Priorities

So… priorities.

Westminster has made clear its priorities this week as we move into the final month before Brexit, after we see people lose their jobs and the threat of of a rise in unemployment to 2.6 million and 7%. Figures not seen in almost forty years. This is apparently the greatest economic shock in 300 years.

And yet as I travelled north yesterday, only my third time over the three bridges since March (Kessock, Cromarty and Dornoch) it felt almost like I had stepped back that forty years. The Chancellor announced a new “Restart Scheme”. Really? I was employed as a Restart Adviser by the Manpower Services Commission in 1986. The precursor of The Employment Service, which became the DWP, I sat at a desk and carried out often 60 interviews a week of people desperate and poor. We shuffled them around between community programme placements – cleaning the canals, doing old people’s gardens, community related work paying £68 for a 30 hour week, which when you added Family Income Supplement and Housing Benefit meant you were about £10 a week better off than on the dole. But importantly, they were “off the register”. In the days when the claimant count meant counting every claimants file in a drawer, those taking part in a “scheme” were moved out of that drawer into another one. We shunted them off to jobclubs, to TOPs courses in joinery or bricklaying that meant that when they applied for jobs on building sites, tradesmen sniggered and they never got a look in. We jumped on any health condition and directed them to sickness benefits with a relief that we wouldn’t see them again, invalidity benefit awaited with extra money and a peaceful existence as long as their Doctor kept them in sick notes.

And it’s back! Restart! Time will tell if it’s repackaged in any meaningful way. But today, the jobcentres don’t have jobs, they don’t exist to move people into work, they exist to get people off benefits. That is their priority. Sanctions will play an even bigger role in today’s Restart scheme than even Thatcher’s Stricter Benefit Regime did. Those people who are poor, struggling and unemployed will pay a high price for the pandemic and for Brexit. And it was ever thus.

At the moment when the conservative Government is accused of handing contracts to friends, neighbours and people they like, they are freezing the wages of public sector workers. A paltry increase to the National Living Wage of 19p per hour. That takes it to £8.91 per hour (over 25s). That might seem like a fortune to my Community Programme Worker in 1986 on £68 per week but in truth it’s no more a living wage than that was.

After announcing a big bung worth £16 billion to the defence industry they are cutting overseas aid. That’s literally moving money from aid to missiles. After all, why support poor people in developing countries when you can bomb the shit out of them? And if we don’t want to be that obvious, well we can always arm an assortment of dodgy mates who will do that for them – after all Boris has form for that.

Their priorities are clear for all to see.

Meanwhile in Scotland, our child support payment is taking applications, £10 per week per child. Our National investment Bank is up and running, and this week Scotland became the first country in the world to legislate for free period products to be available for all women who need them. A transformative policy.

These policies came from grass roots activism and had their roots firmly in the work of some remarkable people and fantastic groups. I’m proud that Scotland is working cross party to deliver progressive policies like the free period products. I’m delighted that women are both driving and benefitting from these policies. The National investment Bank and The Period products Bill have their roots firmly in Women for Independence and our sisters Jools Bell and Gillian Martin.

These policies give us an insight into what can be done when priorities are to improve the economy for all and lives for each of us. When our priority is “we” not “me”.

If we can do this now, imagine what we could achieve with Independence.

Be part of it.

#YouYesYet?

Be part of it

So… apparently, last night Boris Johnson held a Zoom Meeting with MPs from the North.

During this meeting, he is reported to have said that Devolution has been a “disaster North of the Border” and was Tony Blair’s biggest mistake. He went on to say that there will be no more powers for Scotland.

Well, that’s not a surprise for lots of us but it has left Douglas Ross, (leader of the Scottish Tories) frantically tweeting that it’s not what Boris meant – it’s all about the SNP! THE SNP – THE S N Peeeee. And several of the Scottish Tory MPs are said to be incandescent with rage.

Anyone who has followed my updates or watched the relationship between the two governments over the years will be aware that these Tory Governments have made a concerted effort to ignore, overlook and overrule the Scottish Government every step of the way.

This picked up speed with Brexit – Scotland did not vote for Brexit. We did not want Brexit. A Determinedly European Scotland knew that Brexit stood for all the things Scotland and Scottish Independence Campaigners did not want. Isolationist, backward looking, colonial attitudes all tainted by the way it gave a voice to right wing racists.

Despite attempts at dialogue and the Scottish Government putting forward a plan for how Brexit could take place whilst protecting Scotland’s interests, we were ignored. Scotland faces a no deal brexit in six or so weeks despite voting overwhelmingly to remain in the EU.

