SCOTTISH LEFT REVIEW ISSUE 109 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 - £2.00 1 - SCOTTISHLEFTREVIEW ISSUE 109 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Scottish Left Review
Issue 109 January/February 2019 - £2.00
'best re(a)d'
1 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
ASLEF CALLS FOR AN INTEGRATED, PUBLICLY
OWNED, ACCOUNTABLE RAILWAY FOR SCOTLAND
(which used to be the SNP’s position
– before they became the government!)
Mick Whelan Tosh McDonald Kevin Lindsay
General Secretary President Scottish Officer
ASLEF the train drivers union- www.aslef.org.uk
LRD TUC Sept15_Layout 1 10/07/2015 14:09 Page 1
FIGHT ANTI-UNION LAWS
www.rmt.org.uk
General Secretary: Mick Cash President: Peter
President SeanPinkney
Hoyle
2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
comment
Bastards of Brexit and
the 'national interest'
H
appy New Year to all our crisis. And, many more bemoan that the negotiating against twenty seven others
subscribers, readers and whole system of politics itself in Britain (in the form of the EU which includes
reviews
supporters. And, with the is in a mess. No politician or party stands Germany, France, Italy and Spain as the
pleasantries now done, let’s get back to out with any dignity or stature in this major constituents). This is a moment
the matters at hand - of hard politics. situation according to this view. of power play where the balance of
Over the last few months, day-in-and- forces needs to be realistically appraised.
The problem with such an analysis
day-out in the pages of the Guardian, Second, clubs which are engaged in the
is that it tends to depoliticise what
its parliamentary sketch writer, John job of self-preservation and expansion
remains an intensely political process.
Crace, has lambasted Theresa May as (which the increasingly intergrationist EU
The view is almost as if there were at very much is) do not allow members to
an automaton, a robot called Maybot.
hand competent and skilled politicians leave the club and maintain the benefits
Maybot has, according to Crace, entered
prepared to work together in the of the membership of the club (especially
such a state of malfunction that she is
‘national interest’ that the situation without paying for them). This was
only able to repeat that she is ‘very clear’
would be different and so much better. always going to be a no-brainer. Both
about ‘being clear’. Her behaviour would
But this is a deeply apolitical and naïve points eluded the quite deluded brash
seem, according to some, to amount to
appraisal. The reason why May’s deal is and buccaneering perspective of the likes
the tip of one almighty mess in British
unlikely to get passed in parliament is of Boris Johnson (with Tory leadership
politics over Brexit. After the pulling
because the Tory party is not only weak pretensions), who grandstanding and
of the meaningful vote in parliament
(reliant upon the Democratic Unionist playing to the audience of Tory activists,
and the inability to gain any further
Party (DUP)) and badly split (with the told us that all that was needed was to
concessions, the prospect of falling off
likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg of the European say ‘give us what we want or we won’t
the cliff of a ‘no deal’ departure is seen
Research Group and Boris Johnson being play ball’ (or handover £39bn). These
as a literal crashing out of the EU. To this,
the obvious ‘hard’ Brexiteers). But behind are the instances of the most obvious
others moan that the political system
this are a few seldom recognised realities. cases of the bastards of Brexit. But there
has been so skewered on the knife of
Brexit that there’s a policy vacuum on First, the likelihood of May negotiating are many others too, like Dominic Raab,
other matters (although it should be a deal that would satisfy both hard Tommy Robinson or Nigel Farage. What
noted - as Chris Stephens points out in Brexiteers and DUP was always going to binds them together is that they want to
his article - Universal Credit continues as be extremely slight because although use Brexit as a means to deliver an even
does austerity). Others go further and Britain is a substantial economy it smaller state, with protections from the
called this mess downright chaos and is, nevertheless, just one economy market on workers’ rights, environmental
regulation and consumer rights even
ScottishLeftReview
Issue 109 January/February 2019
further reduced. Sounds like England as a
green and pleasant land of the Victorian
Contents or Edwardian eras.
Editorial comment..................................................................................................................................... 3
Just Transitioning – marrying environment protection and social justice Stephen Smellie ..................... 5 The political crisis around Brexit is now so
Greening economics and politics with social justice Francis Stuart ......................................................... 7 profound that the case for a referendum
Partnership for progress Matthew Crighton . ........................................................................................... 9 on either May’s deal or a ‘no deal’ is very
Rebelling against extinction Douglas Rogers .......................................................................................... 10 much required. This is not a betrayal of
The global dimension of the Just Transition Bill Bonnar . ....................................................................... 11
Why and how the SNP must stop being ‘the party of oil’ Simon Barrow ............................................... 12 the ‘no’ vote in 2016 precisely because
Opportunities for Scotland’s climate related legislation Gordon Morgan .............................................. 13 that referendum did not take a view on
Capitalism is the climate crisis Dave Sherry ........................................................................................... 14 what form Brexit should take. It is clear
Universal Credit – universal cruelty for the poor and vulnerable Chris Stephens .................................. 15
Death in Police Custody: the case of Sheku Bayoh Aamer Anwar .......................................................... 16
that May’s deal is not a good one and a
On the frontline: fighting the fascists Talat Ahmed ................................................................................ 17 ‘no deal’ is even worse. Rather, another
‘Value Education, Value Teachers’ campaign marches on Larry Flanagan . ............................................ 18 referendum would allow ‘no’ voters
Tories in tatters results in rise of right? Sean Duffy ................................................................................ 19 the opportunity to express their view
Scottish Labour – the return of its radical roots Mike Cowley . .............................................................. 20
Labour’s Scottish problem Róisín McLaren . ........................................................................................... 21 on what kind of Brexit they wish for.
