Trade union conference: as the STUC Radical indy: new meets, we argue that workers would book is brimming be better off with independence with good ideas • see pages 8&9 • see pages 12&13 £1 • issue 436 • 11th –24th April 2014 facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice

REALITY OF THE BETTER TOGETHER PARTIES UNIONISTS BACK BENEFITS CAP AS

EXPENSES SCA‘WhNy thDe beAneLfits cap doesn’t fit’ • see page 10 RESfaUceboRok.coFm/SAcottCishSoEciaS listVoice @ssv_voice OBITUARY gives his disease that killed her but personal and political tribute politically brave too. She fought the Labour Party for 50 years MARGO MACDONALD and the SNP too. But she fought MSP was a friend and ally of the the Scottish establishment from the above all. very beginning. Passionate And I treasure the way she about independence she shared alone confronted the our desire for a Scotland that Parliamentary authorities that was socially just, democratic and expelled me and my SSP left wing. And like the SSP she colleagues in 2005. We were had abundant faith in the MARGO handed the most severe penalty Scottish working class’s ability to any ‘Parliamentarians’ have achieve extraordinary things and received since the English Civil respond positively to progressive War over our silent protest at the causes well presented. Scottish Executive’s attempts to Born in Hamilton seventy subvert the democratic right to years ago her first act of protest against the G8 leaders at rebellion was as a young political Gleneagles. activist in rejecting the corrupt They banned us from and stifling Lanarkshire Labour Parliament for 30 days and fined establishment to join the us £30,000. And Margo fledgling SNP. This was the MacDonald was the only MSP to 1970s. The SNP was not then speak out against their decision the slick party of government it is to deny us a hearing of any kind. today. Margo was on its working Faced with a Parliamentary class left from the outset. ‘lynch mob’ she was the only one She stood for the SNP in a brave enough to confront them. Parliamentary by-election in I really admired her for that. Govan in 1973 and won a famous victory that changed the Advice shape of Scottish politics forever. I was also indebted to her for It was an advance for the the advice she gave me in nationalists every bit as iconic as MARGO M ac DONALD: the only MSP brave enough to confront the helping me steer my Bill to Winnie Ewing’s groundbreaking Scottish Executive when four SSP MSPs were fined and banned from abolish NHS prescription success at Hamilton in 1967. Holyrood without a hearing for defending the democratic right to protest charges through Holyrood. It was against the G8 leaders at Gleneagles in 2005 PHOTO: Craig Maclean a long process and Margo sat on Broken the mould the Scottish Campaign to Yet it was more significant Later living in Edinburgh she administrative hiccups and was Remove all Prescription charges because although Margo lost her rejoined the SNP and was on a knife-edge. She took me [SCRAP] Committee alongside own seat in the first General elected as a Lothians list MSP in aside before the result was John Swinburne and the other Election of 1974 the SNP went the first elections to the new dramatically declared and MSPs sponsoring the Bill. on to win 13 others. Her success Scottish Parliament in 1999. patiently advised me how to I am comforted that I got to in Govan had broken the mould. But she fell victim to bitter handle the figures when they say my goodbyes to her last She was soon rebelling again internal politicking in the SNP at were finally announced. Not for week. I was at the house to take this time against her own party that time and was in effect the last time did I fail to heed her Jim Sillars to speak at an SSP leadership who were taking the deselected. Undeterred she left wise counsel. I was soon public meeting in Govan. SNP to the right and moving its and stood as an Independent. “hurdling around Meadowbank Clearly in great discomfort and political base away from the It was not an easy decision for stadium like a kangaroo on on strong painkillers, she was populous central belt. Expelled her nor without risks but she won speed” as one wag famously eager for news about the SSP by the SNP as a member of the a resounding success in 2003 described my spontaneous and the Yes campaign. banned left wing ‘79 Group’ and again in 2007 and 2011. reaction to the result. She She gave me good advice on along with Alex Salmond and It was during my time as a forgave me of course, not least what to say at the meeting and others, she would remain a fellow Lothians MSP that I got to because she and Jim were just told me how confident she was feature of the Scottish political know her personally. And I’ll as delighted at our success. of a Yes vote. She felt all the landscape for the next 40 years. always be grateful for the She was intelligent, incredibly classic signs of victory were She brought up her two friendship and kindness she witty, unbelievably gregarious, visible in the way people were daughters Petra and Zoe and showed towards me. On the kind, loyal, fiercely determined now responding to our message. launched a successful career as 2003 election night the result in and above all brave. Brave not That was Margo: engaged, a broadcaster and journalist. the Lothians was delayed by just in battling the Parkinson’s positive and clear to the end.

2 • • issue 436 EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson TOP NATO warmonger and Top warmonger rallies neoliberal bitter opponent of independence Lord Robertson, in a startlingly frank outburst, has confirmed elite against Scots independence the case of the independence left ous anti-nazi coalition at the end on the international significance of the war. Given the massively of a Yes vote. diminished state of Britannia, it Of course, in his speech to the now largely remains held in place powerful US Brookings think by the nuclear weapons prop. tank, the long term supporter of No Trident, probably no seat at NATO bombing and intervention, the UN top table, diminishing in - painted a rather more right wing fluence with our senior US mili - picture than that of the left. tary partners and recognition that, For him, a democratic deci - other than as a minor actor the sion taken in a free vote to back British part in ‘policing’ the independence after years of de - world is over. bate would not be welcomed but rather would represent a Alternative gain for the “forces of dark - For the left, the speech should ness” and a victory for the ene - be seized upon as clear evidence mies of the west. of the progressive potential that a As a bolt of lightning can Yes vote can unlock, not just in harshly illuminate the scene LORD ROBERTSON: never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake peace but in boosting those across amidst the darkest storm, so the Europe and the world fighting for noble Lord’s words lift the lid on sands marched for peace. He then mas”, that underpins the scary a people’s alternative to the man - the central fears of the powerful went on to become secretary gen - words by this long term cheer darins, bureaucrats and profiteers. men at the heart of the ruthless, eral of NATO which, after the So - leader for British imperialism. The left might like to heed the warmongering British state. viet collapse was not dissolved A Yes vote will, despite black - words of Napoleon who wisely like its Warsaw Pact opponents mailing by Robertson and his ilk, counselled “never interrupt your The brutal truth but expanded. force Trident out of the Clyde and enemy when he is making a Never mind all the honeyed Robertson was central in almost certainly Britain (or what mistake”. words about our shared her - launching NATO’s bombing is left of it) out of the distastefully Lord Robertson, scion of the itage, democracy and being campaign in Yugoslavia – la - named “nuclear club” of terror rich and powerful, director of the “Better Together”, Robertson’s belled an “unpardonable folly” weapon states. Weir Group, darling of the gener - speech tells the brutal truth – for by Alex Salmond in the first time Make no mistake, the arrogant als and copper-bottomed imperi - the British state, their status as the alliance had used its military mandarins shaping British for - alist has certainly done that. a nuclear armed militarised muscle. It would not be the last. eign policy are determined to stop The Yes forces should go all- power is absolutely central to He came into his own after this and thus endangering the per - out to expose his pompous war - their determination to defeat the the 9/11 terrorist attacks, back - manent British seat on the UN se - mongering scares and tell the Yes campaign. ing NATO’s Afghan campaign curity council. truth that another peaceful and A look at Robertson’s political and going on to support air raids This was granted to the UK as prosperous Scotland and planet history quickly explains how it on Iraq. one of the partners in the victori - are possible. was he, among the clutch of right During his time at the NATO wing, ermined Labour Lords helm, the alliance moved from gracing Better Together, that was deterrence to real warfare and in - chosen to play the war card in the deed is now largely viewed as the Fill in this formJ and osend iit tno: Sc ottishh Sociealist P aSrty, SuSite 37P 0, indy debate. armed wing of neoliberalism. 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow G2 6LD. Or phone: From his earliest days in par - This view often under the 07810205747. Or join the SSP online: scottishsocialistparty.org/join-us liament, the then plain George cloak of “humanitarian interven - g Robertson was a fan of nuclear tion” has seen high tech death I would like to join the Scottish Socialist Party g weapons aimed at civilian popu - rained by cruise missiles, bombs I would like more info on the Scottish Socialist Party lations and whose use would and drones from Kosovo to Name...... have incinerated millions during Kabul in a ceaseless drive to the Cold War. make the world safe for glob - Address...... His politics marched in lock alised capital...... step with the US in the days when And it the potential threat to this Phone...... the shadow of nuclear destruction world order, not concern about Email...... hung over the world and thou - giving terrorists an “early Christ -

