Emergency Editorial

Glasgow Springburn by-election provides step change opportunity for the Left

The inglorious spectacle of the MP’s expenses scandal aka ‘the crisis’ – as if there wasn’t any other crisis around worth talking about – has provided as a by-product of the fall out a unique opportunity for the disparate and divided left in Scotland to take a step change forward.

The resignation of the hapless Labour functionary, Speaker Michael Martin – hirer of chauffeur driven limousines to Celtic games at public expense, and defender of the rank rotten system of fiscal privilege enjoyed by our Westminster representatives – means that there will be a by-election this summer in Glasgow Springburn.

Other editorials in DGS magazine have made all the points that need to be made on the question of left unity and there should be no need to repeat them. It should be obvious to all on the progressive left – whatever the sources of past disagreement and division – that the absence in the mainstream of Scottish politics of a united and credible left, or green left, means that huge opportunities in relation to the global financial crisis, current attacks on working people, and debacles like the expenses scandal are being missed. A left voice is effectively absent from current political discourse here in Scotland (and indeed the wider UK).

Though the pro-capitalist establishment parties would continue to be delighted by it, working class families in Springburn and throughout Scotland need three small left parties (plus the Greens) contesting the left progressive vote in the coming by-election - all proclaiming themselves to be the ‘one, true voice’ of socialism - like they need a hole in the head.

Democratic Green Socialist online magazine calls on Solidarity, the SSP and the SLP in Scotland to put past differences to one side and engage in a dialogue to see if a single left candidate can be found that all parties can support in the coming by-election.  Approaches should also be made to those involved in the current No2EU campaign, the Green Party and leading left trade unionists in Scotland with a view to establishing a single united candidacy that can appeal across the progressive left spectrum, engage with working class voters utterly disillusioned with Labour and establishment politics in general, and put forward a radical coherent green socialist alternative to the cosy capitalist consensus which – despite the depth of the political and economic crisis – remains relatively intact at the present time.

Such a candidacy would have to unite around a consensually agreed minimal programme around which all socialists and left progressives could come together and campaign. We suggest the following 10 point programme as a starting point for discussion:

• Support for democratic public ownership of our energy, construction, transport and finance sectors. Roll back the tide of privatisation promoted by New Labour and the Tories
• Support for radical wealth redistribution to tackle poverty, homelessness and inequality
• Support for a major program of new build social housing at affordable rents to tackle the housing crisis and prevent any new housing bubble developing
• Defend public services – Support trade union rights.  No to cuts to pay for the bosses’ recession
• Defend and extend an education system and a health service free at the point of need and paid for through progressive taxation
• No to Trident and other weapons of mass destruction.  No more immoral and illegal wars
• No new nuclear power stations. For massive investment, together with a strategic plan, in renewable and clean coal energy sources to tackle both climate change and the current recession. Make Scotland a world leader in tackling climate change and create tens of thousands of high skill green jobs in construction and maintenance
• For a diverse, democratic and pluralist society of economic, civil and social equality for all, regardless of race, gender, creed or sexual orientation
• An end to the gravy train. For working peoples’ representatives on no more than the average wage of a skilled worker. All expenses to be subject to public audit.
• For a free and fair referendum on independence for Scotland

Glasgow Springburn should be seen as representing an opportunity for the left to come together and present a united case to those who most need an alternative to a system which has utterly failed them.  We at DGS believe a single united candidacy represents the way forward.  We believe that, across the party spectrum in Scotland, we are not alone in that view

Whether sufficient goodwill or political seriousness exists overall to make it happen now remains to be seen.