Scotland needs a community organising movement Linda Somerville .................................................. 22 Whether this turns into a referendum
Another Edinburgh revolt: staff and students elect a radical rector Angi Lamb . ................................... 23 to reverse the decision of the 2016 one
Betrayal of the Sandinista revolution Joseph McAleer ........................................................................... 24
would depend on what the question
Catalonia and the continuing Spanish crisis George Kerevan ................................................................. 25
Age, ageing and ageism: how ageist is Scotland? Bill Johnston . ............................................................ 26 (binary choice between May’s deal and
Scottish theatrical revolution Mark Brown . ........................................................................................... 27 ‘no deal’) was or questions (the binary
Film and book reviews Jackie Bergson, Sean Sheehan, Robin Jones....................................................... 28 choice plus the options to delay leaving,
Kick up The Tabloids................................................................................................................................ 31
rescind Article 50, stay in the EU/rejoin
3 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
the EU etc etc) were. Of course, what defined as juxtaposing the masses against imprecision of use here has in parallel in
makes the political crisis as profound elites. Is there a case for the left trying to the imprecision of using the other terms
as it is are the intractable divisions in use the same terms and language for its discussed above. This is not to suggest
Labour, between ‘leavers’ like Corbyn and own purposes? Put more starkly, can the that properly using terms like socialism
‘remainers’ like Keir Starmer and how left refashion what is usually the preserve would miraculously strengthen Labour’s
this influences many tactical questions of the right, turning it against the right? electoral standing or its radicalism. But
including the relationship between Recall, David Cameron’s ‘we are all in it is to suggest for the longer term that
calling for a general election and any it together’ mantra of the Coalition socialism rather than social democracy is
kind of further referendum. Corbyn and government era. In Gramscian terms, what is required to address and end the
a section of the left in Labour have been this would mean establishing a counter- ills of capitalism.
against the EU for decades in the vein hegemony with it. Certainly, Corbyn’s Speaking of Labour’s electoral standing,
of Tony Benn. Starmer and others see ‘for the many, not the few’ slogan is with three left leaders now in place, it
membership of the EU as a condition for compatible with this perspective but that is strange that Welsh Labour is more
a cosmopolitan type of capitalism. does not make it synonymous with it. It popular than Scottish or British Labour.
Unfortunately, the echoes of Theresa is altogether different ground when the Incredibly, British Labour has still not
May seeking to defend Britain’s so-called more singular terms of ‘country’, ‘nation’ pulled away in the polls from the Tories
aforementioned ‘national interest’ and ‘people’ are used – for reasons given despite May’s Brexit ‘shambles’ and their
can be found elsewhere. The ‘national above - as ‘for the many, not the few’ patent divisions. They remain neck and
interest’ is a compound of nationalism could at least be taken to suggest there neck with each other. Something similar
and power, a subterfuge of and for is some kind of class system in existence. can be said about Scottish Labour – the
ideology and material interests. In a Contrast that with the launch by the SNP still has some Teflon-like qualities
class-based society such as Britain, there People’s Assembly in December just gone even though it has presided over the
can be no ‘national interest’ in the sense of its ‘Britain is broken – we can’t afford shambles of Scotrail and the running
that it means that all citizens have the the Tories’ campaign against austerity. down of public services despite its
same interests and can benefit together In unfortunate echoes of Unite’s protestations of shielding ‘Scotland’
and in equal measure from this or that similarly named campaign just after Len against Tory austerity. Even when
government action. Instead, the ‘national McCluskey was elected to the position Sturgeon challenged the opposition
interest’ is defined by the rich and of its general secretary, it cannot be said parties to say where they would make
powerful as the means to defend their that Britain is broken for there is at least cuts in spending to allow increases in
interests – material (economic), political one sizable section of society in Britain spending elsewhere, this did not become
and ideological. And yet, Jeremy Corbyn which is ‘doing very well, thank you very an open goal for left opponents like
still uses his version of this concept. much’. Comprised of landlords, senior Scottish Labour. So, Scottish Labour
Despite leading on political and economic managers, investment banker and the has made limited polling progress in
priorities ‘for the many, not the few’, he like, this is an elite which keeps getting reclaiming its former position despite a
has proclaimed his criticism of May and richer as wealth inequality across society shift to the left in its policy positions and
her Brexit deal because it does not work widens. its willingness to deploy for progressive
for ‘for the whole country’. On occasion, ends as yet unused legislative powers
But that cannot be the end of the
he has even used the term ’national in the Scottish Parliament. We have two
linguistic matter because – as these
interest’ too. Succumbing to the notion of articles looking at the state of Scottish
editorials have repeatedly pointed
the ’national interest’ in terms of British Labour since Leonard became leader in
out before – when the likes of Jeremy
nationalism has its parallel in Nicola November 2017.
Corbyn, John McDonnell, Richard
Sturgeon and the Scottish National Party Leonard and now new Welsh Labour All that said, the theme of this issue is
(SNP). Sturgeon, whether in regard of leader, Mark Drakeford, say that they are the Just Transition. When powerful and
independence for Scotland or opposing socialists and advocate socialism, what articulate, if nonetheless maverick, voices
Brexit, has couched her arguments in they actually mean is they are social like Gary Smith, GMB Scotland regional
terms of what is good for ‘Scotland’ and democrats advocating social democracy secretary, attack the arguments from
‘the Scottish people’, as if class was but (sometimes also called democratic the left about a just green transition
a ghost in the machine. Her followers socialism - as per Labour’s constitution to a low-carbon economy as ‘pie in the
including Derek MacKay, finance cabinet and membership cards - in order to sky’ and wanting to turn his boiler fitting
secretary, talk of the SNP Scottish contrast itself to Soviet communism and members into ballet dancers, the left has
Government’s budget being ‘a Budget Stalinism). This misnaming of socialism is to be able to respond in a credible way.
