Scottish TUSC shine as the only real alternative to austerity
By Sean Robertson
TUSC’s Dundee West election candidate Jim McFarlane once again emerged as the most popular and warmly received candidate in another lively hustings.
Held by Dundee University’s Green Party Students association, the hustings attracted a varied, raucous and youthful audience from across the progressive political spectrum. Many were thirsty for new ideas and desperate for change away from the mainstream political parties all of whom were represented on the panel.
With topics up for discussion ranging from Trident to tuition fees, from the indyref to public ownership, Jim more than held his own. Jim explained that the problems of austerity, inequality, environmental destruction and threats to peace were a symptom of the current capitalist system. In order to tackle these problems society has to be radically altered, from the bottom up so that it worked for the 99%.
Jim added in his opening remarks that TUSC opposed all cuts and that austerity was purely a political choice, which he highlighted by pointing out that the richest 1000 people in the UK have a combined wealth of £547 billion. He added that in order to redistribute that wealth in society it was not cuts that were needed but a £10 per hour minimum wage. As well as a progressive tax system which stopped tax avoidance in its tracks and taxed wealthly corporations and individuals ‘until their pips squeak’.
The SNP candidate Chris Law claimed to be the only anti-cuts candidate standing in the election, which could only be viewed as ironic at best by the Dundee audience who are currently bearing the brunt of SNP controlled Dundee City council’s £30 million cuts budget. Dundonians are also faced with unwanted school closures and attacks on social care services and further education, the budgets for which have both been slashed, despite the Scottish Government’s near half billion underspend.
Following the event, which was attended by around 200 people, substantial numbers requested further information and some even asked to join TUSC and Socialist Party Scotland.
