the Tories. ineffective. Indeed, the SNP is wise enough the public sector) did not lay out the basis In other words, Labour lost the campaign to be able to use this situation to create an for providing an assertive challenge to the well before it really kicked off in January opportunity to increase its majority in the political parties and the political system. 2015. Labour should have been miles Scottish Parliament come the May 2016 Neither did the lowest level of strikes for ahead of the Tories and stayed there had elections as well as in a second referendum. generations between 2010 and 2015 either. it offered a social democratic programme But the SNP will face two pressures. This was all the more true for the various (never mind a socialist one). In doing so, Firstly, to make clear its intentions -and initiatives and proto-social movements Labour managed to undo a time honoured any attendant timescale - on a second that the various unions supported like the tradition of basking in anti-Tory anger. referendum. Salmond and Sillars are Peoples’ Charter, Coalition of Resistance, already leading the charge here but will it National Shop Stewards’ Network and The foreseeable and still important role Peoples’ Assembly against Austerity. They of the overwhelmingly Tory press should be in the SNP’s 2016 Holyrood manifesto? Secondly, to outline how material have all failed to become what they wanted have been factored into Labour’s strategy. It to be and what they needed to be – mass, abetted Cameron’s fear tactics of SNP MPs conditions will improve upon enhanced devolution. Any steps toward some kind vibrant, popular and, critically, effective, controlling a Labour minority government anti-austerity movements. which cost Labour votes in middle and of full(er) fiscal autonomy to raise all taxes south England. and to spend all taxes will inevitably raise And the majority of the unions (by questions about how to stop austerity. Will membership) are affiliated to the Labour Back in Scotland, Jim Murphy suffered the SNP be prepared to raise taxes, used Party. They failed to get (policy) value much the same fate. No matter how radical progressive taxation, end the subsidies to for money with their funding of Labour’s the recent words coming out of his mouth the rich, employers and so on? Here, a election campaign, indicating the iron grip were – and they were quite radical and left in the SNP has a critical role to play. that exists at the top of the Labour tree. much more so than those from Miliband – Some of the left has either departed the Conference policy is still routinely ignored, he was simply not believed. Scottish Labour SNP (John Finnie, John Wilson, Jean National Policy Forums account for little had become so corrupted by its adherence Urquhart) or been marginalised within it. and even the Parliamentary Labour Party and accommodation to neo-liberalism, Others nominally on the left toe the party has been usurped by the leader’s office. Of this being so splendidly personified in the line. Among the new crop of MPs, it will be course, many moons ago this happened figure of Murphy himself, that hundreds of interesting to see how the likes of Tommy to the National Executive Committee. thousands deserted Labour. Sheppard and Chris Stephens organise Democracy is not a Labour strength. The challenges for the SNP are many themselves and what demands they raise. There is no sign that much is likely to and varied. Its strategy was based upon Beyond these, it is unclear what the left in change with the replacement for Ed being able to support and shape a Labour the SNP is or looks like. Miliband. A party so dominated by the minority government in terms of some Crisis and failure do not just abound for right (Blairites, social liberals etcetera) broad political agreement and on a Labour – they are there too for the radical is not suddenly going to vote for a left ‘confidence and supply’ basis. Even though left and the social movements. After the candidate (even if one could be found it did better than it expected, the SNP now worst economic, financial and political and get onto the ballot paper in the first has to deal with a majority (albeit small) crisis for generations – aka the crisis of instance). A new ‘new’ Labour is on the Tory government. It is thus unlikely to be neo-liberalism – and followed by five cards led by any of the current declared and able to deliver much in the way of solid- years of austerity courtesy of the ConDem undeclared contenders, unless things really cum-material gains in the Westminster coalition, the showing of the radical left do change. system (especially on any anti-austerity at the polls was worse than abysmal. It is

4 So will the unions make sure someone like implications of the election touch on these John McDonnell gets on the ballot paper issues and more. We hope the breadth this time round? Will they learn from their and depth of treatment allows readers to Looking at mistake in 2010 in voting for Ed Miliband, be stimulated and informed. But before and naively convincing themselves he was turning to them, this editorial makes three things from a a break from ‘new’ Labour even when specific appeals in this new political era we McDonnell espoused the very policies are now in. different angle union supported themselves? Or will Unite The first is for content – what are the decide to disaffiliate after not only giving issues you would like to see Scottish Left In my editorial, I made the correct - but Labour millions in what Len McCluskey Review cover, who would you like to see standard – left wing case for why Labour often called ‘the fight of our lives’ but write them and how would you like to see lost. But we can also try to get at the also McCluskey promising that if Labour the issues approached? Suggestions not on answer about why Labour lost by asking lost disaffiliation would be up for serious a postcard - but instead by email (g.gall@ discussion. the question: ‘Why nearly 11.5m people bradford.ac.uk). in Britain voted Tory?’ Was it because In Scotland, can Labour listen and learn The second is that we want more interaction they support the austerity agenda? Was in the way in promised to but did not with our readers and subscribers – so please it because they are not affected by the after 2007 and 2011? Will it also move email us your thoughts and reflections - austerity? Or was it because they benefit to become a new ‘new’ Labour Party? Or your diagnosis and prognosis – in the form could an independent Scottish Labour from the growing wealth inequality that of a letter of up to 400 words on what austerity brings and are experiencing the Party emerge which reconstitutes itself as challenges the left faces in getting back on fruits of what economic growth that there social democratic (aka ‘old’ Labour) and in the saddle. Email [email protected] time for May 2016? is? These questions are important because The third is as you might expect is a plea Murphy thinking he can remain Scottish we can only get so far in understanding for money. We have expanded to a regular what happened south of the border by leader, being supported by the right 32 page format to provide the space for saying that if Labour had been more like wing, and many on the left thinking discussing and debating what needs to the SNP down south then it would have the annihilation in the election was an be done and what the left needs to do aberration by traditional supporters who in the coming months and years ahead. triumphed. Recognising that the Tories have been conned by the SNP rhetoric and This always comes as a cost in terms of have a parliamentary mandate – albeit not will more or less return to the fold when production outlays. Please donate to the a popular mandate – is important in trying SNP fail to deliver highlights the denial of magazine at http://www.scottishleftreview. to judge what level and success of resistance reality within Scottish Labour. org/join-us/ (at the bottom left hand of our we can anticipate in the months and years The following articles on the outcome and front page on the web). to come in the ‘belly of the beast’. Scotland at a train station of choice Chris Stephens argues Labour’s train wreck was a long time coming but out of it can come hope

eather metaphors have been dynamic in Scotland, rooted as they are in Devolution created new opportunities for Wconsiderably overused by those the narrow machine student politics of the dialogue, a space outside the Westminster analysing the SNP’s general election 1980s and 1990s. bubble where alternative views could be landslide. In seeking to understand the What many observers outwith Scotland heard and proportional representation events of the past two weeks, the metaphor did not appreciate is the long slow process delivered diversity in party dynamics in of the juggernaut seems more appropriate. that produced 56 SNP MPs elected on Holyrood and local government. Tsunamis and earthquakes are difficult to massive swings on a scale unprecedented All this time the sands were shifting under predict, create massive damage and involve in British political history. It’s arguable that Labour and the 2011 result is testament to lengthy rebuilding processes. Only that last the decline of Labour and the rise of SNP their failure to engage and realise there was element of a freak weather disaster applies, has its roots in the 1970s – the point at particularly for Scottish Labour, with a disconnect with the people that was more which political change became inevitable in internal self-destruction adding to external fundamental than results in electoral cycles. a rapidly shifting post-industrial landscape. pressures. Then came the indyref. The mobilisation of The problem for Labour arose when the previously disengaged people by the ‘Yes’ Juggernauts are powerful vehicles that party became led by fixers, not visionaries, campaign uncovered a hunger for change represent people’s hopes and prayers, whose paramount concern has been and the campaign effectively used social literally pulled along by thousands of controlling the party machine and agenda. media and more conventional meetings people as a symbol of collective hope. Not The party became closed to all possibilities to reach many who previously had no idea to take this metaphor too far, of course, but other than what serves the needs of the that other people shared their views to mass participation in the political process leadership and hostile to any other views or question the status quo. during the independence referendum produced engagement on a scale redolent alternative visions. Bypassing the mainstream media which of the birth of the labour movement and No wonder civic Scotland looked askance was largely hostile to independence was that led to the SNP landslide. No wonder upon being informed that Labour ‘delivered’ a necessity that enabled a profoundly many professional pundits and Labour the Scottish parliament. This rather empowering process as small groups of ‘strategists’ failed to grasp the new political overlooked the role anyone else played. people started to interact with one another

5 without being guided by power brokers. This is the challenge we face, to stay example. The FBU and RMT have already It was nothing less than a collective self- grounded and remember that people have concluded that their campaigning and generating movement of political education placed their trust in us as the party that can negotiating is best done independently. and organisation via Twitter and Facebook. redress inequality and injustice at a time We are poised to see a historical realignment The reality of the ‘No’ vote meant many when the most ideological Conservative of union structures and funding change to woke up on the morning of September 19 government is preparing an all out assault reflect their views of their members who disappointed, but not defeated. What many on the rights and freedoms won by the no longer trust in Labour per se. Where I in the political class and commentariat failed labour movement. believe there is a constructive way forward to grasp was that ‘Yes’ energy and activism The SNP trade union group now has more is if all who wish to resist the attacks on was now looking for an outlet. There members than Scottish Labour and next working people and their rights are able was a surge in membership of all parties month will convene to decide how to move to come together and seek that common who campaigned for ‘Yes’, and the unions forward both in organisational and political ground to fight the austerity agenda. experienced mass requests for opt-outs from terms. It is not a union but a network of Scottish Labour’s greatest failure is to deny Labour at the same time as the SNP trade SNP members who are in unions and do the possibility that other parties, especially union group membership exploded. not believe that the historical Labour link the SNP, have something to offer in that Many people made a conscious choice in is working. struggle. Tribalism is destroying Labour in the lead up and on May 7 to join and/or This is an argument which some of us Scotland, but in order to be an effective vote SNP to send a message to Labour and have been making for a long time, and is opposition to the Tories in Westminster, I the political elites that they didn't believe increasingly shared across the spectrum on hope it recognises it has an opportunity to the status quo was good enough. We know the left in Scotland. I would also add that work with us to seek that common ground that many have ‘lent’ us their vote and there are those in other parts of the UK for common good. support and are looking for us to deliver, that question the validity and relevance Chris Stephens is the (SNP) MP for Glasgow and reserve their right to exercise different of the link – my comrades in Plaid and South West. He was previously a senior UNISON choices in the future. non-Labour party activists in England for lay official in Glasgow City Council. Producing a progressive alliance Shona Robison argues the SNP can be a central force in forming an anti-Tory alliance

uring the election we spoke about our We will be a constructive, principled, with the bedroom tax, but surely it is better Ddesire to build a progressive alliance at determined and effective opposition to the instead to have the powers over welfare here Westminster to lock the Tories out of office. majority Tory government - and we will in Scotland so we can abolish the bedroom While Scotland voted for that change, seek to be so on behalf of people, not just tax once and for all. Labour failed to win sufficient support in in Scotland, but right across the UK. Scottish Labour needs to decide whether England – which is a matter of regret. We have wasted little time in this. Within a it will put aside the tribal politics of the Those now arguing that Labour needs to be week of the election result, the First Minister past and join with us in demanding these more Blairite to return to power are deeply had held her first bi-annual meeting with key powers are transferred to the Scottish misguided - they need only look at the huge the STUC. A new Memorandum of Parliament, so we can build a successful success of the SNP in standing on a platform Understanding was agreed which reflected and fair economy that benefits the many, which was unequivocally anti-austerity. our commitment to work together to make continue to invest in our public services Indeed, I note that Diane Abbott, in the days Scotland’s opposition to further austerity and protect the vulnerable by providing the after the election, said that Blairite critics of heard. support they need, which is the hallmark of a socially just society. Labour’s election campaign ‘dismiss the fact The STUC also agreed to join with us that the majority of the Scottish electorate Shona Robison is in calling for powers over the minimum voted emphatically for a party with clear Cabinet Secretary for wage, trade union and employment law, left wing policies on, among other things, Health, Wellbeing and health and safety law, equalities legislation austerity and scrapping Trident. We are Sport. She is the MSP and for greater responsibility on welfare to for Dundee East. asked to believe that Labour voters in the be devolved as a matter of priority to this west of Scotland voted SNP because of a mysterious mystic nationalism’. Parliament. We are disappointed with the Tories’ return For Scottish Labour to want to leave these to power, but our determination to work powers in the hands of a UK Labour with others of progressive opinion across government was perhaps understandable – the political spectrum, in and out of albeit not a position I agreed with – but for parliament, remains undiminished. Labour to argue that these powers should remain in the hands of a majority Tory Over this Westminster Parliamentary term, government with no mandate in Scotland we will build alliances to argue for the would be inexplicable to most people protection of the vulnerable against deeper across Scotland. welfare cuts, we will seek to defend our human rights protections, to halt further Yes, we can try to mitigate the worst privatisation of the NHS and to safeguard excesses of the Tory governments attacks on the UK's place in Europe. the poorest in our society as we have done

