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Scottish Labour leadership candidate Cathy Jamieson argues for an innovative Scotland with improved child care and a not for profit railway system in this exclusive online essay.
Campaigning
on the streets of Glasgow East strengthened my view that Scotland's
Labour Party must work harder to reconnect with those who have lost faith with
us. We had a good candidate in Margaret Curran, and more activists involved
than we have seen for some time. But that was not enough. We must do more than listen – we must be
determined to act.
The
status quo is not an option for us. Merely doing more of the same will not get
Labour back into power. We cannot sit back and wait for the wheels to come off
the SNP bandwagon. People who have now turned away need to be persuaded that
Labour policies are relevant to their lives.
Scottish
values are Labour’s core values. I
believe in fairness and rewarding hard work. I want a helping hand for those
who need it, and opportunities for all, no matter your background.
I can
honestly say that Scotland's
constitutional position – far less the Scottish Labour Party's rules – was not
raised regularly on the doorsteps of Glasgow East. But people did talk
about what affected them and their families. They could see what had been done
to improve the area overall, and welcomed this, but also saw streets still
scarred by vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Residents who had pride
in their homes and gardens clearly had made a real effort and despaired when
neighbouring properties were neglected. They worried about who would be
allocated the vacant properties, fearing the impact of drug dealers or petty
criminals.
Yet
many were fiercely proud of the area, and wanted politicians to respond to
their hopes and aspirations for the future. Those same aspirations are
reflected as I meet party members and supporters across the country.
The new
leader will have a different mandate from our predecessors, being elected by
party members, trade unionists, MPs, MEPs and MSPs. That mandate gives a
powerful voice to speak out. It also gives the opportunity to build a fresh
consensus in the Party at every level, from community activist to elected representative.
I
joined the Labour Party because I wanted to see improvements in the
quality of life for all. I want everyone to have the best possible education,
not just in childhood but also in later years. I support trade unions
campaigning for fairness at work. I want improved health care for all. Our
senior citizens deserve dignity. We should expect as a right safe communities
and decent housing. We can have a caring and compassionate Scotland while
promoting innovation and success.
There will be things that we will
do differently in Scotland
– different policies, different ways of providing services. That’s what devolution
is about. It is also right to examine
our current arrangements and that is what the Calman Commission is doing.
We can
work together with Westminster
for Scotland’s
benefit. We need to look afresh at getting people back into work, introducing
flexibility in the benefits system, coupled with affordable child care. We
should provide a more responsive rail network, by adopting a not for profit
model when the Scotrail franchise ends. I want energy companies and the
Scottish Government to protect the less well off with a hardship fund in Scotland. The
recent 10th anniversary of the Minimum Wage – opposed by the Tories
and boycotted by the SNP- reminds us of the progressive policies which Labour
has delivered. I support further action to secure decent wages for the lowest
paid.
I believe the time is right to
expand social enterprises and increase the use of the co-operative model in
providing services as a viable alternative to the private sector.
I will have no hesitation in
raising issues with Westminster,
when that is the right thing to do. But I will do so with the intention
of finding solutions to problems. Scotland is a forward looking nation,
which of course seeks to do the best for its people. Scots should be confident enough in
themselves to know that we can still work within the United Kingdom while expressing our
own distinctiveness.
Scotland's Labour Party must of course look at how
to improve and modernise policy making and organisation. That work is
already under way. I do not believe that party members, or the wider public,
will thank us for retreating inwards and believing that the issues facing us
are only about Party structures. We face wider challenges on policy and
direction, which must be addressed.
Scotland’s Labour Party has no divine right to
govern Scotland.
The Scottish people make that decision based upon who they feel best stands up
for their concerns. Our challenge is to ensure that our policies will make a
difference to every Scot so that people can trust us when we say that we will
fight for their interests. That will take a leader who can work effectively
with others but also be prepared to make a principled stand. We need inspiration, determination and action
to win again.
Cathy Jamieson is a candidate for Scottish Labour leadership.
The Fabian Society has invited all three Scottish Labour Party leadership candidates to write online essays.
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