The Internal Market Bill has further underlined the disdain in Westminster for devolution. This Bill drags powers to WM that should have come to the SG once they come back from the EU. This Bill clearly underlined that the Tories think devolution is a problem to be solved by this Bill. It will prevent Scotland’s government from legislating in a different way to WM.

Environmental laws, agriculture, food standards, our NHS – if WM decide that any of it is on the table for trade deals, changes to legislation then Scotland will be unable to prevent that happening. Chlorinated Chicken anyone? And that’s before we remember this Bill breaks international law, puts the Good Friday Agreement at risk, has been refused consent in the Scottish Parliament and still, still the Tories push it forward.

There has been no place for Scottish ministers in negotiations, no place for Scottish interests in trade deals, no consideration of Scotland at all, and we have seen this again and again with the pandemic responses too.

Scotland’s Government has to hear what WM is planning through the television news, or unbelievably – Twitter. WM behave exactly like Scotland is an independent country who they don’t need to share, discuss, consult, negotiate or agree anything with. What then is the benefit of the Union?

Where are the promises made after the referendum in 2014? Lead, not leave? Pooling and sharing? A seat at the table?

They do not exist. We are “rebellious Scots” to be crushed – maybe not by Marshall Wade but crushed, shut up, silenced, ignored and ultimately our devolution overturned by old Etonians who as always, think they know better. Make absolutely no mistake this Tory Govwrnment wants to break and ultimately remove the devolved governments across the UK.

And what about Labour? Did any of you say who? Yesterday Neil Findlay MSP called for Labour to lead the conversation on Devo-Max. Anyone remember that? As close to independence as it can be? Labour cannot deliver Devo max. Labour cannot deliver anything because the chance of them forming a Government even with their super shiny new leader remains at zero. They cannot protect devolution from rampant Brexit obsessed Tories.

It is clear that the only way out of this Tory driven assault on Scotland, on our people through their terrible cruel welfare and immigration policies, on our economy through their incompetence over furlough and of course, Brexit; on our agriculture, food industries, education, nhs through their illegal internal market bill – is independence.

There is no alternative and maybe that’s what Boris Johnson meant. Devolution has been a disaster. It’s been a disaster for the Tories in Scotland, who don’t really understand why they lose every election because they lack any sense of self awareness. It’s been a disaster for Labour who are wandering around in circles bewildered, fighting with each other and unable to come up with anything more innovative than devo-fucking-max.

The only way to protect Scotland’s economy, environment, food, agriculture, our diverse communities, our future, is with Independence. The only way to continue down the different pathway we are choosing – a better fairer place for people to live and love and grow – is with an outward looking, inclusive independent Scotland.

Be part of it.

#YouYesYet?

Land of the free and the home of the brave

So … anyone else struggling to concentrate on anything at the moment?

I’ve been distracted by the presidential election over the last few days. It’s been the greatest show on earth the last few days. I haven’t stayed up all night but I have gone to bed late and woken early, reaching for my phone to check the news and Twitter. The work of those leading the coverage is incredible. The level of detail and the analysis has impressed me, I know the names of American counties that I never heard before I can put my finger on where American States are when last week Id have waved my hand around and said “about there? It’s been fascinating.

Not least fascinating was President Trumps speech last night. He addressed the nation at 6.30 and he spewed out lies, obfuscation and self pity with every word. It was an incoherent rambling spiral of words. If you ran the speech on a loop you wouldn’t know where it started and where it finished. We watched it open mouthed, blinking at how bizarre it still seems that Trump is President. Even as it looks like that Presidency is coming to an end it still seems unreal that this snake oil salesman has held the highest office in the US.

For many of us, watching from this side of the Atlantic, it seems that the world is holding their breath for a Biden victory. Of course that’s not the case. This hasn’t been a walk over for Biden. This has been a disappointment to many, particularly the scientific community. Climate Change and the Pandemic Response has suffered from Trumps anti science approach. The US walking away from the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organisation has disappointed many and led some to question what relationship American Citizens have with the truth.

This presidency and this election has damaged the reputation of the USA – that is clear. It has also damaged the reputation of democracy itself. I was hearing yesterday that China and Putin in Russia are pointing to the US and saying how much better they are with strong dignified leadership. Showing their people what a chaotic mess democracy is making of Government and the rule of law.