6 Stopping the fallen idol falling further Ian Davidson says by only returning to its past can Labour reclaim the future

abour in Scotland owes an apology to Similarly, our desperation in the closing create its own facts, never mind opinions. Lthe party and the labour movement days, when we were seen to be sinking We do not even have the numbers to throughout the rest of Britain for its abject fast, to attract tactical anti-SNP Tories and mount substantial doorstep campaigns. failure in the general election. Not only did Liberals led us to identify fear of a second No wonder party membership figures are a its incompetence lose Labour forty seats referendum as a concern of this group and secret – so low as to be embarrassing, even in Scotland but it also cost Labour seats led us to highlight this as one of our big including the bogus members recruited in England and Wales as the Murdoch ideas. under the ‘buy a branch’ scheme, who coalition of the SNP in Scotland and the Apart from being entirely negative (vote are essentially sleepers, only activated for Tories in England, working in a symbiotic for us to stop something), it also led to selection conferences. relationship, was able to create and the absurdity of a poster denouncing a Labour needs to be much clearer as to capitalise on two opposing nationalisms to second referendum on independence being what it is for. This will require debate and benefit the rich and powerful throughout launched in the most strongly ‘Yes’ voting discussion at a local branch level. We have Britain. ward of a strongly ‘Yes’ voting constituency, to go back to having political discussion Of course, too much cannot be made of a without any discussion or consultation as and the passing of resolutions, which are single election. The disaster of May 2015 to whether this would be helpful. then not simply discarded into the bin cannot be laid at the door of any single Which is why I didn’t attend – but my marked ‘Policy Forum’ but circulated in leader or any single campaign – it has been presence wasn’t required anyway – it wasn’t order to try and genuinely involve members a long time coming. The puzzle is: why designed to help me. I wasn’t one of the in developing policy proposals. were the warning signs not heeded? For chosen few candidates who were being We need to engage more with the a long time, Labour in Scotland has been provided with an abundance of resources community- when I first became a blighted by the four C’s: complacency, while others struggled. Labour’s campaign councillor, Labour had members in all the conservatism, cronyism and careerism. must be one of the most blatant examples tenants’ associations, residents’ groups, local In addition, the left throughout these of cronyism ever seen in politics. unions and every other organisation where islands has failed to adequately respond Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman resigned local people were to be found. Not in a to our local manifestations of the tide of as leader and deputy leader despite having mechanistic, artificial way, but as a real and nationalism which has been sweeping increased Labour’s seats and share of the vibrant part of these organisations. People Europe for many years now. At a time vote in England and Wales. Similarly, Jim saw Labour membership, membership of a when the collectives of community, church Murphy was right to go, eventually, since tenants’ association and membership of a and shared experience are being swept aside the first step in getting Labour in Scotland union as being different facets of the same by atomisation, we have not adequately going in the right direction is to stop it struggle to improve the lives of ordinary recognised or responded to the need for an going in the wrong direction. We have working people. alternative form of collective identity which to start re-building, whilst recognising the The road back for Labour will not be easy has often expressed itself in the politics of emphasis that we have had for years on – but we have to start by recognising just place and race. organisation rather than ideas is misplaced. how far we have fallen. Labour in Scotland had decayed to the While I understand the Blairite obsession point where it was unclear what it stands with valuing what can be counted and of Ian Davidson is the former (Labour) MP for for. It lacked what George Bush called ‘the targets, it is no use being on the doorstep Glasgow South West vision thing’. It fell back on a combination without a clear set of of a cobbled together shopping list, some policies to propose. of which was progressive and excellent, but Anyway, it is extremely lacked coherence, and a reliance on policy arrogant to assume that by focus group. Together, they lacked both voters can be ‘turned’ consistency and direction. by a brief conversation Thus, we started our campaign aiming to with a Labour canvasser attract back the 190,000 or so Scots who on their doorstep, as if had previously voted Labour but voted ‘Yes’, they were a previously and ended up begging ‘No’ voting Tories blank sheet, simply to vote for us tactically. This mechanistic, waiting for us to arrive patronising approach led to us having as with the correct lines. our flagship policy the proposal to allow The reality is that alcohol into football grounds. On the basis we lost the air war, that the 190,000 were overwhelmingly because we were short men, between the ages of 25-55, from the of ideas, as well as West coast, who liked football, we needed a being out gunned by football issue to run with. Allowing alcohol a far, far superior SNP at football grounds was a football issue - propaganda machine, thus it would be our policy. which managed to

7 The road back to radicalism Katy Clark calls for democratic reforms to return Labour to its radical roots

s the dust settles on the general serious analysis or consideration on basic involved in that process and to do that Aelection results, Scottish Labour has issues such as redistribution and class. For we need to see the return of regular wide some serious thinking to do. The results wherever you stand on the national ranging policy making conferences. In in Scotland were devastating for Labour question and however you voted in May our internal structure, we need a focus on not just in Scotland but also at a British this does not bode well. political education to arm people for the level. The immediate reason for Scottish Labour’s fight ahead. For those of us who believe that the focus appalling results may be the handling of We must be free to pursue the policies of politics must be class, and not nation, the referendum campaign, the decision to decided at Holyrood and Westminster. As and that the lessons of history show us the take part in Better Together and the legacy a start, we need a recall conference which importance of solidarity, we also need to of ‘new’ Labour. The erosion of trust in gives our members the power to determine have a serious debate about how we reclaim Labour since the Iraq war weakened the policy and ensure that the party leadership Scottish Labour to be a radical party reservoir of support. acts upon it. with a serious thought through agenda to Labour needed to focus on the positive Whether it is how we bring the energy sector redistribute wealth and power and to work case for voting Labour to have any hope into public ownership and under proper with all those engaged in building a strong of winning over those who we needed to accountability; how we start a massive and effective labour movement. vote for us to keep the seats we had held in council house building programme; how Scottish Labour needs to reflect on why 2010 and maximise what could be done to we regenerate our communities with the electorate in Scotland was largely not achieve a Labour government. policies for jobs and growth or how we prepared to listen to anything that Labour. The negative campaigning against the stand up to an austerity agenda wherever it In many ways, Labour’s manifesto lacked SNP with the rehash of the independence comes from, the debate needs to start now. coherence with a strong enough economic referendum arguments (like the falling oil We need to focus on what is politically narrative but it was more left wing that it price and full fiscal autonomy) must have required to be done. That means a return to had been for many years and had much pushed some who had felt they had ‘voted our socialist roots and the vision of a very in it which should have been easy to get SNP’ by voting ‘Yes’ in the referendum into different world. support for. voting SNP at the election. Labour would Katy Clark is the former (Labour) MP for Ayrshire But people were not interested. They didn't have been far better on focusing on why we and Arran (2005-2015) want to talk about whether the policy offer needed a Labour government and why that was better than the SNP's or not. Nor did would make a difference they care that the SNP copied selective bits to people's lives. Scottish Left Review of Labour’s redistributive manifesto which The Westminster The Scottish Left Review is a non-profit making publication. they thought might be popular - such as leadership took for granted Please subscribe or make a donation by going to www. the 50p tax rate. Many had already given a repeat of the strong scottishleftreview.org where you can pay by credit card up on Labour and moved on. showing for Scottish or by filling in your details in the form below and returning South of the border, the vilification of the Labour in 2010. Over the to Scottish Left Review, 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields, SNP by the Tories and their poster campaign last 5 years, it focused on Glasgow G41 4PL - of Miliband firstly in Salmond's and then marginal seats in England, Sturgeon's pockets -in the marginal seats failing to recognise there Name Labour needed to take to form a government was an alternative in seems to have been effective. Labour Scotland which people Address colleagues reported this fear of the SNP as saw as social democratic. a reason people who had been identified as The perception was that saying they would vote Labour did not. Of the SNP was more left course, the Tories also used this threat as a wing than Labour. I don't Tel: way of whipping up English nationalism to accept this but voting get votes back from UKIP. alongside the Tories on the Many on the left in Scotland clearly welfare cap, the charter of E-mail: found the SNP's offer attractive. For some budget responsibility and who supported ‘Yes’, presumably they Trident did little to dispel Subscription/Donation saw the SNP as a vehicle to continue to this impression. make the case for independence and for a Scottish Labour needs not Date: second referendum in the hope of a pro- just to focus on getting not 187 independence outcome – as well as a way just the right messengers Subscriptions: £18 (waged), £14 (unwaged), £15 (local to have a go at Labour. but also the right message. organisations), £30 (national organisations. However any serious analysis of the SNP We need to re-equip Donations will be gratefully recieved. Cheques should be shows it is far from an anti-austerity ourselves politically. We crossed and made payable to: Left Review Scotland Ltd. party for it has also bought into the neo- need members and trade You can also subscribe/donate online at liberal economic model. But there is no unionists democratically www.scottishleftreview.org

8 Reflecting on Westminster 2015 Maggie Chapman sees hope amidst the calamity of Tory rule

lection night is always a strange, This is partly because of the diabolical way wish) it can do well and win. Esomewhat surreal experience, watching in which senior unionist politicians acted: It is tempting to say the election results prove the future of a country unfold in the before the referendum, promising us the that England and Scotland are different. In midst of bleary eyed, tired campaigners, world and, after the referendum, reneging some ways, some of us might wish that to anxious candidates, and earnest counting on those promises. We only have to look be the case. But I'm not sure it does. Social agents. As the results unfolded in the at the ways in which Labour and the attitudes surveys and the like indicate that early hours of Friday 8 May, it felt like Conservatives collaborated in the Smith people north and south of the border share there were two elections happening: one Commission process to understand just some of the same values and ideals. Remember in Scotland, which was a changing of old how little stock they held in any of the that Scotland elected a UKIP MEP last year. order for new, and one in (most of) the rest grand promises and gestures made. Sure, there will be some distinctions, but they of the UK where the old order was being And we, the radical movement of the aren't great enough to deliver the yellow-blue strengthened, reinforced, and seemingly independence campaign, changed the divided world that we now inhabit. What further entrenched. framework within which the referendum matters is the freedom that the SNP has by not Neither result was supposed to happen. was fought: from discussions of Scotland being bought into the Westminster system. Both results were shocks of a kind not seen retaining NATO membership and cutting This gives me some cause for hope. There is in British politics for a very long time: the corporation tax of 2011 and 2012 to common ground that we must build with Scottish election because of the scale of a Scotland fighting to save the NHS, our comrades and friends south of the border, change, and the English election because introducing free childcare, and creating a and of course in Wales, and perhaps even in of its outcome. The different political new politics and a new Scotland. Northern Ireland. We must use this to resist landscapes between Scotland and the It was not a clear the devastation that is heading our way. rest of the UK create a uniquely dynamic With the new cabinet, the moves to abolish political environment - one I think no one enough victory to the Human Rights Act and abandon any really knows how will play out over the semblance of union legitimacy, and so next months and years. In some ways, that put the question on, the prospects are terrifying. We have is up to us on the left. It is a challenge but of Scottish to mobilise against these neo-liberal also an opportunity. attacks on citizens across Britain. And we, I am still reeling somewhat from the independence the left in Scotland, can show the same English result. I am very, very angry leadership that we showed in the run-up because I know the Tory majority will to bed for a to the referendum, now on a much greater result in people dying. And, I am angry generation. It kept scale, working with others who share because of the failure of all of us on the left our aspirations for the creation of a just not to be able to convince enough people alive the hope in alternative. that our anti-austerity message had to win. Greens must be central to this. We are the The polls got it wrong in England because many of us that, only ones to the radical left of the SNP they misunderstood how differently Labour although we had in both the Westminster and Holyrood and Tory voters would act: overestimating parliament. We have electoral legitimacy the Labour turnout and underestimating lost the battle, we and policy positions to promote a strong, the Tory turnout. In seats the Tories won, people-focused and democratically turnout went up. In seats Labour should might yet win the accountable economy in Scotland and the have won, turnout went down. war. rest of Britain. And, we will work hard to It is clear that Labour voters didn't vote This gave the SNP the platform it needed build the movement for radical change over because Labour had comprehensively failed to to do so well. Labour was powerless in the the coming weeks and months. give people anything to vote for. Austerity-lite face of such a vision of hope. In many ways, Maggie Chapman is the co-convener of the Scottish is not an attractive option to those who oppose the election proved Ralph – father of Ed - Green Party and a councillor in Edinburgh. She austerity, nor is it desired by those who see the Miliband right when he said that the left also sat on the Smith Commission. cuts as vital to securing an economy for the could never win through Labour because it wealthy. Conversely, the Tory voters turned has so bought into the Westminster way of out in their droves, because they are terrified doing politics. Ed Miliband became utterly of us Scots, wanting to break up Britain. incapable of offering the case for change: So the context of the general election across neither the economic nor constitutional the UK was clearly last year's independence change we all seek fits in with what referendum. This gave unionists a scare - 55% Westminster wants. The SNP showed that, was less than they wanted. It was not a clear because it isn't tied into the broken beast enough victory to put the question of Scottish of Westminster, it could not only make independence to bed for a generation. It kept the case for economic and constitutional alive the hope in many of us that, although change in the direction we all wish to see we had lost the battle, we might yet win the (even if it does not go as far as we might war.

9 Organise against Tory austerity now Jim McFarlane calls for an enlarged anti-austerity political party

he stunning realisation of another round 2 following the indyref of last year. of the TUSC. It stood the largest block Tplanned five years of savage Tory However, what will the SNP leadership do of socialist candidates in Scotland and austerity is quickly giving way to an upsurge now? Will it continue with the grotesque received the highest votes on the left - of anger. We need to build a movement of game of pass-the-parcel and impose the albeit modest given the electoral tsunami towards the SNP. TUSC, supported by the the organised and the unorganised that Westminster cuts in Scotland for the next can defeat the attacks the working class RMT, also stood in 127 seats in England five years, or will it refuse to implement collectively face. and Wales on a platform of opposition to a penny more of Tory austerity? By using all cuts and privatisation and for public Despite their electoral victory, the Tories its majority at Holyrood to set a ‘no cuts’ ownership and socialism. have little or no mandate for their policy budget in the autumn and helping to build of ‘planned poverty’. With a single seat in a mass campaign of defiance, it would fulfil We have called a conference for Saturday Scotland and the lowest share of the vote its mandate. June 27 in Glasgow to begin discussions since 1865, the Cameron government will and preparation for a 100% anti-austerity Socialist Party Scotland and the Scottish be seen as illegitimate. and socialist challenge for the 2016 Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition election. We invite all organisations, Across the UK, only 24.2% of the (TUSC) are demanding that this is exactly trade unionists and individuals who are registered electorate voted Tory - the lowest what the SNP must do. If it fails to do so, interested in such a platform to attend the share ever for a Conservative government. and this is likely, the need for an alternative conference. It will be taking place from Moreover, it will be a weak administration to the left of the pro-capitalist SNP 1pm in the Blysthwood Hall, Renfield St prone to splits and divisions over issues like leadership will grow even further. Stephens Centre on Bath Street. Europe. As well as the inherent likelihood of ‘overreach’; launching one attack too Socialist Party Jim McFarlane is a member of Socialist Party many and repeating the fatal mistake of Scotland and is also the branch secretary of Dundee City Unison. Jim was the Scottish TUSC Thatcher who was brought down by mass Scotland and candidate for Dundee West at the general election. non-payment of the poll tax. the Scottish The twin arms of our movement, the political and the industrial, must be Trade Unionist organised to their full capacity to ensure this government of millionaires is defeated. and Socialist First and foremost this means calling a ‘council of war’ of the unions to prepare Coalition (TUSC) mass, coordinated strike action. are demanding The union movement must meet the threat of a new round of brutal anti-union that this is exactly legislation – which includes an anti- democratic onslaught on the right to strike what the SNP - with urgent preparations for a 24-hour must do. general strike. Its collective power should be mobilised to the full. That means the The decimation of Scottish Labour, an type of coordinated ballots and then strike event long in the preparation, is an historic action we saw on November 30 2011. turning point. It marks the culmination of decades of Blairite, anti-working class Except this time, the action cannot be and pro-war polices. With the cracks and called off after firing the first shot. We fissures clearly visible, the indyref shattered need a sustained campaign of ongoing what was left of Scottish Labour. It will and escalating action until the austerity not be possible to remake what has been onslaught and attacks on the right to strike broken. Labour no longer has a social base are defeated. There will also be struggles on of support among the working class in a range of other issues, in particular over Scotland that can sustain it, even in the benefit sanctions and the new round of medium term. savage welfare cuts. It’s vitally important the union movement makes common cause There will now be a period of debate and with all those fighting back, both employed discussion in the affiliated unions on the and unemployed. way forward. But underpinning all of these The SNP has emerged from the election discussions must be the unavoidable need with a colossal mandate to oppose all for the unions and the wider anti-austerity further cuts. Its historic victory was driven movement to build a new 100% anti- by a huge anti-austerity mood and a austerity political party to represent their determination to hit back at the political interests and fight for a socialist solution. establishment. It was indeed, for many, This idea lies at the heart of the strategy

