Opinion: what now for the Scottish Labour Party?

Former Labour advisor John McTernan and Labour MSP Alex Rowley offer their views on the direction of Scottish Labour.

John McTernan Labour now need a crusader

John McTernan is former political secretary to Tony Blair and advisor to Jim Murphy.

He said: “Johann Lamont’s resignation was inevitable after the referendum campaign. As Scottish Labour leader she made virtually no impact in what was in the event a great victory over nationalism.

“The Labour figures who grew in that campaign were those who dared. Gordon Brown roaring out of retirement for one last glorious campaign and Jim Murphy touring Scotland with his Irn-Bru crates.

“This was the moment for Labour’s MSPs to show themselves and to shine, but they were absent and silent with a handful of exceptions. But where was Johann? Missing in action.

“The reality though is that Lamont’s fate was settled early on in her leadership by her own actions. In a very Blairite speech, Lamont argued you can’t get something for nothing.

“This was a brave and bold thing to say and she was right. The fantasy economics of the SNP and their position that everything should, and can, be free are risible. But boldness isn’t enough. It needs follow-through. And there was none.

“Lamont was a good politician and a charming woman, but more is needed from a leader. Gordon Brown once said great parties need a great purpose. Well, Scottish Labour needs a great purpose and it has one. Nothing is more false than the SNP’s claim to be a social democratic party. All they have done in seven years of government is create a middle class welfare state and hold a failed referendum.

“Labour need to use the Coke strategy if voters want a social democratic party then they should vote for the ‘real thing’.

“The test for the SNP is to ask what they have ever done that has redistributed to the most disadvantaged. And Labour’s policies on health, skills, education and housing has to be about delivering equality.

“Ronald Reagan once said: ‘It’s not easy, but it is simple.’ Scottish Labour need a new leader who can be a crusader for equality.”

Cowdenbeath Labour MSP Alex Rowley We have failed to define who we are

He said: “During the referendum, Scottish Labour was found by too many to be guilty by association of being a ‘Unionist’ party and is perceived as such.

“In my 30-plus years as a member of the party I have never considered myself to be a Unionist and have never considered Labour as a Unionist party.

“It is the failure of our party, to allow others to define who and what we are, that has left us on the back foot, creating the opportunity for nationalism to portray itself as a radical alternative.

“Scottish Labour has operated a policy vacuum for much of the last decade and this is one explanation for its poor showing in 2007, the massive defeat in 2011 and its current position in the polls for Holyrood.

“If we are to be in a position to offer a challenge to the SNP in 2016 and an alternative to nationalism we must avoid the conventional thinking that in opposition we simply oppose for the next 20 months, produce a manifesto in early 2016 and hope for the best.

“Labour’s submission to the Smith Commission doesn’t go far enough on tax and other areas such as VAT coming direct to the Parliament.

“Our submission demonstrates the conflict we’ve had within the Scottish Labour Party when it comes to the journey of devolution the Scottish people are on.

“I do not believe we should get bogged down in an internal debate that becomes a diversion from the fundamental root and branch policy review.

“But we cannot remain in a position where constitutional matters are dominated by a group of Labour MPs in Westminster, a National Executive Committee for whom Scotland makes up 8.4% of the UK population and a UK leadership that has no remit over a wide range of social and economic policy in Scotland.

“It could almost be described as the West Lothian question in reverse and it is clear the groups outlined above were out of touch with Scottish opinion on the direction of devolution, given the timid proposals that were eventually agreed and brought forward pre-referendum.

“We must address the internal issues, ensuring all necessary powers required for a political party operating in a devolved Scotland sit with the Scottish Labour Party and its leadership.

“But we need a clear policy focus about creating the jobs of the future and making sure people have the skills to get those jobs.”