issue 436 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 3 JOHN M cALLION by John McAllion

DURING HIS recent televised debate with Jim Sillars, George Galloway warned WE CAN’T JUST PUT A that an independent Scotland would be “no cold water Cuba”. It was the only point during the debate that George’s argu - ments connected to reality. A Yes vote will KILT ON NEOLIBERALISM herald the break-up of the British state and the birth of a new Scotland. However, it is no guarantee that politics in the new Scotland will shift decisively to the left. In the most recent Scottish Par - liament elections, Scotland’s four big par - ties took 98 per cent of the seats and 99 per cent of the constituency vote. By no stretch of the imagination could any of these parties be described as so - cialist. Arguably, in that election, the SNP fought on the most progressive of the manifestos on offer. It promised to defend universal benefits, to keep privatisation out of the NHS, to re - tain Scottish water in public ownership, to preserve free higher education and to op - pose Trident renewal. WARNING: the Bradford West MP said an independent Scotland would be “no cold water Cuba” Pay limits Yet, at the economic core of the same go on reporting what the big four parties knocking on the doors of one Glasgow manifesto, it also promised low and com - do. The legal, educational, financial and housing scheme on one recent night. petitive taxes for Scotland’s private sector, business establishments will carry on try - A generation that had turned away from not to use the parliament’s tax varying ing to set the limits to political action. party politics in disgust has now re-en - power, a freeze on local government taxes, There is a real danger that having cam - gaged with a political struggle that has a cut to the costs of Scotland’s public and paigned hard for two years and having everything to do with building the good so - civil services and the imposition of pay limits won a Yes majority against the political ciety and nothing to do with feathering the on Scotland’s public sector workers. odds, that some will believe it is job done nests of politicians on the make. It also argued for Scottish control of cor - on the morning of 19 September. If so, The vision driving Yes activists across poration tax as a means of achieving they would be making a huge mistake. Scotland has nothing to do with ethnic na - “...the lower rate needed to maximise the The real struggle for a socialist inde - tionalism. It is entirely free of any form of economic benefit for our nation”. pendent Scotland begins after we have racism. It has no trace of anti-English sen - All of Scotland’s mainstream parties are secured a Yes vote. If the ruling elites re - timent. It is all about building that other committed to NATO membership, the re - ferred to above are allowed to inherit the possible Scotland in which people come tention of the monarchy, privatised utilities reins of power in an independent Scot - before profit. and deregulated markets in which capital land without serious political challenge, is free to roam the globe in search of pri - then the Yes campaign will have achieved Organise vate profit. little more than to put a kilt on the neolib - It is all about building a more equal, a None of them are committed to repeal of eral status quo. greener and a socially just society. the harshest anti-trade union laws in Eu - That cannot be allowed to happen. That vision can only become a reality in rope. All of them claim to be pro-business One of the most encouraging aspects of an independent Scotland if Yes activists or - and all of them denounce the politics of the Yes campaign has been the re-ener - ganise to make it happen. class warfare. gising of politics across the country. Old That will mean re-building a mass party In the event of a Yes vote, most of the style political meetings are back. The SSP of the left. It will mean re-constituting our sitting 59 MPs and 129 MSPs will share a case for a socialist Scotland has played to trade unions as instruments of radical sense of entitlement to a seat in the newly packed meetings across the country. change. independent Parliament. The party hierar - The Radical Independence Conference It will mean devising new models of com - chies and machines that sustain these in Glasgow attracted 1000 accredited par - mon, public and democratic ownership and politicians will still be in place. ticipants. Yes Scotland are themselves much more besides. It will mean turning the The same safety-first civil service will drawing in crowds that are unprecedented world as we know it upside down. continue to patrol Scotland’s corridors of for a non-party campaign. Old style can - 18 September is not the end. It is just power. The print and broadcast media will vassing is also back with 90 activists the beginning.

