SCOTTISH LEFT REVIEW ISSUE 121 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - £2.00 1 - SCOTTISHLEFTREVIEW ISSUE 121 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
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Scottish Left Review
'best re(a)d'
Issue 121 January/February 2021 - £2.00
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1 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
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When politics
trumped economics
A s we begin 2021, 2020 should they are doing. And fourth, the left led Review and from a range of different,
reviews
be remembered as the year in unions have been pretty muted in their left perspectives. If you wish to
which politics trumped economics responses. further the debate, please contribute
twice – on Brexit and Covid-19. The content or money – see http://www.
This overall difficulty was exemplified
former was heavily opposed – especially scottishleftreview.scot/
in the Brexit vote. Even though
in its harder forms – by the majority
Starmer said it was a ‘thin’ deal, he
of businesses in Britain. The latter saw
massive state intervention of the scale
that could only have been wished for
recommended a vote for it. While 36
Labour MPs abstained in the vote, just David Player –
after the 2008-2009 global financial
one voted against – albeit for different
reasons. The deal is worse than ‘thin’
in memoriam
crash. But neither Brexit nor Covid Long-time subscriber, David Player
as the freedom to undermine, amongst
mean that the neo-liberal variant of (1927-2020), donated sufficiently
other issues, workers’ rights is now self-
capitalism has been undermined in generously to the Scottish Left
evident. It’s not just London becoming
any fundamental sense. Bailouts for Review to allow it to establish the
‘Singapore on the Thames’ that is a
the bosses are not synonymous with Jimmy Reid Foundation in 2011.
danger but, rather, bargain basement
progressive changes in who owns, Again, he gave generously to the
Britain in a levelling down race with
controls and benefits from resources. Foundation two years later to
Europe and other countries.
Many on the left made this mistake keep it going. Glasgow-born, David
when saying that the banks were Recent ructions in the SNP, while
was a doctor and public health
‘nationalised’ after the 2008-2009 welcome, do not yet show any sign
campaigner who spent his lifetime
global financial crash. To make state of moving the SNP in the direction of
fighting against health inequalities.
intervention synonymous with public representing a left-wing alternative
His enduring ‘claim to fame’ was
ownership remains one of the key to Labour. Indeed, Starmer will have
challenges for the left in 2021 and helped Sturgeon solidify her powerful helping to skewer Thatcher on a
beyond. But at least the left can see that position inside and outside the SNP by report called ‘The Health Divide’,
state power still sufficiently exists and his proposal to establish a constitutional which demonstrated that these
can be used to create major changes to commission to consider enhanced inequalities disproportionately
how society runs. devolution. This is not even a promise of affected the poorest. As a keen
‘jam tomorrow’. It’s more a case of ‘we’ll supporter of the Homeless World
In this battle to use state power for Cup, he attended a Holyrood function
consider your case for ‘jam tomorrow’
progressive ends, the only other for the tournament when it came
at a date to yet be determined’.
certainty we have is the continued and to Edinburgh. He said he would
Moreover, and with a growing majority
pervading prevalence, ironically, of more always remember the sight of players
in favour of independence, perhaps
uncertainty. We have certainty over the gathered in the Parliament for the
the ‘devo max’ ship has sailed it would
threat to jobs, living standards, public
be more relevant for Labour to change reception in their honour, writing:
services, public health and so on. What
its position of opposition to another ‘That is what public health should be
we have uncertainty over is just how
referendum. Furthermore, haven’t we all about – empowerment, mutual
big the threat is and for how long it will
heard that one before with the ‘Vow’ respect and the dignity of a well-
last. And, we have uncertainty over how
made just before the 18 September earned place in a fair and socially just
situations can change and how quickly
2014 referendum? The ensuing Scotland society’.
they can do so if we recall the so-called
Act 2016 did not exactly set the heather
cancelling of Christmas.
on fire on the devolution front.
Don’t expect any help from the current
Looking ahead to 6 May 2021, the SNP is EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Labour leadership is one lesson we
well positioned to increase its majority
should learn from the last eight months
in parliament. The Tories are in crisis
Bill Bonnar Lilian Macer
of 2020 since Starmer took over. In
in Holyrood and Westminster. So too is
Carole Ewart Carol Mochan
a bid to win back the centre ground,
Labour. How many will look back on the
Roz Foyer Gordon Morgan
he is shifting Labour to the right. The
glory days of 2003 when we had our one Gregor Gall Dave Sherry
problem for the left is several-fold here.
and only ‘rainbow’ parliament, where Editor Stephen Smellie
First, polling shows this rightward move
the colours of red, grey and green were Tommy Kane Chris Stephens
is popular. Second, the left in Labour Pat Kelly Maggie Chapman
prominent.
has been outmanoeuvred. Third, many Convener Bob Thomson
of the left are leaving Labour. It is not As usual, we cover all these issues Bill Ramsay Vice Convener
known where they have gone or what and more in this issue of Scottish Left
2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
Feedback - Held to account?
T he editorial of Scottish Left Review
(120, Nov-Dec 2020) ended with
the statement: ‘As we go to print,
Jeremy Corbyn has been suspended
opportunities for all, address the failures
exposed and exploited by COVID-19,
and apply human rights standards to
tackle entrenched, systematic, and
17 of the European Convention on
Human Rights (ECHR) which is given
domestic effect through the Human
Rights Act 1998 – another law passed
by the Labour Government. The rights
from the Labour Party. The reason intergenerational inequalities, exclusion
given was Corbyn’s statement that the and discrimination.’ to freedom of expression and to
problem of anti-Semitism in Labour association do not permit the abuse
The EHRC evidences a number of of other people’s rights and the EHRC
has been ‘dramatically overstated
problems. For example, despite illustrates the distinction: Article 10 will
for political reasons’, an observation
sustained, intense media attention on protect Labour Party members who, for
shared by the SLR. It is a grave attempt
how Labour was dealing with allegations example, make legitimate criticisms of
to restrict the right of reply and open
of anti-semitism, pernicious coverage the Israeli government, or express their
debate.’ As a member of the magazine’s
by hostile commentators and the opinions on internal Party matters, such
editorial committee, I disagree with
negative impact on public opinion, the as the scale of anti-semitism within the
the statement because it focused on
recommendations from the internal Party, based on their own experience
the individual, ignored the context
inquiry led by Baroness Chakrabarti in and within the law. It does not protect
and detracted from the significance
2016, were not implemented, resulting criticism of Israel that is anti-semitic.
of the publication of the Equality and
in ‘significant failings in the way the
Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Politicians are entitled to give
Labour Party has handled anti-semitism
‘Investigation into anti-semitism in the soundbites but they should refrain
complaints over the last four years.’
