Labour’s Scottish Problem. by Les May

IN the early 1970s I worked on an island in the Outer Hebrides. The people who lived there were not the ‘Industrial Proletariat’ so beloved by those of a romantic turn of mind, but small scale ‘entrepreneurs’ who made their living working on their family ‘croft’ and organised into ‘townships’ which annually allocated to each crofter strips of Machair land on which was grown a mixture of rye and black-oats which was cut in late summer to provide winter forage for a few cattle. With sheep summered on the poorer land on the east of the island and wintered on the land close to the house which had been used for hay in summer it provided a living, but not a very luxurious one. My two closest neighbours lived in two room, single story houses with a roof of thatch made from Marram Grass. One had carpets laid on the bare earth floor. Both got water from a tap outside their house

I’ve been back a few times since and, as well as paying my respects at the graves of some of the people I knew, I’ve seen the much greater prosperity enjoyed by the Islanders. The single track road with passing places has gone, there’s a causeway linking six of the islands, there are jobs for women and the two room thatched houses are museum pieces. No wonder Scots voted to stay in the EU. (Incidentally you will see the same improved infra-structure on the islands of Madeira and Tenerife.)

At the time the Scottish Nationalists were described as ‘Tartan Tories’ and the constituency returned a Labour MP. Now it returns both a Scottish Nationalist MSP to Holyrood and an MP to London . The SNP has morphed into, what is in many respects, a social democratic party. Is it possible that Labour and the SNP are fighting over much the same political territory in Scotland, and the SNP is winning? Perhaps Labour should start asking why the SNP has been so successful at invading its territory in Scotland.

Is it possible that the SNP is drawing significant support not for enthusiasm for a ‘go it alone Scotland’, but for the party’s domestic policies? Tory governments in particular have tried to force on Scotland domestic policies which have been less than popular over the border, e.g. water privatisation and the introduction of the Poll Tax a year before it was forced on England. Repeated attempts were made by the Tories to find a way of privatising Caledonian MacBrayne, the ferry service which serves as a lifeline to 22 Scottish Islands. It is now a subsidiary of holding company owned by the Scottish Government.

Social care is funded differently in Scotland than in England. If you think that’s because we English are paying for it, think again. All governments have a limited amount of money to spend; Holyrood just makes choices which are different to those made in London. That does not mean everything is rosy over the border, education and health are areas which have drawn criticism.

At some time in the not too distant future Labour is going to have to confront the fact that the Scottish Parliament may vote to hold a second referendum on independence. It has a choice, it can fly the ‘Union’ flag along with the Tories and oppose a second vote or it can support it and risk there being a ‘Yes’ vote, Scotland becoming independent and no more Scottish MPs in the House of Commons which would effectively seal a succession of Tory government for the rest of time.

Johnson is a chancer. At present he is doing all he can to bypass the Scottish Parliament by means of a veto on its scope for action and by taking on powers which rightly belong with the Scots. The signs are that he is hoping that he can block a second referendum by legal means. He may think this will ‘save the Union’, but if he does he will kill it because it will no longer be a union by consent.

It has been estimated that about a third of Scots actively support independence, a third actively oppose it and the remainder are more ambivalent. Even if these estimates are not very close to the true figures it does suggest that there is some scope for persuading more of the electorate to vote to remain part of the UK. That persuading can only be done by Labour, if only for the selfish reason I alluded to above.

It was a Labour government that in 1998 introduced the Scotland Act which led to the setting up of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Why then is Labour apparently doing so little to oppose Johnson’s power grab? By doing little or nothing it risks being tarred with the same brush as the Tories in the minds of the Scottish electorate. Labour could work with SNP MPs in the House of Commons to form a government. Without the Union and the Scottish MPs it brings there seems to me little chance that we will ever have anything but a succession of Tory governments.

