Preparing to stand anti-cuts candidates in Scotland

The first important step in standing anti-cuts candidates in next year’s Scottish council elections was taken at a 70 strong meeting on Saturday. The initiative, led by prominent public sector trade unionists, is to establish an anti-cuts coalition that would aim to stand in as many areas as possible next May when all of Scotland’s councillors are up for election.

Speaking to the proposals (see below this article)  Brian Smith, a Socialist Party Scotland member and the branch secretary of Glasgow City Unison argued for “an umbrella anti-cuts coalition that trade unionists, anti-cuts campaigners, community groups, socialist organisations etc would collaborate together under to provide the maximum number of candidates in the election.”
 
Brian explained that central to standing anti-cuts candidates was a recognition that all the main parties, including the SNP and Labour, were carrying out savage cuts. It was essential that principled fighters be prepared to stand to offer an alternative. “There are three elements to building a mass campaign against the cuts,” he said, “a trade union strategy that involves mass mobilisations including 30th November public sector shutdown, a community movement and now thirdly we need a political campaign, which means standing anti-cuts candidates in the election.”
 
Cheryl Gedling, a PCS NEC member also spoke and explained that “trade unionists were facing an onslaught on jobs, pay and pensions while the bankers who created the crisis get away with barely a scratch.”  Cheryl put the case for a real political opposition, which is our responsibility to create. The SNP in Edinburgh council are supporting mass privatisation of council services, proving they are no alternative for trade unionists. 
 
In moving support for the initiative both Brian and Cheryl outlined a minimum five point programme including opposition to all cuts, that our candidates would support needs budgets that defended jobs and public services, opposition to privatisation and support for taxation on the rich as well as support for public ownership.
 
It was suggested that following Saturday’s meeting a re-call conference be held on 10th December which would be widely advertised, especially in and around 30th November, to maximise the participation of trade unionists and wider layers in this initiative.
 
These proposals were welcomed by most of the individuals and organsiations represented at the meeting, including activists from trade unions and anti-cuts campaigns from different parts of Scotland. Political organisations including Socialist Party Scotland, the Socialist Workers Party and Solidarity welcomed the idea of an anti-cuts coalition and agreed to take part in a coordinating committee to prepare for the 10th December. The Scottish Socialist Party said they would not back the coalition idea immediately but would go back and discuss it in their organisation.    

Debate

The only specific opposition to the idea of an anti-cuts slate of candidates came from the International Socialist Group – this is a split of around 40 people who left the SWP earlier this year. 

The ISG argued against an explicit anti-cuts electoral coalition and instead counterposed the need for a new “left unity” formation. The ISG were of the opinion that such a development would attract “hundreds and even thousands” or people currently not involved. At the same time however they also raised concerns that if an anti-cuts slate stood it would “cause problems” for people “we are working with in the anti-cuts movement who are in other parties, including the SNP and Labour.”

The ISG are the main organisation building the Coalition of Resistance (CoR) in Scotland, that has so far not come our clearly and consistently against all cuts. They have sought to build links with elements of the SNP, Labour and sections of the trade union leadership who only argue for cuts to be slowed down, not opposed in their entirety. For example all the SNP MSPs have voted for the Scottish government’s cuts package, which involves billions in cuts to workers pay, pensions and attacks on public services. MSPs who have spoken on the platforms of CoR and the Right to Work campaign in the past have voted to implement these cuts. Both CoR and the ISG should make clear their opposition to politicians who speak on anti-cuts platforms and then vote for the cuts when they go into the parliament or council.
 
In contrast the organisers of Saturday’s meeting have played a leading role in the formation of the Scottish Anti-Cuts Alliance (SACA) and campaigns like Defend Glasgow Services. From the start these campaigns put opposition to all cuts and demands that politicians set needs budgets and vote against all cuts at the core of their principles. This marked difference in approach was also reflected on Saturday in relation to standing anti-cuts candidates. Brian Smith, pointed out that the question of who to support in the elections, including whether or not to stand against candidates of other parties, would depend on their record on fighting the cuts not just in words but deeds.
 
The proposal for moving immediately to a new “left unity” alliance or party, given the experience of the collapse of the SSP and the jailing of Tommy Sheridan who is still in prison found little support outside of the ISG members. Unfortunately ISG members sought to belittle the potential for an anti-cuts electoral challenge by claiming “the votes would be tiny”. While in contrast a left unity project that campaigned against “war, Islamophobia and racism” would be a “huge” pole of attraction. The fact that none of the left organisations, except the ISG, want a left unity formation at this stage would seem to be a factor the ISG should take account off.
 