Labour Party’, the serving on the Labour from statements which feed the media
Party of an unlawful act notice under In fact, we are reminded that there piranhas intent on discrediting a
section 21 of the Equality Act 2006 and were two other relevant investigations progressive left political vision. Similarly,
finding that the Labour Party breached in 2016: Baroness Royall conducted supportive media should not shy away
the Equality Act 2010 by acts of indirect a specific inquiry into allegations of from acknowledging operational and
discrimination. The report deserved to anti-semitism at Oxford University leadership failings.
be acknowledged, however briefly, given Labour Club; and the Home Affairs
we are a ‘non-party’ publication and Select Committee (HASC) published Carole Ewart is a public policy
seek ‘to provide a focal point for thought its report ‘Anti-Semitism in the UK’. and human rights consultant @
and discussion for the Scottish left’ EwartHumanRight
However, the EHRC concluded that
according to our mission statement. ‘the Party has failed to implement the • An alternative viewpoint is set out by
recommendations made in these reports Sandy Hobbs on pp13-14 in this issue.
The EHRC’s inquiry was prompted by
fully, or to take effective measures to
evidenced complaints alleging acts
of anti-semitism in the Labour Party
stop anti-semitic conduct from taking
place. It is regrettable that many of the
UCS work-in 50th
and was launched in May 2019. It is
worth noting that its investigation was
concerns we raise here were first raised
in these reports over four years ago’.
anniversary
led from Scotland and out with the The founder of Scottish Left Review,
London bubble. The 128-page report It remains a puzzle why three reports Jimmy Reid, played a leading role in the
includes seven annexes and examines failed to make the necessary impact, one of the most successful campaigns
a wide variety of operational matters allowing the issues to fester. The EHRC of the post-war period. Starting in June
including staff training, resourcing of is determined Labour now prioritises 1971 and concluding in October 1972,
the complaints system and complaint reform and has stipulated that the the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ work-
investigation files. It is disappointing remedial action plan must include in humbled the Heath Conservative
to note that the EHRC ‘encountered timescales and success measures which government. It was a new industrial
a number of delays in receiving will be monitored. The EHRC may take tactic without precedence. In this
information, which extended the enforcement action ‘if the Labour Party issue and others over the next year,
timeframe of our investigation. At times, fails to meet its commitments’ (p15),
Scottish Left Review will be celebrating,
we were seriously concerned about the such as on operating ‘a transparent and
commemorating and critiquing the
Party’s commitment to working with us independent anti-semitism complaints
work-in. We begin in this issue – on
and to dedicating enough resources to process, which ensures that all cases of
following pages - with some materials
the matter’ (p18). alleged discrimination, harassment or
to allow readers to acquaint and re-
victimisation are investigated promptly,
The report is critical and makes acquaint themselves with the work-in.
rigorously and without political
‘recommendations for change’ which The Jimmy Reid Foundation is hosting
interference.’
require to be followed through promptly a number of events over the coming
and ‘the first draft of the action plan’ The EHRC’s report also makes period. The first is on Thursday 28
had to be with the EHRC by 5pm on recommendations aimed at ‘all January 2021 at 7pm – an online talk
Thursday 10 December 2020’, and the politicians and political leaders’ to given by Professor John Foster with
deadline was met. I doubt the date was adhere to ‘equality law, while still discussion by a UCS veteran, James
randomly chosen as it coincided with protecting freedom of expression and Cloughley, Stella Rooney of UNITE
the UN’s International Human Rights engaging in the robust and wide-ranging Scotland Young Members and Morgan
Day. Its theme matched vision with debate that is a core part of living in Horn, a UNITE Scotland organiser. For
action: ‘We will reach our common global a democratic society’ (p4). Helpfully, details, see https://reidfoundation.scot/
goals only if we are able to create equal the report cites Articles 10, 11 and
3 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
The calamity of COVID that was avoidable
Lilian Macer looks back on a year of failings and flaws in the battle against COVID-19.
N
ovel coronavirus (COVID-19) A&E departments was to stop the NHS establishments. Neither the staff nor
is a new strain of coronavirus being overwhelmed by patients and residents in the care homes or those
first identified in Wuhan, China staff contracting COVID-19. There was coming out of hospital were being
towards the end of 2019. Clinical a much publicised shortage of PPE tested, nor was the virus being tracked
presentation may range from mild- and ventilators but, arguably more in these settings, until someone was
to-moderate illness to pneumonia or important, also a shortage of nurses symptomatic by which time it was too
severe acute respiratory infection. to care for the Covid and non-Covid late to stop it spreading.
