tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post2268944327350779547..comments2024-03-27T09:14:27.496+00:00Comments on All That Is Solid ...: The Slow Return of Scottish LabourPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-10344511146852213672017-11-22T22:55:30.730+00:002017-11-22T22:55:30.730+00:00Sure, but my point is that the Right's strateg...Sure, but my point is that the Right's strategy comes from the membership (or at least chimes with the beliefs of a large part of it). You're treating unionism as an ephemoral issue which it's not. For a large section of the membership, it was a serious existential issue that overrode all other considerations. The 2015 doubling down you referred to wasn't just a strategic choice, I think it reflected a broader belief in the membership.Michael Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16641927295643598230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-65749105427981254622017-11-22T09:49:38.253+00:002017-11-22T09:49:38.253+00:00Quite a few branches flagged up mass signings etc,...Quite a few branches flagged up mass signings etc, but probably the result is a true representation of the membership split. Sarwar, privately educated, Leonard privately educated, both non Scots according to the purists,which was probably he best thing about this election. Campaign for Socialism holding their 1st meeting in my area, most see this as a way to build up Danielle Rowley's profile in the coming deputy leadership battle caused by her fathers resignation / suspension. Fife is the Rowley traditional hunting ground. The recent Fife Labour / SNP stitchup will probably not be mentioned. Richard Leonard seems a nice guy, genuine, but if he makes any headway it will be a miracle as the Party Structure is based conditions and boundaries of half a century ago. If Alex Rowley gives up his seat he will be replaced by ultra Blairite Tommy Docherty at Holyrood, an unpleasant thought. So likely deputy leader challengers, Danielle Rowley and Jackie Baillie. Need complete overhaul of the Party Structurejim mcleannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-22208464552200493572017-11-20T13:38:56.789+00:002017-11-20T13:38:56.789+00:00A public school educated Englishman.
Victory is as...A public school educated Englishman.<br />Victory is assured!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01541127170739215432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-80311558629653183782017-11-20T10:42:47.479+00:002017-11-20T10:42:47.479+00:00Very good piece.
While Richard Leonard's camp...Very good piece.<br /><br />While Richard Leonard's campaign may not have said much on the national question, he has been for a long time a member of and valued contributor to the Red Paper Collective, so he has evidently given the Scottish national question some serious thought.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03493440163559858462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-53254303695676718562017-11-19T21:26:25.579+00:002017-11-19T21:26:25.579+00:00This from a comrade from Facebook. He's a memb...This from a comrade from Facebook. He's a member of Scottish Labour:<br /><br />"I have a few points on your article about Richard's election and Scottish Labour. Yes, Unite ran a concerted campaign to sign up affiliates - but Sarwar ran a far more concentrated campaign to sign up new members - around 3000. And yet Richard still won the membership - that is a sizeable political shift amongst the members (which voted 35% for Neil, and only 45% for Corbyn last year), and a good deal of credit has to to Campaign for Socialism for that - (I don't think you mention CfS in your article at all). There has been a lot of political change in Scottish Labour, but I think it has gone fairly unnoticed - for instance, the left won the majority of seats on the Scottish Executive early this year, consequently a far greater proportion of left wingers were selected as candidates for the GE than down south. When councillors in Aberdeen attempted to form a coalition with the Tories, they were suspended - so SLAB is definitely pivoting away from the politics of unionism first (under a fair amount of duress, it has to be said). At the election, the groups that shifted most to us were young voters & private renters - not inconsistent with what happened in England (and by about the same amount from a starting point of 14% in April). Lots more to be done, but essentially further along than it might outwardly appear!<br /><br />I should also say, 25% of 2017 Slab voters voted Yes, only 5% did in 2015, so the composition of the vote has also changed a lot."Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-83225785718160524432017-11-19T21:23:12.007+00:002017-11-19T21:23:12.007+00:00Of course I'm interested. But this post is abo...Of course I'm interested. But this post is about Labour Party political strategy, and my not living there is why I haven't been daft enough to offer advice about how to handle the left's internal opponents.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-71858084715454674122017-11-19T20:34:46.819+00:002017-11-19T20:34:46.819+00:00I think your comment on Scotland suffers from not ...I think your comment on Scotland suffers from not actually living there. You don't even seem that interested in why 48% of members want to continue on the same course.Michael Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16641927295643598230noreply@blogger.com