4

Referendum Diary: March 2014

2 MARCH: Have been privileged to speak at several Morning Star conferences, including this one. John Foster and the CP folk are great and always draw a crowd of very serious, knowledgeable people from across the broad left, so you always get a fair hearing. There are about 100 people present to debate the referendum. Dennis Canavan and Zara Kitson of the Green Party are up against Richard Leonard of the GMB and me. Richard is sound in his politics. He is the GMBs political officer and a really clever and articulate man; someone who knows their Labour movement history inside out. Canavan was his usual bitter anti-Labour self. Mind you, he has a lot to be bitter about given the way they treated him. Zara was okay. Richard and I gave a good account of ourselves and put forward the Red Paper line that the debate shouldn’t be about borders and flags but what constitutional settlement will be in the best interests of the UK working class. Some of the so-called Radical Independence folk were there, like Cat Boyd, who fancies herself as some sort of left superstar. She actually asked what the plan is to bring about socialism in the event of a No vote! Bloody hell, what is the plan to bring about socialism with a divided working class and trade union movement in the low-taxed, free market, neo-liberal Scotland that Salmond and Swinney are planning?

3 MARCH: Met Jim Forrest and Alison McCallum to discuss concerns over cancer rates in West Lothian. I urged them to look into this. After the meeting I felt awful – coughing and spluttering. Man flu, perhaps?

4 MARCH: Off to London with Tommy Kane and Lawrence Cowan to meet Andy Burnham about health issues and take part in a series of other meetings. I coughed, sweated and spluttered the whole way down. Feeling awful. Graeme Morrice is hosting us and is always very hospitable when we are in London. Bumped into Jim Sheridan who is depressed at Unite’s failure to come out for a No vote. They won’t because of pressure from members but MPs don’t get this.

Spoke to Davie Hamilton and briefed him on the miners’ justice campaign. He was scathing about (Jim) Murphy and Douglas Alexander’s recent pronouncements about the referendum. I then caught sight of Murphy at a table with the Scottish press pack, briefing them about something – no doubt derogatory towards Johann, MSPs and everyone else except him.

Met with Andy Burnham and his advisor Kevin Lee. Andy has produced the Oldham report into social care. He wants to integrate physical, social and mental health needs under the same principle as the NHS, paid for by taxation and a tax on estates. This would mean everyone paid and everyone could access care without having to empty their bank accounts, which often eats into a legacy for children. I really like it.

I raised our upcoming conference and the call for Beveridge ‘21, which he liked, and encouraged us to go for it. A very positive meeting and my feeling is if Labour win the election he would go for this right away and try to take the heat out of it early.

I feel like I’m dying so it’s back to Graeme’s flat and in bed for tea time.

5 MARCH: After an awful night, I’m up early to get to King’s Cross for the train home. Slept all the way and went straight to bed.

6 MARCH: I don’t really do birthdays but it’s mine today and I’m still feeling rotten, but into parliament as I had a question to ask the First Minister on the failure of the Scottish Government to meet A&E waiting times. Not my best FMQs but the problems of the NHS grow by the day and cover almost every area of our health service. This is not a political comment from me; just what staff are experiencing every day in their jobs, and patients in the service.

Catch up with Alex Rowley. He appears exasperated by the lack of any strategy within the parliamentary group. These reflect the feelings I have had since joining parliament and they have become deeply engrained since entering the Shadow Cabinet. Alex is experienced and thoughtful. I think we can work together on a number of things if we get the chance, but the party is a mess and I don’t think the people advising Johann know how to get us out of it.

Straight home for birthday tea with family and relatives. Nice way to unwind.

Got word tonight that there are major problems/disagreements with the Devolution Commission paper. It appears Ed Balls is digging his heels in over the devolution of taxation. I texted Johann and party chairman Jackson Cullinane, urging them to stand firm and tell Balls to piss off. If we get this wrong and look timid we are done for.

7 MARCH: Phone call from Unite to say Mark Lyons (union convener at INEOS Grangemouth, sacked by Jim Ratcliffe following the Falkirk Labour/INEOS debacle) has his interim tribunal hearing today. He has a strong case as he was treated dreadfully by INEOS. They asked if I would give a press comment if required. Of course I will. Mark and his colleague, Stevie Deans, have also been treated appallingly by the Labour Party. Neither have done anything wrong, yet they’ve lost their jobs, had their reputation trashed and the police investigating them. All claims of wrongdoing are unfounded, yet I haven’t heard the Labour Party or anyone else apologise.