COVID-19 was declared a pandemic sick. Numbers of registered nurses in
Suddenly, as we all clapped for carers,
by the World Health Organization the NHS has for many years failed to
the nation realised the importance
(WHO) on 12 March by which time it keep pace with the increasing need for
of these staff, putting themselves at
had arrived in Europe with shocking their skills. Whilst PPE and ventilators,
risk, saving lives and caring for elderly
scenes from Italy relayed across and even new hospital buildings, could
within the community as well as in care
Europe. Lockdown in the UK began in be sourced in a matter of weeks or
homes, but not getting tested.
the UK on 23 March but only after the months, nurses take three years to
Cheltenham race meet and other mass train. In June, lockdown was ended and we
events were allowed to proceed with moved to the recovery phase for the
From the beginning the WHO
potentially lethal consequences. By country, remobilising paused NHS
advised governments to ‘Test, Test,
December, over 60,000 people in the services, and opening up industry,
Test’ in order to track the virus,
UK had died. office buildings, retail, education and
understand epidemiology and suppress
leisure. A proper functional test and
From March, public services rapidly transmission through self-isolating
track system which the UK government
changed priorities and previously those who had the virus. However,
boasted would be world class was still
insurmountable barriers to change fell testing the population was never really
not in place. It is clear that the end
away. The NHS transformed almost started in the UK with only those who
of lockdown was taken for economic
overnight to cope with unprecedented were symptomatic getting access to
and public spending reasons and not
demands, pausing many services, testing. This was not a failure of the
because the virus had been beaten or
discharging patients back home or into NHS but of a 40-year long failure of
that the necessary testing systems were
residential and nursing home care and industrial and scientific policy and
in place. The UK Tory government put
setting up new crisis services to cope of funding the NHS that left the UK
its faith in the private sector, at huge
with the anticipated demands. Councils with limited testing facilities and no
costs, to deliver. It failed.
closed down many services but within manufacturing capacity to rapidly
days created new ones to care for produce the reagents needed for Its efforts to create an app that could
the kids of key workers and provide testing. track people who were in contact
support for hundreds of thousands of with the virus had to be scrapped and
NHS systems could cope with testing
vulnerable people who were told to eventually arrived after a similar one
of patients but the UK government had
stay at home. was delivered in Ireland and Scotland.
to set up from scratch the Nightingale
In England the, again hugely expensive,
Those who argue that radical change Labs to cope with the demand for
private test and track system was still
cannot happen overnight, or even in testing people in the community.
not fully in place till around November.
the lifetime of a parliament, should The option of commandeering the
acknowledge how much was achieved research facilities of private industry for In Scotland, setting up the test, trace
at pace when people were united by testing or for the manufacturing of the and isolate system was a public health
a common purpose. However, it is reagents was not considered. imperative for the NHS. Recruiting
recognised that this was achieved at a the experienced staff needed was
Acute hospitals quickly became
cost to ‘normal’ services and with huge a challenge but that was achieved
COVID-19 hot zones so the priority
demands on key frontline staff and with assistance from councils. The
to protect the vulnerable elderly and
managers. Public health departments, importance of isolation was critical, and
the capacity of the NHS led to a rapid
that had suffered years of cuts to the actions of unions, with the support
discharge of patients into care/nursing
budgets and staffing levels and so of Directors of Public Health, winning
homes and to the community. Without
had little capacity, became the centre the fight to ensure private sector care
a testing regime in place, this was a
for expert advice and support on the staff received their pay when they
major mistake and something which
unprecedented crisis. needed to isolate was crucial.
will no doubt come under intense
From March, extensive measures were scrutiny through the judicial review However, 10 months after the WHO
implemented across many countries to agreed by Parliament. At the same declared the pandemic and called for
try and slow the spread of COVID-19. time, the failure of many of the mostly ‘Test Test Test’ to be implemented, we
Whilst this was referred to as ‘following privately-run care homes to apply strict remain still far short of this objective.
the science’, the main purpose of infection control measures or to ensure Care home staff and residents have only
lockdown, social distancing, public staff were paid whilst needing to isolate been tested on a weekly basis for a few
messages about hand hygiene and compounded the situation leading to months. Care at home staff who visit
appeals for people to stay away from the huge number of deaths in those up to a dozen homes of service users
4 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
each day were told in November that country and, as the media reported it, a whole so that in times of crisis like
they would be tested but now know Christmas would be cancelled. Testing pandemics vulnerable people and the
that it could be February or even March would not have stopped the mutation key institutions like the NHS, care and
before that happens. Union pressure of a new variant but higher levels of education can be protected.
which won the initial commitment for testing would have allowed for greater
Lilian Macer is the Convenor of UNISON
this cannot, unfortunately, produce the suppression from the start.
Scotland
significant additional capacity needed
NHS services are again struggling.
any sooner.
As of December, Scotland was in a Fair Work progress
The return of students to university
accommodation in September
better position than London and the
south east of England but the NHS report
was a disaster as, without testing, was still coping with significant Covid In mid-December 2020, the Fair Work
asymptomatic students infected others demands on top of trying to restore Convention published its ‘Fair Work
and thousands of new cases were other services and the annual winter in Scotland’ report which examined
reported. Testing before they went pressures. Staff are exhausted and the progress of attaining the goals
home for Christmas may help prevent resources are stretched. In addition, of the Fair Work Framework since its
something similar happening in reverse they are starting to deliver the Covid launch in 2016. The report is extremely
and testing again in early 2020 may vaccine. This is initially to be prioritised problematic in its use of the data
prevent a repeat. to the frontline NHS staff and in- it deployed but this was not picked
patients over 80 years of age, then up upon by commentators because
Schools, where up to 2,000 pupils and care home residents and staff. The of the criticisms the report made,
staff congregate each day without priorities beyond that have still to be namely, identifying areas where no
the recommended social distancing, decided with people with underlying progress had been made, and by
do not have testing offered. The UK health problems, home carers and making recommendations for further
government’s announcement in late school staff justifiably seeking a place action to be taken, especially by the
December, as English schools closed, high up the queue. Given the higher Scottish Government. The report
that secondary schools would have incidence of deaths among the BAME measured developments against the
testing facilities available in January and poorer communities, demands for five dimensions of ‘Fair Work’ (namely,
has been met with incredulity by the prioritisation are being raised here also. Security, Opportunity, Fulfilment,
education unions who, understandably, Respect and Effective Voice) by using
ask ‘where are the staff who will As the spring approaches, the NHS will
37 indicators and official statistics from
administer these tests’? be delivering vaccinations to millions of
the Office of National Statistics. The
people. The shortage of nurses, which
Despite the introduction of tiers and report stated that on 40% of indicators,
was a feature earlier and throughout
levels of restrictions lasting months, the situation was ‘improving’, on 38%
the pandemic is also an issue with
including a return to almost full it was ‘maintaining’ and on 22% it was
the vaccination programme and will
lockdown in Wales, the virus has not ‘worsening’. The critical flaw in the
be more so if there is an increase in
been controlled. The failure to regularly report occurs because is no evidence
Covid-19 cases going into hospitals
test in sufficient numbers has meant presented in it – or, indeed, even
along the lines experienced in the
that the gains achieved in lockdown, exists elsewhere - that ‘Fair Work’
south east of England. The demand for
such as reducing the ‘R’ number and accounts for any of these outcomes,
other NHS services, with a backlog of
numbers of hospital admissions, has especially the ‘improving’ ones. So
cases from before Covid-19 struck, will
been wasted with each lockdown or ‘Fair Work’ is in danger of taking credit
be immense.