10 Standing up for Scotland’s working class majority Colin Fox says the left must be the SNP’s sternest critic

he Scottish Socialist Party’s (SSP) The same can be said about Nicola and insecure jobs will proliferate. The Ttoken appearance on the BBC Sturgeon’s party today. For if ‘Standing up housing crisis will deepen. Public services during the General Election was a three- for Scotland’ was the SNP election slogan, will become even more threadbare.’ minute interview on the ‘Daily Politics’ few were prepared to ask ‘which Scotland’ The Tories plan to cut another £30bn from programme on 24 April 2015. Andrew Neil did the SNP mean? Working class voters government spending, promote further wanted me to knock lumps out of Arthur covered their ears when any criticism of the casualisation of the workforce, oversee Scargill’s party. I declined. Instead, I urged SNP was voiced. They buried their heads widening inequality and curtail what’s him and ‘the London metropolitan media in the sand when the SNP’s privatisation left of union rights. The SNP, however, to acknowledge the ‘political revolution’ of Edinburgh’s Sick Children’s Hospital promised to fight all this. But will it? Will it underway in Scotland’. I awaited his was highlighted for example, from a party oppose the economic policies of the Tories sneering dismissal of this but to my surprise apparently committed ‘to protecting the wholeheartedly when as economists Jim he entirely accepted my description of the NHS’. and Margaret Cuthbert have pointed out change engulfing Scotland. Scotland’s the SNP’s own programme is essentially When the results emerged two weeks later, ‘neo-liberalism with a heart’. Scotland’s representation at Westminster ‘political And perhaps the biggest mixed message was, indeed, transformed. We now have revolution’ saw from Nicola Sturgeon was that ‘Voting fewer Labour MPs than giant pandas. SNP is not a vote for independence’. In But for 250 votes in Berwickshire, we the SNP take 95% arguing this point, she acknowledged defeat might have had twice as many Tory MPs last September but risked demobilising the as Labour ones. How the comedians at the of the seats as ‘Yes’ movement by insisting there can be no Edinburgh Festival this summer will feast Labour, Tory and referendum until after the 2017 EU vote on these results! and then only if England votes to leave and Scotland’s ‘political revolution’ saw the Liberal-Democrat Scotland to stay. The SSP, by contrast, will SNP take 95% of the seats as Labour, Tory continue to argue for independence as soon and Liberal-Democrat MP’s sank under a MP’s sank under as possible. The timing ofIndyRef2 depends ‘tsunami’ driven by economic insecurity as on winning a majority of those who did not voters saw their living standards plunge. a ‘tsunami’ driven vote for it last time. Allied to the sense of alienation from by economic The left’s role must be to expose ambiguities Westminster, the SNP’s campaign was in the SNP’s programme and force it to keep able to reflect Scotland’s social democratic insecurity as the promises made on May 7. Moreover, ‘centre of gravity’. It triumphed because it voters saw their the 2016 Holyrood elections now loom promised to fight austerity in favour of a and are a crucial contest for the left. We living wage, an end to zero hour contracts, living standards need to get MSPs elected to confront the building affordable housing and economic illusions in the SNP effectively and show growth. plunge. that social democracy and socialism are It also benefited from the huge momentum They turned a blind eye to the £30m not the same thing. The SSP will consider the ‘Yes’ campaign provided and which the cuts made by the ‘anti-austerity’ party in proposals to participate in a left alliance for independence supporting left did so much running Edinburgh City Council. They Holyrood at our annual conference before to build. We are, therefore, entitled to wanted to believe a mere 0.5% increase the end of May. remind the SNP what we contributed and, in public spending proposed would be Colin Fox is the Scottish Socialist Party joint notwithstanding their stunning success on adequate to turn around the 14% cuts national spokesman May 7, the fact remains it cannot achieve made since 2010. The ambiguities at the independence without the support of the heart of the SNP’s manifesto were ignored rest of us. (for now). The political mood in Scotland reminded SSP canvassers were met with sympathy me of 1997 when the Scottish Socialist and respect for the work we did in the Alliance, as we were then, stood against referendum but we invariably went away New Labour. Back then the overriding with the message ‘This is not your turn. We priority for voters was ‘to get rid of the need to get rid of XXX [the local Labour Tories’. After twenty years of Conservative MP]. Your turn will come next year with governments nothing else mattered. No the Holyrood elections’. criticism of ‘new’ Labour was permitted. Writing about the UK result Will Hutton No other votes were considered. ‘Things in The Observer (10 May 2015) rightly could only get better’. Illusions in Tony concluded: ‘This election will solve nothing. Blair were widespread. Inequality will grow in Britain. Low wages

11 Rekindling the roots of radicalism Sarah Collins says there is a space opening up for the radical left

ince the referendum all eyes have Everything from direct action and strikes, Labour, the unions cannot disaffiliate from Sbeen on Scotland. Anti-austerity to breaking anti-strike laws, to preparing Labour simply to jump into affiliation with and anti-Trident rhetoric has won over a consistent strategy focussed on young the SNP. Scotland needs a 'third estate' Project Fear because pro-independence workers, women and migrant workers that can form a permanent political force social movements and political parties needs to be done by the union leadership representing working people and socialism. managed to create a successful counter- in conjunction with the social movement. We know the socialist left polls extremely narrative to the neo-liberal Westminster In the months between the referendum poorly in general elections and partly consensus. This was evidenced not only and the election, Scottish Labour simply that results from the first-past-the-post. in the incredible voter registration and failed to recognise any errors it had made However, across Europe ‘the left’ polls an turnout of the referendum, but also in the in the past – particularly throughout the average of 15% - even in social democratic results of the election. referendum campaign. That is why it countries. It’s not that left-wing, socialist The next five years are going to be defining returned only one MP and its vote was politics don’t resonate with people in for Scottish politics. In order to ensure a down by almost 18% on the previous five Scotland, but we need a combined and left-wing agenda, the vehicles we need years. That is why there wasn’t a social long-term approach and strategy to are: a social movement, a strong union movement to save Labour. That is why it articulate that sentiment successfully in movement, and an electoral alternative that was predicted that up to 70% of all young elections. It is possible that, despite a real can challenge the SNP from the left. voters in Scotland would be voting SNP on squeeze from the SNP, socialists can mount After the ConDem government seized 7 May. a big electoral challenge and become a part power in 2010, there was a rise in anti- We are now facing of the political mainstream. austerity, anti-cuts campaigning but, for In Scotland, the independence movement various reasons, this waned. In 2012, the a Tory government has changed the context we are operating pro-independence framework was created in in and there is only one direction of Scotland which became the most successful which will travel: independence. It is likely that anti-austerity social movement in Britain. the Holyrood elections next year will Along with the official ‘Yes’ campaign, strengthen the reflect this. The stakes could not be groups like the Radical Independence higher, and there is an urgent need to keep Campaign, Women for Independence, and anti-union laws; driving politics in Scotland leftwards. Not Common Weal generated a politicisation yet the TUC and only because the SNP is currently in a of Scottish society and historic levels of hegemonic position, but also as a leftwards political engagement, pushing the SNP to affiliated British pull to the movement in the rest of Britain. formulate a generally anti-austerity, anti- The Scottish Left Project is meeting Trident narrative. unions have not with activists, campaigners and political We are now facing a Tory government made a coherent organisations with the aim of making which will strengthen the anti-union laws; the space for this to happen. We want yet the TUC and affiliated British unions plan of counter- to become a hub of ideas and debate for have not made a coherent plan of counter- taking the left forward, and play a role in attack. On the other hand, the STUC, attack. developing a big radical left challenge in which has a much more open relationship The terminal decline of Scottish Labour 2016. If you want to ensure that the labour with the Scottish Government than the brings with it huge challenges for the movement is not left without political TUC has with Westminster, has advocated unions. The labour movement’s resources representation; or if you want play a part breaking Tory anti-union laws. (including people, money, and values) in developing a vibrant and diverse left in The union movement in Scotland has the need somewhere to go in terms of electoral Scotland, then please get involved and stay potential to call upon the support of a pre- representation. It is up to the labour tuned for further developments. existing, and growing in confidence, social movement to ensure that those resources Sarah Collins is supporter of the Scottish movement which the TUC does not have. are properly directed, through open, Left Project, a UNISON activist and former This has borne out in the organising of honest, democratic debate and decision- Chair of the STUC youth committee (2013- the 20 June anti-austerity demonstration. making, but that does not mean Labour is 2014) In England, this is organised by the anti- the entitled keepers of these resources. That cuts campaign group, Peoples Assembly. sense of entitlement was the single biggest In Scotland, it is being organised by the error Scottish Labour made in the past few STUC with the support, resources, and years. people coming from the social movements, Neither the SNP nor the Greens can including Peoples Assembly and the fully articulate and represent the workers’ Radical Independence Campaign. movement. Neither have roots in the labour In the next five years, we need to link movement in terms of labour/working action and strategy in order to ensure class history. Despite the SNP trade union that the labour movement has a future. group having more members than Scottish

12 No sword of Damocles hanging over England’s head Down south, Christine Shawcroft was not afraid of the SNP doing well

here is a certain type of English a political liability its support for Trident was too right wing for Scotland, but too left Tsocialist, clearly suffering from a surfeit would be in Scotland. wing for England. While the first is certainly of sour grapes, who is inclined to blame the We had a Kafka-esque time of it at last true, the second is more debateable. Large Scots for the Labour disaster on May 7. summer’s National Policy Forum meeting numbers of people voted Green, or simply They believe that the SNP actively wanted in Milton Keynes, when the sponsors of didn’t vote at all. On the doorstep, voters a Tory government, in order to progress various anti-Trident amendments were say that the two main political parties are the independence agenda, and behaved told to drop them or risk the SNP winning both the same as each other. accordingly. Social media is awash with the independence referendum, therefore, Whenever Miliband did have a more comments like: ‘Well the Jocks got what preventing the election of a majority radical moment, for example pledging they wanted, anyway’. I fear that this ‘us Labour government ever again. to bring back the 50p tax band, his poll and them’ attitude may be, at least partly, ratings improved. When he went back to what got us into this mess in the first place. When the puzzled delegates pointed out that opinion polls in Scotland (and assuring everyone that an incoming Labour It is certainly true that the Tories made England, come to that) showed large government would be making cuts, his great play, in the closing couple of weeks majorities against replacing Trident, they ratings dipped again. of the campaign, of their assertion that an were told that, if there was a row about Not being silly, unlike some Leaders incoming minority Labour government Trident at the NPF, Scottish voters would we could mention, Sturgeon saw her could be held to ransom by a large notice Labour’s support for it and vote opportunity and went for it. Having contingent of SNP MPs. This seems to accordingly. spotted the space (a very large space) to have had some traction in English Tory/ the left of Labour, she homed in on it Labour marginals. However, if there wasn’t a row, they might not notice so we wouldn’t suffer electorally. with the speed and precision of an, erm, One wonders what the inhabitants of these When you consider that the people Trident missile – and with very similar seats were so afraid of. Were they having who came up with this strategy were the destructive power. Whilst Labour struggled nightmares about hordes of woad-painted brains behind the Labour general election to explain how their cuts would be much Picts scaling Hadrian’s Wall and forcing us campaign, the scale of our defeat can more fairer and nicer than nasty Tory cuts, the to wear kilts and eat haggis? More to the easily be explained. SNP sliced through the waffle with a clear point, did they think that Nicola Sturgeon and unequivocal anti-austerity message. would hold Ed Miliband’s feet to the fire Not having set foot in Scotland since One can only wonder what might have and force him to axe the bedroom tax, the day I spent in Glasgow on the phone happened if the SNP had stood candidates abolish zero hours contracts and bring back bank for the anti-independence campaign in England. the 50p tax band? How terrible! (sorry), I’m not well qualified to judge whether or not the SNP are socialists, Will Labour learn the appropriate lessons I think it’s much more likely that the or even particularly radical. However, from this disaster? To lose the 2010 election SNP got exactly what it wanted when Ed Sturgeon’s appearances during the TV with a pro-cuts agenda was unfortunate. To Miliband took pains to get Jim Murphy debates certainly electrified large numbers lose the 2015 election the same way looks elected as the leader of Scottish Labour. To of voters in England. After the first one, like carelessness. fight a general election in England on a pro- Google was swamped by people asking Christine Shawcroft has been a member of the austerity (or austerity-lite) and pro-Trident questions such as ‘I live in England, can Labour Party for 39 years. She was a member of programme is extremely foolish; to do so I vote for the SNP?’ and ‘Are the SNP the National Executive Committee for 16 years, in Scotland is political suicide. It’s not as if standing candidates in London?’. but is currently suspended from holding office in the Labour hierarchy were unaware of what the Party whilst she is investigated over her support It has been said that Miliband’s campaign for democracy in Tower Hamlets.

Introducing the STUC’s Better than Zero campaign …’

www.facebook.com/bebetterthanzero

13 Taking inspiration from Scotland Leanne Wood argues Wales needs its own grassroots movement to sweep aside the old order

ommentators and others are still government and we will seek a mandate people should have the opportunity to vote Cpondering the general election results for its implementation. Pundits and on that basis. Wales is in need of a new that few expected. What occurred on May commentators will look at current polling beginning. I want to lead a party that is 7 will leave a lasting impression not just and suggest that – eleven months out – the engaging with people in every part of our on the governance of the UK. It also sets election is already decided. That inevitably nation over the coming year to deliver that the context for next year’s Welsh general Wales is destined to another term of new beginning. election that poses challenges for parties Labour rule. As the UK election has just Many people in Wales look to Scotland here in Wales. demonstrated, anyone taking anything for as the beacon of possibility. The greatest Scotland’s results, whilst anticipated by granted a week before an election, let alone inspiration I take from what has occurred many, constituted a political earthquake. almost a year out, should think again. is the unparalleled grassroots movement The SNP now has a strong mandate It is perfectly legitimate for people to ask that has swept every community in to secure for Scotland an alternative to what Plaid Cymru will do now to put itself Scotland. People – not politicians – are punitive austerity and significant national in the best possible position as an alternative the custodians of the national movement. empowerment. For Plaid Cymru, it was to the status quo. We will demonstrate our Ours is a bottom-up movement that has disappointing that we did not increase our competence as a team; my shadow cabinet reshaped and reframed politics forever. number of MPs. includes the personnel who have what it Over the coming weeks and months, There are, however, positives to take from takes to lead our nation’s government. as Wales’ general election approaches, I the campaign. Despite being expected Our plans will centre on building a will visit towns and cities throughout the to lose ground, for the first election in successful nation; closing divisions and country to listen and speak with people so many years we held it. In areas where the building the national infrastructure so that that we can build our own movement for party has not traditionally been strong our country can be the success we know Wales - a grassroots national movement electorally, there were encouraging signs of that it can be. Our alternative will be all that can sweep the old politics to one side new support. In those constituencies where about people. I want to work with others and begin again the process of rebuilding there were effective and continuous local so that we have a decent constitutional our nation. A new government and a new campaigns, Plaid Cymru did well. framework for Wales agreed well ahead of beginning is possible in Wales. It is needed now more than ever. And our inclusion on UK-wide televised the Welsh general election next year. leaders’ debates as well as an increase in the Not just so that we can go some way to get Leanne Wood is the Member of the Welsh general exposure for the party has given us the tools we need as a country but because Assembly for South Wales Central and has an unprecedented foundation for the Welsh I want the next Welsh general election to be been leader of Plaid Cymru since 2012 general election next year. As is the case the first that is a contest of ideas between after every election campaign, there will be parties on matters like the NHS, reversing competing and sometimes contradictory our poor educational attainment, releasing reasons for individual campaigns not the business potential, boosting people’s fulfilling expectations. quality of life and maximising prospects for I am grateful for the feedback from so individuals, families and communities. many candidates and campaigners as well If Welsh politics continues to be dominated as well-wishers – all of whom want to see by debates on institutions then our election Plaid Cymru at its best so that Wales can be won’t be a dialogue about people, their at its best. It’s worth now reflecting on how hopes and their expectations. That does a we build on what we have achieved so that disservice to everyone who looks to political Wales can have a change of government parties for a vibrant and challenging next year. competition for votes. I am Plaid Cymru’s candidate for First The next Welsh general election must be Minister. Next year, Plaid Cymru will be about what direction and priorities the presenting an alternative programme for next government of Wales will pursue and