Nicola Sturgeon is a demonstrably competent woman which suggests she is no fool. She must be aware that an ‘independent’ Scotland will face all sorts of difficulties; a long land border with England and the question of what currency it would adopt are just two obvious ones. There’s also the fact that much though she may say she wants to be part of the EU, it’s not a ‘done deal’ and its an aspiration for the future. Perhaps a greater degree of independence within the Union could begin to look a more attractive option. There’s an opening for Labour there.

https://theferret.scot/scottish-water-public-ownership/

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An Indirect Route of getting Covid-19 by Les May

AT intervals throughout the day Sky News (Channel 233) broadcasts a short information piece dealing with the key points in protecting ourselves against becoming infected with the Covid 19 causing virus. One of these is a reminder that the virus can remain infectious for a period if it contaminates hard surfaces, including metal surfaces. In her daily briefing a couple of days ago the Scottish First Minister, Nichola Sturgeon, reminded people to avoid touching hard surfaces when in the hospitality venues which have been allowed to remain open.

Unlike in the case of close contact between individuals which can result in direct transmission of the infection, the path of transmission from an infected person to a previously uninfected individual via a hard surface, is indirect. In both cases it involves the infected person ejecting minute virus laden droplets of mucus from the nose or of spittle from the mouth, by sneezing, coughing, singing, or even speaking excitedly or loudly. The largest of these rapidly fall to the ground and are unlikely to travel more than two metres. Smaller particles fall more slowly, persist in the air much longer and may be carried further by air currents caused by body movements.

If these minute droplets are inhaled they are likely to come in contact with the mucus membranes of the nose and throat; they can also drift into the eyes of bystanders. Each route provides a means for the virus to enter the body and initiate and infection.

Droplets which otherwise would fall to the ground can be intercepted by hard surfaces; supermarket trolley handles, door surfaces and handles, tables and chairs, milk bottles and metal cans… the list of things with hard surfaces which have the potential to hold infectious virus particles is endless. In the worst cases virus particles can remain viable and able to reproduce within the human body, for up to three days.

Anyone who comes in contact with a surface carrying virus particles is in danger of picking them up on their hands. Touching their face with a virus contaminated hand can result in a Covid 19 infection becoming established in the body, even though they have not spent any significant time in close contact with an infected person. No ‘App’, nor ‘Track and Trace’ can alert us to the fact that an infected person shed virus particles onto a surface which we later came into contact with. The ONLY defence against this is to avoid touching our face and either wash our hands regularly with soap and water, or apply a sanitiser gel containing at least 60% alcohol, every time we have touched a surface in locations outside our own home.

The importance of this indirect method of passing on the infection has been overshadowed by the problems of getting the ‘App’ to work at all and ‘Track and Trace’ to work effectively. We need to reinstate it.

Do I practice what I preach? Yes I do! Before any bottle or can is allowed into the house it is sprayed with dilute bleach (one part bleach plus ten to twenty parts water) and left for a few minutes before being rinsed with water. Anything else is quarantined for three days. If anyone other than my wife or myself touches a door handle, door knocker, mail flap, bell push is is wiped over with soapy water or alcohol. In the case of our waste bins on collection day before they are brought back into the garden the handles and flap of each of each bin is sprayed with dilute bleach.

Pedantic? Yes! But I make my own rules about what I think will keep my wife and myself safe. That way there’s no confusion about what is and what is not ‘allowed’.

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Understanding Social Distancing Isn’t Rocket Science

by Les May

LAST week the Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced that for the time being the jury system for trials would be suspended and that for an indeterminate period trials would be conducted in the absence of a jury and the presiding judge alone would decide the innocence or guilt of the accused.

Sturgeon rescinded her decision after protests from the Scottish Judiciary and members of her own party.

South Korea was very successful in limiting the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus which is the causal agent of the disease Covid19.  This was done by first identifying those suffering the disease and then tracking the whereabouts of those they had been in contact with by locating their mobile phone.  This is possible because as people move around their phone automatically latches onto the mast transmitter with the strongest signal and vice versa.  The technology is the same as that used by the Dutch to determine that the missile used to shoot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was moved from Russia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Airlines_Flight_17

Germany has been using similar technology as part of its strategy for limiting the spread of the virus.