greater restriction being followed for developments that are, at best,
by rises in cases. Just as in February, WHO level testing must be put in not directly or discernibly connected
people still pass on the virus when they place at the same time as all of these to it and, at worst, it has nothing to
don’t know they have it as they don’t, pressures in order that public services do with. This is all the more apparent
and sometimes never, have symptoms. are not overwhelmed and the virus can when one remembers that ‘Fair Work’
finally be stopped from causing even is almost entirely without any statutory
There were concerns earlier that more harm than it already has. underpinning. Scottish Left Review will
testing people who were not report in detail on this in its next issue,
It is clear that, along with the scientific
symptomatic would be ineffective as the March/April ‘STUC’ issue.
lessons learned from the pandemic,
the test would often return a false
there are important political ones too. Professor Gregor Gall, visiting
negative result. There remain concerns
The NHS needs better funding to train professor of industrial relations,
about the efficacy of the available tests
and employ more nurses and specialist University of Leeds
but experience has shown that without
staff. Care homes need to be properly
testing along WHO recommended lines,
funded within a national care service.
the UK’s response to Covid-19 has been
Councils who have responded well to
much poorer that it could have been.
the crisis but been further financially
This was further emphasised when weakened need their long-term
the announcement was made a week funding issues resolved to recover and
before Christmas that, due to a new rebuild community services. Industry
strain spreading up to 70% faster and science need to be resourced
than the original virus, restrictions and re-directed in order to build the
would be increased across all of the capacity for the benefit of society as
5 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
Towards a set of principles for a National
Care Service
Nick Kempe outlines the key principles and values that must underpin the reform of care in Scotland.
T
he Scottish Government’s older, as is evidenced by the levels of personal qualities, skills and knowledge
‘Independent Review of Adult suicide, addiction and mental health that they require to relate effectively to
Social Care’, conducted by Derek breakdown among young people who people, every one of whom is unique.
Feeley, is due to report at the end of have experienced care and the problems But they also have implications for
January and will ‘include consideration children with disabilities face in the the way care services are negotiated
of a National Care Service’ (NCS). The transition from children’s to adult and organised. That requires a set of
principles upon which such a service services. Any set of principle for a NCS skills that used to be provided by social
would need to be based are not, need to encompass people of all ages. workers before they were turned into
however, within the review’s remit. gatekeepers under the Community
A second principle is that, like
Instead, it has already decided its Care Act 1990 and then stripped out of
health, what counts as care must be
recommendations will be based on a most services for adults. There is now
broadly defined. In 2002, the Scottish
human rights approach. Arguably, such a professional skills gap at the heart of
an approach has now been promoted Parliament introduced ‘Free Personal
social care. A start would be to think
in Scotland for the users of services and Nursing Care’ to address some
about how we make social workers
and their carers, if not the workforce, of the anomalies created by councils
and social work as central to a NCS as
for almost twenty years. The National taking over responsibility for services
doctors and medicine are to the NHS.
Care Standards, published in 2002, that been free under the NHS. Eighteen
were intended to put concepts such years later eligibility criteria have Under the current system, frontline care
as respect, dignity, privacy and choice been tightened and, in many areas, staff can start working with some of the
at the centre of service provision. All the only care councils now provide is most vulnerable people in our society
subsequent social policy has reinforced that which comes under the official without training, so long as they commit
this commitment. All that, however, definition of ‘personal care’ tasks. That to obtaining a relevant vocational
has unravelled in the Covid crisis during definition, inadvertently, helped create qualification. This they are often
which the human rights of people who the 15-minute home care visit, where required to do so in their own time and,
receive and deliver social care services workers hardly had time to say hello, unsurprisingly, many leave before they
have been trampled over, from the while ticking off tasks from the personal have done so. The right of all care staff
failure to provide frontline staff with care list. Other forms of care, from to be properly trained, including paid
proper PPE to the continued denial of practical support to helping a person induction and a minimum number of
contact between care home residents with their social and emotional well- days training each year, must therefore
and their relatives. Without taking a being, are now deemed low priority, be integral to the NCS. We also need
wider view, human rights approaches with charges an additional deterrent for to end the exploitation of staff, mainly
are likely to remain a toothless tiger. people who dare to ask for assistance. women, as was illustrated in Ken Loach’s
Ensuring social care is properly The result is that much care provision Sorry We Missed You. Abbie is a home
resourced, for example, so that all who has become inhuman and only the rich, carer whose own family are on the
need care receive it, is necessary if any who can afford to buy what they want, brink, in no small measure because of
rights to care are to be enforceable. In receive the care they really need. low pay. When she doesn’t have the
a 2020 paper entitled ‘Care after Covid’ time to help an older person properly
This leads to a third principle,
for the Jimmy Reid Foundation, Gregor one day, she returns in her own time in
namely, that care provision should be
Gall argued the need to develop a set of the evening, unpaid. The consequences
relationship based. The ICR for children
principles to underpin a future NCS. This for her own family are tragic. Abbie
concluded that relationships should
article takes up the challenge. does the right thing but it is scandalous
be at the centre of the care system.