for all of Scotland’ as if there were no repeated by the likes of the Morning Star We hope the theme of this issue helps
rich and poor, no ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ and former Trotskyist Militant Tendency in this cause. In this connection, and
– or that the Scottish Government could remarked upon by Stephen Smellie in his
member and de facto leader of Liverpool
simultaneously serve the interests of all lead article, it is interesting to note that
City Council in the mid-1980s, Derek
such groups in equal measure. the GMB, Prospect, UNISON and UNITE
Hatton (who has rejoined Labour). There
This language of populism is more are also some examples of it in this issue unions, with 200,000 members in the
pernicious now than for a long time of Scottish Left Review. Of course, while energy sector, have produced a blueprint
because the current erosion of the centre it is good that the term ‘socialism’ has so workers and communities can be
ground in British politics means that the re-entered the lexicon of the political helped to adapt to the advent of the low
hard right is using it as a way to deflect mainstream as a term of commendation carbon economy called ‘Demanding a
attention from the actual causes of the as result of Corbyn et al., this does not Just Transition for Energy Workers’.
crises as well as whose interests are mean it comes without its own problems
being defended in doing this. Populism is when used in this manner. Indeed, the
4 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
Just Transitioning – marrying environment
protection and social justice
Stephen Smellie lays out what is meant by Just Transition and what role unions have to play here
T
he concept of the ‘Just Transition’ change or close workers are the last a low carbon economy has, however, to
to a low carbon economy has consideration for employers and be the commitment that the transition is
become policy over the past few governments. The coal and steel necessary and that society, government,
years with the Scottish Trades Union industries simply cast workers and industry and unions have agreed that
Congress (STUC), Trades Union Congress communities aside when they were no there is an urgency to not only make the
(TUC) and International Trade Union longer needed. As did manufacturers in transition but to work together to make
Confederation (ITUC) all having it on the 1980s as Thatcher’s lack of industrial this transition within the shortest time
their agenda. It was the international policy saw jobs exported. There was possible. The recent warnings from the
union movement, through the ITUC, that no justice for workers when these UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
ensured global climate talks had the Just transitions occurred. Change (IPCC) report which said we have
Transition concept adopted, including in 12 years to put in place the measures
the 2015 Paris Agreements. It is, therefore, correct that workers
needed to reduce carbon use to avoid
in today’s carbon industries, gas, oil,
The concept has become used quite catastrophic global warming provide the
chemicals, and their unions have
broadly in terms of justice for a number evidence needed to create this sense of
raised the demand that their interests
of current or potential victims of the urgency.
need to be looked after as we move
effects of climate change. This would towards a low carbon economy. The However, some stakeholders don’t buy
include island communities threatened GMB, Prospect, UNISON and Unite into this urgency and sometimes not
by rising sea levels; developing nations unions recently published Demanding even into a commitment to a transition.
whose carbon footprint has been low a Just Transition for Energy Workers, Trump is the obvious example but very
and, therefore, their contribution to which details their demands for a just few governments around the world
the problem negligible yet who are told transition. These include training, access have implemented the measures that
they should not increase would put them on
their use of carbon course for achieving
by developed nations the targets agreed in
whose carbon use for Paris. The outcome
200 years has brought of the Katowice COP
them wealth and power (Conference of the
which they now want Parties) talks was
to deny to others; and equally disappointing.
poorer nations who
look at the rich world Some sections of the
who don’t want to pay union movement
for the damage their can often appear
economic policies have reluctant participants
caused. in discussions regarding
transitioning to a low
However, the carbon economy and
concept was first developed in the to jobs that are as well paid as current
use the language of Just Transition
union movement to address the jobs and a voice for energy workers in
to refuse to contemplate any change
need to consider the workers whose the planning for the future.
unless the current members’ jobs are
jobs, families and communities are This is a growing international union protected, or that alternative highly
dependent upon carbon industries and movement working towards a just paid and unionised jobs are readily
who stand to lose out when the current transition. Canadian unions in the coal available. This approach is sometimes
high carbon economy transitions to a industry have welcomed the setting justified by the evidence that the shift
low carbon economy. Those workers up of The Just Transition Task Force to renewables did not create a bonanza
should not pay the price for society for Canadian Coal-Power Workers of new jobs in the construction of
reaching a socially-agreed objective. and Communities which will draft a renewables or in the new renewables
Canadian union activist, Brian Kohler, plan to support affected workers and sector.
was one of the first to use and communities as Canada moves to phase-
In Scotland, we have some unions
popularise the term in union circles in out coal-fired power. Australian power
and politicians continuing to see the
1998 when he attempted to reconcile plant unions have signed up to a number
extension of oil and gas production as
the union’s fight for decent jobs and of Just Transition agreements that have
a priority for the economy and jobs.
the need to protect the environment. included transferring workers from
Some have argued in support of fracking
He said: ‘The real choice is not jobs or power plants into renewable sectors as
and still harbour ambitions to overturn
environment. It is both or neither’. coal plants close.
the effective ban that the Scottish
In Scotland, we know when industries The starting point for Just Transition to Government has implemented. Their
5 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
reasons for this relate solely to the respiratory illness. Education union to a low carbon economy should be
question of jobs, which for unions, is members were discussing with children left to the energy workers needs to be
always going to be their starting point. the science of global warming and its challenged. This is an issue that affects
consequences. Unions in the science all communities and all workers. Our
On the other hand, a growing number
sector had members producing the consumption of energy, at work and at
of unions and politicians, as well as
evidence of what was happening. home, is part of the problem and our
environmentalists, scientists, and world
skills, knowledge and commitment to
climate change agreements, understand Therefore, the coming together within
the transition to a low carbon economy
the argument that extending oil and gas the union and labour movement of
is part of the solution.
