Why wouldn’t Scottish Independence work for Labour and why aren’t Labour working for it?
January 6, 2012 5 Comments
Andrew Ben Mckay – Labour Party Member
Image © Worawit Suphamungmee
Scottish independence is a popular position on the left. When the SNP won a majority in the Scottish Parliament in May, this idea was reinforced.
I watched with little surprise as my party took a beating in May after months of failing to connect with voters up and down Scotland.
The SNP came across as a party who are genuinely working in Scotland’s interests and have become the new party of the working class. Categorising Labour, Tories and the Lib Dems as “London parties” proved to be an inspired political strategy.
The 2010 General election has surely had an affect as well. In 2010, Scotland returned 1 Conservative MP to Westminster – so the question must be asked, what mandate does David Cameron have to govern a country that overwhelmingly voted against him.
I will find it very difficult to vote against independence when the time comes. The thought of, in my lifetime, never having to live under a Tory government again is an appealing one.
A friend of mine once pointed out – when discussing Labour – that the problem with “British” parties is that, for the sake of England, they always have to appease to the right.
There is an overwhelmingly progressive majority in Scotland – the same cannot be said for England. And, while republicans like George Galloway may support a British republic, this is not a realistic goal. We have seen already that Europe, immigration, and public spending are issues that the Scots and the English disagree on.
Today, Jim Murphy has just reiterated my fear that Labour is not on the side of the Left. Calling some of us on the Left’s opposition to cuts “shallow and temporary” populism.
Labour should be asking why the poor and the working class are always left to pick up the pieces. The wrong people are paying the price for the mistakes of a very few and, by coming out with such right wing mantra, Murphy has just made independence more likely. The more Labour agree with the Westminster coalition, the more Scottish opinion will turn against them.
I will be at the Labour Party Conference in Dundee in March and I hope that someone raises the question of why we (Labour) remain on the side of bankers and Tories.
Scottish independence is something that Labour shouldn’t fear and the Scottish people losing incapacity benefits and being forced into work may thank us, if we are on the side of the progressive majority.
Vote Yes to Independence – Scandinavia Beckons
Well, Labour nationally draws strength from its Scottish votes – which it takes for granted. At the last general election, Scotland actually increased its votes for Labour. If Scotland became independent, it would be a progressive country, and a nice place to live, but the rest of the United Kingdom would see a Tory government returned for another ten years at least whilst Labour would have to make its message even more right-wing, because English votes would be even more important.
So independence may be good for Scotland, and is the progressive choice, but Labour in England would be damaged, and Middle England would forever hold the balance of power.
Very good point. I have spoken to English voters (especially from the North) who would joke “can we come with you”, fearing that they may be left to a Tory government for a long long time.
The English voters you refer to are Labour Party supporters. We in North East England rejected a regional assembly. We want an English Parliament with the same powers as the Scottish Parliament.
Andrew, you are right on the money. I’m a former Labour party voter who is well fed up with sending 40-50 Labour MPs to Westminster in 5 of the last 8 elections and still having a Tory-led government returned at the end of it.
I have no doubt that Scotland would be a progressive left of centre country. The opportunity for a re-invigorated reborn Scottish Labour party to be at the forefront of that is huge. I cannot for the life of me understand why they choose to settle for a toss of the coin outcome at UK general elections, when they would most likely dominate and lead a post-independent Scotland. I’m an SNP voter but would return to Labour in that situation if they rose to the task. Why don’t they grasp the thistle ?