that thousands of underpaid workers
Our starting point should be that the Good care is dependent on mutuality,
are being put into similar positions
NCS should be a universal service from with people feeling comfortable and
each day. The NCS needs, like the NHS,
cradle to the grave. Nothing less will trusting those who care for them, not
to be based on national pay scales
embed it in people’s affections like having a different carer every day and
and national pay and conditions which
the NHS. The Feeley Review’s remit having some control over when they
are agreed through national collective
is restricted to adult social care when receive help. Experience of this not
bargaining.
last year, another Independent Care happening, rightly, helped drive demand
Review (ICR), for children, produced from people with disabilities to take Part of the way a NCS could meet the
some radical recommendations for control over the services they receive. costs of improved pay and conditions
reform which were accepted by the This means users of the NCS and their is to stop money being extracted from
Scottish Government. We don’t need informal carers should be empowered the system in profit. In Scotland, the law
two care systems and the findings of to control the services that support already requires foster care services to
the Children’s ICR should have formed them as far they are able. These two be not for profit and there appears to
a stepping stone to a NCS. People who points have numerous implications for be no legal impediment to extending
need care services as children continue the delivery of services, from the time a this to all services. As well as removing
to need care and support as they grow carer has to spend with someone, to the businesses which have no interest in
6 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
care, a significant proportion of whom Given the chance, they could have come Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) close to
are based in tax havens, from the up with practical solutions to problems financial collapse, the evidence suggests
system, we need to create a NCS people the Scottish Government and Health and that neither the NHS nor councils have
want to support financially, whether Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) have the resources to make them work. So
through taxes or, where they have proved incapable of solving, like how why not use the HSCPs to form the
them, their own resources. No-one is to enable relatives to visit care home building blocks of the new NCS and
ever likely to want to leave money to a residents safely. fund it independently? That is probably
private care home but self-funders, who the only way to ensure that care is
This raises the question of how should
are currently ripped off by extortionate fully resourced. The NCS could then be
we resolve the tensions between a
fees, might leave money to services that designed to interface with the NHS on
universal service with a homogeneous
were devoted to care, not profit. This the one hand, with some community
set of standards, necessary to some
happens with the hospices that operate health staff with caring roles transferring
extent to prevent care becoming a
within the NHS. over, and even more importantly on
postcode lottery, and the need for
the other, with local communities,
This brings us to charging and here innovation and diversity to reflect
community services and the informal
the NCS should like the NHS be free local circumstances and local decision-
carers who provide the majority of care
at point of use. That would also be a making. There are no easy answers, but
in Scotland.
logical consequence of shifting the it would help to have a principle that
focus of services from personal care to informed decision-making was based Human rights and a National Care
relationship-based care. Contrary to upon, however, the NCS was organised. Service are both powerful ideas that
neo-liberal ideology, popular affection could help drive political change. But
And, lastly, there is the status of the
for the NHS shows that charging is not they will need to be founded on a new
NCS. There is a strong argument that it
what makes people value services. The set of principles if we are to achieve
should an independent service separate
challenge for our politicians is to find the sort of radical reform that our care
from the NHS. That might appear
other ways of funding the NCS. system so urgently requires.
contrary to the cross-party policy drive
While many of these principles should of the last ten years to integrate social Nick Kempe was Head of Service for
be relatively simple to articulate and care with health but that so far has Adults and Older People in Glasgow and
agree, there are others that are likely had little obvious success. The chasm convenes Common Weal’s Care Reform
to require significant debate. The between primary and secondary care in Group which is developing a blueprint
first concerns the balance between the NHS remains and, with Health and for a National Care Service in Scotland.
individual rights and collective needs.
The idea that care is a commodity, which UCS work-in 50th anniversary
can be chosen and bought, has been
the driving force behind much social
care reform since ‘new’ Labour. Choice
is the justification the private care home
sector give for their continued existence.
The problem is wants are not needs,
care involves compromises all on sides,
and choice doesn’t work without money.
There is little point in having individual
budgets if they are insufficient to pay
for the care people need. Since then,
austerity that is now the norm, not the
exception. Covid-19 has exposed the
weaknesses of Self-Directed Support
ideology still further, with people
losing services and being discharged
from hospital to care homes without
consultation.
As a corollary, Covid-19 has also
shown that ultimately, we are all in
this together, that the rights of people
needing care, their carers and the
workforce are all important. We need
new ways to address these issues and
key to this is the democratisation of
services. Imagine that each care home in
Scotland had had a committee made up
of staff, residents and their relatives with
powers to make decisions. Would they This pamphlet is available to read at
have done any worse than government https://issuu.com/communist_party/docs/09oh
in mitigating the impacts of Covid-19?
7 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
Challenging neo-liberal education in a
post-Covid world
Brian Boyd and Henry Maitles lay out a wide-ranging critique of what is right and wrong in education.
T he Covid pandemic has as a open the door of full opportunity, many change in Scotland demonstrated that
side effect in that it highlights more children will pass through it.’ once a Working Group or Committee,
weaknesses and contradictions charged with delivering change, has
Our schooling in Scotland is, on the
in structures and focuses on them. completed its task, the report is sucked
face of it, comprehensive. Our pre-
Nowhere is this more obvious than into the centre, changed and rebranded
school provision is also as is our primary
in school education. The exam fiasco beyond recognition. Thus, it was with
education. But, are our secondary
during the summer highlighted the CfE and most of the targets for the
schools truly comprehensive? The
iniquity of algorithms in managing doubters only came about after the
abolition of selection was a key aim
exam results. It was openly unfair. The publication of the report.
of Circular 600, and yet in many cases
inequalities, now much more exposed,
we have replaced external selection What we need to do in the coming
led to a student and parent anger that
with internal selection. Given that months is to return to the principles
will make a return to the old hidden
we know there is a gap to bridge in and outcomes. CfE was built upon the
algorithm much harder.
attainment, how can we continue to previous set of the 5-14 Programme
It is over two decades since Tony Blair accept that pupils (especially boys) from and added Depth, Relevance, Challenge
declared that his three main priorities disadvantaged backgrounds are most and Enjoyment and Personalisation and
were ‘education, education, education’. likely to be in ‘bottom sets’? It was these Choice. Have these been addressed?