14 Something ended and something begun Michael Keating says the old system is over but it’s not clear what the new one will be

here is no more British party system. The new circumstances make its election of a grand bargain between the TIt is true that almost half the Scottish implementation even more difficult. Conservatives and the SNP. Scotland electorate voted for British parties and that Cameron is committed to English Votes would gain full fiscal autonomy in return Labour’s defeat in England was exaggerated for English Laws (EVEL) and its equivalent for EVEL. The Conservatives would govern by the electoral system, but if Labour is to in taxation (which we might call EVET). I England (and, at least for now, Wales), while make a comeback in Scotland it will be as a have never had any problems with this in Scotland could follow a high-spending different, less British Party. principle but, under Smith, it is difficult to road including universal public services on see which matters would really be England Its infrastructure in Scotland was always condition that it paid for itself. The Labour - or England and Wales - only. weak, with historically low membership Party would be brushed aside. There seems levels compensated by a strong institutional Income tax would not be, given Westminster little indication that the Conservatives are presence, whether in unions, tenants’ control over the base, the definition of ready for such a deal. associations and a web of influence and income, and unearned income. Nor would There is a residual British unionism that patronage in local government and civil most of welfare. Smith promises to continue holds them back and the Treasury would society. These institutional supports have with the Barnett formula, although it is not be aghast at surrendering fiscal powers. been weakening for decades, even while a at all clear what Barnett would mean under Conservatism is not inherently centralist rare generation of talented politicians was the new dispensation – key questions but the modern Conservative Party is. making a big mark at Westminster. about indexation are unresolved. Under Grand talk about ‘northern powerhouses’ whatever form, Barnett would entail a The referendum campaign and the disastrous and ‘devo-Manc’ (for Greater Manchester) Scottish interest across a range of English decision to ally with the Conservatives masks a new strategy for central control spending programmes, since it is they (who had very little to contribute) shook and a bargain with Labour Party elites in that generate the Barnett consequentials Labour’s already precarious support in the north of England rather than popular for Scotland. Moreover, Barnett is the empowerment. There are voices in the working class communities and large target of English Conservatives, in whose sections of the professional middle classes party calling for federalism but they remain cloudy understanding it is Barnett that on the margins. as well. The SNP has taken over both finances free university tuition and medical their roles: as the main centre-left force prescriptions in Scotland. Along with all this, we are in for a debate in Scotland committed to social welfare; about Europe. Cameron is obliged to A majority Conservative government and now as the brokerage party that goes deliver on his promise of re-negotiation gives free rein to the party’s ambition to to Westminster to shout for Scotland and and a referendum by the end of 2017 radically reduce the size and scope of the bring back the goods. but must now decide on what it is that state, going well beyond the Thatcher he wants to negotiate. A massive and Whatever the popular vote, the revolution. Within Labour, it was the expensive Review of Competences by the parliamentary arithmetic dictates that Blairites that were first out of the stall on 8 UK Government during the last Parliament the SNP will speak for Scotland and May, calling for a tack to the right. It was produced nothing whatever of substance the Conservatives for England. Welfare the SNP that was unafraid to deploy anti- that might usefully be repatriated. Freedom unionism, the idea that a British social austerity rhetoric during the election, even of movement of workers, which Cameron democratic party can unite the people of if in practice its fiscal plans were not that this island on a programme of solidarity different from those of Labour (which felt tried on, is a pillar of the internal market and sharing of resources, has lost its voice. obliged to pretend to be more pro-austerity and untouchable. The idea that eastern Europeans are flocking to the UK to Similarly, the main actors in the next than it really was). take advantage of our meagre welfare phase of constitutional debate will be the If this is the way our politics is heading, benefits does not accord with the facts. So Conservatives and the SNP while Labour, then Scotland may need as much autonomy Cameron will have difficulty satisfying his which was at the centre of the referendum as would allow it to arrive at its own social Eurosceptic backbenchers, many of whom campaign, is consigned to the margins. compromise and balance between taxation are the same people who complain about The Smith Commission proposals had and spending. With more tax and welfare Scotland. been widely criticized before the election powers and control over labour market as too little, too late. The process, a closed- policy, it might have the tools to start There is a familiar scenario in which England doors inter-party deal, defied the spirit of building something like the ‘Nordic’ social votes ‘no’ to Europe while Scotland votes the referendum campaign or the earlier and economic model to which there has ‘yes’. Before we get there, however, there experience of the Scottish Constitutional been so much reference in recent years. is the forthcoming negotiation and what Convention. This is not an easy path and entails difficult say Scotland will have in it. The Scottish Government needs to set out its priorities The proposals were piecemeal, an untidy choices which were largely avoided in the here and, above all, we need a debate in mix of tax powers that in practice would be SNP’s independence prospectus last year. Scotland about what sort of Europe the difficult to use, and bits of welfare, such as But the experience of Quebec shows that nation wants and what Scotland could a complex clause allowing Scotland to opt a strong non-independent jurisdiction can contribute to it. out of the ‘bedroom’ tax but not to forge avoid the massive inequalities which the a coherent policy on social and affordable application of pure market liberalism has Michael Keating is Professor of Politics at the housing across the public and private entailed in the rest of the state. University of Aberdeen sectors. There has been some talk since the

15 What future for the left in Scotland? Bob Fotheringham says an opening is there to be had if the cards are played well

he Conservative Party’s victory in the It is this contradiction which makes it supporters will agree, the leadership of the Tgeneral election will certainly lead to possible for the left in Scotland to navigate SNP remain cautious about proposing such an intensification of austerity in Scotland a way forward. Most of the new members a move. (despite the rejection of its policies at the of the SNP will support the campaigns Resisting austerity by all means necessary, polls in Scotland). Having swept all before that the left is involved with. It is vital we including demonstrations, strikes and civil it in Scotland, the SNP now has a clear engage with and work alongside them. disobedience should be our immediate mandate to lead fight against any cuts Anti-racism, the removal of Trident and priority. However, this can also become the imposed from Westminster. the closure of the Dungavel immigration focus for a second vote on independence at The question is will it do so? This fact, and detention centre are good examples. some point in the near future. what seems now to be the terminal decline There are two strikes taking place in An issue of major importance is how can of Scottish Labour as a relevant political Scotland at the moment which we can also the radical left in Scotland move forward force in Scotland, poses the question of unite around. These are of the Dundee on the electoral front? Given the popularity how the left can play a constructive role and Ninewells hospital porters and the Glasgow of the SNP and the move to punish win support. This is an issue which needs homeless case workers. Both strikes are over Labour, it was always going to be difficult to be urgently considered by all involved in pay after years of underpayment. for the left to pick up votes in the general socialist politics. Before doing so two issues Given the fact that health is a devolved campaign. The Scottish Trade Unionist and need to be borne in mind. matter, the SNP can involve itself directly Socialist Coalition (TUSC) ran a positive The first is that the enormous vote for in the porter’s dispute and meet the campaign and gained a large amount of the SNP was a largely working class one workers’ demands. In the case of Glasgow, verbal support and sympathy but was badly and a massive rejection of the neo-liberal it can tell the Glasgow Council that it no squeezed by the SNP’s electoral tsunami. and free market economic policies that longer has a mandate and they should However, the Scottish election in 2016 have done so much damage to working immediately settle the strike by meeting should provide more favourable conditions class families and communities, not just the claim in full. These examples show areas for the left to stand. in Scotland but throughout Europe and were the left can play a constructive role in The mechanism for voting MSPs to the beyond. Nicola Sturgeon hammered home maintaining pressure on the SNP to deliver Scottish Parliament contains a degree of an anti-austerity, anti-Tory message during on its promises. proportional representation and makes the campaign and it was a message which Scotland remains part of the British State it possible for smaller parties to enjoy a people in Scotland responded too. with a Tory government in London and as degree of success. The last time the left in The second point, and a more difficult one a consequence the battle against austerity Scotland had electoral success was in 2003 to confront given the spectacular growth of continues. Nicola Sturgeon is pushing when the Scottish Socialist Party won six the SNP membership and its apparent move hard for increased powers for the Scottish MSPs. to the left, is the fact that at its root the SNP Parliament. The Smith Commission An important aspect of this was the is a bourgeois nationalist party committed proposals fall well short of providing people fact that the Scottish left was largely to making Scotland an attractive place in Scotland with real power to manage the united in supporting the SSP challenge. for business investment. It calls for lower economy and our own affairs. Scotland’s left-wing think tank. In 2016, there could be at least four business taxes, SNP controlled councils Any devolved powers to Scotland which different groups looking for support. If have implemented cutsSupport just as vicious us asat :leave control over the Scottish budget in such a scenario were to happen then it any by Labour and recently the SNP has the hands of Westminster are ultimately a would be disaster. Precisely because we told the RMT that if it does not accept cuts delusion and can only lead to the Scottish can have success it is essential that left to the railway www.reidfoundation.orgpension scheme in Scotland Government managing austerity. Because puts aside its differences and presents a it will be privatised and ended. of this, the question of a second referendum united challenge. on independence On the 27 June, the Scottish TUSC Union Solidarity International will at some is hosting a conference in Glasgow point need to be to discuss how the left in Scotland confronted. Again, can unite and offer a unified electoral this is an area challenge in 2016. The resignation of where socialists Jim Murphy after the disastrous Labour in Scotland can election campaign shows the total take the lead. disarray of Scottish Labour. If the left At some point can gets its act together then it possible in the next few to win union support, and support from Get involved years the question wider working class for a radical socialist of a second alternative to the SNP. in building r e f e r e n d u m stronger will have to be Bob Fotheringham is a member of the Socialist c o n f r o n t e d . Workers’ Party (SWP) and the TUSC Scottish internationalism Steering Committee While many SNP members and

16 The SNP: neo-liberalism with a heart? Gregor Gall argues social liberalism and not social democracy is the best way to characterise the SNP

On its website, the SNP describes itself disorientation brought about by Labour’s as a ‘social democratic political party’ Perceptions of the SNP endorsement of neo-liberalism - the belief and, upon the change in its leadership Former UCS leader, Jimmy Cloughley: the market knows best - that leads many last year, sympathetic but not uncritical ‘I’ve been hoping for a situation like this like Kerevan and Riddoch to mistakenly commentator, George Kerevan, then more all my life. The progressive elements believe any party that is critical of Labour of a journalist but now an SNP MP, heartily in Scotland are on the move. Rather from a slightly left-of-centre perspective is agreed in the Scotsman (18 November than opportunists and careerists, and then social democratic. 2014): ‘The SNP under Nicola Sturgeon is hatred and aggression filling politics, The SNP, having been in government in a genuine social democratic party’. the SNP showed they could do social Holyrood since 2007, has legitimately been Indeed, Nicola Sturgeon said of herself: justice, whether they’re to the left, right able to claim that there has been a limit ‘I'd describe myself as a social democrat’ or upside down. Labour has a chance to what it could do under devolution. In (Guardian 2 May 2015) and ‘My role is now to come back realigned. With two other words, SNP supporters claim that to build a Scotland that all those who live social democrat parties working for while some things have been done – like and work here can be proud of, a nation people, the population would be the introducing free prescriptions, building winners’ (Observer 10 May 2015). both social democratic and socially just’ to the first publicly funded hospital and the SNP annual conference in November Author and journalist, Lesley Riddoch: introducing the living wage for Scottish 2014 while former First Minister, Jack ‘Nicola Sturgeon is now unquestionably government employees – issues reserved to McConnell told the Times (18 October Britain’s most trusted social democrat Westminster have constrained what further 2014): ‘Alex Salmond was essentially and Scotland’s most popular political can be done. leader’ (Guardian 8 May 2015). a right-wing populist, posing as social This does not hold up to serious democrat [but] Nicola Sturgeon is a social Now new SNP MP, Tommy Sheppard: examination. Privateers still abound in democrat’. ‘The effect of [English Labour MPs] public services (especially in the NHS), Many joining SNP - as membership grew being confronted not by people waving and though to be welcomed, the legislative from 25,000 just prior to the referendum Claymores but by a bunch of social programme announced by Sturgeon last to over 100,000 prior to the general democrats who want the same reforms November did not amount to much more election in May 2015 – would have no as they do could be quite seismic’ than tinkering around the edges and doubt concurred. And there are others (see (Guardian 7 May 2015). talking about the possibility of limited state box ‘Perceptions of the SNP’). Other like the Daily Telegraph, intervention despite enhanced devolved Could they all be wrong? The depressing Guardian, Independent and the powers. Taking Prestwick airport into answer is a solid, definite ‘yes’ because Times have all frequently echoed this public ownership and nationalising the debt looking at not just the words but also the sentiment. of Pelamis Wave Power are but mere drops in the ocean – indeed, the two exceptions deeds, the SNP is very far from being - or Meanwhile, there are even some who that prove the rule, especially when added even becoming - a social democratic party. believe the SNP to have socialist to the wasted opportunity of not bringing leanings and undertones. For example, There is no doubt that the SNP has moved a Scotrail back into public ownership and Vonny Moyes, activist within the now long, long way from the time when it could the possible privatisation of CalMac. accurately be described as ‘Tartan Tories’, defunct independence supporting a predominant alliance of farmers and National Collective, believed the SNP Moreover, there are growing concerns fishermen, and that Sturgeon is to the left was characterised by ‘centralism with about the SNP government’s tendencies of previous leader, Alex Salmond. But this a soupcon of socialism – just enough towards centralisation and managerialism does not make the SNP social democratic. to win over the floating left’ (Guardian so that the democratic part of any alleged 24 March 2015) while Sean Clerkin, social democracy is very much being called The essence of social democracy isa of Scottish Labour heckling fame into question. political party in both words and deeds and Citizens United, proclaimed: that is prepared to use the state to intervene Now a major player at Westminster after ‘I say to you working-class people: May 7, the SNP will no longer be able in the economy to ameliorate the processes don’t be fooled, vote against Labour, and outcomes of free market capitalism - to hide so easily behind its limitations of vote against the red Tories, vote for power argument whilst simultaneously and to do so in order to make them fairer the Scottish National Party come the for most citizens. This is not socialism proclaiming its social democratic election and vote for socialism’ credentials. for the market still exists and is merely (Herald 21 February 2015). regulated - neither heavily curtailed nor The SNP will be sorely tested by its attitude abolished. The outcome is to make society more pay more), measures to achieve towards renationalising all forms of public more ‘sociable’ in terms of economic justice wealth redistribution, support for unions transport and former public utilities, and social equality. to level the playing field with employers introducing rent and other price controls, and so on. One of the most obvious forms The evidence to show that any political bringing banks and other key economic social democracy takes is public ownership. party – when in office - is social democratic activities into public ownership, providing comprises statutory intervention leading Notwithstanding the recent populist statutory means for unions to engage in to the regulation of wages and prices, opportunism of the Scottish Labour leader, sectoral collective bargaining and the like. progressive taxation (where those with Jim Murphy, it is a measure of the political This is because so much of what the SNP

