BAD NEWS FROM SCOTLAND

Well, neither Cathy Jamieson ( soft left) nor Bil Butler (left) won. Rubbish. Have spent all day running round like blue-arsed fly raising money for local charity and can't be bothered to comment. Sometimes, you just think why do we bother..............however I know next week will bring more challenges which I will not duck....

WENDY, QUEEN OF SCOTS....

So that's it then. In the absence of a contest, arch-Brownite Wendy Alexander is now Leader of the Scottish Labour Party. Just been watching her on the news and less than impressed. yes, I know I would say that wouldn't I but seriously, her schoolmarmy " change or die" mantra is at least 10 years out of date. People in Scotland have already made it clear they want nothing to do with New Labour policies on everything from Trident to top-up fees. One of the saving graces of the previous Scottish administration was that it didn't go down the marketisation road despised by socialists in the Labour Party. Now Alexander is proposing more Brownite/Blairite "reform." I am pretty disappointed (probably not surprised) there has not been at least the chance of a debate. The only way, I suppose, is up.......

WENDY'S A TARTAN TONY.......

An interview in the Scotsman with likely Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander (pictured) makes for dismal reading. The language is horribly reminiscent of Blairism at its worst. ie "radical" "renew" MEANING marketisation, "choice" and a lurch away from traditional labour policies. Labour is way behind the SNP in Scotlansd yet Ms Alexander seems to be laying the blame for this, not on Brown's Blairite agenda, but (of course) trade unionists and Labour Party members loyal to our core values.

Quote Wendy:

" Scottish Labour stands at a critical juncture in our history. We can either choose the path of continuity and conservatism ( she means socialism) or we can choose to be radical and bold (Blairite) .
"We cannot simply wait for the SNP to fail. Now is the time to reach beyond the party's comfort zone (socialist values) . This is the time for Scottish Labour to reflect, reform and renew (lurch sharply to the right) . I hope the Campaign for Socialism can stand a candidate - preferably Elaine Smith. If not, Scottish Labour is likely to go down the Blairite road. Which will be a huge, huge setback.

ELAINE 4 LEADER!

Well, maybe there won't be a coronation in Scotland after all. Thanks to Dave Osler for the news that left-wing Labour supporters are to consider challenging Wendy Alexander for the leadership of the party in Scotland.
The Campaign for Socialism has apparently called an emergency meeting this weekend which will discuss the possibility of fielding a candidate. Any nominee would require the support of six MSPs to force a contest. The obvious challenger to Wendy Alexander would be Elaine Smith, a principled left stalwart who was a prominent supporter of the John McDonnell campaign. I first met Elaine in 2004 when she spoke at a fringe meeting I helped organise at the Manchester Spring Conference. She was a breath of fresh air. Since then, Elaine has helped build the Campaign For Socialism in Scotland and recently took part in the LabOUR Commission on Party democracy. Only 6 MSPs are needed to ensure a contest - but as ever word is that finding the requisite number of left labour MSPs will not be easy.Let's hope for once this is good news for the Labour left.

JACK McCONNELL RESIGNS......

Former First Minister Jack McConnell has resigned - no tears in this quarter. Bad news, though, is that Wendy Alexander may be uncontested. For God's sake, not another coronation.....