I found an
interesting article over at the Hootsman. (I know, I know… in itself that is
worthy of a post…)
It is a piece,
written my Dr Andrew McFadyen who used to work for the Labour Party as a media
advisor, and was part of Iain Gray’s team in the last general election. An inside
man then and with his doctorate in Labour and Scottish Parliament, possibly a knowledgeable one.
I don’t agree with
all that he says, but I base my opinions on observation from afar, and he bases
his on actual experience of working with these people and researching at a high level. I accept, therefore, that
he knows a deal more about Labour and Labour politicians than I do.
Anyway, the piece made me think, and that’s never
a bad thing, right? So somewhat rambling (and far too long, sorry), this is what it made me think.
He says he has
respect for Johann Lamont. Now, I’m sure that Johann is a very nice woman, face
to face, but as a party leader and potential first minister, it is hard to see
where that respect comes from. But, thinking on, Lamont is a woman who takes
orders from a London boss with his own agenda. Even McFadyen admits that the role
of overall Scottish leader which Lamont achieved, and Gray never desired but
never managed, is truer on paper than in actuality.
He also talks about
Labour’s big hitters, and the fact that in the event of a yes vote, they would
have to come home and practise politics in Scotland rather than at Westminster.
And he names Dougie Alexander, Jim Murphy and Margaret Curran, none of whom I
consider to be big hitters.
In fairness though,
maybe their lack of ability to get across a message lies in the fact that they
really, at heart, don't believe anything they are saying. They are flogging
centre right to right wing policies, like benefit caps and austerity for the
poor, because they know that it is in the interest of their careers, not of
their constituents, and contrary to their political beliefs. Labour is wearing someone
else’s clothes and they don’t really suit, or fit. Always an uncomfortable and confidence
sapping experience.
But I think the
main point he makes is that Labour’s task after the defeat of 2011, the worst
showing apparently since the 1920s, was to build a vision “and imaginative
agenda” for Scotland, which he says has
given way to “project fear”.
Alistair denied last
week that the Better Together, No thanks, NoBorders, UKOK team had ever
referred to itself as Project Fear… but we can be pretty certain that it has.
And it certainly is.
Initially people
like Cameron and Darling tried to impress Scots by talking up the union.
That’s not a
difficult job when you are addressing the massed oligarchs of the City of
London but I don't think that Cameron understood that that message isn't universally successful.
Power, prestige,
position, military might, closeness to the USA, CLOUT (even imaginary), went down rather less well in the ordinary
streets of Scottish towns, where the number of embassies, consulates, the
position of the UK in the G8, UN, Nato and a few hundred other organisations,
mean absolutely nothing to the residents. But a lack of childcare, decent
facilities, housing, the reduction in tax credits and the high cost of essentials
like gas and electricity means
everything.
It must have been apparent
pretty quickly that, although there was a certain type of Scot that this would
impress, it wasn't a winner with the many who had to be won over.
So they must have
searched around for something else that was positive about the union, something
that didn't involve faraway places and strange sounding names!
But it was
difficult to find anything that would stick. Better Together has to mean
something. Why is a person living on minimum wage in a Scottish backstreet,
with only JUST enough money to make it to the end of the month (and sometimes
not), better together with the UK? Why are people queuing at food banks better
with the UK? Why would students be better in the Uk at £9,000 a shout? Why are
pensioners on £110 a week, the lowest pension by comparison to wages in the developed
world, bar Mexico, better in the Uk? Why is the UK the most unequal society in
the EU?
In reality so many of
our ordinary people are not Better Together. So what you have to do is imply
that it would be even worse if we weren't in the UK.
And although it has
attracted criticism it has worked, at least to an extent. You wouldn't get in
the EU (tens of thousands of jobs would disappear; maybe yours). Scotland won’t
be able to pay your pensions (you’d starve to death, despite having paid for a pension). There would be a barbed
wire border (no problem if you live in Lerwick or Stornaway, but more of an
issue if you are in Dumfries and want to see your girlfriend). You won't get Doctor Who or anything else for mm
the BBC (a real issue for some). You won't have a currency/will be made to use
the Euro, despite being denied EU membership (a real puzzler). You won’t be
able to defend yourselves (against what, who, and in any case why not?) The oil
is going to run out in 2 years time (in which case the UK should worry, and
start asking of it can become the 51st state).
Ridiculous though
these claims, and many more like them, are, if all you ever read is the main stream
media, then that is what you know. Yes, there’s information out there on blogs
like Wings and Scot Goes Pop and Bella and a shed load of others… but many
people don’t know where to go for that information, and many don't even know
that there IS that information.
So Project Fear,
with the compliance of the BBC and the bulk of newspapers, has been much more successful
than the real ‘positive’ message for the UK… which is Clout, War, State
Dinners, Clout, Embassies, Consulates, War, Big ships, and Nuclear weapons,
more CLOUT and the fourth largest spend on military in the world, photo
opportunities with President Obama, the City, Loadsamoney, Bombs and even more bloody CLOUT.
How comfortable
with that reality is LABOUR?
Well Labour in
London has bought into it. They know that it is the message that the rich in
the South East want to hear in their masses, and they are the people who can
deliver Ed to Downing Street.
But maybe the shaky
performances of so-called “big hitters” of Slab, can be attributed to the fact
that they know they are talking garbage to the very people who vote for them.
Maybe there is some shame there.
I know that some of you have been members of the Labour Party in the past, or worked with some of the people at its head. I'd be interested in your thoughts.