4 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 436 COLIN FOX by Colin Fox SSP good for Yes campaign YES SCOTLAND and the Scottish Socialist Party have come Yes campaign good for SSP a long way together since that fa - mous launch event in Edinburgh in May 2012. Many ‘wise’ people had written the Scottish Socialist Party’s political obituary back then referring to Scotland’s ‘post-SSP’ political landscape. But then people have been writing off the SSP since we were founded 15 years ago. They said we would not last the year back in 1998. They predicted would never get MSPs elected to Holyrood. They predicted our six MSPs would not achieve any - thing. Ignoring our Bills to abolish poundings and warrant sales and GOVAN MEETING: around 120 NHS prescription charges for ex - locals packed into the SSP’s Socialist Independence public ample they insisted they had noth - meeting in Govan on April 1st. ing to do with us. They claimed Speakers included Jim Sillars, we were finished after Tommy Colin Fox and Carolina Perez Sheridan tried to destroy us. PHOTO: Alan Ferguson They told the country we come the biggest grassroots polit - way of street campaigns and an We have established new were the ones who had commit - ical movement Scotland has seen ever growing list of well-attended branches throughout the coun - ted perjury. Predictably, none of since the anti-Poll Tax struggle of public meetings, have taken the try and we recently inaugurated them had the character to apol - the late 1980s, a movement many constitutional debate to the peo - two new societies at Edinburgh ogise when the truth finally of today’s SSP leaders led. ple. The Yes campaign is both a and Stirling Universities that emerged. But that’s how it goes Yes Scotland Chief Executive sophisticated political machine have enjoyed sparkling success with these ‘Nostradamii’. Mark Blair Jenkins has voiced his ap - and a ‘grassroots’ campaign and promoting our unique socialist Twain put it best when he preciation of the role the SSP the SSP has been an active and message among a new genera - quipped ‘Rumours of my death plays, saying “From day one of informed contributor to both.” tion of students. have been greatly exaggerated’. Yes Scotland, the SSP has been Jean concurs, adding: “The Yes We have expanded the Scottish hugely supportive and the party campaign has been a terrific melt - Socialist Voice – Scotland’s only Kept the faith is a highly-valued partner in the ing pot for everyone in Scotland. socialist newspaper – to 16 pages Despite these forecasts a broad national movement for an The lost voice of the SSP in the and held two very successful Voice brave band of SSP activists kept independent Scotland. Scottish Parliament is Scotland’s Forums to discuss issues emerging the faith because we knew of no “One of the real strengths of loss. After independence, we from the independence movement. other party worthy of working the Yes campaign is that people need to truly reflect all the people We have hosted more than 30 class support in Scotland. We re - from different political perspec - of Scotland; that cannot be done SSP public meetings on ‘the so - fuse to accept that Labour or the tives are working side by side and without its Socialist voice.” cialist case for independence’ the SNP are socialist parties nor can street by street to get the result we length and breadth of the country they adequately explain the na - all want so much in September. Sense of purpose with thousands having attended ture of the world today far less “The SSP has brought all of its Yes Scotland has at the same cumulatively. Our pamphlet The provide relief from the never energy and enthusiasm to con - time been a godsend for the SSP. Case For An Independent Social - ending exploitation facing Scot - tribute to that Yes momentum.” The independence campaign ist Scotland has become our most land’s working class majority. And Independent MSPs John has given our work a clear sense successful publication ever. We helped launch Yes Scotland Finnie and Jean Urquhart, who of purpose, forced us to engage And of course all these re - in May 2012 because we felt it have addressed several SSP pub - with complex issues and com - wards would not have been pos - could champion the independ - lic meetings throughout the past pelled us to come up with new sible without the painstaking ence cause most effectively and year, are also keen to point out the solutions and strategies to address work carried out by a dedicated we felt we could win greater po - important role the party plays: those issues. The SSP is growing band of SSP members across litical support for the SSP from it. “There’s growing public again into the mass socialist party Scotland who build the party That decision has paid divi - awareness’ said John ‘that the in - Scotland so desperately needs. every day. And I again pay trib - dends. We have won widespread dependence debate is more than More than 700 people have ute to them for their efforts. respect for the constructive and Alex Salmond, more than the applied to join via our website The lesson? The SSP has collaborative role we play in SNP. Much of the credit for that scottishsocialistparty.org alone been good for the Yes Scotland building Yes Scotland. It has be - change goes to the SSP who, by in the past year. coalition and vice versa.

issue 436 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 5 NEOLIBERALISM In the first of a series on neoliberalism, looks at the Thatcher years and where they led ‘There has been a right wing

PICTURE THE scene. It is 21 May 1988 and the Prime plague right across the worl d’ Minister, , is Conservative and Labour Parties. addressing the General Assem - In fact the Labour Government bly of the Church of Scotland. of Tony Blair/George Brown be - Her speech was labelled, came the natural heirs to the ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ an Thatcher Government after sev - attempt to outline a theoretical eral years of ‘backsliding’ by the justification for her govern - government of John Major. ment’s neoliberal policies. The next general election will The speech came a short time be fought on an agenda in after her controversial remark which neoliberal ideas are re - that ‘there was no such thing as garded as the norm. society only individuals and This makes the referendum on their families’. It should have independence all the more crucial. been a receptive audience. It is a chance to take Scotland in a A hall full of austere-looking radically different direction. Church of Scotland Ministers; that most conservative assembly Onslaught and representing a church which Imagine, for a minute, if had been the bedrock of the Scotland had become independ - Conservative Party in Scotland. ent in 1979. More than a gener - In fact some reacted with ation later what would the anger, heckling the Prime Minis - country be like? We would not ter. Others stormed out in protest. have been subjected to the ne - Most received the speech with an THATCHER: heckled by angry Church of Scotland Ministers in 1988 oliberal onslaught which scars angry and stony silence. The ap - our society to this day. plause at the end of her speech sponsibility. It was a value system good and public is bad. Wide - We would still have a mixed could not have been more muted that came from and fitted comfort - spread privatisation and not just economy with the railways, en - and was rounded off by the Mod - ably with Presbyterianism. This in terms of taking public com - ergy industry and other sectors erator; the Right Reverend James alienation of conservative opin - panies into private ownership. remaining in public ownership. Whyte, handing her a copy of the ion was reflected in the decline It also meant shifting respon - The process of rapid de-indus - Church’s report on Homeless - in the support for the Conserva - sibilities from the state to the in - trialisation, while still occur - ness and Welfare; a devastating tive Party in Scotland. In the dividual. ring, would have been managed critique of government policy. 1979 General Election the party The best example of this was in a way that avoided some of won 22 seats with 31 per cent of in education where the abolition the industrial devastation which Chasm the vote. In 1997 it was down to of grants and the introduction of blighted the country. It was a vivid example of the 18 per cent and lost all its seats. tuition fees shifted the cost of The regressive tax laws, chasm that had opened up be - The Conservatives had become, higher education from the state which are a hall mark of all ne - tween conservative opinion in to quote one of its own leading to the individual. The scrapping oliberal governments, would not Scotland and the same in England. members, a ‘toxic brand in Scot - of regulation aimed at ensuring have been implemented. The list They had become very differ - land’ and remains so today. that capitalism adhered to basic could continue. It was best ent things. Under Thatcher the At the 2010 General Election standards and, above all, the summed up by writer, William Conservative Party had em - the party pulled 17 per cent of promotion of market values into Mcllvannie who said that “there braced neoliberal policies with the vote gaining just one seat. all areas of life. has been a right wing plague enthusiasm alienating tradi - Neoliberal ideas usually em - These ideas have had little pur - right across the world”. tional conservative opinion in brace the following. chase in Scotland and when im - While socialists will always Scotland whose values came Regressive taxation lessening posed created a considerable argue that the real alternative to from a very different place. For the tax responsibilities of the backlash. The establishment of capitalism is socialism, a new them we definitely belonged to rich and leading the increased the Scottish Parliament reflected, Scotland whose starting point is a a collective society where the inequality; something seen as in part, the need for Scotland to be fundamental rejection of the ideas strong had a moral responsibil - desirable. An attack of the pub - shielded from these alien values. and policies of neoliberalism is a ity to look after the weak. lic sector both in terms of ex - neoliberalism has become the good place to begin. It would also They were comfortable with penditure and also ideologically dominant ideology in England act as an aspiring alternative for ideas of public service and state re - with the belief that private is embraced equally by both the what remains of the UK.

