Last year Scottish Militant Labour combined with other forces on the left to create a new, broader vehicle for socialism in Scotland — the Scottish Socialist Alliance. National secretary of the alliance ALLAN GREEN explains why socialists in Scotland are beginning to turn their backs on Labour and the Scottish National Party in favour of this new fighting force.
[In 1995] as a Labour election agent, I produced a leaflet for the local elections. This boldly called for a Labour vote to "resist privatisation and defend local jobs and services". We all know what happened. Labour local authorities do not simply neglect the people they are supposed to represent: they now attack jobs, living standards and the quality of life of millions of Scots.
Symbolised by the rewriting of Clause 4, New Labour has ditched any commitment to a new type of society. They are now in the process of breaking their historic links with the trade unions.
When Labour last won in 1974, Harold Wilson promised "an irreversible shift of power in favour of working people and their families". Today, Britain is at its most divided since the Victorian era, yet Tony Blair reassures big business that the counter-revolution of the Thatcher years will remain largely untouched. The most basic interests of ordinary people have been unceremoniously dumped as New Labour adopts the posture and politics of Old Tories.
Socialists in Scotland have for some time been patiently developing unity in action in order to build a credible alternative to the stale consensus and failed policies of Westminster politics. In campaigns like the one that defeated the poll tax, we have been learning, or relearning, the advantages of coming together in a common purpose.
This process took a giant leap forward last year when hundreds of socialists gathered in Glasgow and agreed it was time for a new united left. The Scottish Socialist Alliance was launched, bringing together people disillusioned with New Labour and the SNP — including the ex-Labour leaders of Dumbarton and Dundee Councils, and the convenor of the SNP in Edinburgh.
The Alliance also has the support of Scottish Militant Labour, Communists, Greens, prominent trade unionists, environmentalists, animal rights activists and many individual non-aligned socialists. The Alliance believes there is space for a new radical movement that will take direct action — for example against the Jobseekers Allowance and against nuclear weapons; that will campaign in work places and trade unions; and that will prepare for a serious challenge to the establishment parties come election time.
Right now, politics is dominated by the countdown to the general election. For 17 years the Conservatives, with only minority support, have ruled Scotland almost like a colony. Most people desperately want to see the end of Tory rule from Westminster — and so does the Scottish Socialist Alliance. We will contest seats in the general election but not where a split vote could allow the Tories to win.
This time around it looks like the Tories will be booted out — but few can muster any enthusiasm for what is on offer from Tony Blair. New Labour intends to keep the Jobseekers Allowance and the Child Support Act. It will not significantly improve spending on health, education or the welfare state — nor will New Labour make any serious attempt to end unemployment.
Labour intends to leave the Tory anti-trade union laws intact. It will keep the repressive Criminal Justice Act on the statute books. Industries privatised by the Tories will not be taken back into public control. After the mid-summer madness over referendums and tax raising powers, there is now even doubt and confusion over Labour's previous commitment to deliver a strong Scottish parliament.
All the mainstream parties are firmly committed to the so-called "dynamic market economy" and all the unemployment, poverty and environmental destruction that this brings. There is little of real substance to separate them as they enter Dutch auction over reducing tax. Even the SNP, which often says it is to the left of Labour, is for a free market "tiger economy", promising to slash the tax bills of big business by introducing a lower rate of corporation tax. No-one is fooled by these hollow promises from cynical politicians.
Instead of offering people a genuine choice, British election campaigns appear to be going down the road of US-style beauty contests.
All around Scotland we see poor housing, dole queues, poverty, crime and misery. Quite simply, there has to be a better way. The Scottish Socialist Alliance stands for a Scottish parliament that will put the interests of ordinary people before the profits of private industry. In short, we are for genuine democratic socialism — a rational, planned system where everyone participates to achieve a decent quality of life for all.
The Alliance is preparing a set of basic demands, a Social Charter for Socialist Change, that we will present to the Scottish electorate. So far, we have formulated detailed policies on a wide range of issues, including the economy, the environment, education, health and housing.
Crucially, the Alliance has also thrown itself into grass-roots activity. The Alliance kick-started the highly successful Save Our Schools campaign in 1995. More recently our youth wing, Young Socialist Action, staged a demo in Glasgow city centre against the Jobseekers Allowance, with simultaneous actions in Edinburgh and Dundee.
The Alliance Women's Network has been at the forefront of organising for the Campaign Against Domestic Violence International Day of Action event outside Corton Vale Prison in Stirling.
In the trade unions, our members have been actively building solidarity with the Liverpool Dockers, the Glacier Metal occupation and other workers in dispute.
The Alliance has also had the courage to put its ideas to the test in local by-elections. After taking fifth place in Invergordon in front of the Green Party, the Alliance won 19% of the vote in Toryglen, Glasgow and 6.5% in the Harbour Ward, Leith.
Especially amongst young people there are already significant numbers willing to support a new socialist challenge. We believe that after the general election there is the potential for a major electoral breakthrough, especially in a Scottish parliament elected by proportional representation.
[Abridged from Scottish Socialist Voice.]