News came through later that Mark has won his interim hearing and will be on full pay until the hearing in around a year. The tribunal judgement reckon he will win his case when heard. This is fantastic news and at least some justice has been delivered.

9 MARCH: To Livingston for the CLP meeting to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the miners’ strike. Ex-miner Brendan Moohan read poetry, while John Cunningham performed some great folk songs. We had posters and memorabilia from the strike and people recalling their activities at the time. Great event.

10 MARCH: Busy constituency day. Met Carers of West Lothian to discuss the Carers Bill going through parliament. They are a fabulous organisation providing vital support for the thousands of local people who perform caring roles for family and friends daily.

Spent the afternoon leafleting the Craigshill area of Livingston with our team, before heading to Inveralmond High School in the evening to meet a ladies group and discuss the referendum. The women, aged 35 to 80, were all interested in the issues and asked serious questions about social care, pensions, local services etc. Some said they would pay more taxes to get better services. Observing the body language and reactions I would guess around 30 were No voters and perhaps only five Yes voters. I was surprised at how opposed they were. They even gave me £20 to cover my petrol but only took it back after a great deal of arguing. Really enjoyable discussion overall.

11 MARCH: As I was getting ready to attend the Shadow Cabinet meeting, news filtered through that RMT leader Bob Crow had died suddenly. I was stunned by this. Bob was one of the best and most high profile union leaders in the country. He led from the front, never flinched in the face of media hostility and had the full support of his members, as well as many in the wider Labour movement. He skilfully used his position and members’ strengths to halt the transport sector to win higher wages and protect jobs and conditions on the railway and the wider transport sector. He described himself as a Communist and a militant, and didn’t flinch when the RMT left the Labour Party. He saw it as an opportunity to act without any pressure from the party. I met him a few times as a member of the RMT parliamentary group. He simplistically and wrongly, in my view, conflated Scottish independence with Irish nationalism and supported independence. Despite some differences I liked Bob; I respected him greatly and am deeply saddened at his passing.

To Crosshouse Hospital for UNISON Ayrshire and Arran AGM and debate on constitution with Jim Sillars. I was late because of a huge traffic jam after a bad accident. I got there as Sillars was just starting. His rhetoric is good but his analysis is woeful! It can be summarised as: ‘Scotland is a left wing country (is it?) and all we have to do is to vote for independence and socialism will follow. Oh, and I’ve written a book and it contains the manifesto for that socialist Scotland’. What planet is he living on? He also said I was ‘a member of the political elite’! Me, an ex-bricklayer, who lives in a council scheme in Fauldhouse and is married to a nursing assistant is a member of the political elite, whereas he is married to a politician, lives in Morningside and has a holiday home in Portugal. You can draw your own conclusions as to who is a member of the political elite. I enjoyed it though and I like Jim, as he is able to discuss things afterwards and remain friendly. The fact that his wife Margo and I get along very well helps.

12 MARCH: Met with the RCN today. They have huge worries about social care and the NHS and said I had made a good impression on their members at the RCN conference a few weeks back. They are keen to work with us on the big health issues.

Papers again full of Joan McAlpine and her expenses.

14 MARCH: Awful news as my political hero Tony Benn has died at the age of 88. I first met him at the Clause IV rally at the Scottish Conference in 1994 where he made the case to retain our commitment to common ownership with such clarity. He was simply the greatest political communicator of the last half century. He captured my imagination when I was a teenager as he could make complex issues easily understood and argue with passion, integrity and dignity. He didn’t go in for personal attacks, preferring to argue about policy. He would have been a great, radical Prime Minister. The press vilified him and ran poisonous campaigns against him because they feared he could win. The Labour right hated him and set up the SDP. Tony inspired millions of people across the world and campaigned relentlessly, taking part in tens of thousands of public meetings, right up until his death. His great causes were peace, democracy, justice and socialism. A fine socialist preacher. This has been an awful week for the left. First Bob, and now Tony – solidarity comrades.

