27.04.1995

Paisley vice

LABOUR dominates local government in Scotland. That domination in the west coast and central belt is unchallenged and to some appears unchallengeable. It is a domination however which has not meant enclaves of socialism throughout Scotland. The militancy of Red Clydeside is firmly relegated to history and certainly has little to do with the town hall bureaucrats who have the cheek to claim descendancy from the likes of Gallagher and Mclean.

Labour as the party of power in Scotland has rarely had the squeaky clean Blair image, as municipal power is used to benefit the councillors rather than the constituents.

Tony Blair must be cringing at the allegations flying around Paisley this week. Four Labour Party branches have been shut down amidst claims of internal jiggery-pokery and links with the local drugs mafia via a ‘community’ company that has councillors on the board and receives considerable public funds. For those, like myself, who were once members of this party, the revelations are surprising in scale, not in fact.

Apparently, in a reselection battle involving Irene Adams MP, some people say that new members of the Labour Party have appeared from nowhere, having had their cards paid for them by one side or the other. This has been fairly normal practice in many constituencies at various times.

The media however are having a field day describing the housing scheme, Ferguslie Park, where all this is taking place as a cross between ‘Miami Vice’ and a scene from ‘Bladerunner’. Even Scotland on Sunday succumbed to hyperbole: “Drugs, death and murder - all hell is broken loose ...”

Take away the hype, however, and the reality is less colourful, but no less unsavoury.

Extreme poverty has created the violence, drugs, prostitution, protection rackets and money lending which are a way of life in this area.

While the struggle to survive continues, the Labour councillors and MPs battle on, but not for what the working class needs: they are embroiled in a bitter feud over hegemony within the local party structures.

It is astounding, given the depths of despair and corruption that exists in areas like this throughout Britain, that Labour will continue to receive working class support.

Mary Ward