Trial by jury is the cornerstone of the English and Scottish legal system and the implications for civil liberties of suspending it, potentially indefinitely, are obvious, which is why suspension was roundly condemned.

It may be possible to justify tracking people using their mobile phone signal in order to limit the spread of a deadly virus.  How do we ensure that its use will be discontinued after the pandemic is over?  If we cannot, there are clear implications for civil liberties.

These are serious issues and deserve serious consideration and debate.  They are not getting it.   Instead we have whingeing about examples of heavy handed policing and nit picking about what the word ‘unwisely’ might be interpreted to mean.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/whinge

During the afternoon today the couple who live in the house behind me invited someone round for a friendly drink.  Unwise?  Yes!  By being in the company of a third person they were increasing the probability of introducing the virus into their household.  Conversely she was running the risk of catching it from them. Infected people show no symptoms for three to five days initially and are shedding virus particles throughout this time.  There’s no certainty in any of this.  Social distancing is a matter of reducing the probability that in any encounter one or other of the participants will be infected with the virus and pass it on to someone else.  Ignoring it is anti-social.

It’s not ‘rocket science’ to understand that if each infected person on average passes the virus to more than one person, the number of people infected will increase.  If on average they pass it on to just one person the number of people infected will remain constant and if they pass it on to less than one person the number of infections will decline to zero.

Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood does stupid things does not mean the rest of us have to do the same.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/05/scotland-chief-medical-officer-seen-flouting-lockdown-advice-catherine-calderwood

You might get a chuckle out of this link, but notice how readily she falls into the same trap of identity politics herself.

https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/03/31/identity-politics-has-never-been-more-irrelevant/

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Catalonia: 'The People vs the State'

'Rubber bullets fired by Spanish police

'YESTERDAY, El Pais the Spanish newspaper ran a headline 'La Generalitat lanza a la poblacion contra el Estado' - 'The Generalitat (local government) sets the people against the State'

Last night there were reports of the the police under orders from the central government in Madrid had taken control of the Barcelona.  This coming 80-years after the Barcelona police in the Spanish Civil War seized control of the telephone exchange from the workers of the CNT trade union, is a grim reminder of the days of Franco and the communist dirty tricks which took place following the so-called May Days of 1937.  Much of which was documented by George Orwell in his book 'Homage to Catalonia'.

As I write this there are reports on Twitter of a Civil Guard in Barcelona firing on crowds of Catalans trying to vote in the referendum.

Northern Voices' contact in Spain, Carlos Figueroa, has told us in an e-mail from Madrid:

'I hope you can understand the whole thing...Read público.es y la vanguardia(catalan newspaper).

El País is not anymore a right place to be informed...'

The Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has condemned the violence, and has called on the Spanish government to let Catalans vote peacefully:
 Nicola Sturgeon ✔ @NicolaSturgeon

1/2 Increasingly concerned by images from #Catalonia. Regardless of views on independence, we should all condemn the scenes being witnessed

Minutes ago it was reported on videos of 'police brutality' against voters are going viral on social media.  Spanish journalist Héctor Juanatey has posted footage of police forcibly removing voters outside a polling station at Guinardò market in Barcelona.

Another video shows police dragging a voter out of a polling station by their hair at Ramon Llull school in the Catalan capital.

 An hour ago the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, has told reporters that “violence will not stop Catalans from voting”.  The Catalan government says 38 people have been treated by emergency services in the disorder. 

Earlier this morning the Barcelona’s mayor, Ada Colau, has called on the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, to resign and demanded police stop using violence against voters.

Police action against the peaceful population must stop. Today, in Catalonia and in the state, we have to demand it. #ResignRajoy

There are several reports on social media of Spanish police firing rubber bullets at people queuing to vote in the referendum.

Princeton researcher Jordi Graupera posted a video of what appears to be a member of the Guardia Civil firing at a crowd.
Minutes ago footage has emerged showing firefighters in Catalonia protecting voters from police violence by forming a barrier between officers and the crowds.
  L'Accent‏ @laccent

Els bombers protegeixen la gent de la violència de la Guardia Civil mentre els mossos s'amaguen #1oct

Ion Telleria Barrena

1:27 am - 1 Oct 2017

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Parliament Gets Vote on Brexit!