15 MARCH: To Edinburgh where I had been invited to an austerity rally planned by an organisation which was presumably a front for the Socialist Workers Party. We marched through Edinburgh to the square at Lothian Road. I was at the front with Jackie Baillie, who has been doing great work on the Bedroom Tax Bill, and forcing the government to act. Despite this a few people wearing Yes Scotland badges and scarves came to the front and started yelling through a loud hailer that Jackie was scum, Labour scumbags etc. This went on for an hour. Several times I asked a guy to stop abusing a woman in that way and if he wanted he could shout abuse at me. I gave him my name so he started shouting ‘Findlay scumbag, Findlay scum’! He soon got bored and went back to abusing Jackie. Another guy kept chanting ‘no banks, no money, the drug dealers are taking over the city’! As a catchy slogan it won’t make the charts! At the rally, Jackie was booed and heckled by some of the baying mob. I spoke about Tony Benn and Bob Crow and the values they represented, values of solidarity, community and justice. I didn’t get much heckling but some of these folk are clearly mad. They wouldn’t understand unity and solidarity if it slapped them in the face. It is sheer political sectarianism and will only get worse as the referendum draws nearer.

16 MARCH: Fiona and Chloe are at work while everyone else is at my ma’s for Sunday dinner. They came in after finishing at the hospital. I really enjoy these days when everyone is together.

17 MARCH: Leafleting in Addiewell. The houses have all been insulated and re-rendered and the place looks fantastic. What a transformation when the physical appearance of houses is improved so dramatically. I love Addiewell; it’s a great place. Jobs, the living wage and security of employment are the policy areas that would help so many people here. These have to be a priority for Labour.

Devolution Commission report out today and it’s disappointing. They have come up with a convoluted 40 per cent of tax being devolved, devo of housing benefit and attendance allowance, health and safety admin, employment tribunals and other things, but it looks weak, unenthusiastic and limited. I fear we will get hammered for this. Labour MPs will like it as they will see it as protecting their power, but they will take a hiding and won’t need to worry about power as many will be out on their ear.

Tensions in Crimea and Ukraine mounting – very worrying!

18 MARCH: Met with Bristol-Myers Squibb (pharmaceutical company). They are lobbying to get a new drug approved for Hepatitis C. They make a very good case and believe it could eradicate this awful virus. I do however get really angry and frustrated by these companies. They always come lobbying for approval for drugs that cost tens of thousands for treatment for one person and NEVER one that costs a few pence or a few pounds. They really do play God and extract huge amounts of cash out of the NHS. There must be a better way of developing new medicines, perhaps via public ownership, so we can develop drugs and maximise their impact on patients without being ripped off.

Today was the launch of Labour’s Devolution Commission paper. Main points were 15p of income tax devolved, housing benefit, attendance allowance, tribunals, equalities legislation, double devolution to councils, etc. For me, it comes across as a set of proposals designed to keep the party together, rather than a coherent, radical and credible plan to deliver a fair and just Scotland within the UK.

Later on, it was off to a public meeting organised by the Blantyre Morning Star group, where we debated the constitution with Robin McAlpine of the Reid Foundation. It was an astonishing meeting. McAlpine is one of those guys who wants to be seen as a bit whacky, but also a deep-thinking intellectual (not a view I share). He used to be a Labour Party press officer and is now in the process of destroying the Jimmy Reid Foundation. His argument is that everything about the UK is rubbish and he backs this up with reams of statistics that no one can rebut because we don’t have the real figures to hand, but in essence the UK is the most unequal, unfair, has the lowest productivity, poorest exports, lowest this, worst that, and if only we have independence we will be one of the fairest, richest counties in the stratosphere! It all sounds convincing to some because he makes these claims with confidence, so people think he must be right when in fact he talks utter bollocks. He repeated the Tory claim that Gordon Brown and Labour caused the banking crisis. I challenged him on this and asked, ‘Did Gordon Brown cause the crises in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland too?’ He replied by declaring, ‘you can’t compare the UK with these countries as they aren’t developed states like Britain!’ Bloody hell, this guy is completely nuggets, but incredibly people nod along. The most frustrating thing about the debate is that good people on the left have totally abandoned their capacity to critically analyse what the Yes side tell us, and have a view that because it is from them it must be true. Remarkable and depressing.

19 MARCH: How about this for big news? The Daily Record runs a two-page spread saying Nicola Sturgeon wants to be First Minister. Well, who’d have thought it? Of course she is desperate to be First Minister, and everything she has done is geared towards that aim, but in Scotland, in referendum year, this is indeed a revelation!

To Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee to move amendments to prevent public sector contracts being given to companies who have failed to self-cleanse (own up, pay up and apologise) for blacklisting construction workers for trade union activity. Many of the biggest companies in the UK have been culpable, including Balfour Beatty, Laing, McAlpine, Skanska, Keir etc. I also moved an amendment to prevent companies who avoid their taxes being given public contracts. Nicola Sturgeon, the lead Minister, rejected both amendments. She did express support for the sentiment but wouldn’t support the amendments, so it is all warm words but no action. Other Labour amendments on zero hours contracts, equalities and community benefit clauses were also refused. Indeed, every Labour amendment was rejected. Progressive my arse!

20 MARCH: A crowd of ex-miners, their families and supporters came to parliament for Iain Gray’s debate on the 30th anniversary of the miners’ strike. Gray (who I’m not close to) spoke very well, the best I’ve heard him. Meanwhile, the SNP’s Adam Ingram shamefully decried some Labour politicians and failed to mention the thousands of Labour members, and many councillors and MPs, who work tirelessly on behalf of the miners. He singled out George Foulkes for criticism which was just wrong. He also turned on the tears and tremoring voice when speaking about the gallantry and bravery of the mining communities. I was furious. I don’t want his tears, I want action from him!

I called again for a review of the convictions and spoke of why we need an inquiry, as new evidence had come to light following the Hillsborough inquiry. The Scottish Government can and should act in the same way as they have with other inquiries (Shirley McKie case, Surjit Singh Chhokar etc). The Minister Roseanne Cunningham repeated the line that individuals need to complain to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission or relevant police force. She just doesn’t get it – or chooses not to. Good debate and I felt positive afterwards. The miners who attended, including David Hamilton MP, were pleased with the way it went.

To Perth for Scottish Labour Party pre-conference rally with speakers including Karen Whitefield (PPC Falkirk West), Harry Donaldson GMB, Ian Mearns MP (Gateshead), Owen Smith MP (Shadow Welsh secretary), Johann Lamont and Gordon Brown. Owen and Ian were very good, and talked about solidarity and common links with the North East and Wales. Gordon Brown was also on form, saying how Labour can ensure fairness, equality and justice for all. It was a good event, although I can’t believe it wasn’t filmed and put out to a wider audience. We should be sorting out basic stuff like this.

21 MARCH: Devolution Commission document ‘Together we can’ debate in the conference hall. The right wing press are portraying it as a lurch to the left (if only!). The Daily Record very positive about it and the Herald scoffing. In saying that, the Herald is really just an in-house SNP journal these days. The debate was decent with an excellent contribution from the GMB’s Richard Leonard. He is always excellent and I hope he gets elected to parliament next time as he would be a great addition. He stood in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley and was beaten by Adam Ingram – sickening as he would have significantly bolstered our group.

Ed Miliband’s afternoon speech was pretty flat and short and in all honesty rather poor. He does it all from memory these days and when it works it is impressive but today it didn’t.

Did fringe meeting on the scandal of social care, and heard from UNISON members about their experiences of caring for the elderly and vulnerable on low pay, insecure contracts and declining standards. This really is a huge scandal and no one in government seems all that interested.

To the CFS/Unite fringe meeting on common ownership. Very good attendance and people feeling a bit better about the left’s position. We are beginning to get our act together.

22 MARCH: Up early and along to the conference hall to speak to lots of folk and have a coffee.

People in general are very friendly and I feel there is a lot of support in the party for the campaigns I am running. The left is definitely going in the right direction, but we must continue to organise properly. The ultra-new Labourites like Jim Murphy are the ones who aren’t friendly. I don’t give them much to attack me with as I talk to most people and remain on speaking terms, but they don’t like that and their little helpers would like me to be openly hostile, which I won’t be. I will stick to policy.

To the conference hall for the health debate. I had invited Christina Taylor to come along with her sister and speak about the scandal of social care; her experiences and that of her mum in the Bupa care home. She was magnificent and clearly and eloquently told her mum’s story, and had the conference on their feet when she pledged to continue the fight for decent social care as a tribute to her mother. I was proud of her and glad I asked her to speak.