production is the last thing we should these forces created the necessary
be doing at the moment in terms of the impetus to, on the one hand, accept For Scottish workers, we have
urgent need to cut carbon emissions to that action is needed to reduce the use immediate challenges and so the
stop global warming. All the evidence of carbon but, on the other, develop Scottish Government’s Just Transition
points out that most of the known strategies that ensure that the workers Commission, set up after lobbying by
carbon and fossil fuels in the ground in the carbon sector are not forgotten the STUC and some unions working
should stay there if there is any chance about and are looked after. with Friends of the Earth Scotland in the
of preventing the record breaking Just Transition Partnership, is crucial to
A transition to a low carbon economy ensure that the necessary government
year-on-year temperature rises we must happen and that transition needs
have been seeing and which cause the actions in relation to industrial policy,
to be just to the workers. However, the education and training and harnessing
increase in severe weather events, the Just Transition agenda is not simply
melting of ice-caps and subsequent rise public sector procurement and spending
related to these workers in the energy are directed towards a Just Transition for
in sea levels and the extinction of many sector whose current jobs are part of
species of insects and workers.
animals. Stephen Smellie is Depute
It is in this context the Convenor for UNISON
need to protect workers’ Scotland and a UNISON
interests and at the same national executive member.
time the environment, He blogs at https://
that the Just Transition stephenfs59.wordpress.
was originally com/
conceived. As the
growing environmental
movement of the 1970s
and 1980s became
more influential, as
the evidence mounted
about the impact of capitalist industrial an industry that is contributing to the
Cover:
processes on the environment and its problem. Other workers are in jobs
that are at risk. Agricultural and food Nadia Lucchesi
likely impacts, and they stopped being (nadia.shemail@gmail.com)
dismissed as tree-hugging cranks, an processing workers face changes related
engagement with the labour movement to climate change. The water industry, Proofing services:
and the environmentalists became seafarers and other transport workers John Wood and John Daly
essential. face significant challenges. High energy
using industries such as manufacturing Communications and
This was not the first time that unions and construction face rising costs. The organisational development:
engaged with the environmental public sector workers whose budgets Carole Ewart
movement. Throughout years of for services are cut to divert money
campaigning on health and safety, the to efforts to ameliorate the effects of Editor Email:
link to the danger to the environment climate change on infra-structure. Gregor Gall
and workers has been made in relation gregorgall@outlook.com
to asbestos or the nuclear industry. Other workers have a significant part
American union leader, Tony Mazzochi, to play in the transition and making Web: www.scottishleftreview.org
of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic sure that it is just: the science workers Tel: 0141 424 0042
Workers’ International Union, pioneered creating alternatives; the education
workers training the current energy Address:
these links in the 1960s. Scottish Left Review,
and future workers with the skills
Whilst some energy unions in the necessary for the future low carbon 14 West Campbell Street,
carbon industries were less receptive industries; and the public sector workers Glasgow G2 6RX
to messages about how their industries in environmental protection, infra-
were a problem and needed to change, structure and planning, designing better Printed by
other unions became acutely aware of communities that use less carbon. Hampden Advertising Ltd,
the consequences of continuing a high 403 Hillington Road, G52 4BL,
Therefore, the assertion by some in the
dependence on carbon use. Health Tel: 0141 429 1010
union movement that the Just Transition
union members reported increases in
6 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
Greening economics and politics with
social justice
Francis Stuart argues unions are central to creating the Just Transition
A
t the STUC’s most recent annual economic and social issues. Were emissions if those emissions have simply
congress, a number of resolutions they simply fuel protestors, Macron’s been decanted across the world as a
were discussed which showed decision to scrap the tax on fuel would by-product of deindustrialisation and
that energy and climate change policy have seen the disintegration of the globalisation.
are of enormous industrial and political movement. Having said this, it is clear
The Scottish and British Governments’
significance to unions. A General Council that Macron’s fuel tax rise, at the same complete lack of a coherent strategy
statement committed the STUC to a time as he cut taxes for the rich, was for job creation in the low carbon
body of work around energy and climate undoubtedly a trigger for their protests. economy has also meant we have failed
change – continuing our influencing
As Naomi Klein stated: ‘neoliberal to create good quality jobs in low carbon
work around the Scottish Government’s
climate action passes on the costs to manufacturing. Scotland has one of
Just Transition Commission, looking
working people, offers them no better the largest wind sectors but next to
further at energy policy, and considering
jobs or services and lets big polluters no manufacturing jobs in renewables.
how workers’ pensions might help
off the hook. People see it as a class We have three BiFab yards in Scotland
address societal challenges such as
war, because it is’. Efforts to reduce lying idle, developers who make their
climate change. This work is recognition
emissions by passing the costs of the turbines abroad, and no political
that there are costs in failing to address
transition onto the working class risk framework to ensure we capture value
climate change and costs in approaching
being a major source of dislocation domestically. And we haven’t been able
a transition without justice at its heart.
between the elite centre of politics to capitalise on world-leading academic
Primary among this is a deepening and citizens and workers, unless expertise in offshore wind, wave, tidal,
environmental catastrophe and accompanied by fundamental social and carbon capture and storage.
the subsequent impact on people and economic transformation. The Over the last twenty years a number of
around the world. The World Health Gilets Jaunes, therefore, highlight the Scottish Government documents, from
Organisation estimates that by 2030, potential for an increasingly complicated parties of all stripes, have over-promised
climate change will cause 250,000 and intertwined relationship between and under-delivered. For example, the
additional deaths per year, due to the political and environmental crises 2010 Low Carbon Economic Strategy
malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and we currently face. promised 60,000 new jobs by 2015.
heat stress. The majority of those deaths
It should be clear from events in France While data for low carbon jobs is
will be in the global south rather than on
that radical social and economic change, poor and subject to a high degree
these shores.
union and community organising, of uncertainty, there is currently an
Climate change is already impacting democratic ownership, and massive estimated total of 49,000 direct and
disproportionately on people of colour, government intervention are all indirect low carbon jobs in Scotland,
women, and those with the least essential companions in the transition to including a number in nuclear energy.
capacity to respond to natural hazards, a low carbon economy. Similar lessons Together, this represents less than 2% of
such as droughts, landslides, floods and should also be learned from Scotland’s jobs in Scotland.
hurricanes. Climate change is, therefore, own experience. Many of these jobs are less secure or
an issue of race, gender and class.