In this, he was reflecting a worldwide pupils that the now infamous algorithm The outcomes of successful leaners,
belief that the knowledge economy, failed. confident individuals, effective
whether through graduates or skilled contributors and responsible citizens
All of these issues have emerged again
workers, was paramount to the clearly have not. We are fixated on a
and we need to ask ourselves if we
competitiveness of a national economy. narrow definition of learning, namely,
are prepared to follow through on
The chosen method across the world for that which can be tested or examined.
them. As was suggested in the Scottish
improving education was a neo-liberal And yet, our post-Covid world is almost
Parliament, we must track this year’s
model, which saw the market as the certainly going to need confident
cohort of university entrants to see if, by
key focus to ensure change in a system individuals, effective contributors
allowing teachers’ predictions to stand,
that seemed resistant to any major shift and responsible citizens. Now since
any drop in standards is discovered.
in perspective. This change process change is inevitable, we would argue
While we await the outcome of such a
was started by conservative-type that it should be pro-active. We need a
longitudinal study, perhaps a question
governments across the world but has curriculum which develops the potential
is whether universities should become
been enthusiastically taken up by social in all children. We have an opportunity
comprehensive too. The ‘downward
democratic governments too. to recalibrate our system but we should
incrementalism’ of universities’
be under no illusions that it will be easy.
The impact of this was to introduce insistence of ever higher entrance
the market into education – testing, qualifications, especially in medicine and Let us highlight this through assessment.
league tables (of schools, universities, law, distorts learning and teaching in The current national assessment system
colleges), specialist schools run by schools, especially in the senior years. is not fit for purpose. From testing
unelected and unaccountable group of in P1 to Highers in S5, learning plays
A ground breaking idea to improve
interests, work intensification and so second fiddle to examinations. The
Scottish education had been the
on. Other aspects, such as humanity, exams distort teaching and learning,
Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) in
citizenship, diversity, cultural issues and put teachers and students under
the early 2000s. It was an attempt
fun were put to one side as schools and stress, and tell us very little about the
to rebalance Scottish education by
universities were gauged on metrics like extent to which young people, after
emphasising other aspects of a rounded
exam results. Linked in with this was the some fourteen or fifteen years in the
education: the 4 capacities (successful
commercialisation of schools and higher system, have emerged as successful
learners, confident individuals, effective
education, which has reached a peak in learners, confident individuals, effective
contributors, responsible citizens) were
the USA. contributors or responsible citizens.
to be of equal importance in the school.
Chomsky, in Chomsky on MisEducation
Comprehensive education is now some In reality, particularly in secondary
(2000), has argued that we should
55 years old and remains the bedrock schools, successful learners, based on
reclaim the notion that ‘schooling
of our approach to schooling. It is worth exam leaving results, came to be the
is a public good and a democratic
reminding ourselves that when Circular dominant factor and now effectively
and a democratic force’. Our current
10/65 (600 in Scotland) was issued by is the measure of a good school. This
examination system has very little to
the Labour Government in 1965, the key determines curriculum, subject choice
offer in this regard.
issues were social class and selection. and teaching styles. In essence, the
Against a backdrop of the Qualifying tail of the exam waves the dog of the Indeed, a large surprise for us when
Examination (and 11+), the Robbins curriculum in secondary schools. The we moved into the university sector in
Report of 1963 spoke of ‘the pool of curriculum, thus, suffers from this the 1980s and 1990s after years as high
untapped ability’. Robert Pedley in his distortion. CfE has come in for criticism, school teachers was that there were
The Comprehensive School (1978) book mainly on issues which were not part of almost no exams in most universities
put it succinctly, saying: ‘if one keeps the original report. A study of curriculum in most subjects. After years of being
8 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
quizzed or quizzing in school as to exam the 1980s and 1990s, Scotland had an system change and philosophical change
results – the only measure apparently enviable array of Outdoor Learning may be a starter when we begin our
of the quality of teaching – the Centres, many of which have been sold post-Covid review of what had taken
university model of a series of modules, off. In a country like Scotland, surely place and what kind of country we want
the mastery of which depended our education system should not only Scotland to be. We surely want more
on a student’s ability to submit an embrace the great outdoors, but should equality, more opportunity and more
assignment, report or presentation, was understand how the countryside is engagement. We also need an education
actually liberating. It was a measure of managed, who owns it and on what system which promotes creativity,
whether the student understood and basis changes are made. critical thinking and problem solving. We
could use the knowledge developed cannot ignore mental health and well-
The challenge for all of us working being, and we have challenges to meet
during the learning. Exams, though, tend
in education is to work together to in terms of how schools can be part of
to be a measure of memory. Learn the
content by rote, regurgitate it and then produce a comprehensive system. CfE addressing issues such as obesity.
forget it. It is a terrible indictment of sought to emphasise that we need to
have trust in our teaching profession. Finally, there is a mass of research
our school leaving qualifications – they evidence to show that those in
are based on shallow learning. And, ‘Autonomy within guidelines’ was how
the 10-14 report phrased it. Intelligent deprivation do far worse in terms of
indeed, the decision in early October educational attainment and, thus, in
2020 to abandon next year’s National 5 accountability starts from a basis of
trust but the recent exam debacle terms of opportunity than those in
exams was added to by a proviso that a better off areas. Whilst there can be
rigorous rote learning prelim would be shows that we have a long way to go to
the odd ‘blip’, a survey of those schools
the basis of the results. achieve it. The Scottish Qualifications
with lowest attainment generally
Authority (SQA) and its predecessor,
So, why do we have these exams? correlates to those schools with the
the Examinations Board, has exerted
We think that they are a tool of a highest negative social factors. It is
too much influence over syllabuses,
managerialist education system now generally accepted that the key
examination content and, of course,
designed to police teachers and it is a predictor of educational attainment
how pupils are assessed. Her Majesty’s is the parental income; that’s why the
convenient tool for enabling national Inspectorate of Education (HMIE)
and local league table placings to be education gap grows as the wealth
traditionally decided, with the minimum gap grows. It is far harder for these
developed – the measure of a ‘good’ of consultation with the profession,
school becomes its Higher results. kids to move out of poverty and areas
how schools were inspected, how they of deprivation than we had perhaps
Further, the universities like them as it were assessed and graded, what the
enables choosing without interviews. previously assumed. This is not to say
categories were and, of course, how the that schools can do nothing in this but
It is worth noting that the committee reports were published. Is it too much the challenge facing governments is that
drawing up the CfE proposals in the to argue that schools might be trusted it needs macro-planning not tinkering at
early 2000s discussed getting rid of to behave professionally with the best the edges.