6 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 436 TRIDENT by David Mackenzie, Trident Ploughshares

AS THE sun came out, the Spring Walkers turned the last bend into the North Gate TRIDENT’S JACKET IS entrance to Faslane, their bright banner and standards adding the final touch to a scene already made colourful by 60 yards or so of pink ON A SHOOGLYs taNtus quAo. AmIongL prevalent knitting by the Wool for speculations is the idea that Weapons enthusiasts. when they realise they are Then the sound. The without effective surrogates in honking horns of passing cars, the new Scotland the dark the hoots and clapping of the interior of the state will roll out welcoming crowd, the singing its arsenal of dirty tricks and from Protest in Harmony. heavy intimidation. The hopeful, upbeat There is also the notion atmosphere is not accidental. that the task is just too big, With a Yes vote in September’s too revolutionary – let’s be referendum now looking more realistic, folks. At the other and more possible, Trident’s extreme there is the belief jacket is on a shaky nail. that there is a significant Nuclear disarmament has element of the establishment, to date been high on the WALKING THE WALK : in early April, SCND held a week-long Spring Walk including many in the military, independence agenda as one retired or otherwise, who of the key issues that pushes disarmament cause. None of from “random” spotters and might be very happy with an our vision for Scotland this is accidental, either. concerns being raised among outcome that rids the UK of beyond laudable Nordic-style Trident is not on the agenda communities along the routes. an outdated, useless and social improvement to by default. It is time to cease allowing this expensive totem without they something more radical. The fact that it features so appalling traffic to skulk themselves having to take prominently is down to hard relatively unnoticed along our the blame from the Daily Mail. Nowhere to go and persistent work by lots roads and instead to hoot and After all, so many of their There is also growing and lots of people. hound it as it goes. tigers have already turned awareness that the anti- Those who will potentially One important part of the out to be rather papery. Trident aim is not NIMBY. be elected representatives in work has not yet even been If we kick it out of the Clyde an independent Scotland tackled. There is Pushing at the door it has nowhere to go. have to be reminded time considerable global interest These are only guesses. Recent weeks have seen the and again that they have a in the potential impact of UK We don’t know. And if we inept attempt by Westminster, constituency that is watching disarmament via Scottish don’t know what do we do? through a deliberate senior their every move to ensure independence but it needs to Decide not to give that door a leak, to link Trident to the that their anti- Trident stance be more vocal. We have to real push because we believe currency question. Although remains unwavering. persuade these global it is stuck fast for ever or there was a little delay while The issue must also remain supporters that their because we worry something the Scottish Government dealt visible to the public at large. intervention and support is monstrous lies behind it? first with the question of the Although only 30 miles from vital. Ideally there will be For myself the push is the pound, they did in time make a Glasgow Faslane and Coulport delegations to Holyrood and only option. It’s a win/win. strong statement to the effect are still relatively out of sight. widely publicised statements The monster behind the that Trident removal is not The most likely palpable of support. This will also have door scenario means the negotiable. contact people will have is with a huge spin-off benefit of critical exposure of the cruel This was underlined by the warhead convoys. connecting us to that wider and pitiless reality of a state Nicola Sturgeon at the Spring The convoy monitoring world beyond the narrow prepared to threaten mass Walk rally in Glasgow on network Nukewatch UK 1 has parochial bond of the murder in its own interests. Saturday. The SNP position been putting a renewed effort Western cosa nostra. The effective shove gives on NATO is both worrying into tracking the movements of The currency-for-Trident us what we want. and bizarre but it was again these huge trucks and to ploy raises the question of cheering to hear a senior alerting the public to their how far, in the event of a Yes • See nukewatch.org.uk and member of our government existence. This has begun to vote, Westminster will go to call 08454588365 if you spot fix herself so firmly to the pay off with increased call-ins retain the nuclear weapon a convoy

issue 436 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 7 WORKPLACE by , SSP national workplace organiser

THE ANNUAL conference of the Scottish Trades Union Congress meets against a background of ferocious WORKERS NEED attacks on workers, their rights and living standards by employers emboldened by the most vicious government of millionaires in memory. And it meets amidst raging INDEPENDENCE debate on whether trade unionists should support Scottish Independence. With 37 affiliated unions and 630,000 members, the STUC TO IMPROVE represents a huge force, so the battery of progressive policies and demands being debated are potentially vital to the future working people face, housing; a ban on zero hours does that relate to the Pleas for mercy fall on deaf provided the STUC takes cTontracHts; an inteEgratedI pubRlic refe reLndum?I VES ears; action by the working decisive action in pursuit of its transport system; Nothing has ever been class speaks far louder than own decisions. renationalisation of Royal gained by merely passing words. So the STUC Mail; public ownership of the Motions at conferences. conference needs to support How to win reforms Big Six energy companies; It’s always taken determined those Motions that include a As the Westminster old- collective bargaining rights for action, with maximum unity, to strategy for action. But that Etonians kick seven colours workers; industrial democracy; win every reform, however inevitably also raises the issue out of workers’ rights, and election of accountable trade mild or far-reaching. of the Referendum. preside over the most union representatives on Those unions backing the prolonged decline in wages company boards; take union Duty of unions scrapping of Trident and since the 1870s – yes, the facility time for unions in all The STUC and it’s affiliated Defence industry worst drop in real wages for workplaces with over 21 unions have a duty to give diversification must surely face 140 years! – the STUC workers; state retirement at leadership amongst working up to the fact a Yes vote would Motions up for debate rightly 60...and a host of other people, their families and guarantee this path, whereas it demand an end to austerity; specific reforms that would communities, through public is beyond the powers of a investment in public services; enhance the lives of millions forums, rallies, demonstrations devolved Edinburgh fair pay; a living wage; in Scotland. and in some circumstances parliament in a continued UK. redistributive taxation; Two related questions arise. united industrial action – such Calls for collective reduced inequality; social How can the trade unions best as in opposition to the bargaining, trade union justice; support for carers; put up a serious fight to crucifying cuts emanating from facilities at work, employment investment in public sector achieve these gains? And how the Twin Tory Coalition. rights will fall on utterly stony ‘A LIVING WAGE SHOULD RAISE LIVING STANDARDS’ John Miller , Cumbernauld & Kilsyth should be a credible level that raises parliament offers nothing but cuts and TUC delegate, told the Richie Venton workers’ living standards. attacks on jobs and services for the next about three Motions he will be moving at That’s why our Motion calls for a legal decade. By calling for a Yes vote we can the STUC conference. minimum set at two-thirds male median challenge the establishment parties’ wages – £9 an hour in 2013 figures. consensus that there is no alternative. In my own workplace a wage On the Bedroom Tax, we have an The trade union movement needs to freeze for the last few years opportunity to be rid of this benefits cut grasp the issue of the right to self- has now been followed with for good. The trade union movement determination by fighting for an a non-consolidated rise of 0.7 per cent. should be at the forefront of the campaign independent socialist Scotland as a That amounts to £9.50 a month before to bin it, building on the hard work and catalyst to the rest of the progressive deductions. If the unions are successes of local activists so far. left and working people in the rest of the campaigning for a living wage then it On the referendum, the UK Westminster UK that change is possible.

