If Labour and the SNP won’t push for change, then right-wing populists will
It's an interesting question: ‘who is the party of the left in Scotland?’
Both the SNP and Scottish Labour speak similar languages, minus constitutional wrangling, on economic wellbeing and helping working people get on. The Greens can lay claim to many left policies but can’t quite muster the electorate’s full backing.
What mainstream parties lack is the bite. The impetus to be unashamedly radical with the powers of the parliament to introduce wealth taxes on income, property and assets.
But there’s some new players in the game. “New” is perhaps stretching it a bit given Jeremy Corbyn is hardly a fresh face to political proceedings. But his new party may be. And in the other corner, we have the Reform steam train pulling into town.
Announced a few weeks ago by former Labour MP Zarah Sultana, the ex-Labour leader and Ms Sultana look set to lead a new left leaning political party.
We have few details, if any, on the policy platform this party will stand on. We don’t even have a name. But that’s hardly been a barrier when, according to YouGov, 18% of Britons would consider voting for them already and other polls put them neck and neck with Labour at a UK level.
Will voters flock to a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn? (Image: PA) That tells us two things that should send alarm bells ringing in Labour HQ. Firstly, yes, polls are fickle and being the party of government is never a popularity contest but if you’re neck and neck with a party of no-name and the haunting spectre of your ex-leader is looming large over you, you’ve got........
© Herald Scotland
