With now less than 500 days to go till the Independence
Referendum of 2014, the magnitude and importance of this decision becomes
greater with each passing day. We have the chance to transform our nation, not
only for us, but for future generations. I, like many others, see 2014 as the start
of the path-way to a Scotland with social justice and equality at its core.
However, that doesn’t just suddenly become reality with a Yes vote in the
referendum, 2014 is the starting block, but this isn’t a sprint, it’s a
marathon.
As a member of the Scottish Socialist Party, it pains me to
say this, but we have become a shadow of our former self and are on the verge
of becoming an irrelevance. From 6 MSP’s in the 2003 elections, to a loss of
all deposits in 2011. In the period of 2003-2011, the economy has collapsed,
the greed and failures of the capitalist system have been laid bare for all to
see and demand for a fairer and more prosperous Scotland has increased. But
yet, we as a movement have collapsed electorally. Why? It is the answer to that
question that is the true tragedy of Left-wing politics in Scotland.
The right wing media, right wing parties, the establishment,
ourselves. Only one of those 4 groups
before mentioned are to blame for the collapse of not only the SSP, but
left-wing politics in Scotland, and it’s sadly the last one. We on the left are
the main contributors to our downfall. Whether you believe that it was one
man’s sheer stupidity and egotistical attitude, or one man’s sheer
determination and fight for justice that brought about the split of the SSP and
the subsequent shattering of the most successful Socialist movement in Europe
at the time is in my opinion irrelevant. The only thing we do know for sure is
the devastating effect that those years have had on the socialist movement as a
whole and how we have failed the base of support that we had once worked so
hard to build support from. The true tragedy of the left is indeed that, no
matter how much of a blow our enemy strikes, we deliver a self-inflicted blow
which harms ourselves even more. This country needs a united left which puts
the needs of the people above old personal and political score-settling.
With each passing day we see the difference in Scottish
Politics and the rest of the UK becoming clearer and clearer. The rise of the
UK Independence Party in the English council elections is not only surprising,
but equally as terrifying. British
politics is being dragged ever more to the right with the only “alternative”
being a Labour party which has abandoned the Socialist ideology and promises
only austerity. The prospect of a possible UKIP and Tory coalition government
should be enough for any Scot to tick the yes box in 2014, however many are caught
in the illusion that Labour still represent themselves and their communities
and are a viable and realistic alternative, and even more are sadly disengaged
with politics as a whole. So how do we enthuse, how do we bring people out of
their homes and get them politically active, how do we fulfil people with the
knowledge required to see for themselves what the future as part as the United
Kingdom holds and how a Yes vote in 2014 can be the catalyst for real social
change?
The answer lies in a united left. A left wing party which
stands defiantly behind the working class people of Scotland. A left wing party
which supports the unions in their fight for workers’ rights. A left wing party
which promises an end to illegal wars overseas and an end to the bloodshed
which see’s working class men like the 3 members of the Royal Highland
Fusiliers killed last week whilst serving in Afghanistan return home draped in
a Union Flag . A left wing party which promises to restore economic growth not
through austerity and welfare cuts, but through the introduction of a living
wage and a commitment to housing. Most importantly however, a left wing party
which listens to its people and answers their questions directly. A return to
honest politics and an end to the out of touch nature of politics at present.
Only through offering real change and not merely the
changing of a flag can we win the referendum in 2014. But as I have already
said, 2014 is not the end of our struggle, it is only the beginning. And only
through a strong and united outlook can we realistically bring about the
changes which benefit the many and not the few.
Liam McLaughlan
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