HENRY McLeish has called on Scottish Labour to cut its ties with London, arguing that an independent party north of the Border is now “essential”.
The former Labour First Minister said UK Labour is facing “a summer of discontent and bitter infighting” with the leadership contest between Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith.
He argued the growing divisions within the party have left it “nowhere” in the debate over leaving the European Union (EU) and the consequences of this development on Scotland.
Corbyn – who is the odds-on favourite to win the leadership contest due to conclude in September – is “not the answer to Labour’s decline or long-term recovery”, McLeish insisted.
With Scotland facing the prospect of a second independence referendum as a result of the majority of Scots voting to remain in the EU, the former Labour First Minister said the Scottish party must think beyond the leadership battle.
“In the short-term we will be wrapped up in the leadership campaign,” he said.
“We need now to think beyond the next two months and prepare for every eventuality in Scotland and Britain as the political fallout from June 23 continues and uncertainty deepens. Scotland could see Home Rule, a form of federalism, independence or some other, as yet unknown, four-nation constitutional solution. Regardless of the outcome, an Independent Labour Party (ILP) in Scotland is essential.
“The ILP imprint would send a powerful message of Scottish identity and politically-distinctive policies. This is the time for the Scottish party to act.”
Leader Kezia Dugdale sought greater autonomy for the Scottish party last year while her deputy Alex Rowley advocated a more independent federal party.
Meanwhile, one of Corbyn’s allies has suggested that Labour should explore the possibility of electoral pacts with the Greens, SNP and Liberal Democrats in order to defeat the Tories.
Clive Lewis, a shadow cabinet minister, has said that the only way to get Theresa May out of office is to bring all anti-Tory votes together in a “progressive alliance”.
In comments that have divided Labour opinion, Lewis said in The Guardian that working with other parties is “essential” for beating the Conservatives – and for being a better government.
The shadow Defence Secretary said that “there is a common set of themes and values and principles” across Labour, the Green Party, LibDems and the Scottish Nationalists, and suggested an electoral pact would be needed because of the First Past The Post System for Westminster elections.
An ICM poll raised the prospect of the Conservatives holding power at Westminster for years after it found that all Labour, Lib Dem, SNP and Green support added together would only be enough to draw level with the Conservatives in the popular vote.
Expanding on his ideas for an electoral pact, Lewis said he regularly agreed with the Green MP Caroline Lucas, as well as SNP and LibDem MPs. “I sit and listen to Caroline Lucas and seven or eight times out of 10, I listen and think: not sure about that bit but most of it I agree with. When the Tories jeer her, I want to stand up,” he said.
“Half the time when the SNP are speaking, I listen to what Mhairi Black or others are saying and think I agree with that. I listen to[Lib Dem MP] Tom Brake and think I agree with what he says on that issue.
“There is a common set of themes and values and principles that we need to identify as progressives and then start to work out how we can work together not just to stop the Tories but to have better politics.”
However, his ideas were met with anger by Scottish Labour figures.
Cat Headley, a Labour candidate at May’s Holyrood elections tweeted: “Anyone in Labour Party advocating a political and parliamentary alliance with SNP not only betrays our values but every member in Scotland – and every Labour voter.”
http://www.thenational.scot/news/http://cms.thenational.scot/edit-article/20548
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