ANYBODY looking for a Labour manifesto for Scotland is spoiled for choice. I have already downloaded three versions after an internet search for “Scottish Labour Manifesto”.
There is one from The Labour Party titled Scottish Labour Manifesto 2024 – 139 pages; a second from The Scottish Labour Party titled Our Manifesto that eventually leads to Scottish Labour’s National Recovery Plan – 116 pages; and a third from The Scottish Labour Party titled Change – 134 pages. Every one bears the headings “Change” and “Scottish Labour Party Manifesto 2024”.
READ MORE: Scottish Labour fail to support Palestinian statehood motion
One version begins with a foreword that is signed on page seven by “Anas Sarwar, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party”. The heading on the next page is “My plan for change” but you will have to read to page 12 before you find that this is signed by “Keir Starmer, Leader of the UK Labour Party” and the plan is for Britain or Scotland and the rest of the UK. There is no Scottish Labour Party on the Electoral Commission’s list of political parties.
The Labour Party has a headquarters branch named the Scottish Labour Party and has registered the description “Scottish Labour Party” with the Electoral Commission for use on ballot papers.
The Scottish Labour Party Branch’s annual report states that “The Scottish Labour Party is a political party established under the national rules of the Labour party.”
Why has the national UK Labour Party gone to such lengths to create an illusionary party in Scotland?
John Jamieson
South Queensferry
READ MORE: SNP manifesto is 'what many wanted Labour to deliver' – NHS doctor
CAN anyone explain why the Labour Party has produced a Scottish Labour manifesto?
As the difference between it and the real Labour manifesto is a few photos of Anas Sarwar and the word “Britain” replaced by the word “Scotland”, it simply demonstrates that the Labour Party has nothing of substance to offer voters here. Like “Scottish Labour/Conservatives/LibDems”, it is a sham. While late recognition that this is a Westminster election, not a Holyrood one, is to be welcomed, the shape of their campaign, along with those of the other Unionist parties, has focused entirely on devolved issues.
Cameron Crawford
Rothesay
READ MORE: Founding principles of the Labour Party in Scotland have been ditched
RED Tory Labour’s Scottish branch office boy Anas Sarwar tells us he wants to cut taxes but there’s no money to end the appalling two-child benefit cap. Quite the “socialist” isn’t he?
If Labour really wanted to restore political integrity to their claim to be the party to represent ordinary working folks, well here’s how to raise the tax to fund abolishing the two-child benefit cap.
Where workers are in receipt of in-work benefits, pass the cost of those benefits back to the employers who are not paying wages at the level commensurate with the value of the labour being paid for.
In-work benefits are a subsidy for business. It is an abomination that taxpayers should subsidise employers who are short-changing their staff.
Job done.
Jim Taylor
Edinburgh
READ MORE:
DAME Jackie Baillie was on the radio on Tuesday night singing the praises of The Scottish Labour Manifesto (there is no “Scottish” Labour). Not a single interruption and not a single worthwhile question.
Nothing asked about the number of jobs. 69,000 was the figure last time I heard, even though Centrica, the largest energy company in the UK, has 20,000 employees. “We will own it” – I think you will find we would own one-quarter and the other three-quarters will be private investors.
Anas Sarwar in their party election broadcast boasts about “no austerity’”. What is the two-child benefit cap if it is not austerity?
Rachel Reeves boasts that the bankers’ fingerprints are all over Labour’s manifesto – where are the children’s fingerprints, or those of the disabled, or the pensioners, or the people needing health care?
Just remember what Labour did in Scotland the last time they were in power – the private finance initiative that we are still paying millions for.
But most of all, realise democracy is dead with Labour – the people of Scotland will not be heard and will not be given a chance of freedom from this “rotten Tory Government” or the Labour government CHANGED into the Tory Party – working people, the poor and children all forgotten.
This is a Labour Party not worthy of the name.
Winifred McCartney
Paisley
I NOTED with interest Michael Gove MP saying on Sky News that Labour will use a so-called “super majority” – no such things exists – to “rig the system”, and give votes to certain groups of individuals, including prisoners.
It is, however, difficult to see how this will be the case, as the way things are going our prisons will soon boast a number of former Tory MPs languishing at His Majesty’s pleasure.
Alex Orr
Edinburgh
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here