By Brotyboy

In an article in The Daily Record here Monica Lennon has suggested that Scottish Labour should become a 'separate political party in our own right'. Fair enough, but why? Lesley Riddoch in the excellent podcast here has exposed the position as being rooted in unionism rather than socialism.

So what could the newly Independent Labour Party in Scotland do to establish a position rooted in its traditional values while looking ahead as Ian Murray has proposed?

The Scottish Independent Labour Party could set out its stall to eradicate poverty. After all, we've had trickle down, the Laffer curve and all sorts of neoliberal economic theories and sayings which live on only in the fantasy land which exists between Patrick Minford's ears, so why not go straight for the main driver of ill-health, inequality, crime, drug taking and unhappiness?

A societal change could be brought about by the introduction of a Universal Basic Income/Citizens' Income of £200 a week for every man, woman and child. The benefits are many and appeal to people from across the political spectrum. It encourages entrepreneurship and drives up wages. How would this be raised from taxation?

Land Value Tax. The least unproductive tax. The tax which has no effect on supply. The tax which can't be moved offshore.

It is explained in more detail here by the excellent Graeme McCormick.

Furthermore, the Scottish Independent Labour Party could go the whole hog and campaign for a Green New Deal. They could take the work carried out by Common Weal in their Common Home Plan here which shows how to decarbonise Scotland over the next 25 years. It would create 100,000 jobs, pay for itself and reduce heating bills for almost everyone.

I would support any party proposing such moves in a devolved Scotland. If that is a Scottish Independent Labour Party so be it. After all, Independence is not an end in itself, but a means to an end and the end should be to change people's lives for the better.

In any case it would lead to an Independent Scotland so the net result is the same.