No one should be unaware of the harm unionised than traditional fossil-based
The cost could also be the rise of caused to workers and communities jobs. A 2016 Strathclyde University
the far right. The irony that climate during the closure of coal mining and study suggests that between 2004 and
change caused by the rich in the Global deindustrialisation in recent decades. 2012 ‘employment in low carbon jobs in
North is now causing thousands of Yet some policymakers and campaigners Scotland grew, but that this was more
environmental migrants and refugees in still point to Scotland’s progress in volatile than aggregate employment,
the Global South will not prevent the far reducing emissions since 1990 as and in particular that employment in
right stirring up racist sentiment against evidence that Scotland is transitioning this sector was particularly badly hit
migrants for their own ends. to a low carbon future. While Scotland’s during the great recession’. A recent
emissions have reduced significantly – Guardian article highlighted a number
There are also huge risks in the current
by 49% since 1990 – it is also true that of migrant workers building the £2.6bn
market-dominated approach to climate
much of these emissions reductions Beatrice offshore windfarm were being
transition. Trump was quick to try to
have been offshored. Scotland’s paid less than the minimum wage.
connect with the Gilets Jaunes, tweeting
that the French had come around to emissions associated with consumption There are clearly challenges for unions
his scepticism about the Paris climate (emissions generated both at home and both in policy (ensuring that new jobs
change agreement and the cost of abroad in the production and transport created aren’t simply left to private
fighting global warming. The Gilets of the goods and services that we company profiteering or based on
Jaunes are much more than a bunch consume) have only reduced by 8.6% market incentives) and in organising
of fuel protestors, with their demands between 1998 and 2014. We cannot (ensuring that unions adapt to a
reflecting much wider and deeper bask in the pretence of reducing carbon changing labour market and organise
7 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
workers which aren’t simply centrally poor pay far more than the rich as a Decarbonisation of heating of homes
based as they were in the past). A proportion of their income and it will fail and businesses can be driven more
key question in addressing both these to ensure the scale and pace of change effectively if gas supply was to be
challenges is the question of ownership. needed to address climate change. Few publicly-owned. Municipal energy
things illustrate this failure more than companies which both reduce energy
The situation whereby one man, Jim
the rate of investment in low carbon prices and promote clean, decarbonised
Ratcliffe, owns a hugely important
energy in Britain fell in the last year. The generation can win significant share
strategic energy asset accounting for
private sector is simply not providing the of the supply market. A publicly-
4% of Scottish GDP, and can threaten
long-term, patient capital required. owned offshore wind company could
to up sticks and leave, is clearly not an
stimulate investment and capture some
acceptable state of affairs. Hopefully, Tackling climate change while building
of the returns that will be made from
Unite’s recent success in restoring an industrial base for low-carbon
our natural resource. Linked to the
collective bargaining arrangements manufacturing will require government
availability of finance on the right terms
might reign in the worst of Ratcliffe’s policy, planning, direction and
from the Scottish National Investment
excesses. investment. The Scottish Government’s
Bank, publicly owned energy companies
Just Transition Commission, successfully
The North Sea is also illustrative of a can transform energy in Scotland.
advocated for by the Just Transition
hyper-competitive model based on
Partnership, provides an opportunity to Scotland’s unions are clear that tackling
private company value extraction.
address these issues. Its role is to look climate change is a moral, social and
Between 2014 and 2017, 160,000
at how Scotland achieves a carbon- economic imperative and Scotland
jobs have been lost. At the same time,
neutral economy while maximising must play its part in reducing emissions.
companies have sought to cut terms
opportunities in terms of fair work and However, meeting targets must
and conditions, lengthening shift
tackling inequalities. To be effective, it ensure that workers and communities
rotas for offshore workers. Within the
should be independent of government benefit and manufacturing is not
decommissioning
simply offshored.
sector, rigs are
A genuinely just
towed to beaches
transition, addressing
in South East Asia
fundamental
where they can be
questions of
decommissioned
ownership, is the
without serious
only way in which
environmental
we will move to a
regulations or
low carbon economy
workers’ rights.
while building a
Companies involved more equal economy
in renewables aren’t and society.
the flag-bearers for
Francis Stuart is a
a more ethical form
Policy Officer at the
of capitalism either.
Scottish Trades Union
Scottish Power is
Congress
a wholly owned
subsidiary of Spanish multi-national, and should have a commitment to
Iberdrola. It recently announced plans look beyond the next two years, to
to sell off its remaining coal and gas climate change targets which run until Scottish Left Review
assets and go 100% renewable. While 2050. The Scottish Left Review is a non-profit making publication.
Please subscribe or make a donation by going to www.
the move earned plaudits, it is entirely scottishleftreview.org where you can pay by credit card
The Scottish National Investment
unclear how much capital spend of or by filling in your details in the form below and returning
Bank also provides an opportunity to to Scottish Left Review, 14 West Campbell Street,
their investment in renewables will be
leverage in funding for the low-carbon Glasgow G2 6RX
in Scotland. Questions also remain over
economy, providing patient capital Name
why it also sold off their hydro assets
for sectors and organisations which
given the importance of these assets to
cannot access patient, strategic capital. Address
the Scottish energy system. Similarly,
The Scottish Government’s plans for a
while SSE earns plaudits for being
publicly owned energy company could
an accredited living wage employer,
also help transform the public policy Tel:
it seems less concerned about fuel
landscape, although it will have to be
poverty - announcing a £76 fuel hike rise E-mail:
far more ambitious than the Scottish
in the summer.