8 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 436 WORKPLACE been used to block workers’ unity, to divide and conquer. On the other hand, when Liverpool dockers, Manchester care workers, or Bristol civil servants were brought on tours of Scottish workplaces and unions by those of us who founded the SSP, not one Scottish worker ever spurned them on the grounds they were English. Nor did they turn away appeals for support to Irish car workers or Danish bus drivers that I toured Scotland with. The solidarity of Scottish workers – which also dates back to the 1930s Spanish Civil War or the 1973 fascist coup in Chile – has never been dependent on FIGHT: trade unionists need to fight for a just, egalitarian Scotland, based on the movement’s best traditions workers being part of the UK, PHOTO: Craig Maclean and certainly never awaited ground if we remain under Mandela), fighting for majority rightly eager to support self the support or permission of Westminster rule – even in the rule. So where are many of determination for the Greeks any Westminster government. less than probable event of the same trade union leaders or Palestinians, but so eager Miliband’s Labour winning when it comes to majority rule to ignore the right of their Emboldened class office in 2015; look at Labour’s for the Scottish people – with own Scottish memberships to So why should that change record in office. And again this an overwhelmingly working determine the views of their after Scotland gained self- is all beyond the remit of a class majority? own trade union on the rule? The opposite: an devolved Holyrood. Are they going to advocate referendum – through branch emboldened Scottish working Likewise with the level of a No vote on 18 September so debates, votes and a Scottish class, which helps not only to minimum wage; state pension; we continue to suffer ‘rich conference, rather than win a Yes vote but goes on to welfare spending; retirement minority rule’ by Westminster having no consultation or organise to shape the type of age; fully redistributive Tories – who have been sham consultation after the Scotland we build, would act taxation – not to even mention openly, nakedly dictating over UK-wide union leadership as an example, a shining the fact Holyrood is powerless Scotland for at least 34 years declared and imposed beacon, to workers across to take Royal Mail, transport or since 1955, despite never support for Better Together? England, , Ireland, energy into public ownership, once getting a majority vote in And the dusty old argument Europe and beyond. or to pursue the general aim Scotland since that year? that independence would Trade unionists should not (in UNITE’s Motion) of “public A conference Motion from wreck the unity and solidarity only stand up for Scottish and common ownership, with ASLEF rightly offers solidarity of the working class melts in self-determination, but fight to election of trade union reps to the Greek people, the face of reality. achieve a just and egalitarian onto company/industrial supporting Since when did Scotland, based on the best forums and boards”. “democracy, any British traditions of the trade union Only a fully-fledged sovereignty, government – movement – an independent government elected by the independence including socialist Scotland – which Scottish people would have and the right Labour ones would advance the cause of the powers to transform of the Greek – ever workers and socialism well workers’ lives, through these people to encourage or beyond the boundaries of and other measures. determine their facilitate the Scotland. And here again there needs own future free unity and In contrast, continued rule to be a bit more consistency from oppressive solidarity of and ruin by the Westminster on the parts of many trade external intervention”. workers across the UK? puppets of bankers and union leaderships. The STUC Does this not sound uncannily On the contrary, measures capitalists spells misery for and its affiliates have a proud familiar? And why therefore do banning so-called secondary millions of working class record of fighting South union leaderships like those of action, combined with the people. The choice is stark, African Apartheid (as, in fact, ASLEF, USDAW, GMB, CWU break-up of public sector the opportunity for sweeping referred to in a Motion to this not apply the same principles industries and services through change in favour of working STUC on the death of to Scotland? Why are they so rampant privatisation, have people far too precious to miss.

issue 436 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 9 WELFARE

bWy Sandhra Wyeb ster hei n bLondoen hasn a peresonalf weialtth sernm ecnt sapendipng. W ed wouold etion sin Wnestm’intste r farie t ex - of £7.9billion – greater than that of surely like to see accountability in pected to rally against the worst JUST WHEN you thought the bottom 20 per cent of the rest MPs expenses and the monstrous excesses of the party in power. that the Tories could not stoop of us. The poor are nothing more spending of Trident. However for With barely a whimper though any lower their latest blitzkrieg to these people than yet another this government, transparency of they supported the government. on the poor became law last way of increasing their wealth. In spending is only for what suits The Labour Party now say week. As well as personal bene - times of austerity while most of us them. This suits their scapegoat - they are the party of hard work - fit caps which affect individual suffer the rich see it as an oppor - ing of the poor who have become ing families, some of them such families a cap has been set on the tunity to increase their wealth easy targets. as Tom Harris who said “We are total amount of welfare spending Iain Duncan Smith when cele - Traditionally the Labour Party no longer the party of the all future governments make. brating the passing of the bill in may have been seen as the cham - scroungers”. Ironically the ma - Iain Duncan Smith, the archi - the Commons talked a lot about pions of the poor but Ed Miliband jority of benefits are paid to those tect of misery, says it is all about accountability. If future govern - put an end to this belief when he in work due to their low wages. accountability and ensuring the ments want to increase spending said Labour would support the This action must be seen as the taxpayer knows just where their on welfare they will have to show cap. The majority of Labour MPs death knell of Labour’s claim to be contributions are being spent. The the (of course) hardworking tax - voted with the government in a the party of the working class. Tories, bolstered by opinion polls, payer where the money has been shameful act of collaboration. Their levels in the polls continue feel that the public is behind them spent. Unfortunately though Their actions must be seen as to decrease. At this point in such a as they get tough on some of the nothing has been said about ac - nothing less than shameful. At draconian parliament you might most vulnerable in society. countability in other areas of gov - the very least a party in opposi - expect them to be soaring well ahead of an unpopular party in Behind the rhetoric power. Instead a UKIP/Conserva - What most people don’t realise tive coalition looks a harsh possi - is that behind the rhetoric the wel - bility in the next Westminster fare budget has increased under parliament. Thank heavens for the this government. The cost of a independence referendum which new computer system to roll out may set us free. Many ordinary universal benefit has wasted mil - voters are waking up now to the re - lions of pounds of taxpayers alisation that there is no difference money. Housing benefit payments between the blue and red Tories. have soared too as more people seek smaller properties to avoid Free from hunger the Bedroom Tax. Perhaps Hous - With independence will come ing Benefit should be called rich the opportunity to design our own landlord subsidy as some rake in welfare state. I hope enshrined in money which could be spent on a written constitution will be the building more social housing but basic right that as citizens we will instead goes into the back pocket be free from hunger. of the rich. The Duke of Westmin - With the absence of socialists ster, one of the biggest landowners ARCHITECT: Iain Duncan Smith and the Tories butcher the welfare state in the Labour Party, it is our role on the left to speak for those who To subscribe to the Scottish Socialist Voice – newspaper of the Scottish Socialist are the victims of misfortune and Party – fill in this form and send it to: Scottish Socialist Voice, Suite 370, 4th Floor, ensure that there will be a safety Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD. Or telephone: 07810205747 net for those who need it in an in - Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to ‘Scottish Socialist Voice’ dependent Scotland. Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice & Twitter: @ssv_voice Some hope the Labour Party in View PDFs at: scottishsocialistparty.org/category/socialist-voice Scotland will be revived but given the present state of affairs in Scot - Name...... tish Labour they will need a rocket Address...... of socialism. We are the left, and ...... it is our duty to offer an alternative. I hope we are being seen more as Phone...... part of mainstream politics – we Email...... will be the radical voice of an inde - I enclose: g £5 for 2 issues g £10 for 4 issues g £20 for 8 issues pendent Scotland, always on the side of those who need our support.