exams, but they were told that that interests of pupils at heart?
would not be feasible. The universities Brian Boyd is Emeritus Professor of
were clear that they wanted them. The Egalitarianism, or at least equality Education University of Strathclyde and
exam system heavily discriminates in of opportunity, was the goal of the Henry Maitles is Emeritus Professor
favour of private schools, schools in comprehensive movement but, as yet, it of Education University of West of
better off areas and after school tutoring has not been achieved. Political change, Scotland.
– the amount of private tutoring going
on in better off areas is staggering.
Indeed, for many teachers, a key critique
UCS work-in 50th anniversary
of the CfE is that it does not prepare
students for the Higher exams. Ironically,
it is actually probably correct – the best
way of preparing youngsters for rote
exams is to develop rote learning earlier.
Further, in the secondary school, over
the years, hierarchies of subjects have
emerged, in line with universities and
their demands. English, maths and
the sciences are in the first tier; the
social sciences and modern languages
come next; thereafter, the so-called
practical subjects and the arts find it
frustrating that neither schools nor
universities value them. Parity of esteem
is conspicuous by its absence. Not only
that, but it is surely incumbent on a
country which strives to be independent
to place its culture and its history first
and foremost in the education system?
This short film is available to watch at
While doing so, it might be time to
http://www.platformfilms.co.uk/shop/upper-clyde-shipbuilders/
re-visit out-door education. Up until
9 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021
After the acclaim, the rightful pay claim
for our key workers
Roz Foyer ask whether the Scottish Government will pass or fail the test of paying up.
S ince the first lockdown, we’ve hailed throughout the pandemic? The list could the cost of Scottish public sector pay
our key workers as heroes. They are. go on. increases would be offset in tax revenue
We owe them a great amount of to the Scottish and UK Governments.
The payment is also pro-rata and, as a
gratitude. While many of us were tucked
high proportion of the covered workers A public sector pay increase would also
up at home, working online, the workers
work part-time, they won’t see anywhere serve as a shock-absorber for many
in our food shops and factories, on post
near the £500. Because it is a bonus, low-income families. Half of key workers
and deliveries, in our hospitals, our care
it won’t be consolidated into future with children have a partner who is in
homes, our schools, local authorities,
pay levels or even be pensionable. The non-key work. Many will be on furlough
and all those providing essential services,
Scottish Government should extend pay of 80% or face an uncertain future.
put themselves at risk to look after us.
its £500 bonus to all public sector key Boosting the pay of keyworkers can help
Yet while hailed as heroes, they are not
workers who have worked to keep people low-income families deal with the wider
paid like heroes. Key workers are paid 8%
safe during the pandemic. economic impacts of coronavirus.
less on average than others. A third are
paid less than £10 an hour. While they Longer term though, a cash bonus does Increasing public sector pay would also
continue to look after us, it is now time not address the structural issues in the narrow the gender pay gap. Women
we look after them. Ultimately, claps and public sector where inequality of pay, are twice as likely than men to be key
images of rainbows do not pay the bills. low wages and the undervaluing of key workers, making up 82% of care workers
skilled roles dominate in so many areas. and home carers, 77% of cleaners, 96%
The Scottish Government’s forthcoming
Over the last decade, public sector of nursery nurses and assistants, 92%
Budget is a crucial test of whether it’s
workers have seen the value of their real of childminders, 89% of educational
prepared to put its money where its
support assistants, and
mouth is and properly
the majority of jobs in
value our key workers. Half
Government administration.
of Scotland’s key workers
are employed in the public Of course, the Scottish
sector, and many key Budget must do more than
workers in the private sector simply increase public
depend on public sector sector pay. We need an
funding or support. The economic stimulus package
Scottish Government has to support workers in
rightly distanced itself from struggling sectors and huge
the Westminster Spending investment in a worker-led
Review, with Cabinet just transition that tackles
Secretary for Finance, climate change while
Kate Forbes MSP, pledging creating good quality green
‘there will be no Tory pay jobs in Scotland. And at a
freeze in Scotland’. For all UK level, we need further
his smooth words, Sunak’s investment, tax reform,
Spending Review is a kick corporate governance
in the teeth for key workers. Far from pay fall from consecutive below inflation reform, and an increase in the minimum
‘levelling up’, his attacks on public sector pay increases. The result has not only wage worth more than 18p.
pay are about levelling down. And yet, been declining levels of pay, but poorer
communities. Workers deserve a real But public sector pay is the litmus test
the Scottish Government’s key policy
pay rise to put money in their pockets of whether the Scottish Government
announcement to date, of a £500 bonus
now, and in their pensions in the future. is willing to properly value those key
to health and care workers, deserves
workers that kept people safe while
further scrutiny. A significant pay rise for poorly paid politicians clapped from their doorsteps.