Government’s current vision of a Subscription/Donation
Relying on these multi-nationals, company focussed on retail supply. A
and an approach to public policy focus on generation – where the both Date:
209
based on market mechanisms such the money and the decarbonisation Subscriptions: £18 (waged), £14 (unwaged), £24 (local
as carbon taxes and levies on fuel opportunities are – will be crucial if it is organisations), £30 (national organisations).
Donations will be gratefully recieved. Cheques should be
bills, will not deliver either socially to play a role in a just transition to a low crossed and made payable to: Left Review Scotland Ltd.
or environmentally. It will mean the carbon economy. You can also subscribe/donate online at
www.scottishleftreview.org
8 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
Partnership for progress
Matthew Crighton outlines the Just Transition Partnership between the STUC and Friends of the Earth
S
etting up a Just Transition up by Friends of the Earth Scotland ●●Plans at national, sectoral and regional
Commission which will advise and STUC in 2016, has made it clear levels will not only generate well-
ministers on the development of that radical changes in objectives and paid jobs, with better employment
‘a carbon-neutral economy that is fair methods of economic development and conditions, but also deliver social
for all’ appears to be a bold move by industrial policy are necessary. While benefits, which will be core to popular
the Scottish Government. Initiatives or built on longstanding dialogue about support and political positioning of
commissions in other countries have so climate change and policy engagement this transformation as an opportunity
far been restricted to just transition of of some unions, the impulse for the not just a cost.
specific sectors or locations like the coal partnership was losing 60,000 North ●●The participation of the workers most
industry in Spain or Tar Sands in Canada. Sea jobs as the oil price plummeted in effected, through unions as well as
The Scottish Government is also setting 2015-2016. relevant communities, should be
up a Scottish National Investment Bank
In face of further such jobs losses, central aim.
which may well include Just Transition
or at least investment in low carbon and further deindustrialisation, the This approach to economic development
infrastructure in its remit. In addition, partnership focused initially on creating will give certainty and confidence for
the option of a publicly-owned energy new jobs which can provide continued the large-scale investment programmes
company is being considered. These employment for those affected by which are urgently required.
three initiatives are the core things decline in fossil fuel industries and Transformation of finance is needed for
which the Just Transition Partnership provide similarly good or better wages transformation of energy and industrial
has been pushing for. So are we on the and conditions in order to avoid the infrastructure, for which a powerful
verge of a successful transformation to unjust transition when coal mining National Investment Bank will be at the
a carbon-neutral economy that is fair to was shutdown. Some of these new core. Just Transition has to be central
all in Scotland? So far, welcome though jobs will be offshore (wind, wave, tidal, to its remit and to a revised Economic
they are, these are all words, not deeds. decommissioning) and others in the Strategy which ensures the commitment
economic transformation needed to go of the development agencies and
Meanwhile in its Climate
moves government
Change Bill, the Scottish
support away from fossil
Government has resisted
fuels. Any support to the
calls to set a target date to
energy sectors should be to
achieve net-zero emissions.
deliver the just transition
And its actions in supporting
and employers should be
the continuing development
required to negotiate just
of oil and gas extraction point in the
low-carbon onshore (such as transport transition agreements with government
opposite direction. SNP MPs appear
and energy efficiency). and unions.
to be supporting the introduction of
Transferable Tax Histories, the latest The partnership has facilitated unions The biggest failure in terms of justice
Treasury wheeze to deliver public having a voice in the debate about will be if the transition does not happen
subsidy to underpin the continuing climate change, seen originally as an or is too slow. There has to be as much
profitability extraction and further environmental issue; and environmental emphasis on ‘transition’ as there is
exploration. ‘Maximising Economic organisations having increased purchase on ‘just’; the transition won’t happen
Recovery’, the policy framework on economic and industrial issues. unless it is just because it will require
established after the report of the Working through the practical issues a popular movement supporting it. If
Wood Commission in response to job in joint papers combining these two the Just Transition Commission follows
losses in the North Sea, appears to perspectives, often for government through on its remit logically and
be about financial support to private consultations, identified: without fear or favour to the powers
enterprise rather than workers’ jobs and that be, it will understand this and will
conditions, which continue to be under ●●The need for action for reasons of be able to build on the policy framework
attack. climate change and economic justice developed by STUC, Friends of the Earth
are urgent. Scotland and other members in the
How will the Just Transition Commission
●●Market-based solutions have failed, Just Transition Partnership. We hope it
negotiate these contradictions? The
publicly-driven solution are necessary, does; and whether within or without
announcement of its remit and some of
rooted in the extension of public the Commission, the Partnership will
its members without the participation
control over economic outcomes. continue to develop support from across
of unions or any of the leading
the political spectrum for these vital
environmental groups raised some ●●This will require public, municipal ideas.
eyebrows though that may have been and community ownership of key
just an initial hiccup in the process and Matthew Crighton works at Friends of
parts of the energy systems so that it
there have been assurances given that the Earth Scotland
is reliable and effective and anchors
union representatives will be included.
development benefits in Scotland and
The Just Transition Partnership, set to localities within it.
