The economy naturally was discussed at SNP conference through a number of motions. One speaker criticised Jim Murphy’s ‘Arc of Insolvency’ line, pointing to an 'Arc of Recovery' where Iceland is now faring better arguably than the UK is on growth and unemployment. Norway has hardly been touched at all.
Gordon Wilson, SNP leader from 1979 to 1990, delivered the Donaldson lecture this year, and suggested the SNP should adopt negative campaigning, pointing out that it has worked for Labour over the years. His concrete suggestion was to highlight ‘Bankrupt Britain’, and in the context of the massive public spending cuts ahead, the idea of London as Scotland’s economic comfort blanket is in serious jeopardy. He has a book out.
One of the conference highlights for me was the Saturday lunchtime fringe launching Gerry Hassan’s new book on the Modern SNP. It was hosted by Joan McAlpine of the Sunday Times and had a thought provoking panel who have contributed to the book. Hassan himself said that the SNP has been a “breath of fresh air” on the Scottish political landscape and reflected on what state we’d be in if it was just Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament.
Colin Mackay, political editor for independent radio said he felt there was less of a buzz amongst delegates this year compared to the previous two. This hadn’t yet slipped into complacency, but was certainly what he described as a comfort zone. With the aim being to deliver independence through a referendum in the short term, the current trajectory wasn’t going to deliver that. A number of people took exception to this I should add.
The economists Jim and Margaret Cuthbert meanwhile accused the SNP of having joined the Washington Consuses with their economic policy, and adopted neoliberalism (albeit with a heart) just as the whole system collapsed. They advocated strategies that the party could now adopt in moving forward with a different model, allowing Scotland to chart a new and innovative course.
I reflect that it does seem to be very much business as usual as far as the causes of the current crisis are concerned. Regulation and policy remain unchanged across the board internationally and politically there doesn’t seem to be much determination to change this. Could Scotland lead the way on this, just as we have with climate change? Obviously the powers do not reside in the Scottish Parliament on this matter, but a robust articulation of the country’s views and a concrete set of proposals are possible.
Yo should check the following links:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/10/22/cia_invests_in_software_firm_monitoring
Take care
Posted by: e | 23 October 2009 at 02:25 PM