SNP strategists are not unhappy that the party is adopting some socialist overtones.ep
It was a strange feeling of déjà vu.
The deprivation debate at the SNP conference in Perth sounded almost like Old Labour in full flood.
“The health of a nation doesn’t reflect the differing levels of wealth between countries but the differing distribution of wealth within countries,” one delegate argued. “If Labour is now ideologically opposed to the redistribution of wealth how can they improve anything?”
And the next speaker put it succinctly;
“Why is Labour more interested in the dead rich than the living poor?” a reference to Gordon Brown’s inheritance tax cuts.
A first time delegate pointed out that Scottish Labour has opposed free school meals, the ending of prescription charges, the end of PFI funding for schools, a local income tax and a citizens income -- policies that once formed the bedrock of Labour manifestos.
SNP strategists keen to lose the Tartan Tory tag may be delighted to acquire such socialist overtones. But without a practical strategy to match its post-war achievements in government, the Old Labour rhetoric may not take the SNP very far.
Although there’s no doubt “old” is back in vogue.
Thanks to the efforts of the five million dollar man – as Tony Blair’s been dubbed over his enormous retainer from an American bank – “new” has a hollow ring these days and “old” sounds positively gold-plated.
The very words “Old Labour” form an emotional comfort blanket for many Scots. They conjure up a time when men were men, women were elsewhere, belief in the devious nature of capital and the benign nature of the state was absolute and conferences were full of comrades, block votes, unions, smoke-filled rooms, compositing committees and above all, robust policy argument.
By contrast, the biggest fallout at Perth was the unsuccessful revolt by student Nationalists over raising the age-limit for buying booze from off-sales.
Nicola Sturgeon even managed to make light of the leadership’s narrow victory when she explained that Kenny MacAskill had rushed home to buy his son a drink – for his 21st birthday. That evening a troupe of young performers at the SNP ceilidh were thanked with the exhortation, “Away and buy a drink – while you still can,” to general laughter.
It was like being in the middle of a family tiff rather than a political argument.
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