We’re different up here… but how different are we?
A comparison of Social Attitudes in Scotland and Northern England
A Red Paper discussion pamphlet by
Stephen Low
November 2013
Scotland’s Future – Red Paper on White Paper
Featured
Pamphlet by Red Paper Collective
in response to Scottish Government’s white paper on published 26 November 2013
Click here or cover image for PDF
Red Paper on the White Paper
The Red Paper Collective wants a Scotland that is more equal and democratic. We want a Scotland in which there is an economic democracy that gives people a say over their lives and employment and in which the Scottish parliament has powers to own and develop our utilities and strategic industries. We want relations with the other nations of Britain that are based on equity and fairness and a recognition of the duty to share in face of social need – and where ordinary people have the collective strength to address the concentrated power of wealth and privilege. The Red Paper Collective therefore calls for a radical federalism in which national parliaments have the powers long called for by the Scottish Trade Union Congress and the Scottish Left.
This does not exist at present. But neither can such powers be found in the proposals set out by the Scottish Government in its Independence White Paper. The White Paper surrenders the key powers over the economy to external institutions, the Bank of England and the European Commission, institutions which will inevitably enforce the same neo-liberal policies, on terms set by big business and finance, that are currently destroying jobs and welfare across Britain and the EU.
After the Referendum – What should Labour Do?
After the Referendum – What should Labour Do?
STUC, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow
Saturday 25th October 2014
Programme
This conference is for members of the Labour Party.
10.00 Welcome from Elaine Smith MSP, Depute Presiding Office Scottish Parliament and Convenor of the Campaign for Socialism (CfS) and Neil Findlay MSP, Shadow spokesperson on Health, leading discussion on the consequences of the Referendum decision.
10.45 Break
11.00 Industrial and community policies (based on STULP document) – a short introduction from Jackson Cullinane (Political Officer Unite) and then group work.
The manifesto is available here: http://www.revitalisescottishlabour.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/STULP_manifesto_2014.pdf
12.00 Local Democracy – policies and powers. Councillor Gordon Munro (Edinburgh) will provide a short introduction and then there will be group sessions led by Councillors Matt Kerr (Glasgow) Angela Moohan (West Lothian) and Kenny Selbie (Fife)*
13.00 Short lunch break
13.30 What powers and what democratic structure do we need to deliver a winning agenda – introduced by Richard Leonard (Political Officer GMB) and Dave Watson (Head of Bargaining and Campaigns, Unison)
14.15 Concluding session with group feedback and agreeing a working committee to take the ideas forward – Pauline Bryan CfS
15.00 Fraternal greetings John McDonnell MP
*Not all of the invited councillors have responded yet
The Citizen, the Journal of the Campaign for Socialism, will be available at the event.