17 is about in regard of the critical private One class owns the means of production, operation can, social liberalism believes, be sector is encouragement and cajoling of a distribution and exchange while the other aided by state guidance - hence, SNP policy voluntary nature with the result that this does not. Sturgeon’s talk of ‘one Scotland’ of now selectively cutting corporation tax voluntary method is neither forceful nor and ‘Scotland's interests’ means that this to encourage specific investment to create effective. If employers do not want to do ‘x’ root cause of social inequality within jobs or tax breaks for oil companies to save or ‘y’ and there is no compulsion (especially Scotland is not recognised and cannot be jobs (with nationalisation not considered). financial) upon them to do so, they will not recognised. And, if it is not recognised, it The SNP is then rather less interested in do it unless it benefits them financially. cannot be addressed either. whether the jobs are well-paid, decent, A good example of this is the Scottish Consequently, the SNP can best be unionised ones or not. This is to remain the Government’s recent launching of the Fair characterised as social liberal, not social prerogative of employers and that is not a Work Convention – it is to be welcomed democratic. While neo-liberalism means hallmark of social democracy. But it is up but it is not a return to corporatism or letting the market rip, social liberalism to the unions and the left to contest this tripartism because it seeks to lead by is a variant of it with an added touch of as strongly and as successfully as they can. example and through best practice without social conscience. Indeed, was recognised Gregor Gall is professor of industrial relations at the any financial or legal compulsion on capital some time ago by renown independent University of Bradford and author of ‘The Political and employers. economists, Jim and Margaret Cuthbert, Economy of Scotland: Red Scotland? Radical Scotland?’ (University of Wales Press, 2005) But behind the issue of modus operandi when in 2009 they analysed the SNP as ‘neo-liberalism with a heart’ in a chapter lurks a much bigger and more important Sturgeon speaks to one – that of ideology. Whether seen as its for an edited book on the SNP called The difficulty in - or its aversion to - becoming Modern SNP – from protest to power. Scottish business social democratic, the SNP’s problem is that Social liberalism welcomes free market Nicola Sturgeon speaking to business it does not recognise the existence of social capitalism so long as it operates efficiently in leaders said business has nothing to classes and the conflict between them. terms of creating jobs. Indeed, its efficient fear from her government, adding ‘I am a social democrat … I believe in pursuing greater equality and tackling social justice. You can’t do that unless you have got a strong economy, unless you have got a vibrant business base earning the wealth that makes that pos- sible. Your success underpins the pros- perity and wellbeing of every commu- nity in Scotland. It is vital for me and my Government to work closely with you to help you succeed, and I intend to do that. My government will be en- thusiastic in our support for business’ (from the Express 2 December 2014).

Sturgeon speaks to the SNP conference (15 November 2014) SCOTLAND My job, as First Minister, will be to champion the interests of Scottish business at home and around the globe. That is a task I embrace with relish. Scotland must always be an environment where ideas flourish, Fighting for a businesses locate and jobs are created. Because then and only then do we have the tools to do what should matter to all of us - and that is to eradicate Future that Works the poverty that scars the lives of too many of our fellow citizens. Over the next few weeks, I will set out directly to Scottish business the support they can expect from my government to help them innovate, export, be more Unite Scottish Secretary Pat Rafferty Unite Scottish Chair Scot Walker competitive and create more jobs. www.unitescotland.org (Excerpt from her speech) 32

18 Collegiately is fine in theory but not in practice Mary Senior argues the SNP will be tested by what it does over university governance

he current debate around university - the body that represents university And, any analysis of press clippings relating Tgovernance and plans – proposed by principals - described proposals to include to the higher education sector since the the Scottish Government and supported by union nominees onto governing bodies as turn of the year would demonstrate that the Scottish Labour Party – to reform the ‘undemocratic’ and worse also described the problem isn’t a lack of willingness to sector is one that can reverse the increasing the inclusion of union nominees as being take tough decisions. Rather, the problem prevalence of managerialism in Scottish contrary to the Nolan Principles of Public is how to challenge and interrogate some of higher education. It is also an important Life - selflessness, integrity, objectivity, the nonsensical decisions senior managers bellwether of how employers and the accountability, openness, honesty and in our institutions take on a depressingly Scottish government regard unions. leadership. That principals believe trade regular basis. At the moment how universities are unionists on university courts would not From the partner of the principal of UWS governed varies from institution to be able to act in a way conducive to those being reportedly appointed as a consultant institution. In some, the chair of the standards betrays a mind-set that is stuck in on £500 per day to university principals governing body is elected and in others the 1980s rather than one which recognises being awarded up to 13% pay rises and they are appointed by committees the positive role of unions. expenses of £27,000 for airline flights with themselves made up in part of appointees. Those who argue against reform say there little or no transparency, then if there is not Governing bodies are important both is no evidence of a problem and that, put a crisis in the sector, then it would be fair to because they make the decisions that affect simply, ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’. Since argue that there is a lack of accountability UCU members’ work and lives but also the start of 2015, however, we’ve seen in the way universities are led. because universities have a key role to play countless examples of exactly how the Governance is about ensuring the decisions in society and the economy. Scottish higher education sector is, if not taken about the running of universities are In 2012, an independent review carried broke, then certainly in need of both some properly scrutinised and challenged. It may out by a university principal, current honest appraisal and a change in tack on be that a university principal appointing chair of court, and STUC and student governance. his/her partner as a consultant or being representatives recommended, amongst Many UCU members sit on their university awarded an inflation busting pay rise with other proposals, that all chairs be elected governing bodies as staff members. A no reason being given in the minutes of and that union and student nominees common complaint from them is that the remuneration committee could be a have places on the new more democratic the refrain amongst many of the other correct and justifiable decision. But until governing bodies. The Scottish Government court members (who will often come from those decisions are made in the open and has promised legislation and recently an almost homogeneous professional or following challenge, discussion and debate, ran a consultation on these proposals. So executive background, will often be male, then we can’t know for sure. far so uncontroversial you would think – often retired and most often be middle On one side of the debate you have the elections, democracy and union nominees class) of the need to take ‘difficult decisions’. staff in our universities represented by on the board of institutions that receive In reality, taking ‘difficult decisions’ is a the unions on campuses and the students over one billion pounds of public money badge of honour taken to show how tough under the leadership of NUS Scotland. On each year. and business savvy you can be. The problem the other, university principals who believe Apparently - not so. Universities Scotland is though, that universities aren’t businesses. that things are just fine (at least for them) as they stand at present. The question is who will ministers listen to? With the consultation over and a draft bill imminent, the sector is waiting with keen anticipation. How ministers proceed is an important indicator for the SNP government under the new leadership of Nicola Sturgeon and an early test for her new education secretary, Angela Constance. She can choose either to make our universities more democratic, representative and transparent, or, on the other hand, listen to principals who attack unions and our right to be involved in universities’ governance. Mary Senior is the University & College Union's Scotland Official

19 Further education: not so different up here from down south Larry Flanagan says that the record of the Scottish Government in FE wouldn’t get top marks

cotland’s college sector has been under Ssignificant pressure over the past period, on a number of fronts. In straightforward financial terms, the cuts endured are stark. From a peak in 2010-2011 of Scottish Funding Council (SFC) provision of £580m, approximately 15,000 staff, and 314,585 students enrolled students, we now see SFC funding of only £526m (a cut of £54 million), approximately 11,000 staff (a cut of 4,000), and only 245,000 students enrolled. The Scottish Government’s focus on been improved by mergers. According to restructuring of the sector seems to have led employability and, in particular, on young the Audit Scotland report, there is evidence to added layers of bureaucracy and, in many people whilst understandable at one level that some colleges merged too quickly cases, a less responsive approach to local has led to a 41% cut since 2008-2009 in the and that their merged systems created needs coupled with a management-style number of over 25s accessing college courses additional problems for students. focussed upon delivery and organisation – this in a sector which is crucial in supporting rather than a more collegiate approach. lifelong learning and second opportunities. One way in which accountability and Perhaps of even greater concern is the transparency was to be improved in the A particular concern is the faltering impact of policy decisions on students with new governance structure was for the progress with regard to a return to national additional support needs where the figures government to nominate the chair of each bargaining. Whilst early developments were have dropped from 19,622 in 2009-2010 to region’s FE regional body or college, and for promising, and a National Recognition and 14,887 only three years later. that person to be accountable to ministers Procedure Agreement developed, the process – and hence to parliament. The new chairs now seems to be bogged down in a stand- As this short summary indicates, the cuts were to counter the managerialism of the off between colleges and government on in FE have been manifest and damaging. principals and their senior management funding. Scottish Government pressure on The level of cuts, and the shift in emphasis teams dominating college boards. Thus far, colleges to deliver national bargaining needs in age profile and mode of attendance the new Chairs do not seem to be reining to increase or the single shining light of the has firmly slammed the door shut on in the principals – who seem to be fewer in past few years may be extinguished. Political opportunity for many, particularly those number but more powerful since they run intervention is required and urgently. in employment seeking part-time courses, bigger colleges. those over 24 years old and those with The Scottish Government also needs to learning disabilities. Regionalisation – together with outcome secure increased funding for the sector. agreements and other aspects of the Post-16 It needs to recognise the value of FE, not At the same time, the sector has Education Act such as direct nomination of only in terms of employability, but also undergone significant restructuring (called government of regional college chairs – has in terms of lifelong learning. The sector ‘regionalisation’) which has added to the sense certainly brought the FE sector into the has to be used to provide opportunity of unease. The regionalisation process was closer control of the Scottish Government. for those in employment and those with not necessarily unwelcome in itself as it could But that simply begs the question as to how learning difficulties, for example. And have led to better run colleges with fewer that greater control is to be exercised and in terms of governance, colleges have to managers and better governance, particularly for what purposes. The recent movement engage in partnership with their staff, and given the weak college governance and of nearly £100m of college reserves into unions have to be recognised and valued evident managerialism which existed before arms-length foundations at a time of cuts in this process. A more collegiate approach the Post-16 Education Act. is a case in point. to teaching and organisation has to be However, whilst the Scottish Government’s Mergers, while not necessarily a bad thing recovered from the past. stated intention in the Post-16 Education in themselves, have been used as a cloak In many areas of education, Scotland’s Act was to deliver more transparent and to cover the cuts in provision across the approach compares positively with that accountable governance, it was also sector. A fundamental flaw has been the of England but in relation to colleges the clear that for the Scottish Government absence of any real educational rationale commonality of concern across all of Britain efficiency savings from college mergers in underpinning the mergers. Most colleges about cuts, jobs, access and governance is the regionalisation process was a significant pre-merger declared themselves to be an indication that improvements are still driver. And, a huge question mark remains ‘community’ colleges or at least colleges required. as to the extent to which these aims have which served their local communities. The been realised. Larry Flanagan is the general secretary of the larger organisations are finding this more Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union. Put simply, there is no evidence that difficult to achieve due to detachment from Until becoming general secretary in 2012, he was college governance or management has those communities. Unfortunately, the a Principal Teacher of English in Glasgow.

20 All change? It’s certainly time for a change! Mick Whelan on the state of the railways in Scotland

hen John Major privatised Britain’s owned, a directly operated railway, but the generally safety, rather than criminality, Wrailways twenty years ago he promised political dogma of the Tories and Liberal and the specialist knowledge that needs. it would deliver three things – competition, Democrats meant this public asset was sold Every one of the stakeholders I have innovation, and investment. Competition, to a private company. Again. spoken to feels this is another mistake, and he said, would drive innovation and On ScotRail, we have seen our railway the first stage in the dissolution of a body investment. But there is no competition as split in two with the Caledonian sleepers that everyone in the industry thinks should the privatised train operating companies all being handed over to Serco. This decision remain operating independently in the have protected routes, private monopolies. had a major impact on our members who interests not just of those of who work in And, there is precious little innovation – worked for ScotRail and DB Schenker. As the industry, but the travelling public, and the privatised train companies were against Serco had no drivers, they subcontracted the taxpayer, too. the introduction of Oyster cards – and all the work to GB Railfreight. The premature closure of Longannet power the investment in the rail industry comes station will devastate a region which still from central government. Abellio were awarded the rest of the ScotRail franchise (and they subcontracted work to bears the scars of the pit closures in the Fares have gone up, not down – we now Direct Rail Services due to a lack of diesel 1980s. It’s a bitter blow, not just to the have the highest rail fares in Europe – while units). What a missed opportunity! I find workers who will lose their jobs, but to trains have got ever more crowded - to the it astonishing that the Dutch government the whole area of west Fife. And, all this at point where passengers, even commuters in was given the keys to Scotland’s railways a time when we need more, and not less, south-east England who vote Conservative, when the Scottish government could have energy security. are calling for a return of the railways to delayed the decision on awarding the The aims of my union are clear and public ownership. franchise until after the Smith commission enshrined in our rule book. ASLEF exists I know why the train operating companies reports back with its recommendations on to secure the best terms and conditions like privatisation – when they talk about further powers for the Scottish parliament. for train drivers, to negotiate on behalf of ‘risk and reward’ what they mean is there It’s high time that the railways of this our members with the train and freight is no risk, it’s all reward. But the model is country were put into the hands of the operating companies, to promote a pride clearly broken. It doesn’t work. It’s no way people of this country. Regardless of in the job we do, to champion equality in to run a railway in the twenty first century. anyone’s political leanings, it does not make our industry, to provide education services The full madness of privatisation hit any sense to hand the contract to another for our members, and to work for a fairer, Scotland’s railways with a vengeance this European government to run our railway. more just, and more equitable society – a year. East Coast, which returned £1bn to As a union, we have campaigned long and socialist society. the Treasury while in public ownership, hard to bring the railways back under public That’s what we want. A government was taken over by Stagecoach (even though ownership because we know that is the best committed to socialist values. And they call themselves Virgin East Coast, way to run a properly, vertically, integrated that includes bringing back into public and use Virgin livery, they are 90% owned railway in the twenty first century and we ownership the key parts of the economy by Stagecoach). This is the fifth private will work to bring Scotland’s railways back which belong to the people. company to try running this franchise. under public ownership. Mick Whelan is general secretary of ASLEF, the The only successful company was publicly Sometimes, it seems that every time we take train drivers’ union a step forward to ensure there are robust measures in place to deal adequately with issues that affect our members as well as the travelling public – such as suicide and trespass – some short-sighted person impacts on all the good work. This time it was Michael Matheson, Justice Secretary in the Scottish government, who announced that British Transport Police (BTP) will be subsumed into Police Scotland. This after the Smith commission devolved powers over railway policing to Holyrood. The BTP possesses specialist skills in a world where the first priority is