THE Supreme Court has ruled today that Parliament must vote on whether the government can start the Brexit process.

This judgement means Theresa May cannot begin talks with the EU until MPs, and peers give their backing - although this is now expected to happen in time for the government's 31 March deadline.
But crucially, the court ruled the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies did not need a say.
During the Supreme Court hearing, campaigners argued that denying the UK Parliament a vote was undemocratic and a breach of long-standing constitutional principles.

They said that triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - getting formal exit negotiations with the EU under way - would mean overturning existing UK law, so MPs and peers should decide.

The Decision of the Supreme Court

Reading out the judgement, Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger said:
'By a majority of eight to three, the Supreme Court today rules that the government cannot trigger Article 50 without an act of Parliament authorising it to do so.' 

He added:  'Withdrawal effects a fundamental change by cutting off the source of EU law, as well as changing legal rights.  The UK's constitutional arrangements require such changes to be clearly authorised by Parliament.'

The court also rejected, unanimously, arguments that the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly should get to vote on Article 50 before it is triggered. 

But Nicola Sturgeon has said that the Scottish government will propose legislation allowing Holyrood to have a say in the triggering of Article 50.

The Scottish Problem?

The justices held back from insisting that the devolved administrations would have a vote or a say on the process. That was, as described by a member of Team May, the "nightmare scenario".
The Scottish National Party has said it would not try to veto Brexit, but there is no question that having a vote on Article 50 in the Holyrood Parliament could have been politically troublesome for the government. After the judgement the BBC reported that it seems like an unexploded bomb.
And second, the Supreme Court also held back from telling the government explicitly what it has to do next. The judgement is clear that it was not for the courts but for politicians to decide how to proceed next.
That means, possibly as early as tomorrow, ministers will put forward what is expected to be an extremely short piece of legislation in the hope of getting MPs to approve it, perhaps within a fortnight.

Scottish Nationalist 'People's Vow'

I picked up a copy of The Spectator while I was in Aberdeen at the end of November with a piece by Alex Massie entitled 'Scotland's unwon cause' in which he wrote:

'The SNP is the only political party in Scotland that can credibly claim to be a mass organisation.  It will soon, in all likelihood have 100,000 members.'

 

About the same time I bought a copy of The National a new daily that claims the be 'The newspaper that supports an independent Scotland'.  According to Alex Massie this paper sold 50,000 copies of its first edition – near twice of what the Scotsman averages.  Since then The National has doubled its print run.

 

At their last SNP conference since Nicola Sturgeon took over it produced the People's Vow:which specifies that industry should be nationalised; a republic declared; land ownership reformed; fracking banned; Nato left; and a people's budget published that would offer an alternative to austerity.

 

Whatever the outcome in Scotland at the next UK general election, and the SNP could win up to 50 seats if it performs in line with the recent polls, the consequences could lead to conflict for the Union whoever gained power in Westminster:  a Tory win next May would almost certainly result in increasing the backing in Scotland for the nationalists, and a Labour majority would not be much more helpful in so far as it would have to chose between letting down Scottish aspirations for more independence and possibly upsetting English opinion.  A Labour Government that depended on the SNP would be particularly vulnerable.

 

Mr. Massie argues that during the next General Election in Scotland it will be like '59 mini-referendums [in Scotland] on the national question'.  That in turn would 'serve as an overture to the 2016 Scottish parliamentary elections', at which Massie says: 'another SNP triumph would open the door to a second referendum.'  This would need the approval of the London Government, but in such circumstances it would be hard to refuse.

The building site lads I met from Glasgow at the Rank & File construction worker's conference in Newcastle on the 15th, November, certainly had high hopes that Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP would be able to force the political pace in the New Year and give the Westminster crowd the run-around.  It is expected that Paul Salveson will be writing on this in the next edition of the Northern Voices - N.V. 15.