10 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 436 JOHN FINNIE MSP by John Finnie MSP

IT’S A honour to be convener of the Scottish Parliament’s cross- party group on human rights and a privilege to meet individuals and human rights groups from around the world visiting Scotland. ELITES RULE OK? In recent weeks I’ve met a for - mer government minister from Bangladesh concerned about non- participation in the recent election, a priest from Colombia whose flock had their land confiscated by their government and global cor - porations, and the Human Rights and legal affairs ministers from Yemen concerned about the chal - lenges faced, and inertia caused by a long-term transitional govern - ment some of whose citizens are detained without trial in Guan - tanamo or have been killed by il - legal US drone attacks. Like every other nation, Bangladeshi, Columbian and Yemeni’s elites, the military, the DON’T MENTION THE NATO: arms traders are pressing for assurances over their post-independence status bankers, and the corporations flourish whilst ordinary folk regulation’ commended by Gor - that will be challenging in any very well out of their ‘charitable suffer. The monarchical state don Brown should have no place. NATO nation committed to ‘Ar - status’. Fettes gets an 80 per cent that is the United Kingdom of Public interest must always tri - ticle 5’ defence imperative i.e. an discount on its Council Tax bill Great Britain and Northern Ire - umph over private profit. Invest - attack on one is an attack on all. and pays £41,828 whilst Wester land is no different. ment banks being glorified Recently, after some difficulty, Hailes, where 45 per cent of the bookmakers for wide-boys cannot I eventually secured a copy of a pupils are eligible for free school Societal change be allowed. We must encourage report, commissioned by Scottish meals, pays £261,873. Early ac - So, in an independent Scotland an alternative ‘ethical’ financial Enterprise about the arms indus - tion needed there too. will there be changes? Well we sector with workplace and com - try in Scotland. Large tracts of That leaves the monarchy and a all hope so. What will be the bar - munity credit-unions nurtured. the report were redacted in bright commitment to continue the riers to developing a progressive, Corporations may be impressed yellow. The public could pay for flawed constitutional model. democratic and equal society? by the Scottish Government’s the report but not read it! There can be no place for privilege What do the Scottish Govern - planned bidding war with Gideon and undemocratic structures and ment’s aims of an independent Osbourne on corporation tax, but Group of elites an early referendum is not only Scotland keeping the monarchy, many Scots aren’t. The idea of the What is clear is the truly de - desirable it’s essential. Progressive the pound in and being members Amazons or Starbucks, institu - pressing statement in the White forces in Scotland must be ready of NATO tell us about the tional tax avoiders, being given Paper “If in government in an in - to act to ensure that our goals of prospects of a Yes vote deliver - any encouragement for their dependent Scotland the Scottish greater democracy, greater ac - ing significant societal change? greed is crazy. I would like to see Government will work with the countability, greater equality and United Kingdom of Great the approach, which largely went defence industries to support their simple humanity, rather than more Britain and Northern Ireland un-noticed on the recent Scottish continued growth and to meet of the same, win the day in our policies are made by, and in the budget, when the small-business Scotland’s own defence needs”. new independent nation. interests of, a select group of bonus, a system of rates relief for I’ve not seen that passage com - Last week, Scotland lost elites; the bankers, the corpora - small local businesses, was no mented on but those few words Margo MacDonald. tions, the generals, the public longer applied to the premises of highlight that one particular Margo was one of the nation’s school boys and the arms dealers. ‘pay-day lenders’ extended. group of elites, the arms traders, finest daughters, a colleague, a An independent Scotland will A modest but clear example of are already ahead of the game friend and an inspiration. still have be part of the capitalist how regulation can be used to cur - winning assurances for their con - Margo would not have allowed world. The challenge for any in - tail rather than reward the many tinuing status post-independence. an independent Scotland to be a dependent nation is the extent to unacceptable faces of capitalism. As Jim Sillars highlighted in his ‘wee UK’ where the elites carry which it regulates its banking and The generals will need con - recent book In Place Of Fear II , on as before and we owe it to her financial sectors. The ‘light touch trolled too and that’s something public schools in Scotland do to ensure that doesn’t happen.

issue 436 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 11 CULTURE Book review: Yes – The Radical Case For Scottish Independence by James Foley and Pete Ramand by Jack Ferguson A succinct but

IN JUST 130 pages, the authors identify the social, economic, democratic and powerful contribution imperial crises creating a dystopian future for Britain, the dangers inherent in US/UK imperial alliance, and sketch an outline of the structure of capitalism in Scotland. from the left to the In doing so they put the referendum in its international context: the ongoing battles raging across the world over referendum debate neoliberalism and austerity that mark the Scandinavian countries have made They borrow the term ‘Anglobalisation’ long decline of capitalism through which under social democratic governments. from right wing historian Niall Ferguson we’re living. So far, so familiar. But as they state in to signify the continuity between the ‘Yes...’ is in many ways a manifesto for the introduction: British and American empires, both the Radical Independence Campaign, of “But although we find the progressive aiming to subjugate the world under a which the authors, James Foley and case appealing, our aim here is not to certain form of English speaking Pete Ramand, are leading figures. defend this vision. We wish to go further, capitalism. Reading it, I was in many ways reminded and define what we call a radical vision They enunciate how British policy has of the role that Alan McCombes’ book for independence... Besides written led us to economic collapse, and Imagine played for a slightly earlier rights and pleas for ‘fairness’ we need to destruction of any kind of respect for generation of Scottish Socialists. know who benefits, and how they political authority through the corruption The tone is slightly more academic, organise through political alliances. of the Westminster democratic process. and ‘Yes’ may not be as immediately “Even when we subtract Westminster (A startling statistic cited is that Brits accessible to every reader as Imagine, and its wars and nuclear bombs, have less trust in their politicians than but the vision of how Scots can create a Scotland will remain a capitalist, class Greeks or Italians!) better society here is just as inspirational. divided society... The Nordic examples The authors tackle head on the issues are useful... But like all capitalist of nationalism and racism, ‘The end of history’ societies, they are not equipped for the acknowledging up front the racism that The differences between the two challenges of the 21st century, and a blights Scottish society, but also books are also illustrative of their just, sustainable Scotland would have to challenging the defenders of British different tasks. Imagine is a wide ranging go further, setting new precedents. nationalism to unpick their own manifesto, which when it was published “To address climate change and the dangerous, banal fantasies of the 2000 aimed to simply re-present the idea rise of the 1 per cent, most economic inherent betterness of being part of the of socialism to a generation still reeling decisions must be transferred out of UK, and how imperial ideology feeds from the collapse of the USSR and the private hands and placed under public Scottish racism more than any link to the so-called “end of history”. control.” independence movement. It was written in a time of hope for the It also has the most comprehensive future, in which long years of unexciting attempt I have seen in a Scottish stability under Lib/Lab coalitions had still ‘Yes’ certainly socialist text to address head on the to elapse before we had the more weaves more issues of anti-Irish racism. dramatic years of the capitalist crisis. discussion of sexism Fast forward to 2014, and the stakes and racism into the Glaring omission are all together much higher. As a result The book is strong in its analysis of ‘Yes’ strikes a more urgent, focused heart of the text the local neoliberal strategy for Scottish note. There is a creative tension within than ‘Imagine’ ever cities, with a section on the retail and the book: on the one hand, pointing out did. And of absolute property led consumerist failures of that Britain has progressed particularly Glasgow’s “regeneration”. far down the neoliberal road, with an relevance is the Also strong is the account of the imperial history that gives it a unique discussion of climate process by which the right captured the place in the history of global capitalism. change, and how Scottish Labour party, pushing out left- In demonstrating this exceptionalism, continued adherence wingers like John McAllion and Denis they aim to show how abnormal and Canavan. socially backward the UK is compared to to the UK’s “carbon- But a glaring omission from the most northern European countries, and based political account of recent Scottish politics is any the immense progress that the order” is suicidal... mention of the SSP. This may prove 12 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 436 CULTURE meals and scrapping prescription charges that were later implemented by the SNP. We helped shift the debate, creating the space which has allowed the SNP to mobilise the working class against traditional Labour domination. The history of what the SSP achieved is an indispensable part of creating any new left regroupment, and what the Scottish left does next should be bigger and better from building on that experience. The final chapter sketches a series of immediate demands to mobilise around that begin to address the crises affecting our society. Of particular interest is the focus on what sociologist Erik Olin Wright calls ‘Empowered Participatory Governance’: direct democracy, participatory budgets and non-corporate political funding, which the previous discussion of Glasgow’s dysfunctional leadership proves is essential.