And the rule of law must seem awful fragile in some parts of the US for many of its Citizens. There is a suggestion of violence simmering between the lines of Trumps speeches and his tweets. There are some, thankfully isolated, incidents groups of people with guns surrounding a count in Arizona, reports of a planned attack in Pennsylvania, extra protection has been sent to Joe Biden.

So as we watch the final staggering steps of this Presidential race, as we keep our fingers crossed for the candidate we most want to win, there is a feeling that something is shifting, that the World is seeing that change must happen, that the big brash US with its power and its might, and it’s claim to be the land of the free, must look long and hard at itself; that it must begin by healing the divisions in its society; that it must reach out to the world and with humility, and care, take its place back at the table; that it must find truth and integrity and place those values right back into the heart of its democracy.

The harsh reality is that if Trump wins, this will never happen. If he loses, he will work from the sidelines to undermine any work that is done to recover. It’s a tough job. It needs freedom from interference and big money influence and bravery from its elected representatives.

I’m not sure that the US, or Biden, is up to it.

Right to the brink

So…. Covid tiers come into play today and England hits a month long lockdown which all the papers are surmising could last longer. That Boris Johnson kept everyone waiting for hours on Saturday suggests that there is fundamental disagreement within the party and the cabinet about the lockdown action.

This action was recommended weeks ago by the public health specialists and they have dragged their feet and dragged their feet, refusing to act whilst cases rise and rise.

However, of course Public health is a devolved matter, it doesn’t really affect Scotland if the Prime minister locks down England. We have our own policies here in Scotland and are dealing with what we have to face in our own way. Except you would be forgiven for thinking that’s not the case and The whole of the UK is in lockdown if you listened to the news over the weekend. The number of times “UK” was used instead of England was infuriating. Just for clarity folks, the PM did not announce a UK lockdown, he announced and England lockdown. Wales, NI and Scotland have their own rules.

However, the PM has spoken about the need to take a four nations approach to this so it was good to see that the UK Government had spoken to all the devolved administrations before this announcement and that all views on furlough had been considered and…….
Just kidding. Of course that didn’t happen. There was no discussion between the Tory govt and the devolved administrations – none. The first time our Government heard what was happening was when they watched it on the television. That’s incredible.

The behaviour over furlough is fucking unbelievable too. And yes I did need that ‘f’ word.

Our Scottish Government (and Wales) have been calling for the furlough to be extended precisely because of this situation for months. There was a vote in the Scottish Parliament to call for the UK Government to extend the furlough scheme. And nothing – nada! Repeatedly told no, repeatedly told Scotland has to shut up and get on with it – there is no extra money. Even as extra money was eventually found for Manchester and other places, we were told we weren’t even getting the Barnett Consequentials. Tories and Labour MSPs voted against the extension of furlough to protect Scottish businesses. As we approached the end of October, companies have had no choice but to make people redundant. Thousands of people have lost their jobs.

And then, on the very last day, it’s extended. Thank goodness for those still in work and needing it but Jeezo what a kick in the teeth for those who’s jobs have been lost.

Well, in England anyway, because apparently, it seems to be that furlough is only available to Scotland whilst England is in lockdown. So, during this four weeks Scottish businesses where staff are furloughed may still get support at 80% or 67% or not at all but if England comes out of lockdown in four weeks then the furlough payments stop.

This UK government refused furlough to Scottish businesses and Scottish employees – to you and I when we needed it and yet jumped to offer it when England went into lockdown. This government is refusing to commit to furlough payments for Scottish businesses when we need it UNLESS England needs it at the same time.

It’s a mess and if Kate Forbes our Finance Minister can’t get answers then this Facebook blogger isn’t going to find them either. Scotland may have control of its public health policies but it has no control over the finances to support that.

Our jobs, our businesses don’t matter to this Government – unless it affects England they don’t care.

In fact there are suggestions that unless Scotland follow England into a full lockdown we won’t get furlough money at all.

And if you are reading this and wondering why Scotland can’t just pay it anyway if we are so damn determined to be independent – we should just stand on our own two feet, well my lovelies, that’s because we give all our money to the UK Government and they give us SOME of it back. If something like this happens that increases spending then we have to wait for them to give us the extra we need to deal with it. We aren’t allowed to borrow the amount we need to do a good or even better job because the UK Government don’t allow Scotland to borrow like that.

This, my friends, is the clearest example of why we need Independence and why without it we are powerless.

Oh … and those Tory and Labour MSPs who voted against furlough being extended? Now they are all for it – the Scottish Government MUST extend support, they must work with the UK Government to save jobs. Jeezo they think we are stupid. Well – we see you hypocrites for what you are.

#YouYesYet