21 Participation and the hacker ethic: a model for social change Jen Hunter and Sue Smith delve into new ways of organising

uch was said and written about locally by making meaningful, productive decentralised and ultimately speak to a Mengaging with young people during learning experiences available to those kids more democratic future. this General Election, most of it predictably who have the fewest opportunities in life. Hack Aye will of course seek to tick a range patronising. The reality for most is a lack As inequality continues its relentless of CV-friendly boxes: helping school-leavers of participation that stretches far beyond increase, poverty and underemployment to learn skills valued in the workplace, gain the polling booth. With secure, well paid have started to seem like an inescapable confidence and experience the benefit of jobs in scarce supply, many young adults norm. Remember last year's outbreak of working within a team. However, we also feel a sense of isolation and powerlessness hope? Young people threw themselves into hope to stimulate a more meaningful shift that another Tory government can only the independence debate in unprecedented - learning to see the world as changeable. multiply. Now more than ever, we need to numbers, with groups such as Radical This is the hacker ethic: break things open, explore new models of engagement between Independence Campaign, Common Weal see how they work, change them. Exploring our young people and the organisations, and others making the Yes movement a and supporting a variety of ways to express social structures and networks that can model of grassroots power in action. In dissent will be vital as new anti-union laws connect them to opportunity and influence spite of everything, the tide of activism is kick in. - we hope the Hack Aye project will play a continuing to rise. part in that process. In one of our first substantial projects, we In 2014 the V&A's Disobedient Objects organised an event as part of the Better than Participation is a central theme for us. exhibition showcased innovations generated Zero (>ZERO) campaign against low pay Not having enough work, secure work or by activist movements throughout history. and insecure work. On 14th May 2015 we well enough paid work prevents you from Something similarly creative happened brought contributors from music, visual art, fully participating in your community and last year in Scotland that was more comedy, technology and activism together the wider society, from family life to your fundamental than an increase in the voting with young people to hack zero culture. In a career and education pathways, if you're turnout. Young people imagined the kind bold departure from the old-school approach, fortunate enough to have any. Hack Aye of country they wanted to live in. Scoff if the STUC aims to provide the support started from the belief that everyone has a you like at what they and others imagined, for young people to drive this campaign, right to this participation. but it was a significant moment. Every forging new connections outside the trade Our response is an experimental social movement starts with a creative act union movement. We used various creative approach we're developing with various - visualising a different reality from the one techniques to capture experiences of work, partners, beginning with Scottish trade you find yourself in. draw inspiration from global movements union organisations. We're taking much We asked a group of young people if they and challenge a load of young people, new to inspiration from global movements in were interested in politics. The response activism, to design a movement that will truly politics and technology, from the US Fast was a resounding "no". They went on to represent them. As the election results testify, Food Campaign, Occupy and Hacktivism, express a range of articulate, well-informed for meaningful change we must look beyond to the community-organising principles of views about a variety of issues. After the mainstream politics. open source projects such as those piloted referendum surely no-one can deny the The team behind Hack Aye is Jen Hunter and by the Mozilla Foundation. desire of many young adults to have a Sue Smith, who have worked variously in the A program of creative events and activities stake in the future of their country - the arts, the union movement and technology. Go will bring young participants together with “politics” that they reject is a system whose to http://hackaye.com artists, technologists, activists and others. failure and irrelevance has been highlighted They'll collaborate to learn, “make” and by this General Election in the results both drive the change they want to see. Key north and south of the border. It's not just principles will include openly documenting the language that they don't relate to. and sharing what we discover. We'll support Young Scots feel little to no affiliation decentralised interaction, with participants with traditional democratic movements, as connecting as much or as little as they Scottish Labour must at last understand. like, even anonymously. Achievements "Ah, but they know nothing about the and contributions will be recognised using history of the trade union movement, emerging standards such as Open Badges. they just need educated." Not quite. The We'll engage participants on their interests, problem for trade unions runs deeper, putting them in control over direction and and it isn't a problem, it's part of the outcomes. solution. Young people have less tolerance Existing initiatives using these practices for tribal, hierarchical organising channels include Hive Learning Networks - – together with the chronic failure of communities around the world collaborating representation in Westminster politics, the to change the way learning works in their city. Internet has changed all that. Developing These networks are hacking social change social movements are inherently more

22 One hundred days of SYRIZA Myrto Tsakatika surveys Greece’s radical experiment in resisting austerity

YRIZA’s victory in January 2015 was SYRIZA’s core red lines that involve Sgreeted with relief by the Greek people, restoring labour market legislation and hostility by Europe’s political establishment reinstating collective bargaining have and enthusiasm by the international Left. It not been crossed. On the other hand, gave out a strong signal that hope can beat the last tranche of the bail-out loan has fear and that a people can reject the dogma not been disbursed to Greece while the of austerity and democratically chose an ECB has tightened the noose on Greek alternative path. It also demonstrated that banks. Negotiations are held at the level of the deep structural crisis of so-called ‘third technical groups in Brussels behind closed way’ social democracy can lead it to its doors which means that SYRIZA must annihilation provided a serious contender constantly put effort into re-politicising is in place, willing and able to explore new the talks. These are, of course, hard facts avenues towards democratic socialism in that strengthen the creditors’ hand. Hence, the twenty first century. there are indications that on matters such as privatisations and VAT where the creditors Of course, SYRIZA’s victory took place in have demanded tax rises for instance the most difficult of circumstances. How SYRIZA may not be holding out as well. then, is it coping? Over the last three and a The logo of Syriza Scotland half months both mainstream and friendly On the domestic front, SYRIZA’s to SYRIZA’s unity. A more significant media have predicted either that ‘Grexit’ is legislative programme has been picking up pace. The focus has been on addressing threat to the broader project of social and only a matter of time, or that SYRIZA has economic transformation that SYRIZA no choice but to give in to the creditors’ the humanitarian crisis by giving 300.000 households that live under the poverty line stands for is that with few remarkable demands. Neither of these dooming exceptions (such as the protests against predictions has materialised. access to food, electricity, housing, heating and public transport; extending free access the Eldorado Gold mines in northern It is a mistake to think of the negotiation to public healthcare to the uninsured; Greece), the movement has been at a low between SYRIZA and Greece’s creditors making it easier for individuals and small point since 2012. Active participation, (European Commission, European Central businesses to repay their debts; regulating mobilisation and pressure exercised by the bank and the IMF) as a sprint. Rather, the media landscape (dominated by the labour movement and the great multitude one should approach it as a marathon that Greek oligarchs) and restoring the public of movements that underwrote SYRIZA’s started before the elections and is unlikely broadcaster that had been shut down rise to power are badly needed for the to end any time soon. The outcome will by the previous government; abolishing long term success of SYRIZA’s brand of only be assessed at the end of the road, that high security prisons and closing down democratic socialism. is, when the new settlement between Greece immigrant detention centres. Remarkably, the SYRIZA government and the European Union is finalised. On the other hand, the government has and Alexis Tsipras himself continue That settlement will involve a new not been able to live up to its promise to to command unprecedented levels of agreement on the question of the country’s raise the minimum wage to 750 euros, consensus by the Greeks, with around 70% unsustainable debt that after five years of relegating the measure to next year. And, stating they trust the government to do an extreme austerity has skyrocketed to 175% how could it be otherwise given the dire honest job in the negotiations. Over 36% of GDP, or a third ‘bail-out’ loan attached economic situation in the country (which would vote for SYRIZA were elections to to a new set of conditions that will need to is exacerbated by continued uncertainty)? take place now. The opposition is divided be agreed between the two parties. SYRIZA and weakened with the second party, the Questions have arisen about the relationship centre right New Democracy trailing 20 has made it clear that the first option is between SYRIZA in government, the what the Greek negotiators are aiming points behind SYRIZA in the polls. Is then party and the movement. This is an SYRIZA living up to its promise? The jury for. Failure to agree is also a possibility, in unprecedented situation where a plural which case – as Alexis Tsipras has recently is out and the record is mixed. But there is party of the radical left whose vote share no turning back. The die has been cast and clarified - a referendum would be called to did not go beyond 4% within the space of a the SYRIZA leadership is fully aware of the let the Greeks decide what comes next. few years finds itself leading a government. enormity of its responsibility. In the meantime, there have been smaller Inevitably, most leading cadres and activists including the youth wing are now engaged Dr Myrto Tsakatika, Senior Lecturer in Politics scale victories and defeats. Clearly, the at Glasgow University, is co-ordinator of SYRIZA in parliamentary or government work. This creditors have allowed for a loosening of Scotland austerity measures to the extent that the has left the party in a state of weakness and previous requirements for further cuts in search of a new role. in pensions and salaries have been either Internal pluralism, including disagreements withdrawn or successfully resisted. The on the question of strategy vis-à-vis the outrageous requirement for a 4.5% primary European Union, is both very poorly surplus that had been agreed for the current understood and instrumentalised against fiscal year has given way to more realistic SYRIZA by its opponents and the media. expectations. However, it does not represent a real threat

23 Human Rights in Colombia Davy Brockett visited the most dangerous place to be a union activist

n July 2014, I visited Colombia as being the third largest recipient of US In February 2012, a human rights hearing Ipart of a delegation of fellow trade military and security aid in the world. The was held in the region to highlight military unionists, MPs, lawyers from Britain and interests are both strategic and economic abuses of human rights. The same day Ireland organised by the NGO, Justice for (as the resource rich country opens its there was a massacre; victims included Colombia. On my visit, I heard testimonies economy to privatisation and foreign a five year old girl who had her hands directly from trade unionists, human rights investment). chopped off. Prior to our visit, in May activists and community and political The port of Buenaventura is one of the 2014, four members of the agricultural representatives. The harrowing evidence of largest transnational projects within union FENSUAGRO (a sister union of human rights abuses were beyond belief. Colombia today, where several European Unite and United Steel Workers) were Colombia is a country rich in natural multinational companies are involved in killed in another massacre by the army. To resources and exports: petroleum (where the development of the port, and which hear the peasant activists’ testimonies of the BP is the second largest foreign investor will be receiving trade through the EU free atrocities by government forces was hard to in the country), coal (the country has trade agreements. comprehend. the largest open cast mine in the world), We visited the Humanitarian Space within According to the data base of the CUT emeralds (over half the worlds’ emeralds are Buenaventura for an event organised union federation, nearly 2,800 union Colombian), nickel, copper, gold, iron ore by CONPAZ (broad community activists have been assassinated since the and natural gas. Agriculture, in which over peace coalition) and the Inter Church CUT was established in 1986. All of these 25% of the workforce is employed, is also Commission for Justice and Peace. We heard men and women were killed as a direct crucial to the country’s economy. testimonies of widespread displacement, consequence of their union activities. In Unfortunately, for the vast majority of murders by state and paramilitary forces, addition to the assassinations, nearly 200 Colombians, access to its vast wealth is forced disappearances, paramilitary control trade unionists have disappeared while not within their reach. Those who protest of the area and the horrific violence of others have been subjected to arbitrary and campaign for political change and a the ‘chop houses’ where live victims were imprisonment or physical attacks. Many fairer society are faced with imprisonment, dismembered by chainsaws with the bodies union members receive regular death assassination and kidnap. So Colombia being thrown into the ocean. threats leading to thousands fleeing their homes and jobs, sometimes to exile abroad. is a country where the impact of bad This humanitarian zone was created governance, and unbridled capitalism, by the local people with the support of One of those falsely jailed is union and cause misery for the many. human rights organisations and Catholic opposition leader, Huber Ballesteros, There are hundreds of political prisoners Church in response to the extortion and FENSUAGRO vice-president. Arrested in in Colombia, including union and student murders carried out by drug traffickers and 2013, Ballesteros told our delegation in activists, community and indigenous paramilitary organisations within the area. La Picota prison: ‘there is no democracy leaders, and human rights defenders and The threats and murders have continued in Colombia, and we are confronting a academics - all interned for their opposition in spite of the zone’s creation, as was dictatorship with a democratic face’. to the government and most are interned witnessed during our visit where a worker Colombia is infamous for being the most without trail. for the human rights organisation had to dangerous country in the world for trade Colombia has by far the worst human leave for Bogotá due to a death threat. unionists. Murder and intimidation is such rights record in the western hemisphere. One told us: ‘The government insists the that union affiliation has reduced to fewer Numerous and serious violations occur rightwing paramilitary groups that have than 3% of the working population from on a daily basis. Every year, the United terrorised Colombia’s opposition have been 12% twenty years ago. Nations High Commissioner for Human dissolved. But in Buenaventura, they can The oil workers’ union, USO, one of the Rights expresses deep concern about this be seen openly fraternising with soldiers on most threatened in Colombia, has revealed with the UN having permanent offices in the streets, and they even publish their own that in recent weeks that 13 of its activists several regions of the country to monitor newspaper’. have received threats or have been attacked. human rights. Additionally, Colombia is We also visited Putumayo which is in a The union’s treasurer, David Mauricio the only South American country to appear region close to Ecuador and Peru. The Gomez, was threatened by the paramilitary on the major countries of concern human area has a large indigenous population. group, the Gaitanist Self-Defence Forces, rights list, maintained by the UK Foreign The economy is mostly oil and agricultural whilst ten more were sent threats from Office. production. The oil industry along with unknown sources. Notwithstanding this, successive UK the government’s drug war fumigation Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo, a leading governments have failed to openly programme of the coca plantations has human rights activist was found murdered condemn the Colombian government caused serious environmental damage in a village outside Bogota in January 2015, and the ongoing human rights abuses. to the farmlands which has resulted in two days after disappearing in the capital And, the lack of transparency surrounding displacement of rural people. The region on his way to a meeting. He was a member British military cooperation to support the now has tens of thousands of displaced of Congreso de los Pueblos – a civil society Colombian army poses serious questions persons living in precarious conditions movement which was involved in the mass to the UK government. Colombia is also around the main towns. Recently, graves strikes in the summer of 2013. Washington’s closest ally in Latin America, of unidentified bodies have also been discovered. The Movement for Victims of State Crimes