9 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019
Rebelling against extinction
With no jobs or life on a dead planet, Douglas Rogers explains what Extinction Rebellion is about
The science is clear: either we make police stations. So on the 17 November, more disruptive, others less: we take
radical changes to our relationship when 6,000 rebels shut down five no pleasure in causing inconvenience,
with the environment, or hundreds of London bridges before marching on but see such disruption as a regrettable
millions – potentially far more than Parliament Square, the police vans necessity in the fight to avert the much
this – will die. Whether by rising seas, and helicopters were closely followed darker disruptions to come from climate
expanding deserts or eroding soil, by invitations from MPs to talk about change.
billions will be displaced. Combined climate policy. We’ve been growing fast, and as
with the unknown influence of positive we grow we’re making efforts to
Our demands are simple. First, the
feedback loops, the result could decentralise as much as possible, both
government openly acknowledge and
threaten civilisation as we know it. organisationally and geographically
publicise the truth about our situation:
The science has been clear for decades from parliament to the BBC, the present – with 80 branches across Britain at
but in that time the response has been discussion of climate change is a long the time of writing since we were
utterly inadequate: global emissions way from the urgency obliged by the established in late October 2018. This
have risen by 60% since 1990. As we facts. Second, that the government broad reach has allowed us to work
now stand, for any hope of avoiding 2°C enact legally binding policies to reduce towards our demands on the local
of warming we’ll need rich countries to carbon emissions to zero by 2025, and level as well as the national, with local
cut emissions by 90% by 2030. Under act accordingly in the international authorities in Bristol, Stroud, Totnes,
the Paris agreement, the EU target for arena. And third, that a Citizens’ Trafford and London all now having
that year is 40%. The British government Assembly create a plan for this change: declared states of climate emergency.
has demonstrated its lack of concern this will be a body chosen by sortition In keeping with this decentralised
with a budget ruling out any subsidies approach, XR Scotland is currently
for renewables until 2025, meaning a working on its own Scotland-specific
95% fall in investments over the next version of XR’s declaration of rebellion.
three years. For decades now, there And it’s not just in Britain that we’re
have been marches held, petitions growing: at the time of writing there are
signed – and still our planet remains on nearly 200 XR branches spread across
course for catastrophe. 25 countries, from Norway to India.
Something needs to change – and This international scale is, of course,
Extinction Rebellion (XR) plans to be essential to achieving our goal of limiting
that change. Our movement believes the effects of climate change and the
that, when faced with a political related environmental crises. With this
establishment unwilling to take the in mind, our forthcoming actions will be
necessary steps to avert catastrophe, building towards a week of international
our only remaining choice is to take rebellion, beginning on the 15 April,
direct action to preserve our planet’s where we will tell the leaders of the
future. world with one voice that the time to
act is now.
Our methods take inspiration from the
movements of Martin Luther King and There’s plenty to do before April. XR
Mahatma Gandhi. These movements to represent the people’s perspective Scotland held its inaugural meeting in
were mass-scale, assertive enough to in a political system which has grown Edinburgh in November, attracting over
practice civil disobedience, but above out of touch with those it claims to 200 people, and has since established
all peaceful: XR puts a high priority on represent – as is strikingly apparent in branches all over Scotland. Hundreds of
the case of climate change, with 71% of people are attending talks and trainings,
non-violence in both our actions and
respondents to a YouGov poll favouring in preparation for large-scale actions in
our language. We take this approach not
more investment in renewable energy, 2019. If you’d like to help, or would like
just because it’s nicer but because it’s
and 83% demanding that fossil fuel to learn about our movement, contact
better: the work of Erica Chenoweth, for
xrscotland@protonmail.com.
example, finds non-violent movements companies bear the costs of climate
twice as likely to succeed as violent change. Douglas Rogers is a member of
ones. Extinction Rebellion’s press team.
Since taking the bridges on the 17
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
As we’ve been demonstrating, though, November, we’ve kept up the pressure,
Extinction_Rebellion for more on XR
non-violence doesn’t mean meekness. with multi-day roadblocks in London,
Governments can ignore and have a march on Buckingham Palace, the
ignored petitions and routine marches, blockading of government buildings,
just as they’ve ignored the increasingly and a national day of action spanning
severe effects of climate change – but from Totnes to Inverness, involving
they can’t ignore gridlocked roads, everything from die-ins to guerrilla
blockaded buildings and overflowing gardening. Some of our actions are
10 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019The global dimension of the Just
Transition
Bill Bonnar argues Africa, as the poorest continent, needs special attention and resources
T
here is no doubt that the issue continent, the drought is as severe as distorting effect on many economies.
of radical climate change has that in Australia but with one major So, according to the United Nations in
rocketed up the political agenda difference. Australia has the resources 1970, Africa was almost completely
both in Britain and on a global scale. It to deal with it. In countries such as self-sufficient in food production and a
seems the dramatic warnings contained Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, major global exporter of food. Today,
in the now endless reports are hitting Namibia, Mozambique, Angola and every African country without exception
home and the world is waking up the Botswana, drought is having a dramatic is a major food importer. All of this
scale of the crisis. In the past, climate effect. Expanding deserts, less arable makes it difficult for African countries to
change was seen as a future crisis land and less fresh water supplies are finance the kinds of measures needed
worthy of attention but not a priority. having an increasing impact on the to tackle the effects of climate change.
Now it is clear that this future has now economies of these countries and Africa needs massive financial aid
arrived and is having an ever increasing in turn are exacerbating social and from richer parts of the world, not as
impact. tribal conflicts. Across the continent, an act of charity but because tackling
competition for declining resources the problems of climate change in one
A report from Oxfam some years ago
has become a major factor in some part of the world affects all others.
described a two stage process. In
conflicts. An example is the on-going Besides, given the wholesale looting of
the short to medium term, the world
war in Darfur in Sudan which originated the continent in the colonial and post-
would see a dramatic increase in severe
as a conflict between two tribal groups colonial period, Africa is due some of
weather events including everything
over access to scarce arable land before that money back in reparations.
from hurricanes to
droughts as the planet The recent international
gradually warmed. In climate change
the longer term, rising conference in Poland
sea levels would have an highlights some of the
even greater impact. It is issues. Like at other
now clear we are living such conferences,
through the first of these scientists identify the
scenarios. According to problems and the
the follow-on reports absolute minimum set
from Oxfam (which of measures needed to
had been monitoring tackle them. In order
‘climate-based disasters’ to reach agreement,
from 1995 to 2015), these hitherto absolute
there had been a minimum measures
fourfold increase in such are then watered down
events in that period. massively, reducing
The reports described a their effectiveness.
being exacerbated by the government in That’s if they are actually carried out
climate-based disaster as ‘an extreme
Khartoum. at all. The track record so far on this
weather event which caused significant
human casualties’. In a similar vein, Africa faces many climate change is not encouraging. The value of such
the former Australian Prime Minister problems. The growth of urbanisation conferences, therefore, tends to be
at a Climate Change Conference in has led to a dramatic increase in the symbolic as well as raising awareness.