Gender discrimination Also worth noting is the call for active measures to combat gender discrimination, such as a 50 per cent quota for parties standing for Holyrood. This in itself proves how far the left has been forced to come on issues of gender, sexual and ethnic oppression, when compared to the battle that was fought in the SSP to enshrine 50/50 candidate lists. The book certainly weaves more discussion of sexism and racism into the heart of the text than Imagine ever did. And of absolute relevance is the discussion of climate change, and how continued adherence to the UK’s “carbon-based political order” is suicidal. They counterpoint instead a strategy of nationalising North Sea oil in order to finance a green new deal. ‘Yes’ is a book brimming with good ideas that is a product of a time of unprecedented opportunity. For SSP members, Radical Independence campaigners and all of the Yes left, the challenge is how we can get back to a difficult for the authors, who were through Scottish independence, position of unified action to grasp these themselves active protagonists in the something which at the time much of the opportunities, organise and build the unprincipled and wrong-headed split off “revolutionary left” found fanciful and power that the Scottish working class from the party. below contempt, but which time has will need to wield in order to make the But this ignores the fact that the pro- borne out as the best chance of vision a reality. independence organised left is not a progress for Scotland. new phenomenon. There was a The SSP is the missing element in a • Jack was organiser for Scottish Socialist substantial, successful body of historical account of how we got here. Youth, the youth wing of the SSP, between organised activists who adhered to the Activists spent years in the street 2006 and 2008, and worked with the basic vision of radical changes coming campaigning for policies like free school authors on a number of campaigns

issue 436 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 13 CULTURE Gig review: , Glasgow Barrowlands, 4 April 2014 by Simon Whittle Manics look to theSumm fertuime atndu Arcrhives Of Pain – so all’s well and good. ‘I AM nothing and should be And the two tasters from new everything,’ beams the video Futurology (due for re - backdrop on the Barras stage on lease this June) not only didn’t a spring Friday night in Glasgow. fail to please, they amazed. A Karl Marx quote oft-used The chorus of Futurology is al - by glam Welsh lefties Manic most a direct musical lift from Street Preachers, it was used on Aztec Camera’s Good Morning the back of their first EP, 1990’s Britain, but good rock’n’roll . never let plagiarism get in the Circles complete – and here way of a decent, uplifting riff. we are again, nearly a quarter of Another newbie, Europa Geht a century later, the older Manics Durch Mich, is a stomping slice of just as angry and intelligent. motorik-driven with ad - Only with sorer knees and ditional vocals by German actress slightly less star-jumps. Nina Hoss (she wasn’t at the gig And the music has calmed but her voice was). If there’s any down a bit. With that, though, sanity left in the music biz, this comes another form of beauty. should be a massive hit (European Take their last album, Rewind elections and the World Cup will The Film. Think ‘Dylan goes be its backdrop on release) but, as electric’ in reverse and without ever, I won’t hold my breath. the outcry. But the Manics didn’t so much shun their signature Chomsky quote sound as wrote so much that their And the rest of the night? self-imposed two-year hiatus : holding out for one last star-jump before his back packs in Choose your hits – they were spawned two very different PHOTO: Simon Whittle played. Their two socialist- sounding . sees a similar old club come back a light on the heroic women themed number one singles If The first of these, the to life at the turn of the 1980s, be - who took on Thatcher and her You Tolerate This Your Children acoustic-tinged Rewind The fore Thatcher has taken on the thugs. We should never forget Will Be Next (about the Spanish Film, was released last Septem - miners and their communities, their struggle.” Civil War – a feat only the Man - ber to critical acclaim. the Manics on the small stage – Ok, they never played Anthem ics and Abba have achieved) all sideburns and moustaches – as For A Lost Cause at the Barras and The Masses Against The Situationist stance a young couple fall in love. but I urge you to see these three Classes (with its Cuban flag art - Heralded by a promo film of its But the true heartbreaker is the videos (especially Anthem...). work and Noam Chomsky quote title-track, third film (for the song Anthem Nor did they play the anti- intro, used live tonight at the swapped the Manics’ earlier For A Lost Cause), the band’s Thatcherite 30-Year War, the final Barras), as well as Motown punk, situationist stance for timely reminder of the power of track on Rewind The Film, with Junk, , You something much more subtle but support women gave the mining its references to “old Etonian Love Us, Enola/Alone, La just as direct. communities during the great scum” lining Westminster’s front Tristresse Durera... While the track itself is as in - strike of 1984-85. benches, “the lies of Hillsbor - Surprise of the night was trospective as their main lyricist The video’s director Kieran ough, the blood of Orgreave” and singer James’s insistence that, Nicky Wire often is, the film Evans said of these women: its Lenin-quoting coda, “I ask during his now traditional (shown in all its glory as a back - “They represented the very you again, what is to be done?” acoustic break (bassist Nicky drop to the band as they played it essence of true socialist princi - So with such potent songs must rest his knees), the crowd live) features an old miner wan - ples; collectivising and organis - missing from their live set, sing the lead guitar riff in From dering through his old, closed- ing themselves not only to what’s left to review of the gig? Despair To Where. It was both down pit village, through a dusty protest against the huge injustice Plenty – this is a band that has, bizarre and inspired. old mine workers’ club while the they suffered at the hands of amongst their rich history, an - So I’m left looking back at an - haunting duet (featuring ex-Pulp Thatcher but also to feed, clothe other new album up its sleeve other great gig by the Welsh guitarist sharing and support fellow workers and and a cult classic hurtling to - three-piece (forever indebted to vocal duties with the Manics’ their families. wards its 20th anniversary. their 19-years missing former ) plays out. “In some small way, we A couple of tracks from fourth member, Richey Ed - A second video from the wanted to bring a sense of this 1994’s The Holy Bible got a wards) and I’m looking forward album, , history to the promo and shine long-overdue airing – Die In The to Futurology.

