HOME RULE / RADICAL FEDERALISM / PROGRESSIVE FEDERALISM

HOME RULE / RADICAL FEDERALISM / PROGRESSIVE FEDERALISM

During the past week, Anas Sarwar MSP regaled the Fabian Society with a "bliarite" assessment of the political situation in Scotland. He argued that when the Tory Party does well in Scotland, the Labour Party in Scotland also does well as it is recognised as the most effective anti-Tory force in the country.
This superficial analysis would dictate that for Labour to do really well, the Tories must also do really well!

At the same time, due to the Corbyn/McDonnell left leadership of the Labour Party and the associated deluge of public support, left "independence" supporters are pleading with the Labour Party in Scotland to embrace the demand for "independence" so that they may vote Labour with a clear conscience!! They want to resolve their individual dilemma by making demands on the whole British Trade Union and Labour Movement. Their inner crisis is of their own making and any support they may wish to give our movement will be on the basis of the policies of that movement!

Those socialist policies will throw the "bliarite" Fabians to one side and reduce the differences on the people of Scotland's future to one of such insignificance that the Nationalists will be thrown to the other side. To that end, the following resolution is being promoted during our movement's congress/conference season.

The Trade Union and Labour Movement Broad Left in Scotland, and the rest of the UK, recognises the existential threat to a united British Trade Union and Labour Movement emanating from the class collaborationist demands for an “independent” Scotland and Wales and resolves to raise the profile of our traditional policy of “Home Rule”, described in some progressive circles as “Radical/Progressive Federalism”.
Local democracy is also being emasculated by a centralising SNP administration in Holyrood and the neoliberal transfer of power and resources to directly elected mayors and local “cabinet” government in England.
Abolition of the House of Lords and its possible replacement with a directly elected upper chamber should also be part of this debate.
The federal concept is predicated on government powers being delivered at the most appropriate level and as close to the people as possible.

FOR EXAMPLE:-
Powers to be retained at the UK level would include National Defence, Foreign Affairs, International Treaties and macro-economic policy such as Wealth Redistribution, Monetary and Fiscal Policy levers, Interest Rates, Currency, UK Industrial Strategy, appropriate Revenue raising and some Social Security Benefits.
Powers over Health and Social Care, Education, Housing, Transport, Communications, Public Ownership, Industrial Investment, Agriculture, Fisheries, Land Use, Local Authorities, some Social Security Benefits and appropriate Revenue raising to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, (North Ireland Assembly powers should be treated separately) and Regional Assemblies, to be identified democratically, in England.
Remaining powers and services, such as Council housing, hospitals, schools, local bus transport, police and fire and rescue should be vested in democratic and accountable local authorities.
These proposals, without detriment to powers already devolved to Scotland and Wales, but which may be amended by mutual agreement, to be the subject of discussion, debate and recommendation in, and by, a representative UK Constitutional Convention. The role and place of a representative English Parliament should also be part of the aforementioned discussion and debate.
We agree that the above, or similar, proposals are best placed to lance the boil of petty nationalism, satisfy the popular demand for extended democracy and resolve to actively campaign throughout the UK to bring them to fruition.