24 (MOVICE), a close partner of Justice for throughout Colombia. the elections last year in the hope he will Colombia, has denounced the recent death The figures were released in a report deliver on the peace process which began threats made against one of its regional published by the Internal Displacement between the Colombian government and leaders, Martha Diaz. On 8 February 2015, Monitoring Centre. Syria is the country the FARC guerrillas in November 2012. Martha received a funeral wreath sent to with the highest internally displaced The recent announcement in 2015 that the her home with the words, ‘Rest in peace’. population with over 7m, 40% of its government is prepared to enter a bilateral According to latest figures for 2014, population, and Iraq saw the largest growth ceasefire, which would give protection to Colombia continues to be the country with in internally displaced population in 2014. trade unionists, civil society activists and the second highest number of internally Those three countries - Syria, Colombia opposition politicians, is to be welcomed. displaced. Over 6m people have been and Iraq - lead the world in displaced It could open up the possibility for change forced from their homes in Colombia, a populations. in Colombia, but there is still a long way to total of 13% of the Colombian population. The resolve and determination of the go before this forty five year war is brought In 2014, a further 137,000 were added to Colombians in their struggle for justice to an end, and these proud people achieve the total as a result of both the ongoing and peace is inspiring. Many are critical of Justice for Colombia. war and the actions of paramilitary groups President Santos but gave him support in Davy Brockett is an Executive Council who continue to act with relative impunity member of the Unite union The Blockade of Cuba in 2015: Are Relations ‘Normalised’ Now? Vicky Grandon documents the terrible effect of the continuing blockade

ews of the release of the remaining practiced in relation to health, education, The US Treasury Department refused to N‘Miami 5’ reached Scottish Cuba employment and equality issues. How has renew a licence to health organization, Solidarity Campaign in December 2014. the embargo impacted on Cuba and why Population Services International (PSI), to We learned that Presidents Obama and are we determined to support the call to export condoms to Cuba for distribution Castro had been in talks for 18 months end it? to groups at high risk of contracting HIV with involvement of the Pope leading up to In 2007, the UN High Commission of infection. the momentous announcements. During Human Rights reported that restrictions These are symbolic of the many examples those negotiations, prisoner releases were imposed by the embargo deprived Cuba of of inhumane consequences of the embargo, agreed, the classification of Cuba as a vital access to medicines, new scientific and illustrated vividly by Aleida Guevara terrorist threat was lifted and some trade medical technology, food, chemical water during her 2013 visit to Scotland when sanctions changed. But the blockade and treatment and electricity. she described the challenge of sourcing occupation of Guantanamo continues. UNICEF reported that Cuba was unable basic health supplies and powdered milk For over half a century, the US government to import nutritional products destined for for newborns with medical complications. has tried to isolate Cuba economically in children and for consumption at schools, Aleida was speaking both as the daughter of an effort to undermine its government hospitals and day care centres. This had an Che Guevara and a consultant paediatrician and deprive it of resources. This directly adverse effect on the health and nutritional working in Havana today. contradicts international as well as internal status of the population and is believed In 2009, Amnesty International reported US government reports concluding that to be a contributing factor in the high that the blockade breached human rights Cuba poses no threat to the US, and prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and international protocols and that it could that the blockade has been ineffectual in which in 2007 affected 37.5% of children be lifted by the Obama administration influencing sovereignty and Cuban policy. under three. within the current legislative framework. The hostile actions of the US have never Children’s health was also put at risk by a The positive developments in USA-Cuba diminished the strength or achievements decision from syringe suppliers to cancel relations announced 17 December 2014 of the Cuban Revolution. Our Scottish an order for 3m disposable syringes by led many to think that the blockade in solidarity is inspired by the progressive UNICEF’s Global Alliance for Vaccines place since 1960 would be lifted quickly. policies that Cuba has developed and and Immunization when it became The US Government website updates of 17 known that the units were destined for April 2015 explain the current restrictions the implementation of the programme in and spell out the true intentions of the Cuba. The World Health Organization paltry concessions: reported that ‘lack of access to products manufactured by United States companies The Cuba embargo remains in place. Most prevents the provision of proper care to transactions between the United States, or seriously ill patients who need a pacemaker, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and St. Jude prosthetic valves or septal occluders, Cuba continue to be prohibited, and Office forcing their treatment with alternative, of Foreign Assets Control continues to enforce riskier surgical techniques’. the prohibitions of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations. UN Programmes to prevent and fight HIV/AIDS suffered from the embargo. Travel to Cuba for tourism is not allowed.

25 The traveller’s schedule of activities must not willing to permit in order to transform all government supporting representatives. include free time or recreation in excess of that Cuba and open up private enterprise under President Raul Castro clearly stated: ;The consistent with a full-time schedule. the name of ‘democratization’. re-establishment of diplomatic relations is Activities of human rights organisations Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign the start of a process of normalising bilateral designed to promote a rapid, peaceful continues to work robustly to end the relations, but this will not be possible while transition to democracy may be supported. blockade. It is good news that the US has the blockade still exists, while they don’t Construction projects intended to benefit finally taken Cuba off its list of nations give back the territory illegally occupied by legitimately independent civil society groups; that pose a terrorist threat and released the the Guantánamo naval base’. … projects suitable to the development 3 remaining ‘Miami 5’ prisoners after 16 May Day in Havana 2015 saw over a of small-scale private enterprise; projects long years of mistreatment, injustice and million Cubans hear the president of its that promote independent activity; … abuse of process. Cuba has celebrated their TUC reiterate the same clear position that microfinancing projects, except for loans, return and welcomed them as heroes. upholds the right of Cuba to determine its extensions of credit, or other financing [are] Local elections have just taken place in future. prohibited. Cuba that have indicated the confidence Vicky Grandon is Chair of the Scottish The emphasis from these extracts is not and hope the current political system offers. Cuba Solidarity Campaign and Vice-Chair, on what Cuba needs or wants as an equal Candidates of the right have been defeated UNITE Scotland Political Committee partner, but what the US is conditionally and strong clear voting majorities won by A phoenix is trying to rise from the ashes Stephen Smellie visited Kobane to see the hope amid the devastation

he town of Suruc in Kurdistan sits on gain support from a population they had However when Kobane came under attack TTurkish territory close to the border for years scorned. from ISIS, which had become the biggest, with Syria. Its nearest neighbour sits across In Kobane and other parts of Rojava in the best armed and most successful of the the border. This is Kobane. This Kurdish past three years a remarkable development anti-Assad forces, and the mainly Kurdish town and its surrounding villages had a took place when the Assad regime refugees had flooded over the border to population of around 400,000. withdrew its forces. Suddenly, the people of Suruc, no material support was offered. In Suruc town centre, there is an art the region were left to run their own towns Instead, the local council in Suruc was installation around 5 metres high of an arm and communities. In a short space of time, faced with the task of looking after them and hand holding aloft a pomegranate, guided by a political leadership which had with their own resources and what the local symbolising the fertility of this region which developed through years of struggle across people could provide. for thousands of years has produced fruits Kurdistan, they created democratic, secular Its young co-Mayor (Kurdish politics and foods in abundance. The people of the and gender equal institutions to run society. ensures that each senior position is shared region recognised no borders separating The autonomous cantons of Kobane, by two people, one of whom has to be a their two towns until the creation of the Afrin and Cezire took over the running woman) told me ‘we have a humanitarian modern states of Turkey and Syria by the of schools and health services, building crisis here but the world ignores it and French and British imperialists who had new ones and holding people’s assemblies hides behind the Turkish state who support emerged victorious over the Ottoman to determine priorities. Kurds, Arabs, ISIS’. Empire. The border followed the route of Muslims, Christians, Alevis and others In the refugee camp a woman lay with her the railway the French built to exploit the participated freely. Gender awareness baby on a camp bed. She had lost both legs produce of the region, oil as well as fruit. classes were ran for all public servants and when she stood on a mine planted by ISIS. From that point, the Kurds of Suruc were those joining the armed protection units. She had been unable to get crutches. The denied the right to call themselves Kurds, A democratic revolution was underway in volunteer doctor who was running a field to speak their mother tongue on official a region blighted by religious sectarianism clinic explained they had no incubators for business, in school, courts and hospitals. and undemocratic regimes. premature babies, no wheelchairs for the Their brothers and sisters across the border In November 2014, I visited Suruc. The wounded and few pain control medicines. in Kobane suffered the same national town and surrounding area had now I travelled to within a mile of Kobane and oppression. In the years around the break- become the home for around 200,000 could hear gunfire and explosions and up of the old empire, many Kurds moved refugees from the forces of ISIS who had could see the ISIS black flag flying over across the artificial border and settled in attacked the town in August. The Turkish one of the buildings. The world expected Kobane and other parts of Rojava, Western government had supported those groups ISIS to crush the resistance of the Kurdish Kurdistan. who had taken up arms against Assad and fighters in the Peoples Protection Units The Syrian government used this fact to had established, with substantial European (YPG) and the Women’s Protection Units declare that millions of the residents of Union aid, many refugee camps for the (YPJ) in the coming weeks. this region were not eligible to be citizens Syrian people who had fled the civil war However, with the support of Peshmerga of Syria, denying them the right to state that Turkey had done much to promote forces from the Kurdish Regional services. A situation that only changed in and finance allowing resources, arms and Government in Iraq, who were allowed to recent years as the Assad regime sought to fighters, to get to the anti-Assad rebels.

26 travel across Turkish territory after mass does not fall again. Kobane, and the other support, UNISON has launched an appeal demonstrations in all the main Kurdish democratically run cantons in Rojava, for cash and equipment to help re-build cities and towns as well as in Instanbul, continue facing an embargo by both Turkey the health services. Donations can be made and aerial bombardment of ISIS positions and Iraq which limits the ability to get aid at www.justgiving.com/Kobane-Health- by American war planes, the defenders and resources through. Appeal of Kobane drove ISIS out of the city in Therefore, an appeal to the international The world must not ignore the plight of January. community has been launched by the Kobane. Progressive people in the world Suruc is now the centre of a re-building Administration of Kobane Canton. They cannot ignore the political movement effort by the people of Kobane. Many state: ‘We call on all governments and in Kobane and Rojava to build a secular refugees have returned to their homes international organisations to immediately society based on equality and democratic to find them completely destroyed. The help facilitate the rebuilding of Kobane by principles. water supply has been cut off, electricity providing us with essential support’. For further information, see Report generation destroyed, schools flattened and Our government and the EU have not on urgent and essential needs in all 4 hospitals, 86 clinics, 51 pharmacies responded to this appeal and so we must Kobane (Feb 2015) available at and 9 medical laboratories either destroyed demand that they do. http://peaceinkurdistancampaign. or severely damaged. The Kobani people need a ‘humanitarian com/2015/02/27/report-on-urgent-and- The re-building effort faces huge obstacles. corridor’ to allow aid and materials to pass essential-needs-in-kobane/ The war against ISIS continues and much through Turkey. They require materials for Stephen Smellie is Depute Convenor of the resources available to the people have housing, electricity generation and water UNISON Scotland and Trade Union Officer to be devoted to ensuring that Kobane supplies. In an initiative to offer practical for Peace in Kurdistan The Common Weal and the Nordic Model Peter Lomas argues some compromises are worth making

n Scottish Left Review 85 (Jan/Feb 20105), the locus of essential heavy industry in declared in the eighteenth century IPhilip Stott critiqued the Common Weal Scandinavia, but its economic powerhouse when the monarchical regime was a (CW), alleging that it stands for a 'Nordic - the heartland of high-technology European great power, recently victorious model' that, despite having some original multinationals like IKEA, Electrolux, SAAB over Russia; it was presented then as a aspects, is soft on capitalism and potentially and Volvo, which in time were cloned into unilaterally-peaceful, quietist position. collaborative with big business – and not neighbouring countries. This was also an The international background changed, left-leaning or progressive like the Socialist unusually stable and harmonious society: however, with the Cold War, when Swedish Party Scotland to which he belongs. a clean, well-governed place where well- diplomats noted that, like Cuba, their The CW, that antique expression, to me dressed people went to work (but not too country lay within the immediate death- means two things: society as a whole, and the hard) and wandered freely at weekends zone of a superpower nuclear exchange. well-being of society; and a body of people among the woods and lakes in exercise of Swedish neutrality came to represent and their common good. So it can apply their allmänsrätt, or universal right to roam. national self-interest, as armed neutrality. equally to a nation and all humankind. We Swedish egalitarianism is rooted in the It meant universal conscription, an can aspire to make a better Scottish nation, historic memory of countless frozen winters ambiguous stance towards liberal- for its own sake and as an example and a - of families imprisoned with the animals democratic societies in NATO, and a help to other striving nations in the world. in the byre with little alternative future in significant home-grown military industry: Both people and principle are enshrined in view. 'Vi har det så bra': people used to the dynamism and profits of SAAB and this phrase. Nobody goes against the CW. admit to me when I lived in Stockholm in Bofors flowing from the development - As for the 'Nordic model' - the core source the 1980s: 'We've never had it so good.' and export - of fighter aircraft and guns. of that idea, and its key interest for us That also meant 'no-one else has itso Swedish ecologists, pacifists and socialists in Scotland, is surely Sweden. Swedish good', because from the 1960s onwards, inspired by the Myrdals fought with the twentieth century experience was that of a Swedish governments, adopting the industrial lobby, who argued that Sweden resource-poor country (with one exception, internationalism of Gunnar and Alva must be strong to stay distinctive; with iron) with a fragile natural environment Myrdal, pioneered the causes of nuclear the nuclear lobby, who insisted that there and a land and climate unwelcoming to disarmament, East-West reconciliation was no alternative source of reliable bulk agriculture; and an impoverished, isolated and economic development in Africa and energy; with the bosses, who pointed to society of a few million people, continually Asia. Scandinavian societies, following Bofors and SAAB and said they would drained by emigration from North to South the Swedish example, continue to exceed support the ruling consensus so long as the and to other continents. And yet through four- or five-fold the UN-set level of aid unions were part of it and compliant with the sustained leadership of one (social- to former-colonial countries (though there them. democratic) party, it developed one of the was never a Swedish Empire). To a considerable extent these politico- richest and most advanced economies in But we should also see Sweden in a ethical divisions persist today in Sweden, the world. wider context, both historically and though the value of international neutrality, After 1945, Sweden became not only internationally. Swedish neutrality was as in the case of Switzerland, has shrunk

27 drastically since the end of the Cold War done, or they would have left the country.) and right of the SNP, Greens, feminists, and the rise of the EU. Similarly, the Social- Swedes in general, like their counterparts trade unionists, and socialists but members Democratic Party has lost its pre-eminence in Switzerland, were compromised by their of no party (like myself). In this way, it with the built-in preferentialism towards own official neutrality, since they always mirrors the independence movement as private enterprise progressively instituted counted themselves part of the open, a whole since the start of the referendum in EU member-states. liberal-democratic Western tradition which campaign, which has been generally non- These parallels for Scotland, and the same prevailed in the Cold War. sectarian, co-operative, a forum for mutual EU-related complications (including those In Scandinavian society in general, both instruction - which in itself suggests which face a dominant social-democratic outside NATO and within it (Norway, some principle for a post-independence party), are worth pondering whenever Denmark), this 'model' held because parliament at Holyrood. the 'Nordic model' is evoked. Philip Stott people understood and worked within The 'Nordic model' provides both positive attacked as incoherent the template for an these compromises. In addition, I would and negative lessons for Scottish society. independent Scotland - the first tentative add, and because of a strong localism, Now, together with Scandinavians, we 'ideology' of CW - put together by Robin upright political leaders regularly emerged face the challenge of reforming European McAlpine in All of Us First in 2014. and maintained their integrity. Perhaps, society, where capitalism has become But apart from the fact that his book was a the most valuable impression (certainly on favoured, through the laws and institutions compilation, an attempted fusion of many my mind) of modern Scandinavia is one of of the EU, in a more insidious and disparate reports on all aspects of a future societies without political corruption. tenacious way than ever before. Beyond independent Scottish society, the 'Nordic CW, it seems to me, is another kind of that we face the challenge of improving model' itself, at least in Sweden, was always compromise: one forged in the name of a the lot of all our fellow human beings. a compromise between socialism and better future, which is opened up by the That is how I view the prospect of Scottish capitalism, even in its heyday. prospect of Scottish independence. 'We independence. Scottish nationalists must be internationalists too. The CW is the Multinational bosses, like the unions, can have a more ethical country,' said weal of the world as a whole. compromised with the leading party. They Isobel Lindsay in the run-up to last year's also, above all others, compromised with the referendum. A consensus of hope brings Peter Lomas was a researcher at the Stockholm regime of high taxation. (They must have together, in CW, members from the left International Peace Research Institute, 1984-1987

