Scotland
Dewar's death heralds hints of leftward swing
The unexpected death of Donald Dewar has provided an opportunity for the Scottish Labour leadership to reshuffle its personnel, review its policies and repackage itself before the General Election. GORDON MORGAN reports.
Donald Dewar's funeral was the nearest to a state funeral seen in Scotland. Held in the Cathedral, broadcast live on TV, with a procession through the streets lined with people, it even featured Tony and Gordon giving the oration, and Charlie Windsor in attendance.
People openly spoke with affection for the irrascible, rude, right wing Labourite. Donald after all was seen to have delivered the Scottish Parliament against significant internal Labour foot dragging. For that he deserves his place in history.
Incompetent administration
Donald the man will be remembered: Donald as First Minister in an incompetent administration will swiftly be forgotten.
It is difficult to believe how woefully inept the Scottish government has been over the last year. Virtually every initiative has been a presentational disaster, most have just been disasters which have been strongly opposed by all interest groups.
Despite many ministers publicly feuding and others being useless, no reshuffle took place. Donald's team remained unchanged. His death has given rise to an expectation of change.
Leadership election
The rules for a succession of first Minister lay down that the Scottish Parliament must vote to appoint within 21 days. As Labour is the largest minority in the Parliament, and Donald was also leader of Labour in Scotland, an interim election had to take place within Scottish Labour, using hastily cobbled together rules.
No membership consultation took place, and an electoral college of 81 members was constructed from MSPs, trade unions and the Scottish Executive.
Henry McLeish (Donald's deputy) won this with a narrow majority over the only other candidate, finance minister Jack McConnell.
It emerged that with the exception of the Executive members of the Parliament, who solidly backed McLeish, most MSPs had backed McConnell. McLeish, with the backing of the Lib Democrats was dully elected First Minister.
This however, is only an interim position. Labour has to conduct a membership ballot before Christmas to elect its leader, who, if not McLeish could then become First Minister. It appears that the left will contest, with John McAllion probable as candidate for leader, and Cathy Jamieson standing as deputy.
Whilst McLeish will win the leadership battle, the vote for McAllion (if he stands) will give a true measure of the left's strength within Scottish Labour.
The fight for deputy is likely to be a women only contest with Susan Deacon, Wendy Alexander and Cathy Jamieson likely to be the contestants. Jack McConnell is not standing.
Newspaper reports suggest Cathy Jamieson could win, with McLeish rumoured to be giving tacit support.
Cathy spoke at the STUC anti Trident rally last weekend, and spoke of seeking more powers for the Scottish Parliament to limit the environmental and nuclear threat posed by trident on the Clyde.
She has been nominated by her Constituency for deputy and appears to have TGWU support. She deserves the vote of socialists in the Labour Party, as does John McAllion.
New broom
Henry McLeish was quick to make changes to his ministers' portfolios, and has called for a general reappraisal of government policy. His rival McConnell has been moved from Finance to Education, where he inherits the disastrous cock-up over of exam results and thebungling SQA.
McConnell has sacked the SQA board and taken personal control. If there is a repeat of the exams fiasco in 2001 his career will be dented.
He also inherits policies designed to radically restructure the teaching profession and opposition from grass roots teachers (although not the EIS's discredited leadership).
Sam Galbraith was moved from Education but remains in the cabinet responsible for Environment - despite widespread demands for his scalp over the exam results. At Environment he takes over from Sarah Boyack who remains in the cabinet with a reduced role dealing with transport.
Sarah was backed by SERA and environmentalists on her appointment but has been widely criticised for inaction.
Wendy Alexander, who was Dewar's favourite as successor was moved from Communities (and Housing) to Enterprise and Tourism, taking over from McLeish. If she is not elected Deputy, this will be seen as a move down. It also may signal a change in housing policy.
Alexander was very vocal, indeed high handed, in her advocacy of Housing Stock Transfer, as was her deputy Frank McAveety He has now been sacked. Her other deputy takes over as minister.
Meanwhile Margaret Curren, the Chair of the Housing committee which was critical of many aspects of the transfer proposals has been promoted to cabinet as deputy justice minister. The decks are clear for a policy change which would have wide implications, not least for all council tenants in Scotland.
Overtures to the Left
Henry McLeish is one of the least charismatic characters in the parliament. He has made few enemies, but no one knows his policies on anything. Unlike Dewar who was always of the right, McLeish appears to be a rank opportunist.
The left Labour revolt over the issue of Warrant Sales has drawn a response. McLeish has added Margaret Curren to the cabinet, and at least not opposed Cathy Jamieson for deputy. Further overtures are possible in the light of the leadership election.
Of course these changes have a material basis. Labour's poll rating had fallen behind the SNP; cooperation of the left across parties was growing; the Scottish Socialist Party was appealing to Labour MEPs to join, and John McAllion was talking of 'one last fight'.
As yet the overtures are at the level of patronage and posts. No significant policy changes have occurred. For some, unfortunately, such trinkets are enough.
Denis Canavan
Denis Canavan was shamefully treated by Labour. Rejected by a selection board comprising his political enemies, he was described by Dewar as "not good enough" for selection for the Scottish Parliament, despite being the choice of his constituency.
His decision to stand as an independent for Falkirk in the Scottish Parliament was widely applauded throughout the movement, and he was elected with over a 12,000 majority. He has always sat next to Tommy Sheridan of the SSP within the parliament.
He had attempted to be readmitted to Labour immediately after the election, but was blocked by Blair and Dewar. Parallels with the treatment of Ken Livingstone were obvious.
Over the last year Canavan has voted consistently with the SSP and there were some indications he was considering joining. He spoke of being lonely as an independent.
In September he spoke of resigning his Westminster seat and causing a by election in late November with a view to embarrass the government. The SSP journal speculated that if he endorsed the SSP it could win such an election.
The death of Dewar changed this. The antipathy of Dewar to Canavan cannot be exaggerated. Canavan spoke of Dewar running across the road narrowly avoiding traffic rather than speak to him. Dennis felt hurt by this.
With Dewar's death Labour has adopted a pragmatic approach, and in order to prevent a disastrous election result seems prepared to readmit Dennis to the Labour Party. Gordon Brown and McLeish have had talks.
What Dennis thinks he is doing is anyone's guess. Initial indications are that most voters in Falkirk voted for Dennis because he would act as an independent socialist: they are disappointed and won't vote for him again. Tommy Sheridan, enormously disappointed, said "We now have one fewer men of integrity in Scottish politics".
Elections, the SNP and the Left
Elections are imminent for Dewar's seats to the Scottish Parliament and Westminster. Both seats are first past the post elections.
Labour has selected the chair of the Campaign for Socialism, Bill Butler, as candidate for Hollyrood triggering much press dismay at his left credentials. For once the left out-manoeuvred the establishment.
Both the SSP and the SNP will be contestin,g with the SSP looking for a double figure vote. Labour is almost certain to win.
The elections are being held on November 23 and this has given the SSP executive reason to call off a special one day conference on the constitution.
This special conference had been needlessly called by the executive to review the constitution in preparation for the possibility of the SWP joining the SSP. The next conference will now be the annual conference in February.
Somewhat overshadowed by the events in the Labour Party, the SNP has elected its new leadership and changed its ministerial team.
Most significant was the election of John Swinney as Leader and Roseanna Cunningham as Deputy. Roseanna identifies with the left of the SNP and is part of a new cross party left initiative. [see box]