Oban, on Scotland’s west coast, has been derided as an odd choice for a conference location. It’s just shy of a four hour rail journey from Scotland’s capital, albeit through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.
Labour voters are few and far between here, in a region dominated by rural interests. Although a step removed from the central belt, it is by no means sheltered from public sector cuts. Argyll and Bute council, in which Oban resides, just yesterday announced plans to close 26 rural primary schools in a desperate bid to save £15 million.
Scotland is bracing itself for a perfect storm of public sector cuts.
The combination of coalition cuts from Westminster, combined with the SNP’s political decision to postpone substantial savings in-year, will see public spending freefall in Scotland. All the forecasters know it’s coming – they just can’t predict when voters will feel it.
So Scottish Labour goes into this conference facing a two-pronged challenge. Firstly, it must show Scotland that, as a party, it is serious, determined and ready to return to government.
Secondly, it must produce a manifesto brimming with credible policies. It must inspire and comfort – without reading like a shopping list of promises from a land of milk and honey.
Part one of the challenge will be relatively easy, as the party’s greatest asset to demonstrate determination and credibility is its leader, Iain Gray. A serious man for serious times.
Most political commentators in Scotland now accept that Labour is well on its way back to power. With that presumptive nonchalance, they’re bored of the race’s machinations already and would prefer to contrast the personalities of Iain with the current first minister, Alex Salmond. It makes for better copy.
The danger for Iain Gray is to attempt to compete in this personality contest. Not for fear of defeat, but because it would do Scotland itself a great disservice.
The country needs a statesman, not a showman – and the way to evidence that Iain is the better man for the role is through action.
Its second task is therefore to convey that it’s focused on securing economic recovery for Scotland, protecting and creating jobs. And it must force that message, above all others, home this weekend.
It’s what the country wants, and needs to hear. But it’s also where the SNP’s most significant failures will be exposed.
The days where bravado and bluster constituted political strengths are now firmly in the past.
Alex Salmond, who has misjudged the economic crisis at every twist and turn, can no longer rely on nationalist rhetoric to deflect his responsibility from the bare facts. Scotland’s unemployment rates are rising, whilst the rest of the UK’s falls. Its economic growth is slower, and its dependence on public sector jobs far greater. It is vulnerable – and there’s no sense in hiding it.
Mr Salmond would have you believe that these are the endemic qualities of our nation which can only be addressed by the powers that independence would bring.
The reality is that they are the direct consequences of his government’s inaction. For three years, the SNP government has effectively closed its eyes, stuck its fingers in its ears and sung Flower of Scotland in the hope that all of the nation’s economic problems would subside.
It is no longer good enough, and it’s time for the Scottish Labour party to step forward and show that Scotland deserves better.
An interesting post. I would agree with you that Scotland’s economy is under-performing and unemployment is high. Clearly more needs to be done to stimulate our economy. So can you set out how -without having any real powers over economic policy, tax and benefits – Labour will boost economic growth?
so are you saying power only lies with government then,that’s not true is it .
Hello! Oban is less than 3 hours drive from Edinburgh and around 2.5 from Glasgow (less when you know the roads!). The Scottish Labour party has held its annual conference in our beautiful town before and feedback was excellent. I’m delighted to see delegates returning to Oban – not everything in Scotland happens in the central belt! Perhaps politicians will appreciate that we face many difficulties because of our location and our complete reliance on tourism for our economic well being.
Land of milk and honey type promises! Iain Gray clearly didnt read your advice. As for ‘most political commentators’, well journalistic insight is a wonderful thing!
I’m afraid this column is in danger of simply regurgitating leadership soundbites repacked as insight. I remember when Progress was about new thinking and individual opinion. This reads like a press release. How some analysis of the failure to reform public services in Scotland in the interetsts of the consumer? When will Scottish Labour and the reseracher brigade – of whom i can only assume our author is a member – consider challenging the union domination of Scottish Labour policy making? Bet anything Ms Dugdale will be a candidate next year. Perhaps after the election she will tell us what she thinks. Unless of course she is the exception to the belief that political parties are the products of consesus and debate of a diversity of opinions and independently arrives at the same conclusions as the leadership of the party every single time. Apologies for the rant but i think this just exemplifies the poverty of thinking and talent in Scotland at the moment.