The decision to Ravenscraig steel plant and the hypocritical statements from some in the Tory party stating sympathy with Scottish independence, have thrust Scotland once again to the centre of British politics.
For a long time the Tories have been utterly discredited and unpopular in Scotland. The imposition of the poll tax in Scotland first only deepened hatred for the Tories. But Labour are losing credibility rapidly as well.
Labour's decision to denounce poll tax non-payment and demand obedience to the hated tax severely undermined its position, as well as giving a boost to the SNP.
Whatever the scale of support for full inde Py with full polers on domestic questions s overwhelming. Labour promises an assembly, but insists it will be subject to veto by the Westminster parliament.
The row over Ravenscraig has exposed the Labour leadership to ridicule. Kinnock could have finally sunk any Tory hopes in Scotland by simply announcing that Ravenscraig would be nationalised by an incoming Labour government. Or if Labour could not tolerate nationalisation, at least they could have said they would keep it open somehow -either by subsidy or even buying the plant. But Gordon cottish Assemb was a disaster. An unconvincing Scottish badge for Labour's Bryan Gould Brown's statement that it was just a business decision' which could not be interfered with The politics of Kinnockism, as carried through by the Ravenscraig shop stewards, have deeply disrupted the possibility of a serious fight to keep the plant open. In effect, they accept the 'inevitability of closure.
At the next election there is bound to be a surge of votes for the SP. The election of Alex Salmond as SNP leader, as well as radical policies against Trident, the poll tax and for the nationalisation of Ravenscraig, has given the SNP a left image -the accusation that they are 'tartan Tories' carries little weight today.
general election. should Abstract with full powers.
On present opinion polls, 850,000 Scots could vote for the SNP at the On the other hand hundreds of thousands of voters will vote Labour with clenched teeth -to nai the Tories and tor no other reason. In this situation the intervention of the left of the labour movement is vital. But no one will be taken seriously mi conane witould clear postaol on the national question. So how socialists respond to Scotland's national demands? denunciation of nationalism and simple-minded defence of the United Kingdom, in effect the positions put forward by the Militant tendency, are hopeless. The overwhelming majority of the Scottish people see themselves as oppressed by Westminster. The Scottish people have the right to self-determination; and, if they want it, independence. Supporting the national demands of the Scottish people today means campaigning for a Scottish Assembly The political situation in Scotland is developing very rapidly. All those who limit themselves to supporting struggles against the poll tax and against job losses, but refuse to support the national demands of the Scottish people will be marginalised. And Kinnock is dealing grievous blows to Labour's standing; if that were translated into many Labour losses in the general election, it could end all hope of defeating Major and the Tories.