Articles by Henry McLeish
After five wasted years in which the SNP and Alex Salmond have dominated Scottish politics and the unionist parties have failed to take seriously the political and constitutional future of Scotland, there is now the prospect of a real debate on Scotland’s future. David Cameron’s “Westminster, we have a problem” moment is having the unintended consequence of ending the phoney war and giving both Labour and the Conservative a wake-up call after the seismic changes that have been taking place since May 2007. Failure to heed the warnings of the May 2007 and the 2011 Holyrood elections could have grave consequences. Time is running out to build and argue a case for keeping Scotland in the Union, especially at a time when the Conservative government at Westminster is becoming more [...]
The auld year was hardly ‘oot’ before the Tories and the right-wing media were urging us to suspend the awful reality of a soulless coalition government, deny the worst attack on our living standards for a generation and enjoy instead the prospect of the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee raising our national spirit and battered morale! Then we had the news that Mrs Thatcher, played by Meryl Streep, was to hit our movie screens in The Iron Lady at the same time as a debate was opening up about giving her a state funeral, despite the former PM being one of the most divisive figures in British political history. For Scots, this was not the best way to celebrate 2012! No one will disagree, though, with celebrating the [...]
In his new book, The soul of politics, published in the US, Jim Wallis, a new wave Christian intellectual, talks about the relationship between politics and morality being absolutely vital for the future and argues that “too many people are not making it and are being left behind. Neither the injustices built into our social system nor the irresponsibility this generates is tolerable any longer. Controlling the poor is not the only alternative to abandoning them”. Outlined in stark terms, he asks the question: “Is it possible to evoke in people a genuine desire to transcend our more selfish interests and respond to a larger vision that gives us a sense of purpose, direction, meaning and even community?” Though, speaking about the US, his comments could equally apply to Britain [...]
Unemployment among 16-24 year olds in Scotland has reached 100,000. These latest figures are not merely a consequence of current austerity policies, cuts and recession. They require us to have a radical rethink of how we view the young unemployed and how we integrate the large numbers of 16-19 year olds into society as they transition into adulthood. Unemployment and the “not being in education, training or employment” is more than just a market failure or the inevitable consequence of capitalism or a sluggish labour market; it is about the young person as a human being with needs that have to be met so they can make a contribution, be independent, have an income, dignity, freedom and a future. Why is it that in a society that attaches so much [...]
Defining the debate
While the option of a second question remains open, we are still talking about a narrow debate involving the Union and the idea of independence. This has to change. We need to redefine Scotland’s role in the Union.
As part of this, we have to acknowledge that time is limited. A new and better constitutional debate has to emerge before the end of the consultation period if the voice of the Scottish people is to be heard in London and Edinburgh.
Early signs are not encouraging. The SNP launched the consultation with confidence and conviction, but already there are signs that the opposition parties, civic Scotland and a number of key organisations are finding it difficult to create common cause and a progressive narrative to move the debate on. At this point, the challenge is not to agree on specifics or workedout alternatives, but to create a much bigger and more relevant debate around Scotland’s political and constitutional future.
That first step should not be too difficult, but it does require confidence, respect and trust to be established between all the parties involved.
This is not yet happening.
In contrast, there is a climate of fear, suspicion and concern about, “who is doing what and why”. This is certainly “old Scotland” at its best (or worst) and can only assist those who do not want a wider debate and are content to see the Scottish people denied alternatives that could provide a better solution than status quo unionism and independence. Only Alex Salmond and David Cameron can...
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