Fighting against the machine

Neil Findlay MSP most certainly is not a ‘machine politician’. “It’s just that I don’t have a ‘traditional’ background in politics,” says Neil, the candidate Unite is backing in the forthcoming Scotland Labour leader elections.

But perhaps, right now for Scotland, ‘traditional’ is not what is needed.

From a small mining community, Neil left school at 16, to work as an apprentice bricklayer on building sites with his father. It was the year of the miners’ strike and before long Neil had got involved in the fight – and in the wider labour and trade union movement.

“It rekindled my interest in education,” says Neil, a quietly spoken man. “I went to evening classes and then onto university. I became a housing officer – and saw what life is really like for many people.”

Before his election to the Scottish Parliament Neil was a teacher for nine years. He has, as he says, “seen life from all angles,” – angles which Unite believes now make him the candidate that can bring many of Scotland’s disappointed Labour voters back.

There’s no doubt that’s a massive challenge. According to a Unite survey, over half of those voting Labour in 2010 would not do so now. “Politics as usual is not enough,” believes Neil.

But disenchantment with Labour has not happened overnight. Neil believes that traditional Labour supporters’ disappointment has been building up for years and was brought to a head in the referendum.

“Disappointment in Labour and the way it has dealt with social justice issues go hand in hand,” he says. “We need distinct positions on the issues that people really care about – jobs, decent wages, education, social housing, social care, the NHS – these are the basic building blocks of society.

Bolder

“Labour has been too timid and people are unsure of what we stand for. Politics needs to be bolder and there needs to be clear dividing lines between us and what the opposition stands for.

“We will only change people’s minds about Labour if we’re absolutely clear about these policies and have the conviction to make them happen. At the moment it would be difficult to name half a dozen things Labour stands for.

“We need to get young people back to work; build council housing again – I think we could build 50,000 homes for rent across Scotland; end the scandal of social care where you get just 15 minutes of care visits from a low paid workforce who are on zero hours contracts, and give those who are being cared for the care and dignity they need.”

So how would Neil get that vision for a more equal Scotland across? An identifiable, definitive strategy is central to achieving this.

“Scotland’s Labour leader needs the best team that we can recruit – to write policies, communicate messages and most of all to devise the best strategy,” believes Neil.

“Labour has been lacking in strategy – and we need to change that.”

Active

There’s no doubt Neil is an active member of Unite. Proudly wearing his Unite lanyard it’s very clear the union means a great deal to him. As part of Unite Scotland’s Parliamentary Group, he has campaigned against blacklisting and supported the electrical workers in their strike action.

But as Labour leader what policies would he follow that would help Unite members and their families?

Employment issues are his first answer. “We need to provide quality jobs. I see no contradiction between a prosperous economy and decency and dignity at work.

“For young people we have to eradicate youth unemployment. Getting a job is crucial – there’s no greater start to life. Training is key whether that’s at college or an apprenticeship – it gives young people hope.”

It’s all part of Neil’s bigger strategy to eradicate poverty in Scotland in a generation.

And of course there’s the NHS.

“It’s in a precarious state. I would commission a whole scale review – but make no mistake – there would be no privatisation of the NHS in Scotland.

“In my GP’s surgery lists have been closed – like 25 other surgeries in my region.  People go to their hospital and can’t get through A and E – they get boarded out in the wrong ward to save money.

“There’s half a million people stuck in hospital for who the social care system just doesn’t work. Social care is a top priority. The cost of care for a week in hospital is £4,000 – as opposed to £300 at home. That has to change.”

What would First Minister Findlay do on day one? Neil replies without hesitation.

“I would start my anti-poverty strategy, tackle youth unemployment, and in as short a time as possible lay the first bricks of the 50,000 new council homes for rent.

Currently there are 150,000 people on the housing waiting list – that’s equivalent to the population of Dundee.”

Inspiring

All inspiring stuff – but who is Neil’s greatest inspiration?

“My mum,” he replies with a smile. “She was only the second person in her village to ever go to university. Her dad was a miner who died when she was in her teens. She does things in a quiet way with dignity.”

I’m sure Mrs Findlay is equally proud of her son. Neil Findlay is a rare thing in politics – someone who genuinely wants to improve life for working class people, someone who really does walk the walk. After all, he’s been walking it all his life.

•  This article first appeared in uniteWORKS Scotland Labour leader special, Towards a more equal Scotland, available in full at www.unitetheunion.org on the Scotland page