Monday, March 5, 2018

Scottish Labour Political Warfare in Dundee: Kezia Dugdale uses Brexit as a stick in the long running ‘Momentum Vs Progress’ battle for control of Scottish Labour, Brexit is happening and the direction of travel is clear, we aren’t staying in the single market, Kezia makes another bad political judgement


















Dear All

Kezia Dugdale had a dreadful time as the former leader of the Labour Party, the problem was that she made a spectacular amount of bad judgments which blew in her face and made her look weak and out of touch.

Kezia Dugdale should never have put herself forward for leadership, but she did and history is already written on this period. You could say she picked the wrong time in Labour’s history, the trend was downwards, and saw the party become the ‘third party’ at Holyrood.

When she left and then did a spot on TV in ‘I’m a celebrity get me out of here’, she was condemned by many in Labour, personally, I said at the time, I had no problem with her doing it, or the fact that she was getting paid, in her case, it was said to be £70,000.

Well, a girl’s gotta eat!

Kezia Dugdale resigned as leader, jumped before she was pushed, however she made the decision to go, which is why I am surprised that Kezia Dugdale has declared war on Richard Leonard over Brexit. The question of bad judgment arises not just from the time but also on the issue of running a campaign doomed to failure.

A campaign in support of single market membership is a loser!

Richard Leonard as far as I am aware didn’t have anything to do demise of Kezia Dugdale, so her timing of trying to inflict a damaging defeat on his leadership of Scottish Labour is uncalled for. Kezia talked about loyalty, so why attempt to cause a scene for a fierce clash over the EU at Scottish Labour's annual conference in Dundee.

At the conference in Dundee, Party delegates will be asked to support a pig in a poke, called the single market, the stance of her campaign, Scottish Labour for the Single Market.

A campaign in support of single market membership is a loser!

Given that is the reality, what can Kezia Dugdale achieve from her campaign, nothing positive, in fact there is a downside, that is her rebuilding her career in Scottish Labour and be a contender for a Shadow Cabinet position. This campaign to me which is doomed appears to be all about undermining the leader, and as Leonard backs Jeremy Corbyn, this seems to be a continuation of Momentum Vs Progress fight.

As to the Labour’s position coming from Jeremy Corbyn, the customs union doesn’t look too good either, so one side of the party you have an unacceptable position for the British people in the single market, and on the other, a restrictive customs union. The Labour Party has singularly failed to understand the direction of travel that was clearly voted for on the 23rd June 2016…… leave the European Union!

Dugdale's campaign seeks to undermine the claims that Corbyn's policy shift did not go far enough, she wants free movement of goods, services, money and people, the issue of freedom of movement, uncontrolled immigration hasn’t worked, it has worked right across the EU, you chuck the migrant crisis and you can see the importation of the problems which is leading Europe to the brink.

The Campaign is co-chaired by Dugdale, Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray and Catherine Stihler , a Scottish Labour MEP, Catherine is going to have to find another job, because no matter what she does, her job as an MEP is toast. Catherine Stihler would be better served seeking a candidacy for Westminster or Holyrood.

One claim which is odd; is the claim that single market membership is the only way to tackle austerity, protect jobs, and defend workers' rights.

That is bullshit and to show you that single market membership doesn’t protect jobs or defend workers’ rights, here is a link, a court case.


Dugdale said:

"Jeremy Corbyn’s welcome decision to support a customs union puts clear blue water between us and the Tories, however – if we are to leave the EU – the least-worst option for limiting the damage caused by a Tory Brexit is to also remain in the single market. This is the only way to tackle austerity, protect jobs, and defend our hard-won rights for workers and consumers. Scottish Labour can lead the way and help persuade our party to ensure the UK permanently remains in the single market.”

Pat Rafferty of Scotland's biggest trade union, Unite said of Dugdale’s campaign that seeking to undermine him.

He said:

"It's a continuation of people trying to undermine the leaders of the Labour Party at Scottish and UK level. I'm pretty sure that when Kez was leader someone launching a campaign a week before Scottish Labour conference wouldn't have been something that was welcome."

Leonard said he was "relaxed" about Dugdale's campaign launch and that he welcomes discussion and dissent.

The fight in Dundee is a non event, it isn’t going to go anywhere, wouldn’t move events forward the Labour Party, but then some people already know this.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

1 comment:

THE INVISIBLE MAN said...

Kezie Dugdale has screwed herself over. Question is, has Jeremy Corbyn?