While it represents a welcome show public sector workers would boost local Let’s not pretend there is a lack of
of appreciation for NHS and adult-care economies. Well-paid bankers and money. British billionaires have profited
workers, it excludes many public sector executives would put their extra money through the pandemic to the tune of
workers who we have all relied upon as into their offshore accounts. If you put £25bn. That is enough to fund a decent
Covid has hit. What about the teachers money in the pockets of health workers, pay rise for every public worker in the
and school staff that have risked their carers, and cleaners, they will spend UK. It is time for politicians to value our
health to ensure our children are it on basic goods and services in their key workers in deeds, not just words.
educated? And, the cleaners and cooks local area. If ever there was a policy for The Scottish Government Budget must
in our schools and care homes? And, ‘inclusive growth’, this is it. What’s more, be the start of that process and fund a
the refuse collectors in our streets and while the Government would pay out proper pay increase for our public sector
backcourts? And, the civil servants more in wages, much of this would be workers.
processing benefits to increasing recycled back in the form of tax revenue.
Roz Foyer is the general secretary of the
numbers of people across Scotland? Research by the Institute of Public Policy
Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
And, the firefighters reporting for duty Research suggests more than 40% of
10 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021Progressive consensus versus neo-liberal
stagnation
Mike Danson asks what sort of economic renewal and recovery do we want in Scotland.
A s countries and governments The series of reports started with a be granted to the Scottish Government.
struggle with the impacts of special edition of the Fraser of Allander Interventions such as the proposed
COVID-19, the positions of Institute’s Economic Commentary in Jobs Guarantee Scheme for young
the city-regions and nations within June where 17 of Scotland’s economic people have maybe been overtaken
Britain have come under scrutiny. The experts reflected on: the immediate by ‘initiatives’ at Westminster but the
very limited rights and powers of the outlook for the economy over the next peculiarly Scottish elements would rely
mayors and councils in the north of 12 months; their expected permanent on the further devolution of borrowing
England have been revealed by their changes to our economy emerging from capacity and the establishment of ‘a
restricted capacities to cope without this crisis; and what each considered top-level Council of Business Advisers’
the permissions and funding from the top priority areas for policymakers to decide on economic priorities. While
Westminster. Even for the three Celtic should be at this time. While this such a representative body would
nations, however, the reserving of publication offered a range of views and not be unwelcome in a pluralist social
most monetary, fiscal and other macro- opinions, subsequent outputs offered and economic environment, as in the
economic levers to the Chancellor has more focused contributions. The earliest richer and fairer societies of the Nordic
put them in an unenviable position and most publicised ‘official’ report was countries and Germany, there would
of trying to balance the conflicting Towards a Robust, Resilient Wellbeing also be a countervailing and accepted
demands, priorities, and needs of a Economy for Scotland, chaired by, and role for organised labour. Despite a
range of interest groups and policy often called, the (Benny) Higgins report. former STUC General Secretary being
areas. Within this complex context, With neither specific recommendations a member of the Higgins-led Advisory
governments in Scotland and Wales nor ‘a shopping list’, the report argues Group, there is but one inclusion
have been active in commissioning for significant and substantial actions of unions in the report: ‘genuine
reports and plans from advisory groups and interventions in the economy workforce engagement, such as trade
and committees on ways to bring about to avoid the type of 1980s recession union recognition’ and no mention -
economic recovery. Think tanks and and austerity which post-2008 has never mind insistence - of the need
others from across the political and so needlessly blighted so many lives. for a balanced social democratic
social spectra have also been offering The principles underpinning their countervailing power to the role
their suggestions for reviving and suggestions include: needing a focus and privileging of capital. Restricting
restructuring both immediately and in on a robust and resilient, wellbeing workers’ involvement to benefiting
the longer term. economy, and accelerating action to from the practice and enforcement
promote wellbeing and Fair Work and of Fair Work First does not offer a
The reports in the summer of 2020
tackle inequality by mitigating the risks reasonable platform for creating the
from these various authorities and
of unemployment, especially among environment for genuine change.
agencies actually reveal a good deal
groups hit hard by the crisis. Clearly Although welcoming some aspects, this
of consensus over their promised
nothing wrong with these aspirations as and related criticisms were made by the
destinations in terms of industries to
they argue for restoring employment, STUC, the Wellbeing Economy Alliance
be supported, groups to be protected,
by prioritising a green investment and (WEA), Common Weal and others.
and inclusive and sustainable elements
education-led recovery. Underpinning
of their respective strategies. However, Recent interviews and analyses have
all this are calls for supporting freedoms
there is less agreement over how to illuminated further the beliefs and
and wealth creation, meaningless
get there and often communication of expectations that underpin the other
without definitions and considerations
these alternatives paths has diverted significant economic strategy coming
of equity and equality and so the
discussions away from plans and from the (centre) right for plotting
direction of travel depends on teasing
policies. So, pursuing a just transition Scotland’s development. Specifically,
out what these are actually intended
to a net zero economy in times of the Sustainable Growth Commission
to mean. Even the appeals to seize the
Covid and macro-economic restrictions established by the SNP in 2016 under
opportunity for a process of national
is recognised by all as necessary but the leadership of Andrew Wilson has
renewal is fairly neutral as is, critically,
challenging; compromises and priorities been criticised before but this was
the need for economic recovery [to
then become crucial in discriminating renewed following an extensive feature
be] underpinned by a new deal with
between different approaches. in the Herald on Sunday (18 October
business. Apart from a few interviews
Considering these different reports, 2020). This was argued in a similar vein
by Benny Higgins (for example, Times
therefore, requires both exploring each to the Higgins report, especially and
5 August 2020), there is a vagueness
set of proposals and their common crucially in terms of its conservatism
about the details so that much criticism
features but also their distinctive and lack of ambition of vision for what
has been either personal or on the
paths to a new economic future. On Scotland could and should aspire to be
perceived reliance on the private sector
the one hand, some represent a near in a decade’s time. Without wasting
to regenerate the economy through
future driven by the neo-liberal and space here, it is sufficient to conclude
state subsidies.
neo-classical economics of the recent that a recovery based on and effectively
past. On the other hand, some plans Core to the Higgins strategy seems to be limited to a reliance on the market and
are based on a more radical and a perhaps reluctant recognition of the private sector-led but subsidised growth
interventionist worldview. need for increased borrowing powers to will not be inclusive, sustainable nor
11 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 121 January/February 2021You can also read