Melbourne, when discussing the severe need for fresh drinking water while Actual change comes through the
drought affecting that country, said the demands of globalisation have had climate change programmes of
that we should stop referring to this as a major distorting effect on African individual countries and, here, Scotland
a ‘drought’. Calling it a drought implies economies. Africa is a major exporter has become something of a world leader
something temporary whereby at some of raw materials yet has effectively no as it makes the transition from fossil
stage the drought will end and normality control over the prices it can charge fuels to renewable energy. The tens of
will resume. In fact, the drought is for these exports. This is because billions of pounds of resources and the
the new normality and Australia had these industries are largely owned and infrastructure needed to implement
witnessed a climactic shift. controlled by multi-national companies change are beyond the reach of most
or through trade deals with countries African countries. Future international
The continent most affected by climate
like China. conferences are needed to focus on
change is Africa. It is also the continent
how the richer countries can assist the
least able to deal with its significant African economies has also been forced continent for the benefit of everyone.
challenges. Drought is now a major down the road of replacing production
factor in many parts of Africa. In the for domestic consumption with cash Bill Bonnar is a member of the editorial
southern and eastern parts of the crops for export which again has had a committee of the Scottish Left Review
11 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019Why and how the SNP must stop being
‘the party of oil’
Simon Barrow argues the SNP must more fully commit to the Just Transition
C
limate change is the all-embracing others on these islands and beyond like it) in Britain, there is simply no
challenge of our civilisation. – aims to be a socially just, equitable, alternative than for Scotland to regain
At stake is the survival of the internationalist, nuclear-free country maximum possible control of its political
planet itself. Intertwined with the whose shared economic prosperity is and economic future.
central causes global warming are founded upon hosting some 40% of This requires a major shift in political
the multiple failures of free-market Europe’s on- and off-shore renewable imagination. ‘It’s Scotland’s oil’ was the
capitalism, inequality, poverty, forced energy potential. widely publicised political slogan used
human migrations on an unprecedented
In other words, the inescapable by the SNP during the 1970s in making
scale, and the potential for further
challenge of transitioning rapidly and its economic case for independence.
catastrophic conflicts across the globe.
justly away from a fossil-fuel based During the 2014 referendum falling oil
This is why all political parties and economy to a non-carbon future one prices encouraged the idea of seeing
movements have a fundamental duty dovetails with the kind of democratic, oil as ‘bonus’. But ever since then, in
to re-examine their core political and progressive, sustainable political spite of adopting a swathe of other
economic outlook and policies in order platform which stops the SNP sinking environmentally oriented policies,
to face the sweeping changes which the into the dull, centrist, technocratic social the party has cheered every new oil
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate democracy to which it will otherwise or gas deposit discovery. The deep
Change (IPCC) and grassroots Extinction fall prey. It is as essential for political dependence on fossil fuel thinking has
Rebellion movement are pointing renewal and post-austerity economics as not changed. We need to understand
towards with stark urgency. it is for the survival of a small nation on that carbon fuels aren’t a bonus; they’re
an imperilled planet. a planetary liability. Equally, they are
In the case of the SNP, that means
also a source of thousands of jobs
confronting the necessity for a historic
and social infrastructures that need
shift away from being the ‘party of oil’ to
replacing. Investment, political will,
being a party of just transition heading
policy creativity, scientific know-how
towards a cutting edge green technology
and community engagement are all
future for Scotland. This is the Rubicon
needed to make green transition just
that the governing party in Scotland
is enormous. But it is also possible and
now has to cross, if its frequent claims
necessary, and it has to start right away
and aspirations to being a world-leader
with an acknowledgement by the SNP
in tacking climate change are not to
that we are in the midst of a climate
ring hollow. But what does it mean in
emergency.
practical terms?
Simon Barrow is director of the beliefs,
In the United States, the left inside and
politics and ethics think tank, Ekklesia.
outside the Democratic Party has made
He is a co-opted member of the SNP
a ‘Green New Deal’ the centrepiece of
Trade Union Group executive committee,
an effort to shift establishment politics and also an executive committee
and opposition to Trump into a new member of SNP Socialists. He has co-
paradigm: one that seeks to unite a edited ‘A Nation Changed: Ten Years
pioneering political and economic Practically, the need is for much more
joined-up thinking about shifting rapidly of the SNP and Scotland’ (Luath Press,
programme to the growing but inchoate 2017) with Gerry Hassan, and ‘Scotland
public mood for change. This involves from dependence on oil and gas to a
renewable energy economy grounded 2021’ (Bella Caledonia and Ekklesia,
subverting and redirecting political 2016) with Mike Small.
energies which are currently submerged on investment, high wages, mobile and
in dangerous right-wing populism. automated technology, and skilled jobs.
Something similar now needs to happen Some of the required levers for this
in Scotland. The debate within the are in place or are on the threshold
SNP and on the left over our national of being introduced. They include a
future should not just be about Brexit national investment bank, a publicly
and constitutional change (a reformed owned energy company, and a
Europe, self-governance, and the national infrastructure company. Such
possibility of a confederation of nations instruments can be transformational.
and regions replacing the UK), important As the Scottish Greens have pointed,
though those are. It has to be about many of the powers required for a just
Scotland having a clear alternative transition already exist – but far more
prospectus in the midst of a neo-liberal are needed. If the pro-Brexit disaster
quagmire. A Scotland that – alongside capitalists get their way (or anything
12 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 109 January/February 2019You can also read
