Scotland – Labour must listen

Unite members in Scotland are clear – Labour in Scotland should be led by a member of the Scottish parliament (MSP) and not a Westminster-based MP.

The first poll of working people in Scotland on the Labour Party and the contest for a new leader in Scotland has revealed overwhelming backing for an MSP to fill that role.

When asked who should lead Labour in Scotland – an MP or MSP – roughly four to one Unite members (78 per cent to 22 per cent) said that they wanted someone rooted in Holyrood for the job.

“By four to one members are calling for the Labour leader in Scotland to be based in our parliament,” said Unite Scottish secretary, Pat Rafferty.

“Holyrood is where the Scottish people now see political power, and the party must pay heed to this.

The survey of over 5,000 Unite members across Scotland also confirmed the continuing drift away from the party established by working people. Over half (54 per cent) of those who voted Labour in the last general election say they do not expect to do so again in 2015.

It’s time for Labour to listen.

“It is deeply concerning that the drift of working people away from the only party founded by them, to deliver for them, continues,” commented Pat.

“More than half of those who voted for the party in 2010 do not plan to vote for them next year – this is the scale of the challenge facing Labour in Scotland.”

The poll was conducted against a backdrop of significant coverage of the leadership contest, and while Unite consults its representatives on who they believe should lead Scottish Labour.

Unite is urging Labour to “genuinely get to grips with why this is, to have the courage to get behind the policies that will make people look anew and with hope at Labour.

“That has to mean the promise to fight for living wages, decent homes, good jobs and the belief that they have a stake in our country’s political life and prosperity.

“Labour cannot hope to win back our people unless and until voters can point to a clear programme and say ‘these people are on my side’,” said Pat.

•    The poll was conducted by Mass1, an independent polling company on Sunday November 2.