Jimmy Haddow from East Lothian and a SPS member said he supported a new mass workers party that fought on the issues of facing the working class. However, the first step along that bridge was to mount the biggest anti-cuts challenge in May next year as possible to help build a political voice for working class people.   
 
The proposal for an anti-cuts coalition is likely to see a number of left organisations collaborating together. However, as the draft proposals explained “we also see this initiative as appealing to groups of trade unionists, anti-cuts activists, community campaigns, young people etc who are organising against the cuts to also stand in the elections through this coalition.”
 
Socialist Party Scotland members who spoke including Ian Leech a Glasgow Unison steward and Diane Harvey secretary of SACA and also a Unison steward explained that this initiative would allow trade unionists and communities to vote for and campaign for principled fighters against cuts. It would also give confidence to groups of workers and communities facing cuts to also stand in the elections.
 
It was agreed to build for a major event on December 10th and in particular to advertise this widely on November 30th which is likely to see 400,000 workers on strike in Scotland. The participation of trade unionists and community activists facing the sharp-end of the cuts is important in creating a wide anti-cuts challenge for next May.
 
Socialist Party Scotland has played a central role in helping to initiate this process. We’ll be giving our full support to make the 10th December the lauchpad for a major anti-cuts electoral challenge next May. 

 
 
A political voice for the anti-cuts movement

 
At a time of unprecedented attacks on all sections of the working class and the poor, now more than ever we need a political alternative to the parties of cuts. The May elections will see all of Scotland’s councillors up for election using the STV electoral system. It is an excellent opportunity for the growing anti-cuts movement to stand our own candidates against the politicians of all the main parties who are implementing the savage austerity programme of the Con-Dem government. The mass strike being prepared on November 30th will also drive the demand for a political voice for the working class.

Proposal

Our proposal is for the establishment of an umbrella anti-cuts coalition that trade unionists, anti-cuts campaigners, community groups, socialist organisations etc would collaborate together under to provide the maximum number of candidates in the election.
 
5 point programme
 
We have put forward a list of 5 central demands for discussion that this coalition would be based on
 
1. Our candidates oppose and if elected will vote against all cuts to jobs, pay, services, pensions, benefits etc. Only cuts we support are those that would cut the income of rich and big business the bankers etc.
2. Our candidates if elected will put forward needs budgets that protect services, our communities and jobs etc. Councillors will help lead a mass campaign to demand a return of the money stolen by the Con-Dem’s to invest in public services.
3. We oppose all privatisation which is increasingly on the agenda in local government. We stand for the abolition of PFI/PPP schemes which are a huge drain on public resources.
4. Full support for workers and trade unions in the public and private sector, the communities and young people who are taking action to fight against the cuts. For a united fightback against austerity and cuts.
5. We will support progressive policies including making the rich pay increased tax, increase tax on big business. For public ownership not privatisation which would allow investment in jobs and services which are needed more than ever.
 
Individuals and organisations wishing to participate in the Coalition would be asked to sign up to such a core list of demands. However, each candidate could add to this minimum programme, for example to take account of local issues and including wider political demands if they wished. Provided they were not against the interests of the movement, racist etc.
 
Role of the coalition
 
We see the Coalition playing the role of a coordinating body that through discussion, consensus and voluntary agreement would decide on candidates and which areas to stand in.
 
Clearly it would need to establish local groups of any coalition to democratically decide on candidates and which areas to stand in.
 
Electoral name
 
We would seek to register an electoral name eg Coalition Against Cuts or Anti-Cuts Coalition, (the word Scottish could be added as well) so those candidates who wanted to stand as part of the coalition could do so.
 
We would welcome existing political parties using their own electoral names if they wished, while encouraging them to highlight the fact they are part of a national anti-cuts coalition. Possibly registered parties could use their name followed by Coalition Against Cuts for example.
 
However, we also see this initiative as appealing to groups of trade unionists, anti-cuts activists, community campaigns, young people etc who are organising against the cuts to also stand in the elections through this coalition.
 
Where next ?
 
Our aim today is to seek agreement on the principle of such a coalition. We would ask for volunteers for the establishment of a coordinating committee to assist in communication and to plan a recall meeting in December to finalise any agreement.
 
In the meantime we would also encourage the organisation of meetings/forums in as many local areas as possible to discuss this initiative with trade unionists, anti-cuts campaigners, socialist organisations etc.
 
Brian Smith – Glasgow City Unison branch secretary
Cherly Gedling – PCS NEC member
Derek Thomson – PCS NEC member
Sam Hall – PCS NEC member
 
(in a personal capacity)