19.06.1997

Dundee tragedy

Scotland forward’s first regional launch meeting took place in Dundee on Friday June 13. An audience of 70 - mainly double ‘yes’ enthusiasts - heard speeches from Scotland forward’s National organiser, Paolo Vestri; Ian McKay from the campaigns executive, and Dundee East Labour MP John McAllion.

Ian McKay set the tone of the meeting by saying that Scotland Forward aims for “a broad based, cross-community, cross-party campaign”. Vestri announced the campaign had the support of the Labour Government, Lib Dems, Scottish Socialist Alliance, Green Party, Natural Law Party and the SNP (who are just awaiting the formality of a national council decision).

He made it clear that the campaign was not going to get into discussing the merits of the constitutional convention’s parliament blueprint. Any discussion regarding the nature of the parliament could “take place outside the campaign, not within it”. He warned that rejection of Blair’s proposal would mean having “to wait another generation for the next chance”.

John McAllion declared that “the forces of constitutional darkness” were gathering strength at Westminster with a possible ‘no’ campaign looking to sow seeds of confusion. He argued that the referendum was not going to be a walkover and would not be won just on the basis of a Labour campaign; “No one is asking people to agree with Labour’s plan, but any kind of directly elected parliament is worth fighting for.”

When the meeting was thrown open, it was evident that the organisers wanted no political debate - only ‘creative’ campaigning ideas and organisational proposals. The response to two particular contributions was indicative of this campaign’s perspectives. Anne Murphy from the Campaign for Genuine Self-Determination raised the idea of an active boycott of the referendum as part of the fight for real self-determination - for a sovereign Scottish parliament with full powers. In response platform speaker McKay told the comrade to get out - an ‘offer’ that was refused!

Then Ian Brown from the SWP declared unequivocal support on behalf of his organisation for a double ‘yes’ vote. However, he then went on in typical SWP style to say that the fight for such political and democratic demands was secondary - the main thing was the fight in the trade unions, against NHS and council cuts ... In other words the usual economism of the SWP. However, in reply McKay was completely dismissive of the SWP. His attitude was ‘We’ll give you some leaflets to sell with your papers on a Saturday, but let’s get back to real politics’ - ie, what the establishment political parties can deliver.

These two examples give a whiff of the type of organisation Scotland forward is. Controlled by Labour, it is unambiguously for the establishment. There will be no debate, no active role for the working class, apart from as voting fodder, and the left will be tolerated only as foot soldiers. This campaign should definitely carry a government health warning for workers and the left.

Nick Clarke