In my own speech I set out the case for a Beveridge 21 (making the NHS fit for the 21st century) full-scale review of the NHS, action of health inequality and the crisis in social care. David Conway of the Socialist Health Association outlined the plan for his health inequality review. I was pleased with how the health session of the conference went – the NHS is Labour’s greatest creation and we should always be at the forefront of defending it against attack, whilst also meeting the challenges of a new age of health care.

Later, I spoke to a few people about arranging a tribute to Tony Benn in Glasgow. They seem keen.

Afterwards, Fiona came up and we went for a curry and a few beers. A good couple of days.

23 MARCH: To the conference hall for debate on blacklisting, which was very good, and then onto the stage for Deputy Leader Anas Sarwar’s speech and the singing of the red flag.

Tony Boyle, a Unite delegate and West Lothian councillor, had to be rushed to hospital from the conference so I took his car home for him. Turns out he has gall stones and will be kept in hospital – we all got a real fright though.

24 MARCH: To the office and Marion, my case worker, has everything in order. I really don’t know what I’d do without her.

Tommy’s daughter is seriously ill with ulcerative colitis. She has had ongoing problems that are really bad now, and there are concerns about her bile duct, pancreas etc. Worrying times for the family.

To Mid Calder for leafleting session, and then an evening surgery in Armadale.

25 MARCH: To Shadow Cabinet. People positive after conference, good feedback but polls still narrowing for referendum. We need to get the ‘Together we can’ document and message out. I hope there is some sort of cunning plan to do so. I asked for a strategy session for all members of the Shadow Cabinet and Westminster front bench team so we can work out what we are doing until September and beyond. Let’s wait and see if it happens, but I wouldn’t put a brass penny on it.

Father Paul Lee, newly ordained priest whose dad was the Fauldhouse councillor before me, came in to do ‘Time for reflection’ in the chamber. He spoke very well and enjoyed being shown round the building. We took him and his dad for a bite to eat and had a nice chat.

To Bathgate Regal Theatre for George Galloway’s ‘Just say Naw’ event. Galloway and Brian Wilson are touring the country making the case against independence. Galloway in his fedora hat and tartan scarf looks ridiculous, but eloquently and powerfully took apart the case for independence. One memorable section of his speech focused on oil in his lifetime being priced at between $9 and $156 a barrel. How can you plan and deliver public services based on a commodity with such price volatility? Brian Wilson also spoke. They make an odd couple but are very effective. Around 150 people in attendance.

26 MARCH: Finance debate today. John Swinney and the Tory, Gavin Brown, trade stats and debating points. Brown is clever and a good debater; more than a match for Swinney. I used my speech to attack neo-liberalism and Swinney’s desire to see Scotland even more enthralled to it, with low taxes and deregulation. I followed Willie Rennie (Lib Dem) and Chic Brodie (SNP, but ex-Lib Dem who fought seven elections for them before joining the SNP). I started by saying it was unusual to follow two Liberal Democrats! Brodie was fuming, shouting and gesticulating but he is a pompous git, and even his own side dislike him.

Today, Labour MPs at Westminster voted for a cap on the amount of cash spent on benefits. Only 13 Labour MPs voted against, including Michael Connarty and Katy Clark – good on them. This will be flung back at us time and again over the next few months.

27 MARCH: Tony Benn’s funeral today. I framed the front page of the Morning Star which said ‘Another Legend Has Gone’. A group of us are meeting in a fortnight to plan a Scottish tribute. Benn’s passing is a momentous event for the left. He has educated and inspired activists across the world for decades. I must have poured over his diaries a dozen times. Essential reading for any socialist. I regularly go back to them when in need of inspiration.

28 MARCH: Met student Andrew McGuire to discuss past Labour election campaigns for his dissertation. Had to go over the agony of 2007 and the NHS issues in West Lothian, where the SNP crudely but effectively exploited local NHS issues for party political advantage and won the seat from us in Livingston. We also covered 2011, especially the infamous ‘Iain Gray Subway’ incident. During the election campaign, Iain Gray was met at Central Station by serial protestor and all round strange bloke Sean Clerkin. He followed Gray and his assistant through the station, shouting in their faces, and to get out of his way they took refuge in a Subway takeaway shop. It was all caught on camera and looked terrible, being presented as him running away from voters. It was without doubt a very significant moment.

30 MARCH: Day off so went through to Glasgow for a wander. Going for a few drinks and lunch with Fiona – bliss.