14 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 436 HILLSBOROUGH published. This accused Liverpool fans of being “drunken animals”, of “urinating on the dead and police”, of “mugging dead bodies”, of “assaulting firefighters”. Sales of The Sun have never recovered since on Merseyside. Boris Johnson, now Tory London Mayor, wrote in the Spectator magazine after Hillsborough that Liverpool “is wallowing in victim status”. Several Inquiries and successive Tory and Labour governments buried the truth, terrified of the backlash against institutions that the rich rely on to maintain their power. But they reckoned without the Hillsborough Justice campaigners, who were adamant in their demand ‘Never again – justice for the 96′.

Monument to 96 I stand by the words I wrote • continued from back page of fans; truncheoned a group jobs and services, won in April 1989: ”They are turnstiles. Instead of delaying of fans who managed to get £60million in government desperate to cover up the real the kick-off, they shoved onto the pitch to try and rip funds in a massive defeat of culprits – the police, the Tory thousands of fans through down railings. Thatcher’s Tories. Liverpool ministers, the football clubs Gate C and turnstiles like This callous failure to act was an inspiration to workers who just want our ticket cattle. Disastrously, Gate C as a rescue service largely across the UK and beyond; the money. They do nothing led them straight down a lay in the previous training of target of ruthless revenge by about the clapped out, unsafe steep tunnel into the already- police as unthinking, the Tories and their media grounds, which are part of the overcrowded middle sections. obedient servants of the lickspittles. whole rotten free enterprise In their vilification of the dead police chiefs, who in turn Thatcher made the trip north system which the Tories and and injured, the same police deployed their forces on the day after the Disaster to their press uphold… chiefs who ordered the behalf of the Tories against meet South Yorkshire Police The unity of working class opening of Gate C then told the mining communities and chiefs. In part to defend her people in this hour of sorrow media that afternoon that the disaffected young people, loyal protectors during the cuts across the rivalries gate had been smashed down and whose attitude to momentous class which big business fosters in by fans – a malicious strand to Liverpool working class confrontation with the miners order to reap profits… their lies about “drunken, people in particular was in 1984-5 – but also fuelled by “One day the silent, choked ticketless Liverpool fans” being steeped in class hatred. the Tories’ desire to avenge up rage of these two million the cause of the disaster. their government’s 1984 people [the number who As the crush began, rows Tory hatred defeat by the rebellious poured into Anfield to pay of police, three deep, lined up It is no coincidence the Scouse working class, led by tribute to the 96 the first week outside the cages at the police mercilessly doctored the socialists. after the tragedy – RV] will be goalmouth where people evidence, to smear Liverpool In their demonisation of turned on the authorities were dying. Eyewitnesses fans and hide their own Liverpool, the press didn’t responsible for this needless told me how police ignored scandalous role. Thatcher’s even wait for the dead to be suffering and death. pleas for help: shoved the Tory government’s fingerprints buried before spewing out “They will erect the best fence back into position when were all over this monstrous their vitriol. possible monument to the fans desperately tried to frame up. Only four years A Sheffield Tory MP, Irvine fallen 96 – a society where smash it down as a means of earlier, hundreds of thousands Patnick, passed The Sun a men, women and children escape; refused to help a of the city’s working class, led packet of vicious lies, peddled can work, rest and play child gasping for breath who by socialists in general strikes by police chiefs, which the without fear of poverty or was passed over the heads and demos of 50-60,000 for Murdoch rag gleefully death for profit’s sake.”

issue 436 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 15 for Socialism, Independence facebook.com/scottishsocialistvoice and Internationalism [email protected] Issue 436 11th –24th April 2014 by Richie Venton, Liverpool supporter and regional organiser of the Merseyside socialists 1980-1992

THE FAMILIES of the 96 Justice for the 96 Liverpool football fans Hillsborough disaster - 15 April 1989 crushed to death at junior police officers’ Hillsborough 25 years ago statements to erase all are reliving their criticism of police actions. indescribable pain and loss, This was literally a tragedy at the opening days of the waiting to happen, through Coroner’s Inquests, ordered blatant failure of football club by the High Court after it owners to invest their profits quashed the original, rigged in crowd safety measures, verdicts of ‘accidental death’. and police chiefs’ refusal to 15 April 1989 witnessed learn from their own HILLSBOROUGH: the worst ever British sports successive Tory and incompetent past disaster; the same day saw Labour governments performance. the launch of a monstrous aided the police’s They had plenty of campaign of pernicious lies smearing of the dead warning: the very same FA from police chiefs, press and to hide their own Cup semi-final, between the responsibilities for this politicians, who tried to frame man-made slaughter same Liverpool and Notts and blame the 96 who died. Forest, was held at the very When the Hillsborough Millions were shaken to the deeper implications of this same Hillsborough the Independent Panel’s Report core in their assumptions appalling episode. It reveals previous season, 1988. was published in 2012, their about the police, press and a system that is steeped in Overcrowding, lack of names were cleared, in a ruling powers by the horrific class hatred for working class ground safety measures and victory for the superhuman evidence in the 450,000- people, with the incompetent policing had led tenacity, courage and page Report. It proved police establishment, all the various to a near-disaster, with fans heroism of the victims’ chiefs organised a blatant, arms of the state, implicated crushed, but no fatalities. But families and other fans who corrupt coverup, crudely – a brutal reminder of just absolutely nothing was done fought for justice for 25 long, doctoring documents and how low these people are to improve matters by 1989, cruel years. witness statements – with prepared to stoop to retain either by Sheffield successive Tory and Labour their power and privileges. Wednesday’s profit- Police lies governments aiding their Some of us had lived conscious owners or South “JFT96” was inscribed on smearing of the dead in order through the savage class Yorkshire Police. thousands of banners and to camouflage their own brutality of the Tories during tens of thousands of people’s responsibilities for this man- the miners’ strike four years Framing the dead hearts, as they fought to made slaughter. before Hillsborough – with People at the match told expose the truth of what The Report’s naked exposé Thatcher’s use of South me 25 years ago how they happened. A new wave of of corruption in ‘high’ places Yorkshire and other police arrived to utter chaos. There bitter rage followed the 2012 forced the Crown Prosecution forces as well-fed, well-paid, was no proper stewarding of Report’s revelation that 41 of Office and Independent beefed-up government fans, with only two policemen the 96 (some medical experts Police Complaints militias that treated working outside Leppings Lane! Fans reckon 58) could still be alive Commission to initiate an class people as scum, thronged into the middle today if they’d received unprecedented scale of rampaging like uniformed terraces, even though the prompt medical attention – inquiry into police officers and thugs in the pit villages. side terraces were half denied them by the the football authorities, But even veteran socialists empty. Whilst doing nothing incompetence of police potentially leading to charges were gob-smacked at the to address this, senior police chiefs, which meant only two of gross misconduct and even crude corruption of senior officers vastly compounded out of the 48 ambulances manslaughter. police – including the the crush by ordering the that arrived on the scene Whilst pressing for subsequently knighted Sir opening of Gate C (one of actually reached the pitch, prosecutions of those Norman Bettison and the the Leppings Lane exits) – to deterred by police lies that responsible, we should not South Yorkshire Police reduce the logjam at the the fans were rioting. lose sight of the wider, solicitor – who altered 116 • continued on page 15