Say NO to ConDem cuts For all public transport in public hands For o shore safety For trade-union rights

Mick Cash, General Secretary Peter Pinkney, President

28 in Scottish society that any Scottish redistributing income across the lifetime Government would reasonably want to see’. of each individual making deposits during Book And, of course, that would surely include working years, and withdrawals during any future Labour-LibDem coalition in the child rearing, illness, retraining and old Reviews Scottish Parliament too. age’. The outcome is ‘social solidarity that Riddoch’s analysis of Smith is entertaining keeps the rich paying taxes with relatively Wee White despite the misery - ‘Scots haven’t gone few complaints’. Scotland needs the through two years of soul searching to confidence and authority to carve out its Blossom: come up with a clutch of reheated offers, own road though as she acknowledges that neither Denmark nor Sweden are ‘nirvana’. what post-referendum a dangerously limited range of tax powers and a hard to entrench promise that A good read that leaves you wanting to Scotland needs to flourish, Westminster cannot abolish Holyrood. learn and chat more. Lesley Riddoch, Luath Press, Voters want a meaningful and memorable Carole Ewart is a public policy and human rights 9781908373991, £5.99 deal’. Not everyone will share her politics consultant. Reviewed by Carole Ewart but it is almost impossible to disagree with I worried Wee White Blossom her analysis. Dave Does the Land reform is a longstanding interest of (WWB) was out of date by Right Thing: I'm the time I read it, having been the author and her knowledge is shared bite written by journalist, public sized to make you feel confident in having David Cameron. thinker and community activist, a go at a chat with someone else. The right Lesley Riddoch, in the distance to buy is exposed as a narrow concept based I'm Prime between the ‘No’ vote and the on the owner of the property rather than general election. No chance. as a right of the tenant - the Tory ‘right to Minister. I will do I will return to this book buy’ did not extend to agricultural tenants many times to remind me of an evolving e.g., what happens to the tenants when they the right thing. I world for Scotland which navigates social, retire? The Land Reform Review Group’s economic and political change. report of May 2014 called for the re- must do the right WWB updates the original Blossom (2013) introduction of business rates on sporting and sets out the evidence on how Scotland estates as they currently pay nothing (really thing. We all must can flourish, equally, post-referendum. It and why not?) and an ‘end to the distinction do the right thing. is just like having a chat with an informed between inheriting land where spouses and friend who wants to share with you what children have no legal rights and moveable Introduced by Owen Dudley Edwards, she has found out and her conclusions. property … where they do’. Inheritance Luath Press, The style of writing engages the reader will therefore be ‘democratised’. 9781910021637, £6.99 rather than making them feel ignorant, Local democracy is analysed with a robust Reviewed by Donald McCormick and that is the point because the author argument that councils should be smaller assumes that if we know more about our and more powerful. I had not known that cultural, social and economic past we in 1930, 871 parish councils had been axed would understand how skewed our view as democratic structures although they of normality actually is. still exist for census purposes. I also did Peppered with facts and analysis that alarm, not know ‘meaningful town control went intrigue and inspire WWB provokes us to in 1975” and the ratio of councillors to reflect on the here and now as well as change citizens is 1:4,270 in Scotland but 1:125 in how we think about the future. Rightly France. Knowing now, I wonder how we WWB reminds us that ‘there has been got into this fix in the first place. personal empowerment through political Reforms which don’t deliver are highlighted. activity from the referendum’ whereas ‘all The new Community Empowerment Bill too often the flow of energy has been the misses the mark in respect of community other way round – with individuals feeling councils - failing to address the power disappointed or crushed by their brush of vacuum ‘it neither turns community the political world’. Labour’s process of councils into dynamic new delivery level choosing candidates for the new Scottish authorities nor does it knock them on the Parliament elections in May 1999 may head and put them out of their misery’. have been one of those latter experiences Changes in our perceptions are encouraged for far too many people. by sharing practices elsewhere. Rather than Consistently the impact rather than the focusing on the detail, Riddoch urges us details of policies are analysed such as the to reflect on the narrative. In respect of At the time of writing this review, a week Smith Commission with one economist welfare, how we are conditioned to think after a universally predicted indecisive and tax expert quoted as saying ‘there is no that we are paying for other people’s general election, it would seem that the title opportunity to create economic growth, welfare and get nothing in return. We Dave Does The Right Thing is in the wrong no opportunity to create re-distribution, need to change perceptions. She cites tense. This is because Dave must have done no opportunity to create the outcomes the ‘Danes who see welfare as a way of the right thing for enough people south

29 of the Border to win a majority in the done for us? Baldrick is missing and that is who combines the two popular pub issues Commons despite a higher voter turnout probably why we have heard so much about in Scotland in his day job, has opinions and a promise of a further twelve billion encouraging Blue Collar Conservatism in worth listening to. quid in unspecified cuts in public spending recent weeks. If you lower expectations to In addition, the opinions and actions (though no doubt some day we will laugh owning your own turnip, the present of a variety of characters are respectfully about how those tricksy pollsters had us government will ensure that you live the described but it is their pet names which fooled). dream. I don’t doubt that Dave is sincere helpfully introduce the reader to what they You will have deduced that it’s pumped in his self-view as a decent hearted One are likely to say and do. For example Alastair up Dave Cameron that is being referred to Nation Tory - even though an Old Etonian, Darling is both the ‘High Commissioner and can rest assured that wherever the axe Bullingdon Club chap who has never had for Better Together’ and ‘Chief Doomsayer falls Dave will assure us all that it is ‘the a real job has as much knowledge of what Pursuivant of All Scotland’. When right thing’. Incidentally, why did Michael that nation is as has Bertie Wooster. David Cameron addressed a "cheering Gove not tell him that ‘pump’ has a more Maybe he really did believe that ’We’re all group of foreign exchange students at malodorous inference in Scotland? Whether in this together’ as he kept claiming in the Stirling University on the first day of the next five years sees the unfolding of early days of his stewardship though that their Beginner's English course" the PM such likely policies as the NHS making particular reassurance fell to the wayside made a number of promises including wheels an optional extra on wheelchairs or pretty quickly. I also don’t doubt that he ‘free Tunnocks Teacakes for everyone’. discovering that four Trident nuclear subs is unaware that he is the smooth skinned, Dr Shackleton reflects that this rousing is a pitifully small number for a nation that frown-free frontman for a bunch who speech is just what the ‘No campaign has sits at the top table, Dave will make a case have used the recession to further their been waiting for’. Brevity cannot do Dr that these things are not simply expedient ideological beliefs that even the workhouse Shackleton’s insightfulness justice so here is and necessary but morally unquestionable. was step too far left. Still, Dave has ticked a big quote from 5 September 2014: Owen Dudley Edwards has compiled a off Being Prime Minister from his bucket comprehensive series of snippets from list and will surely hand over to his While there is an unmistakable whiff of the Hansard (2010 onwards) in which our successor in a couple of years. Can’t wait Ally McLeod about the Yes campaign, you continuing prime minister claims to be for Owen Dudley Edward’s 2020 sequel, can’t argue that it’s captured the imagination doing the right thing ranging from ‘Dave Boris Does the Shafting. of voters. Better Together thought they could Does the Right Thing For Britain/ Abroad/ Donald McCormick is a retired history rely on a message of Its Not Completely Shit, Welfare’ through to ‘The Path of Righteous teacher, anti-ideologue and a grumpy optimist So Why Change Anything? and they have Dave is Beset on All Sides’ and ‘Dave is been found wanting … Now, however they’re Doing the Right Thing, Right?’ Dave faced with loosing oil revenue, they’re looking says nothing sufficiently profound that From #Indyref at a long and bitter border war, and then challenges my view of him as … well, less there’s the likelihood of world leaders mocking than profound. to Eternity - the them openly on Twitter. They’ve had to face Here are a couple of sample gnomicisms. up to the need to think strategically about On wealth inequality: ‘I am absolutely battle for a nation, Britain’s future. determined that everyone who wants to work hard and do the right thing can and how proud Independent sources are also quoted. When benefit from the economic recovery now Scotia came within Prime Minister, David Cameron, threatens under way’. On proposed changes to UK to agree on action with his European extradition treaties: ‘We will ensure that a whisker of counterparts about Alex Salmond’s we do the right thing for our country, behaviour at the Commonwealth Games, but people should not think that it is breaking free, we are helpfully advised that ‘statisticians a very simple issue, because it is not’. have calculated that Britain has never been Douglas Lindsay, Luath Press, And that’s the problem - many of the in agreement with its European partners’. utterances listed are no easier to disagree 9781910021835, £7.99 However, the behaviour being complained with than are motherhood and apple Reviewed by Carole Ewart about was during the opening speech at the pie. Out of wider context, they are From #Indyref to Eternity Commonwealth Games when Mr Salmond overwhelmingly bland, innocuous and on is a masterclass in laff ‘declared war on England’ but as we know a par with ‘Something must be done’, the as you learn. Lindsay’s that is just not true. The stories do merge pronouncement that turned the late Duke imagination has inspired fact with fiction and mostly it is easy to tell of Windsor into a Marxist agitator in the the text and Bob Dewar’s them apart. eyes of Daily Mail types. Our most relaxed illustrations bring Dr The book cements the notion that prime minister since Baldwin, bland and Ian Shackleton, of the Scotland’s history is now divided into BC, innocuous is the look that Dave has gone Glasgow School of AC and PR and this book is evidence that for, occasionally shifting to a wide-eyed Politics and Football, the referendum inspired people in all sorts innocence that evokes the image of Prince to life with a few of ways. This book is unlikely to be the George in Blackadder 3, while Osborne is other illustrations first point of reference for future historians the scheming Edmund. on the cover to entertain. The book but it is an entertaining read for those We can imagine Dave/George having a assembles the ‘Shackleton Report’ which occupying the here and now. light bulb moment, opining that ‘helping appeared every Monday morning in the Carole Ewart is a public policy and human the less fortunate in society is the right thing Herald, for the six months prior to the rights consultant. to do’ countered by Osmond/Edmund referendum. Clearly this insightful genius, asking what the less fortunate have ever

30 VLADIMIR McTAVISH’S Kick up the Tabloids

o the opinion polls got it wrong again. where it could be conveniently forgotten, planning to vote Conservative. Voting Tory SWe were led to believe there was no dumped up at the back wall next to the is a bit like domestic abuse. No-one would way the Tories would get a majority. We compost heap. ever own up to doing it, but statistics show were tempted by the tantalising prospect of Furthermore, I reckon a lot of voters it happens with disturbing regularity. the SNP holding the balance of power at looked at the photo and decided they In the lead up to the election, Cameron Westminster. would rather vote for the lump of concrete warned voters not to vote Lib Dem, Perhaps, this is what dissuaded English than for Ed Miliband. At least the concrete claiming ‘you never know what you’re floating voters - the idea of being governed looked slightly animated, and at least we going to get when you vote Liberal’. ‘Dead by a neighbouring nation. Well, now knew what the lump of concrete stood right’ thought all the people who voted Li- they know how it feels to be Scottish! for. Perhaps, Labour’s 2015 pledges will Dem in 2010 and ended up with a Tory We’ve had to put up with that situation become known as the ‘longest gravestone government. for three centuries, and they ran scared at in history’. So, now we have five more years of the prospect of a mere five years. What is It says everything about how much Cameron on his own, without any restraint more likely is that voters turned away from Miliband had rated his own chances that on unleashing his evil side. I find Cameron Labour precisely because Ed Miliband was on the Tuesday after polling day, he was more sinister than Thatcher. At least you so vociferous in ruling out a deal with the photographed flying off to Ibiza. He was so knew where you stood with Thatcher. She SNP. People obviously thought ‘we don’t confident of not winning that he’d already made no secret of the fact that she hated want this idiot running the country on his gone ahead and booked a holiday. the working class, hated the unions, and own.’ Up here in Scotland, there is little doubt hated Scotland. Cameron’s re-branding of It was undoubtedly a bad night for that the highlight was the moment when the Tories saw him ‘hugging hoodies’ and Labour. This, however, was not like 1983, 20-year-old Mhairi Black beat Labour’s claiming he listened to Radiohead. You’d when Michael Foot’s laudably ambitious campaign chief, Douglas Alexander, in never have seen Thatcher kissing a punk, manifesto was rubbished by the right as Paisley. For a student barely out of her and claiming she was a fan of the Sex being ‘the longest suicide note in history’. teens to so comprehensively defeat one of Pistols. Nor was it like 1992 when Neil Kinnock New Labour’s big guns was remarkable. Yet, it was Cameron who brought in thought he had the election was in the Furthermore, looking at them both at the the bedroom tax, a law more draconian bag at a celebrated a week too soon with count, you got the feeling that if they’d had than anything Thatcher did - not that the infamous Sheffield rally. This was to settle it with a square-go, she’d have one she wouldn’t have approved of feckless the election where Labour stood on the that hands down too. old people with too many rooms being platform of not really knowing what the forced out of their homes. How ironic that platform was. UKIP were left with only one MP, rather than the bucketload they had predicted. she herself had to move out of her nine- If one moment was to sum up Labour’s I think one explanation for this is that bedroomed mansion in Belgravia to spend campaign, it was when Ed Miliband’s thousands of racists, bigots, and mentally- the last few months of her life in the squalor posed in front of a ‘plinth’, that is, a lump deranged xenophobes went back to doing of the Ritz Hotel. of concrete, with his pledges to the nation what they’ve done for decades, namely, Vladimir McTavish will be appearing chiselled out. It was like looking at a bad voting Conservative. in ‘So That’s How We Voted?’ at The actor with his lines written on an enormous Stand Comedy Club (proprietor Tommy idiot board. Worse than that, he was So how did the opinion polls get it so wrong in underestimating the Tory Sheppard MP) in Edinburgh Wednesday standing in front of the idiot board, so that 17th June and Glasgow on Monday 22nd he couldn’t even read the lines! vote? The simple answer is that people lie to opinion polls, especially if they are June, see www.thestand.co.uk He promised to keep the plinth in the back garden of Downing Street when elected. That said a lot. He had no intention of sticking the pledge outside Number 10 for the entire world’s press to see, but in the back garden

31 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

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